Day: October 29, 2020

US Economy Surges at Record Rate, GDP Grows 33.1 Percent

Georgia Star News Staff

The U.S. economy grew by a record 33.1% in the third quarter of 2020, as employers continue to restore jobs and the country continues to feel the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Department of Commerce figure released Wednesday reflects the rate of decline in U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) during the third quarter, from July to September. The economy plunged by 31.4% in the second quarter of 2020, a record drop caused by government measures to combat the spread of coronavirus, according to The Associated Press.

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New Unemployment Claims Fall to 751,000, Beat Expectations

Georgia Star News Staff

The number of Americans filing new unemployment claims decreased to 751,000 last week as the economy continues to suffer the effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to the Department of Labor.

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics figure released Thursday represented a decrease of new jobless claims compared to the week ending Oct. 17, in which there were 787,000 new jobless claims reported. The figure released on Oct. 22 was the lowest since March, according to CNBC.

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Richmond Judge Sides with Northam on Lee Statue Removal

Jacob Taylor

A Richmond Circuit Court judge ruled in favor of the Commonwealth and Governor Ralph Northam on Tuesday, allowing for the removal of the controversial Robert E. Lee statue on Richmond’s historic Monument Avenue.

In his decision, Judge W. Reilly Marchant lifted the temporary injunction, ordered by a separate judge back in August, which barred Nortam from taking action, but said the statue could not be removed until a proper appeal process has taken place.

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Commentary: Yes, the Polls Are Shifting

Georgia Star News Staff

President Trump’s political obituaries count more reincarnations than a Hindu lifetime. Perhaps, a slate of polls this week show yet another rebirth. 

The president is surging in key battleground states, and at the national level, with 2016’s most accurate pollsters showing Trump en route to battleground victories in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, and Arizona. 

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Commentary: How to Restrain Big Tech Immediately

Georgia Star News Staff

A year ago, University of Georgia professor Cas Mudde took to Twitter and asked: “How do you manage to stay informed about political news and stay mentally balanced?” In his next tweet, he confessed too much time on social media was contributing to anxiety and depression.

With this, Mudde expressed a sentiment many social media users share. As we discuss policy issues tied to social media—tech regulation, free speech, foreign influence—we shouldn’t lose sight of the damaging psychological effects of today’s information environment. You may not want to hear this a week before the election, but social media addiction is a public health issue. Big Tech is the new Big Tobacco.

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20,000 Texas Mail-in Ballots Need to Be Redone Because of Barcode Problem

Georgia Star News Staff

Approximately one-third the mail-in ballots in Tarrant County, Texas have been rejected by scanners due to a defect in their barcodes, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

Heider Garcia, the county’s elections administrator, attributed the problem to the shop that printed that ballots, but assured that the ballots affected would still be counted, according to the Texas outlet.

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Report: U.S. Colleges Hid More Than $6.5 Billion in Foreign Funding

Georgia Star News Staff

Many American colleges and universities failed to disclose more than $6.5 billion in funding and resources from foreign sources including China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, The Washington Free Beacon reports.

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos unveiled a report last week detailing the massive failure.

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Biden’s Plan to ‘Transition Away’ from the Oil Industry Would Hurt New Mexico, Texas the Most

The Center Square

Both Republicans and Democrats are pushing back on comments Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden made about “transitioning away” from the oil industry.

At the presidential debate Thursday night, Biden said, “I would transition away from the oil industry, yes. The oil industry pollutes, significantly. It has to be replaced by renewable energy over time.”

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Election Experts Warn Voters to Stop Sending in Ballots, Vote in Person Amidst USPS Delays

Georgia Star News Staff

Election and postal experts have warned Americans to stop voting by mail as delays continue to hamper the postal system one week before the election.

With just seven days of voting left before the Nov. 3 election, sending a ballot through the United States Postal Service (USPS) system would risk a late delivery, election experts told the Washington Post. The week of Oct. 16 was the 14th straight week where more than 10% of first-class mail delivery was delayed.

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Steve Bannon Explains the Biden Business Model of the Political Class, China’s Threat, and Information Warfare

Julie Carr

Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredricks welcomed political strategist Steve Bannon to the show to discuss the political class model of corruption as displayed by the Biden family and how America has now become compromised by Chinese money.

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Congressman Morgan Griffith: ‘We Shouldn’t Be Holding the American Family Hostage for Democrat Nancy Pelosi’s Political Agenda’

Julie Carr

Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredricks welcomed Rep. Morgan Griffith of Virginia’s Ninth Congressional District to the show to discuss the lack of a second stimulus deal and the breakdown of COVID-19 fears by Democrats and Republicans.

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With Less Than a Week Until Election Day, Virginia Politicians Have Continued to See Their Campaign Signs Stolen or Vandalized

Eric Burk

Once again, campaign signs are the innocent victims of pre-election stress and anger. From Giles County to Chincoteague, signs for both Republican and Democratic candidates are being stolen or vandalized.

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TRUMPDATE: Latest from the Team Trump Virginia Campaign for October 29

Jordan Bondurant

Welcome to the Thursday edition of our daily Virginia Trump campaign update! We will provide our readers with daily updates on the Trump Virginia campaign from today to November 3 (and after…if need be!).

It’s officially five days until the election on November 3 – and two days until early voting in Virginia closes.

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Follow The Money: Who Is Investing in the Richmond Mayor’s Race?

Eric Burk

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney has passed the $916,255 he raised in 2016 campaign, hitting $1.07 million in 2020 by raising $302,294 in the first three weeks of October, according to data from The Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP). Alexsis Rodgers has now raised $415,760 in total, despite beginning her race in June. Kim Gray has raised $391,502.

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Henrico Public Schools Adopt Return to Classes Plan, Say Families Must Make Year-long Commitment

Jacob Taylor

The Henrico County School Board adopted a plan last week allowing an optional return to classrooms for younger students later this fall and older students in early 2021, but at a town hall meeting on Tuesday school leaders said whichever choice families make, either virtual or in-person learning, will be a year-long commitment.

While answering submitted questions from parents, Dr. Thomas Ferrell Jr., Henrico director of high school education, brought up the stipulation that families’ choice of learning model would be binding, except for specific instances.

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Former Acting Director of ICE Thomas Homan Explains the Need for Four More Years of Trump Border Policies to Ensure Our National Security

Julie Carr

Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredricks welcomed former Acting Director of ICE Thomas Homan to the show to discuss the southern border, immigration and national security.

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Cancel Culture Claims Another: Virginia Military Institute Superintendent General Peay Resigns

Corinne Murdock

Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Superintendent, retired four-star Army General J.H. Binford Peay III (’62), resigned on Monday. Peay shared that Governor Ralph Northam prompted the resignation.
“On Friday, 23 October 2020, the Governor’s Chief of Staff conveyed that the Governor and certain legislative leaders had lost confidence in my leadership as Superintendent of Virginia Military Institute and desired my resignation.”

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