September 3, 2020 - The Virginia Star

Biden Meets Jacob Blake’s Family to Start Wisconsin Trip

September 3, 2020September 3, 2020 The Associated Press

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden began a visit to the battleground state of Wisconsin on Thursday by meeting with the family of Jacob Blake, the Black man whose shooting by a white police officer sparked days of sometimes violent and destructive protests.

Biden’s trip to Kenosha, the first of his general election campaign against President Donald Trump, is testing his pitch that he’s a unifying figure, able to lead the country through a national reckoning with systemic racism along with the pandemic and its economic fallout.

New Jobless Claims Fall Below One Million, Beat Wall Street Expectations

September 3, 2020September 3, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

The number of Americans filing new unemployment claims decreased to 881,000 last week as the economy continues to suffer the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Department of Labor.

The Department of Labor figure released Thursday represented a decrease of new jobless claims compared to the week ending on Aug. 22, in which there were 1,006,000 new jobless claims reported.

JMU Temporarily Moves Classes Online, Sends Students Home Due to COVID-19 Concerns

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Jacob Taylor

James Madison University (JMU) is temporarily moving classes online and sending students back home because of a rise in COVID-19 cases and a lack of room for positive students to quarantine, JMU President Jonathan Alger announced Tuesday.

The announcement from Alger to the JMU community comes less than a week after in-person classes had resumed.

State Senator Bryce Reeves Commentary: Waste, Fraud, Abuse, and Virginia Democrats

September 3, 2020September 3, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

While Virginia’s government is experiencing massive budget shortfalls because of the coronavirus pandemic, Democrats in the House of Delegates chose to line their own pockets rather than help their constituents.

On Tuesday, August 18, General Assembly members convened for a special session to address the budget, criminal justice reform, and COVID-19 impacts. Before we gaveled in, Governor Ralph Northam and Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne gave a presentation to both money committees in the General Assembly regarding the fiscal impact the coronavirus has had on our Commonwealth. The conclusion was that Virginia is experiencing a $2.7 billion budget shortfall. And in times like these, every penny counts and should be spent responsibly.

‘I am Antifa’: This Antifa Supporter Could Be Portland’s Next Mayor

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

Portland’s next mayor could be an open supporter of Antifa, the violent, far-left movement whose members have unleashed violence in cities across America.

Left-wing activist Sarah Iannarone will face incumbent Democratic Mayor Ted Wheeler in a runoff election on Nov. 3 after neither candidate received a majority of votes in the first round of voting.

Nancy Pelosi Ignores COVID-19 Rules, Gets Hair Done

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was filmed breaking San Francisco Covid-19 rules by getting her hair done indoors and without a mask, Fox News reported.

In security footage shared with the channel, the California Democrat can be seen walking through eSalon in the city’s Pacific Heights neighborhood at around 3:10 p.m. Monday, with wet hair and no mask on her face. Pelosi is followed by the stylist, who is wearing a mask.

Commentary: Bannon Case May Rest with Stockman Petition

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon was recently indicted by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York for his role in the highly successful “We Build the Wall” online fundraising program started by Purple Heart recipient, triple-amputee Iraq war veteran Brian Kolfage. Kolfage was also indicted.

Bannon, Kolfage, and two other defendants who were indicted in this matter pleaded not guilty on Monday, and their trial is set for May 24 next year.

Erin Perrine Weighs in on Joe Biden’s Shrinking Poll Numbers and President Trump’s Leadership for America

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Julie Carr

Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks show, host John Fredericks welcomed the Director of Press Communications for the Trump-Pence 2020 Campaign, Erin Perrine to discuss Joe Biden’s shrinking poll numbers and President Trump’s continued leadership for Americans.

133 Illegal Immigrants and Nearly $48 Million Worth of Drugs Seized at Texas Border in 5 Days, CBP Reports Show

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

Customs and Border Protection arrested 133 illegal immigrants and seized roughly 7,630 pounds of narcotics were seized at the border between Texas and Mexico over five days, according to the agency.

Authorities intervened in drug smuggling, human smuggling and trafficking and illegal crossing attempts, and recovered around $47,863,472 worth of narcotics, according to 15 Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reports between Aug. 25 and Aug. 28.

The John Fredericks Show: Corey Lewandowski Touts Trump’s Stamina and Momentum

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Julie Carr

Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredericks welcomed Corey Lewandowski to discuss Trump’s momentum and how his campaign is now driving the narrative.

Battleground Michigan: Lawsuits Challenge State’s Coronavirus Restrictions, Ballot Rules

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

A pair of lawsuits filed against top-ranking state executives in Michigan seek to challenge the recent policies the two Democrats have put in place as part of their efforts to mitigate the coronavirus outbreak there.

The suits, filed by the Thomas More Society on behalf of several Michigan plaintiffs, argue that Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson have, respectively, suppressed political speech and unlawfully altered the state’s absentee voting system, according to a press release from the Thomas More Society.

DOJ and DHS Confirm Active Federal Probe into Criminal Activity and Funding Related to Violent Riots

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

The Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security confirmed this week that the DOJ is investigating the organizers and funders behind the violent riots that have engulfed the country since May.

“We are investigating coordinated, criminal activity—not First Amendment activity—and violence related to riots, destruction of federal property and violence against law enforcement officers,” said DOJ spokesperson Kerri Kupec on Tuesday.

Virginia Congressman Ben Cline on Nancy Pelosi’s Hypocrisy and Elements of the Proposed New Stimulus Package

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Julie Carr

Wednesday morning on The John Fredericks Show, host John Fredericks welcomed Virginia’s sixth district congressman Ben Cline to weigh in on Nancy Pelosi’s no mask-wearing hair salon visit and the current stimulus package deal points under consideration.

Commentary: Trump’s ‘If by Whiskey’ Speech

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

In 1952, Mississippi State Senator Noah Sweat famously gave a speech on the subject of prohibition, which was still highly debated in the South. Promising not to shy away from controversy, he spoke:

Biden to Visit Kenosha on Thursday After Blasting Trump for Visiting Riot-Torn City

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

After the Biden campaign criticized President Trump’s trip to Kenosha Wisconsin as “self-centered” and unproductive, former Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, have announced that they will visit the riot-torn city on Thursday.

“Vice President Biden will hold a community meeting in Kenosha to bring together Americans to heal and address the challenges we face,” his campaign said in a press release. “After, Vice President Biden and Dr. Biden will make a local stop.”

Commentary: When Joe Does Iraq

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

Fourteen years ago today marks the low point of the Iraq War. Mounting U.S. casualties and raging sectarian violence in an undeclared civil war was the order of the day. That changed late in the afternoon when Sheik Sattar Bezia abu Risha handed me a hand written three page document that would become the charter of the Anbar Awakening. The very thought of Iraqi tribal leaders siding with American forces, especially in Ramadi — the most dangerous city in the world, and the site of the first al Qaeda Caliphate — was unprecedented alliance. Anbar Was Lost was both the front page headline and the consensus intelligence assessment, and any mention of progress was deemed unbelievable. We had found an ally that was willing to fight the terrorist of Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) with us. Sadly, most of those freedom fighters are dead today because of the poor policy decisions and neglect of the Obama-Biden White House.

Commentary: Why Does Democrat Michael Bills Keep Buying up Ex-Republican Politicians?

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

“I went, wait a minute, they literally are writing the laws for a couple million dollars a year in contributions and some lobbyists, I can do that.”

— Michael Bills, “A multimillionaire sets out to conquer Dominion,” Virginia Mercury (October 2019)

After Five More Charged in Connection with June 10 Protests, Leading Virginia Democrats Appear at Rally Supporting Senator Lucas

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Eric Burk

Senator Louise Lucas (D-Portsmouth) appeared alongside former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe (D), Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax, and U.S. Congressman Bobby Scott (D-Newport News) at a rally of over 100 people outside a Portsmouth church on Tuesday, according to reporting by The Associated Press. The rally came after police charged five more people in relation to a June 10 protest.

Senate Advances Bipartisan Bill to Establish Commission on Civil Rights and Policing, Among Others

September 3, 2020September 2, 2020 Jacob Taylor

RICHMOND, Virginia – In the first fully in-person session of the week, the Senate advanced a bill that would establish a civil rights and policing commission on Wednesday.

The commission’s purpose is to review civil liberties, civil justice and policing in Virginia, and to make policy recommendations to the General Assembly.

Freitas and Good Will Appear on Ballots After Lawsuit Challenging Paperwork Filing Extensions Dismissed

September 3, 2020September 3, 2020 Eric Burk

Delegate Nick Freitas (R-Culpepper) and fellow Republican congressional candidate Bob Good will appear on ballots this November after a circuit court judge dismissed a lawsuit that tried to block the candidates from the election. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) filed the lawsuit challenging the State Board of Elections’ (BOE) authority to grant filing extensions to the candidates. Freitas is running for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District. Good is running for Virginia’s 5th Congressional District.