October, 2020 | The Georgia Star News

Space Abounds in Security Threats, Technological Promise, NASA Chief Says

October 10, 2020October 9, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

In a wide-ranging interview on “Just the News AM,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine touted his agency’s innovations in 3D-organ printing, immunization, and fiber optics made possible through microgravity in space.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine on Thursday applauded the United States’ recent ending of nine years of reliance on Russia to transport American astronauts to the International Space Station, while also warning of the growing threat of Chinese and Russian anti-satellite technologies.

Durham Using Grand Jury to Investigate Debunked Trump-Russia Allegation, Reports Say

October 10, 2020October 9, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

The U.S. attorney investigating the origins of the Trump-Russia probe is seeking grand jury testimony from a group of computer scientists behind a since-debunked allegation that Donald Trump’s real estate company had covert computer contacts with a Russian bank, according to a report.

The New Yorker reports that John Durham, the U.S. attorney for Connecticut, has contacted the scientists in recent weeks seeking their testimony.

Commission on Presidential Debates, C-SPAN Say Debate Moderator Steve Scully’s Account Was Hacked

October 10, 2020October 9, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

The Commission on Presidential Debates co-chair and C-SPAN said Friday that the Twitter account of Steve Scully, the scheduled moderator of the second presidential debate, had been hacked.

“Steve is a man of great integrity, okay?” Commission on Presidential Debates co-chair Frank Fahrenkopf said, according to Fox News. “I don’t know this question about whether he tweeted something out or not, I do know, and you’ll probably pick up on it in a minute, that he was hacked… Apparently, there’s something now that’s been on television and the radio saying that he talked to Scaramucci… He was hacked. It didn’t happen.”

Pro-Gun Group Details Why They Think Amy Coney Barrett Would Defend Firearm Rights

October 10, 2020October 9, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett would be a stalwart supporter of the Second Amendment if confirmed to the court, according to a gun-rights group.

The legislative counsel for the Gun Owners of America, one of the country’s largest pro-gun advocacy organizations, said Barrett appears to be a strict constitutionalist. He also pointed to a dissenting opinion the judge wrote in 2019 in which she wrote in favor of a non-violent felon seeking to restore his firearms rights.

Fear Drives Record Gun Sales

October 10, 2020October 9, 2020 Eric Burk

Virginia is setting records for gun sales this year; already the FBI has processed 617,472 firearms background checks, beating 2019’s total of 512,766.

Bob Marcus owns Bob’s Guns in Norfolk. He said the increase in sales began a year ago. “We saw it after the General Assembly turned over back in November. It started with the election, and then the General Assembly went into session. And there were threats of the so-called assault weapons ban, and other restrictions, so it continued through January, February, and into March.”

Steve Bannon Encourages the Trump Campaign to Forget the Big Rallies, Use the Surrogates, Knock on Doors, It’s Time to Get People Out to Vote

October 10, 2020October 9, 2020 Julie Carr

Friday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host Fredricks welcomed Steve Bannon to the show to discuss how the ground game in the Trump campaign must change and stressed the need for door-knocking and digital rallies.

President of Club for Growth David McIntosh Weighs in on the Race Between Nick Freitas and the Deceit of His Opponent Abigail Spanberger

October 10, 2020October 9, 2020 Julie Carr

Friday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host Fredricks welcomed President of Club for Growth David McIntosh to the show to discuss the race in Virginia’s Seventh District between Nick Freitas and Abigail Spanberger.

Gov. Northman’s Virginia Power Grab Defies Science

October 10, 2020October 9, 2020 Jacob Taylor

The Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) presented analysis of COVID-19 hospitalization data on patient demographics, age and sex, accompanying chronic conditions and length of stay during a webinar on Thursday.

The study reviewed statewide data trends from over 8,700 COVID hospitalizations in Virginia between January and June of 2020, and was presented by David Vaamonde, vice president of data analytics for the VHHA.

Disabled Veterans’ Vehicles to be Exempt from Property Taxes If Constitutional Amendment Two Passes

October 10, 2020October 9, 2020 Jacob Taylor

Virginia proposed Constitutional Amendment #2 asks whether or not permanently and totally disabled veterans receiving 100 percent of disability income should be exempt from paying personal property taxes on their motor vehicle.

The decision to enact that change is squarely up to Virginians casting their ballots in the upcoming November general elections.

TRUMPDATE: Latest from the Team Trump Virginia Campaign for October 10

October 10, 2020October 11, 2020 Jordan Bondurant

Welcome to the Saturday 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 24 days until the election on November 3 – and 21 days until early voting in Virginia closes. The deadline to register to vote in time for the 2020 election is October 13, three days from today.

Busted: Judge Rules Virginia House Speaker Filler-Corn Violated the Freedom of Information Act

October 10, 2020October 10, 2020 Corinne Murdock

Richmond General District Court found Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax) guilty of violating the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) on Friday. Filler-Corn must pay a civil penalty of $500 and a partial reimbursement of attorney fees.
The filing attorney, Timothy Anderson, told The Virginia Star that this court ruling was a big win for Virginians. Anderson also shared that the judge had expressed doubt during the trial that Filler-Corn didn’t know about the documents.

The 40 Key Russia Documents President Trump Must Still Declassify

October 9, 2020November 9, 2020 Admin

President Trump earlier this week vowed complete and final transparency in the Russia probe, ordering the declassification (without redaction) of all relevant documents that show how the false Russian collusion narrative was created by Hillary Clinton operatives and then investigated for three years by the FBI.

With less than four weeks to Election Day 2020, there is little time to complete the mission so that voters can understand the foreign influence, dirty tricks and misconduct that began in the last presidential election and continued for years.

Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Using Position to Push Liberal Ideology

October 9, 2020October 8, 2020 Eric Burk

Richmond Public Schools (RPS) Superintendent Jason Kamras is writing official public letters advocating a political bias, according to Mike Dickinson, candidate for Richmond’s 1st Council District.

Commentary: The Chinese Gutting of America

October 9, 2020October 8, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

Just as China has gutted America’s manufacturing base, it has gutted most of our nation’s foundational institutions.

When President Trump imposed import duties on a wide range of Chinese goods, we discovered just how reliant our nation had become on the communist People’s Republic of China for a wide array of manufactured and finished goods.

Next Trump-Biden Debates Uncertain, Though October 22 Is Likely

October 9, 2020October 8, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

The fate of final debates between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden was thrown into uncertainty Thursday as the campaigns offered dueling proposals for the remaining faceoffs that have been upended by the president’s coronavirus infection.

The chair of the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates said on CNN that the final debate, scheduled for Oct. 22, is still slated to go on in person as planned — but that Trump’s campaign hadn’t yet said whether he’d participate. Biden said he would attend the event regardless of Trump’s plans.

ICE Arrests Over 125 Illegal Immigrants Who Were Released Under California Sanctuary Policies, Report Says

October 9, 2020October 8, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended over 125 illegal immigrants in California who were released under sanctuary city policies from Sept. 18 to Oct. 3, the Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation targeted illegal immigrants who were arrested and released by state or local law enforcement agencies, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). More than 95% of the illegal immigrants were previously convicted of a crime or had pending criminal charges for crimes including homicide, sexual assault, sexual offenses against children, and domestic violence.

Commentary: Biden’s Un-Foreign Policy

October 9, 2020October 8, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

Perhaps the most remarkable statistic of recent times is that President Trump broke a 39-year streak of U.S. presidents leading the nation into a new war. That is, my entire life and the best part of a decade in which the United States dragged itself into conflict.

NBC Town Hall Features ‘Undecided Voters’ Who Were Previously Identified as Biden Voters

October 9, 2020October 8, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

NBC News appeared to use at least two Biden voters posing as “undecided voters” in a town hall with Joe Biden earlier this week that appeared to be stacked with Democrat plants.

According to The Washington Free Beacon,a couple of purportedly undecided voters—lawyer Peter Gonzalez and marketing executive Ismael Llano—both declared their support for Democrat nominee Joe Biden on MSNBC back in August.

Pelosi Says No Standalone Stimulus Bills, Democrats Will Be ‘Talking’ About 25th Amendment Friday

October 9, 2020October 8, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that she won’t agree to “standalone” bills for an airline bailout, direct payments or more stimulus funding for small businesses without an agreement on a “bigger” stimulus bill.

“The only point about negotiations is there ain’t going to be no standalone bill unless there’s a bigger bill and it could be part of that or it could be in addition to that,” said Pelosi, the leader of the Democrat-controlled House, who is negotiating with the White House on another coronavirus stimulus package.

Drudge Poll: 72 Percent Say Pence Won Debate

October 9, 2020October 8, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

Over 70% of respondents to an unscientific, online Drudge Report poll indicated that they believed Vice President Mike Pence won Wednesday’s debate against vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris.

Seventy-two percent (around 175,519 people) voted that Pence was the victor in the first and only vice presidential debate, while 28% (around 69,000 people) said the same about Harris, according to the online poll data.

New Jersey Mail Carrier Arrested for Throwing Election Ballots Away

October 9, 2020October 8, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

A New Jersey postal worker was arrested Wednesday for discarding multiple pieces of mail, including election ballots, CBS reported.

Over 1,800 pieces of mail were retrieved from dumpsters, 99 of which were ballots, according to CBS. Federal prosecutors said 26-year-old Nicholas Beauchene was scheduled to deliver mail in parts of Orange and West Orange, New Jersey, according to CBS.

TRUMPDATE: Latest From the Team Trump Virginia Campaign for October 9

October 9, 2020October 8, 2020 Jordan Bondurant

Welcome to the Friday 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 25 days until the election on November 3 – and 22 days until early voting in Virginia closes. The deadline to register to vote in time for the 2020 election is October 13, four days from today.

Political Editor at Breitbart News, Matt Boyle on Debate: A Vote for a Biden-Harris Ticket Would Be a Vote for the Chinese Communist Party

October 9, 2020October 8, 2020 Julie Carr

Thursday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host Fredricks welcomed Breitbart News political editor Matt Boyle to the show to weigh in on the Pence-Harris debate and how to read the national polls.

Virginia Government Asking Citizens to Repay Thousands in Pandemic Unemployment Claims

October 9, 2020October 8, 2020 Corinne Murdock

Virginians are reporting letters from the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) asking for repayment of unemployment claims due to VEC error.
The government hasn’t made any exceptions for the VEC’s errors resulting in overpayments – even with the mandatory shutdowns throughout this pandemic.

Former Trump Deputy National Security K. T. McFarland Details Her Experience with the Swamp and Trump’s Decision to Deny a Virtual Debate

October 9, 2020October 8, 2020 Julie Carr

Thursday morning on the John Fredericks Radio Show, host Fredericks talked to former Deputy National Security Advisor to the Trump administration K.T. McFarland about the vice presidential debate and the deep state in Washington D.C.

A Week from Hell for William & Mary Athletics: Athletic Director Resigns and Student-Athletes Test Positive for COVID-19

October 9, 2020 Jacob Taylor

In the span of a single week William & Mary athletics director Samantha Huge resigned after facing backlash from cutting seven sports programs last month, and a mix of student-athletes and athletics department staff have tested positive for Coronavirus.

The university announced Tuesday that Huge was stepping down from her position and then on Wednesday news broke that athletics employees and athletes had tested positive for COVID-19.

State Inspector General Substantiates Multiple Allegations Against the Virginia Parole Board

October 9, 2020October 8, 2020 Jacob Taylor

The Office of the State Inspector General (OSIG) has released reports substantiating multiple allegations that the Virginia Parole Board (VPB) violated state statutes as well as its own policies and procedures after investigating complaints regarding the parole of specific Department of Corrections offenders.

On Tuesday, the OSIG released copies of the reports, originally sent to Governor Ralph Northam’s administration, to media outlets who requested them that were mostly redacted and did not offer the specific findings of the investigation into the VPB.

The Price of Liberty Is Eternal Vigilance: Speech First President Nicole Neily Says Be Aware of the ‘Bias Response Teams’

October 9, 2020 Julie Carr

Thursday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host Fredricks welcomed President of Speech First Nicole Neily to discuss bias response teams and the encroaching Chinese credit score concept in America.

Virginia Department of Health Spent Over $56K to Sign Teens up for Sex-Ed Texting

October 9, 2020October 8, 2020 Corinne Murdock

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) appropriated over $56,000 to fund a sex-help texting line for teenagers. The resource, BrdsNBz, doesn’t require parental permission.
VDH sent out postcards across the state inviting anyone ages 13-19 to anonymously text a number for sex education. BrdsNBz says it provides “medically-accurate information about sexual health topics” relayed by a trained “Health Education team.” It also promises “local resources and referrals,” though it does not mention what those entail.

Approximately 840,000 U.S. Workers File New Claims for Unemployment Benefits

October 8, 2020October 14, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

An additional 840,000 American workers filed initial unemployment claims in the week ending Oct. 3, down about 9,000 from the previous week’s revised number but still well above pre-pandemic levels.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the advance seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.5 percent for the week ending Sept. 26, a decrease of 0.7 percentage points from the prior week. Unemployment rate data lags the new initial claims report by a week.

Senate Lawmakers Send Numerous Bills to Joint Conference Committees with House

October 8, 2020October 7, 2020 Jacob Taylor

The Senate sent a number of bills to be considered by joint conference committees, and appointed conferees to join their colleagues in the House of Delegates to consider legislation on Wednesday.

Three or four Senators and Delegates are assigned to different conference committees and must try to agree on compromised language for similar bills from each body or the legislation will die. If compromised versions are agreed upon, those bills will go back to the House and Senate for a final passage vote.

Nashville Metro Council Gives Mayor John Cooper the Power to Deputize Certain City Employees to Cite Bars and Restaurants That Violate Coronavirus Rules

October 8, 2020 Jason M. Reynolds

The Nashville Metro Council on Tuesday gave Mayor John Cooper the authority to deputize certain city workers to issue citations against bars and restaurants that violate his coronavirus restrictions, The Tennessean reported.

Metro Health Department employees are overworked in trying to combat businesses, the newspaper said. Only workers who already have citation powers will be authorized to serve as restaurant police, according to the bill that passed on third reading. The mayor must still given written permission to workers to use this new power.

Commentary: Trump, Atlas Want America to Face Down Coronavirus Fear

October 8, 2020October 7, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

The uproar over the president’s COVID-19 diagnosis made one thing abundantly and terrifyingly clear: Coronavirus hysteria is here to stay—and there are signs it might be getting worse seven months after we first confronted the unknown disease.

Kamala Harris Refuses to Answer Question on Packing the Supreme Court

October 8, 2020October 7, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris wouldn’t answer a question about packing the Supreme Court during the vice presidential debate Wednesday.

Harris refused to explain her position on packing the court during a discussion on the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the vacancy left by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Vice President Mike Pence pushed Harris on her position multiple times.

McCloskeys Indicted on Gun Charges From Standoff at St. Louis Mansion

October 8, 2020October 7, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the St. Louis couple charged in July with brandishing weapons at rioters who broke into their gated community, have been indicted by a grand jury.

The McCloskey’s were indicted Tuesday on felony charges of unlawful use of a weapon and evidence tampering, according to their attorney Al Watkins, Fox News reports.

Voters Increasingly Support Amy Coney Barrett for Supreme Court, Poll Shows

October 8, 2020October 7, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

Voters are increasingly backing the confirmation of President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, a Morning Consult and Politico poll released Wednesday showed.

Almost half, 46%, of voters polled by Morning Consult/Politico between Oct. 2 – 4 said that the Senate should confirm Barrett, the poll found. These numbers were up 9 percentage points since Trump first announced he was nominating Barrett on Sept. 26, according to the poll.

Mike Flynn Seeks to Remove Judge Overseeing Case, Alleging Bias

October 8, 2020October 7, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

In a dramatic escalation of a long-running feud, lawyers for former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn on Wednesday filed a motion to disqualify U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan from considering the request to dismiss their client’s case, arguing the jurist has demonstrated “contempt and disdain for the defense.”

The filing by attorneys Sidney Powell and Jesse Binnall came after the defense and judge clashed several times at a hearing last week. It also follows Flynn, retire Army lieutenant general, having tried to get an appeals court to issue a writ of mandamus forcing Sullivan to immediately dismiss the case.

Commentary: Three Inconvenient Truths 60 Minutes Forgot to Mention in Its Story on California Wildfires and Climate Change

October 8, 2020October 7, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

CBS journalist Scott Pelley recently visited Butte County, California, to report on the wildfires devastating the Golden State.

Government statistics show that more than 8,300 wildfires have burned some 4 million acres to date. The flames have claimed 31 lives and destroyed nearly 8,700 structures. One of those structures belonged to Fire Station 61 Chief Reed Rankin, who saw his home reduced to a charred skeleton after a September blaze.

Biden Says He Would Make Abortion Access ‘Law of the Land’ If Amy Coney Barrett Moves to Overturn Roe v. Wade

October 8, 2020October 7, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

Former Vice President Joe Biden said Monday that making Roe v. Wade the law of the land is the only “responsible response” to possible attempts from Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett to overrule Roe.

Biden discussed the possibility that Barrett will be confirmed to the United States Supreme Court during a Monday NBC town hall.

White House to Block FDA Vaccine Guidelines That Would’ve Delayed Approval Past Election

October 8, 2020October 7, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

The White House blocked new vaccine guidelines proposed by health officials within the Trump administration, which likely would have pushed the approval of a coronavirus vaccine past the election.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is in charge of approving vaccines, proposed the guidance on Sept. 21, according to The New York Times. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows raised concerns with one provision of the guidelines which said vaccine trial subjects should be examined for two months following their final dose, a senior administration official told the Times.

95 Percent of Silicon Valley Donations Have Gone to Joe Biden

October 8, 2020October 7, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

A new Wired report shows overwhelming support from Silicon Valley employees for Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden. The magazine states that almost 95 percent of donations from employees at Silicon Valley tech giants such as Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, and Oracle went to the Democratic presidential nominee, Breitbart reports.

‘Oil Barons and Railroad Tycoons’: Big Tech Must Be Restructured, House Report Says

October 8, 2020October 7, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google have abused their monopoly power and must undergo significant restructuring, according to a House report released Tuesday.

Lawmakers who wrote the report said the four tech companies had grown into monopolies akin to “oil barons and railroad tycoons” and suggested an overhaul to U.S. antitrust laws, according to The New York Times. The lengthy report, spearheaded by Democratic Reps. Jerrold Nadler and David Cicilline, is the result of a 15-month House Judiciary Committee investigation into the companies collectively known as Big Tech.

Kamala Harris Dodges Addressing Whether China Is an Ally or Adversary

October 8, 2020October 8, 2020 Georgia Star News Staff

Democratic California Sen. Kamala Harris dodged addressing whether China is an ally or an adversary during Wednesday night’s vice presidential debates.

Moderator Susan Page asked Harris how she would describe the United State’s “fundamental relationship with China,” asking Harris whether China is a competitor, adversary, or enemy. Harris dodged addressing this question and instead focused on President Donald Trump’s actions.

In the Dead of Night, House Speaker Filler-Corn Removed Confederate Statues for $83K – and Lied About the Documents, Lawsuit Claims

October 8, 2020October 8, 2020 Corinne Murdock

Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax) faces a lawsuit for falsely denying the existence of records documenting the $83,000 removal of the Capitol’s Confederate monuments.

The plaintiff in the case, David Webster II, requested documents under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) from Filler-Corn upon learning she’d removed the Confederate statues and busts. In her response, Filler-Corn states repeatedly “The requested records do not exist.” However, Webster II discovered many of the documents in question.

Show Me the Money: Congressman Morgan Griffith Outlines Pelosi Plan to Line the Pockets of Fat Cat Millionaires in Bogus Stimulus Plan

October 8, 2020 Julie Carr

Friday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host Fredricks welcomed Virginia Congressman Morgan Griffith to the show to outline why Trump ceased negotiating a second CARES Act and Nancy Pelosi’s tax cuts for her millionaire donors.

Richmond’s Summer of Blood

October 8, 2020October 7, 2020 Eric Burk

Richmond Police Chief Gerald Smith announced 24 homicides occurred July 1 through September 3, a 60 percent increase compared with the same period in 2019. In Smith’s quarterly report violent crime overall was up four percent. Cases of arson were up by 17 percent, for a total of 21.
“After the civil unrest we still have experienced some arsons,” Smith said. Smith was hired at the beginning of July after downtown Richmond suffered violent protests.

Gov. Northam Fights to Keep Virginia in Perpetual Shutdown

October 8, 2020October 8, 2020 Eric Burk

Only 22 percent of ventilators in Virginia hospitals were in use as of Wednesday. Fifty-two percent of ICU beds were available, according to the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association. Only 1,003 potential COVID-19 patients were currently hospitalized. However, Governor Ralph Northam’s executive orders surrounding social distancing and mask wearing remain in effect.

Top High School in U.S. Releases New Admissions Plan Based on ‘Racial Equity’ Lottery Instead of Academic Merit

October 8, 2020October 7, 2020 Corinne Murdock

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) released a new admissions plan for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology largely based on lottery rather than academic merit. The new plan proposed by FCPS Superintendent Scott Brabrand omits the current standardized testing requirements.
FCPS says it will admit 100 students based on high evaluations. The high school would select the remaining 400 at random through something they call a “merit lottery.”

TRUMPDATE: Latest From the Team Trump Virginia Campaign for October 8

October 8, 2020October 7, 2020 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 26 days until the election on November 3 – and 23 days until early voting in Virginia closes. The deadline to register to vote in time for the 2020 election is October 13, six days from today.

Madison and Main Founder David Saunders Talks About His New App, COVID Wise

October 8, 2020October 7, 2020 Julie Carr

Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host Fredricks welcomed Madison & Main Founder David Saunders to the show to talk about his new app COVID Wise and how it works.