Author: Chris Butler

Metro Nashville Coronavirus Task Force Chair Dr. Alex Jahangir on July 2: ‘Saturday I Got A Call . . . 30 People Confirmed That Have Tested Positive . . . So This Was Atypical, Right?’

Chris Butler

As The Tennessee Star reported on Monday, Nashville Mayor John Cooper announced at a July 2 press conference he was turning the city back to Phase Two from Phase Three, shutting all bars down for 14 days, temporarily shutting down all entertainment and event venues, and reducing restaurant capacity from to 75 percent to 50 percent due to “record numbers” of COVID-19 cases traceable back to bars and restaurants.

Mayor Cooper did not provide any specific details to substantiate his assertion of “record numbers.”

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Tennessee Businessman and Former Convict Says a Pardon from Donald Trump Could Complete His Path to Redemption

Chris Butler

Robert Sherrill, a 37-year-old Madison resident, today is a successful businessman who works with at-risk children and runs a local company with nearly $1 million in revenue.

Sherrill has enough clout to have a face-to-face meeting with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence.

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Roger Stone Warns Churchgoers to Prep for the Fight for Western Civilization

Chris Butler

  MOUNT JULIET, Tennessee — Under a large pitched tent and in sweltering heat, Roger Stone, a 40-year confidante of U.S. President Donald Trump, shared his personal testimony Sunday and said he’s “living proof prayer works” despite seemingly insurmountable odds. But Stone’s testimony also came with a warning. “We are in…

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Kanye West Might Appear on Tennessee Presidential Ballot

Chris Butler

Rapper Kanye West wants Tennessee officials to place him on the ballot for the 2020 presidential election.

An unidentified person representing West arrived at the Tennessee Division of Elections office Friday. That person picked up a petition that would allow West to run in the Volunteer State, said Tennessee Secretary of State spokeswoman Julia Bruck.

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Mike Rowe: We Will Need More Skilled Tradespeople Because of the Coronavirus

Chris Butler

American television host Mike Rowe said Tuesday that the effects of the coronavirus emergency could radically alter how Americans perceive the skilled trade industry.

Rowe said this while appearing on Tucker Carlson Tonight.

“I think if you’re looking for a silver lining in all of this, in my own foundation our prime directive over the past 10 years has been to affirmatively confront and debunk the stigmas and stereotypes and myths and misperceptions that dissuade people from pursuing a career in the trades. When we come through the other end of this thing, the need for skilled tradespeople in this country, I believe, is going to be at an all-time high. That is basically good news for the middle class. If we can somehow level the playing field by the way in which we present opportunities to kids, middle class kids in particular, I think we might see real success in not only closing the skills gap but getting people on a path to a six-figure job that doesn’t require a big, giant college debt,” Rowe said.

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Senator Rand Paul Tests Positive for Coronavirus

Chris Butler

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement his staff released on his social media accounts Sunday afternoon.

“He is feeling fine and is in quarantine. He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person,” according to the statement.

“He expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends and will continue to work for the people of Kentucky at this difficult time. Ten days ago, our D.C. office began operating remotely, hence virtually no staff has had contact with Senator Rand Paul.”

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FDA Authorizes New 45 Minute Coronavirus Test for Release Next Week

Chris Butler

A California-based molecular diagnostics company announced Saturday they will ship a point-of-care test next week that they say can detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19 in 45 minutes.

Officials at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave that company, Cepheid, Emergency Use Authorization to do so, company officials said in a press release.

Called the Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2, the test is designed to operate on any of Cepheid’s more than 23,000 automated GeneXpert Systems worldwide, with a detection time of less than one hour.

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Feds Waive Standardized Testing for Current School Year Because of Coronavirus

Chris Butler

On Friday U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said the federal government would waive standardized testing for the 2019-2020 school year because of the ongoing coronavirus emergency.

U.S. Rep. Mark Green, (R-TN-07), in a press release, said he appreciated DeVos and U.S. Republican President Donald Trump for this action.

“The gravity of the situation our schools continue to face while navigating the COVID-19 outbreak would have created an undue burden for preparing and administering statewide assessments,” Green said.

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Jeff Webb Calls Out 46 House Democrats in Battleground Districts: ‘Vote No on the Contrived Articles of Impeachment’

Chris Butler

Jeff Webb, chairman of the New American Populist, called out 46 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives to vote against the “contrived Articles of Impeachment” against President Donald Trump on Monday.

“The entire impeachment charade comes down to nothing more than left-wing Members of Congress disagreeing with the President.  If it becomes a ‘high crime and misdemeanor’ just to disagree, then as a country we are in much deeper trouble than anyone knows,” Webb said on in a statement released on the organization’s website.

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Nancy Pelosi ‘Just Walked the Democrats off the Plank’ With Impeachment, Articles, GOP Official Says

Chris Butler

  U.S. Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said Thursday she is arranging for articles of impeachment against U.S. Republican President Donald Trump, but Republicans said they’re charged, unified — and ready for a fight. Various GOP officials did not hesitate to speak out Thursday. “We are less than…

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Democrats Experience Premature Articulation of Impeachment During Sondland ‘Quid Pro Quo’ Testimony

Chris Butler

  When U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland testified before the House Intelligence Committee’s impeachment inquiry hearing on Wednesday, Democrats initially believed he had given them the testimony they’ve been seeking for three years to build an article of impeachment against President Trump. “I know that members of…

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Ohio Taxpayers May Fork Over More Corporate Welfare for Soccer Stadium

Chris Butler

  Taxpayers in Ohio will now reportedly pay at least $140 million in corporate welfare for a new Major League Soccer stadium in Columbus. This, according to the website Bloombergtax.com, which reported politicians have approved development incentives $25 million higher than initially proposed. “The Franklin County Board of Commissioners July…

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Jon Husted Wants Taxpayer-Funded Resources to Expand Internet, But Free-Market Solutions Could Be Coming

Chris Butler

  Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted wants to use taxpayer-funded resources to expand broadband access to rural parts of the state. But free-market forces will reportedly offer the service to rural areas in coming years, thanks to new technologies. According to the Kent-based WKSU, Husted is “tired of waiting for…

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Texas School Cuts Ties with SAT Over Controversial ‘Adversity Scoring’

Chris Butler

  Members of the Houston, Texas-based Saint Constantine School announced Thursday they will do away with all SAT prep and AP/PSAT programming. School officials said in an emailed statement the SAT’s new adversity score prompted them to act. As The Tennessee Star reported, the people responsible for the SAT exams…

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Ohio Republican Elite Lean Left and Act Vindictive, Tea Party Members Say

Chris Butler

  Ohio Tea Party members say an elite political class of Republicans-In-Name-Only controls the state’s GOP. Any conservatives not among the establishment class Republicans are kept at a distance. Once in office, these powerful RINOs use their power and influence to penalize people who speak up against them — and…

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Tea Party and GOP Members Believe Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted Cut a Secret Deal in 2018 Election

Chris Butler

  There’s no hard evidence to back it up, but sources believe Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, both Republicans, allegedly made a secret pact during the 2018 election season to assist one another’s political fortunes. Initially, Husted ran for governor, but he later dropped out of…

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Washington Post Issues Correction: Activist Who Instigated Confrontation With Covington Catholic Kids Not a Vietnam Veteran

Chris Butler

Left-wing agitator Nathan Phillips, the 64-year-old Native American man who confronted several Kentucky high school students from Covington Catholic this past weekend in Washington, D.C., is not a Vietnam veteran, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, correcting an earlier report in which the iconic liberal newspaper, now owned by Amazon…

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Franklin Graham Group Helps with Disaster Relief in Florida

Chris Butler

Volunteers for a Franklin Graham affiliated group came to Florida’s panhandle to help with disaster relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, but it’s about so much more than that, they said. Volunteers with the group Samaritan’s Purse told The Tennessee Star the devastation in that region is still widespread,…

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Gov. Bill Haslam Says Don’t Throw in the Towel on TNReady

Chris Butler
Bill Haslam

Before he packs up and vacates the Tennessee governor’s mansion early next year, Bill Haslam wants a dialogue with you about ways to improve TNReady. Haslam, at the state capitol Tuesday, announced what he described as a listening tour to do just that. The current governor and a team of…

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Steve Cohen Will Push For Nancy Pelosi as Next Speaker of the House

Chris Butler
Steve Cohen

If Democrats retake the U.S. House of Representatives this fall then U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, said he’ll support Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House yet again. Cohen made his remarks on MSNBC this past weekend. While there, he also called Republican President Donald Trump “a maniac.” No one…

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Phil Bredesen Supporters at Controversial Fundraiser Say He’s More Liberal Than He Lets On

Chris Butler

NASHVILLE, Tennessee–The best way for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Phil Bredesen to win over most voters in deep red Tennessee is best summed up by one of his supporters, Rachel Trammell of Nashville. “I think for this campaign Bredesen has taken a more moderate stance, but I think at the…

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Commentary: Mainstream Media Is a Watchdog on Republicans, But a Lapdog for Democrats

Chris Butler
Kathleen Sebelius

This week mainstream media reporters nationwide took a posture against President Donald Trump and asserted they act with integrity and objectivity and that his attacks on them are attacks on democracy itself. Hook people in the mainstream media up to polygraph machines and ask them if they really believe that.…

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David Hawk Wants to Succeed Beth Harwell as Next Tennessee House Speaker

Chris Butler
David Hawk

State Rep. David Hawk (R-Greeneville) has joined the list of legislators who want to succeed Beth Harwell as the next Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives. Hawk told The Tennessee Star he will do things differently than his predecessors. Hawk’s first priority — creating a committee system that he…

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Blackburn, Bredesen Reveal Stark Differences on Judges, Obamacare at NFIB Forum

Chris Butler
Phil Bredesen, Marsha Blackburn

NASHVILLE, Tennessee–Tennessee U.S. Senate Republican candidate Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) said, if elected, she’ll vote to appoint federal judges based on whether they abide by what’s in the U.S. Constitution. Her opponent, Democrat Phil Bredesen, said voting to appoint a judge really boils down to his or her qualifications and temperament.…

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One Reported Case of Measles in Tennessee ‘Acquired from Outside U.S.’ in Midst of Nationwide Outbreak

Chris Butler
"Measles" by Dave Haygarth

There’s a reported nationwide outbreak of measles. Even though Tennessee is one of the affected areas, in fact, only one person in the Volunteer State got it, according to the Tennessee Department of Health. “These cases are not part of one outbreak,” said Bill Christian, department spokesman, in an emailed…

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DesJarlais: New Federal Defense Act Will Help Tennessee

Chris Butler
Scott DesJarlais

U.S. Congressman Scott DesJarlais said he has inserted measures into the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act that will give more aid to Middle Tennessee’s Aerospace and Defense Technology Corridor. According to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Tennessee’s aerospace cluster includes 52 companies, including the Arnold Engineering Development…

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Nashville Schools Mum on Security Director Under Investigation

Chris Butler
Jimmy Wheeler

Metro Nashville Public Schools’ Director of School Security Jimmy Wheeler is on administrative leave, according to two news stations, and no one cares to say why. School system officials sent Wheeler a letter last week informing him he may not return to his workplace. He may not contact employees. He…

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Think Tank: Tax Incentives Hurt Small Business Owners in Tennessee

Chris Butler
small business

Tennessee’s economy would thrive even without local and state governments dishing out tax incentives to already wealthy corporations. What’s more, these tax incentives penalize Tennessee’s small business owners. This from the spokesman for the Nashville-based free market think tank The Beacon Center of Tennessee. “Simply put, corporate handouts benefit rich…

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Socialists Very Active in Tennessee Democrat Party Politics

Chris Butler
Julie Gautreau

Socialists in Tennessee apparently have even more influence over the Tennessee Democratic Party than previously believed, including at the state level. Julie Gautreau (pictured), who represents the Knoxville chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, said as much to The Tennessee Star Tuesday. “A lot of DSA members are members…

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Tennessee Taxpayers Gave $1 Billion in Corporate Welfare Last Year

Chris Butler
Bernstein

You, the taxpayers of Tennessee, helped give away nearly $1 billion in tax credits to corporations who set up shop here last year. State law, as it turns out, forbids you from finding out exactly what kind of return you’re getting on your investment. In other words, even though the…

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Report: Illegal Aliens Were On Their Way to Several Tennessee Destinations

Chris Butler
arrests

An SUV was apparently transporting illegal aliens to Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, Cookeville, Knoxville and even Atlanta, Georgia when Williamson County sheriff’s deputies pulled it over on I-840 eastbound last week. Eleven people were inside. And, yes, arrests were made. Deputies noticed the SUV had crossed the center line several times. They…

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PAC Releases New Ad in Support of Marsha Blackburn

Chris Butler
Marsha Blackburn

A Super PAC that has the stated goal of protecting the people from “an army of left-wing activists” has a new commercial endorsing Marsha Blackburn for the U.S. Senate. That PAC, called the Senate Leadership Fund, released their commercial this week. According to the PAC’s website, the organization is devoted…

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Tennessee Mayor Questions Certain TDOT Spending Priorities

Chris Butler
James Mayberry

Take two pieces of infrastructure. Maybe one is a road. Maybe the other is a sidewalk. Both of those things are under the oversight of the Tennessee Department of Transportation. One project might need more attention than the other. Sometimes the project that doesn’t need as much attention is TDOT’s…

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Bredesen ‘Masquerading as a Moderate’ and Used ‘Deceptive Advertising’ in New Commercial

Chris Butler

Tennessee Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen is apparently resorting to less than honorable tactics to win Sen. Bob Corker’s (R-TN) U.S. Senate Seat. Bredesen will face off against Republican Marsha Blackburn on Nov. 6. Corker is retiring from the U.S. Senate. In an emailed statement to The Tennessee Star, Tennessee Republican…

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