January 2021 - Page 7 of 10 - The Virginia Star

U.S. House Moving Toward Beginning Impeachment Proceedings Against Trump

January 10, 2021January 9, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

House Democrats could begin formal impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump next week, seeking again to initiate the process to remove him from office, this time during the final two weeks of his term in office.

Multiple media outlets were reporting Friday afternoon that U.S. Reps. Jamie Raskin, D-Md.; Ted Lieu, D-Calif.; and David Cicilline, D-R.I., had drafted a single article of impeachment against Trump over the events that led to Wednesday’s violent incursion of the U.S. Capitol, which led to five deaths.

#Twexit Movement Picks Up Steam After Trump Banned from Twitter

January 10, 2021January 9, 2021 Peter D'Abrosca

Many Twitter users are vowing to leave the platform after President Donald J. Trump was permanently banned from using the service Friday evening.

“Twitter bans Trump, but won’t check communist Chinese propaganda defending brainwashing & forced sterilizations of minorities,” the Georgia Log Cabin Republicans said, adding the hashtag #twexit.

National Security Officials in Trump Admin Say They’re Being Snubbed for Jobs, Compared to ‘Hitler Youth’

January 10, 2021January 9, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

National security officials who work for President Donald Trump are being snubbed by potential future employers and compared to “Hitler Youth” days before president-elect Joe Biden will take office, Politico reported.

Seven former and current officials spoke with Politico and detailed their job search heading out of the Trump administration. A number of high ranking Trump administration officials resign over the president’s part in the storming of the United States Capitol building Wednesday.

Commentary: China Needs to Pay Its Debts to Us

January 10, 2021January 9, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

These decisive words from Donald Trump’s 2017 inaugural speech will shape American political discourse for decades to come:

Biden Says Trump Not Attending His Inauguration Is ‘a Good Thing’

January 10, 2021January 9, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

President-elect Joe Biden said Friday that President Donald Trump not attending his inauguration is “a good thing.”

“I was told that, on the way up here, way over here, that he indicated he wasn’t going to show up at the inauguration. One of the few things he and I have ever agreed on. It’s a good thing, him not showing up,” Biden said.

Republican National Committee Announces Support of ‘Keep Nine Amendment’ to Prevent Packing of Supreme Court

January 10, 2021January 9, 2021 Jason M. Reynolds

The Republican National Committee (RNC) has come out in support of the proposed “Keep Nine Amendment” that, if enacted, would prevent packing the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Resolutions Committee adopted the resolution of support, the RNC said in a statement Friday.

Biden Calls Romney ‘a Man of Enormous Integrity,’ Years After ‘Back in Chains’ Attack

January 10, 2021January 9, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

President-elect Joe Biden on Friday called Sen. Mitt Romney a “man of enormous integrity,” a stark difference in rhetoric from the presidential campaign trail in 2012, when Biden told an audience with many African Americans that Romney would “put y’all back in chains.”

At a press conference on Friday, Biden said that he spoke to Romney earlier in the day about his opposition to GOP-led efforts to question the results of the 2020 election.

Wisconsin Teacher Placed on Non-Disciplinary Leave After Apparently Attending D.C. Rally

January 10, 2021January 9, 2021 Eric Burk

A high school teacher from Burlington, Wisconsin is on non-disciplinary administrative leave after a student raised concerns about an assignment given while the teacher was on vacation in Washington, D.C. this past week, according to a district press release. Social studies high school teacher Jeff Taff apparently assigned students to watch a video about alleged election fraud, according to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Virginia Delegate McNamara Pre-Files Legislation Exempting Forgiven PPP Loans from State Taxes

January 10, 2021 Eric Burk

Delegate Joe McNamara (R-Roanoke) has pre-filed HB 1787, legislation for the 2021 General Assembly session that will exempt business owners from state taxes on forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. PPP loans are part of broad COVID-19 relief funding meant to help small businesses keep paying their employees.

When the PPP was passed by Congress in March 2020, the forgivable loans were exempt from federal taxes, but Virginia’s tax structure means the forgiven PPP loans are not automatically exempt from state taxes. McNamara said that could lead to confusion for business owners.

Virginia Delegate McNamara Pre-Files Legislation Exempting Forgiven PPP Loans from State Taxes

January 10, 2021January 9, 2021 Eric Burk

Murkowski Becomes First Republican Senator to Call on Trump to Resign, Report

January 9, 2021January 9, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

Sen. Lisa Murkowski on Friday called on President Trump to resign, making the Alaska Republican the first in the GOP Senate conference to publicly call on him to step down.

Virginia Health Facilities Had Advanced Knowledge of Unannounced COVID-19 Inspections, State Inspector General Says

January 9, 2021January 8, 2021 Jacob Taylor

State health facilities operated by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) were tipped off with advance knowledge on unannounced COVID-19 protocol inspections, according to a report from the Office of the State Inspector General (OSIG) released last Thursday.

The report claimed that DBHDS personnel shared detailed information regarding inspections with as many as 11 facilities throughout the Commonwealth.

Commentary: The Left Finds Time for One More Big Lie Against Trump

January 9, 2021January 8, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

As a preface, let there be no doubt that those who violated the law, acted violently, trespassed federal grounds on Wednesday, January 6, should be prosecuted and punished as prescribed by law for their crimes just as Antifa, Black Lives Matter, and other criminals who brought violence, destruction, bloodshed, and mayhem to Portland, Seattle, and so many other American cities during the months leading up to the presidential election should be arrested, prosecuted, and punished as the law demands for their crimes.

House Homeland Security Chair Urges Authorities to Put Capitol Rioters on ‘No-Fly List’

January 9, 2021January 8, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, on Thursday urged the TSA and the FBI to place certain members of the Capitol mob on the “No-Fly List.”

“Given the heinous domestic terrorist attack on the U.S. Capitol yesterday, I am urging the Transportation Security Administration [TSA] and the Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] to use their authorities to add the names of all identified individuals involved in the attack to the federal No-Fly List and keep them off planes,” Thompson said in a press release.

Commentary: It’s NFL Playoff Time! John Fredericks’ Selections

January 9, 2021January 9, 2021 John Fredericks

Well, here we are. Playoffs. Not a moment to too soon. A distraction from endless lockdowns, politics, and a very intense year.

In celebration and preparation of legalized online sports wagering coming to Virginia in the next 30 days or so, we will start a new weekly column with my NFL playoff selections against the spread.

Pfizer Vaccine Effective Against Contagious Coronavirus Strain, Study Shows

January 9, 2021January 8, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

The vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech protects against a highly contagious strain of coronavirus that originated in South Africa and the U.K., according to a study published Thursday.

The study, which was commissioned by Pfizer, is likely to alleviate some fears that the virus variant would evade protections offered by the vaccine.

Commentary: President Trump’s Tenure Didn’t Have to End This Way

January 9, 2021January 9, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

In the end, almost everyone got what they deserved.

The president’s Achilles’ heel—relying on the wrong people to advance his political interests—led to his final ouster this week. Donald Trump ran out of runway and instead of preparing for a soft landing, he pumped the gas. It’s hard to blame him: His court challenges had been thwarted by the very judges he elevated to the federal bench, his hodgepodge legal team whirred in defeat, and Republican senators he helped elect quickly turned on him.

Parler Booted from Google Play; Apple Threatens to Ban It from App Store

January 9, 2021January 8, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

Parler, the social media app that has billed itself as a free-speech alternative to Twitter, was banned from Google Play on Friday over its moderation policies, and is reportedly facing banishment from Apple’s App Store unless it modifies those same policies.

US Economy Lost 140,000 Jobs in December, Economists Expected a Modest Gain

January 9, 2021January 8, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

The U.S. economy reported a decrease of 140,000 jobs in December while unemployment stayed unchanged at 6.7%, according to Department of Labor data released Friday.

Total non-farm payroll employment declined by 140,000 in November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics report, and the number of unemployed persons stayed stagnant at 10.7 million. The number marked the first time since April, the U.S. reported negative job growth.

Commentary: Our Future

January 9, 2021January 8, 2021 Admin

This is no time for despair. This is no time for discouragement, and this is certainly no time for violence. Now is the time to use every constitutional prerogative at our disposal to peacefully fight for the future of our country.

I was deeply disappointed by the outcomes in the Georgia elections and the congressional certification of the electoral college vote making Joe Biden the next President of the United States. However, this is the reality we face, and it is time to acknowledge it.

Biden Has Finally Announced His Entire Cabinet. Here’s What You Need to Know

January 9, 2021January 8, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

Since President-elect Joe Biden won the election in November, he has been announcing the Cabinet nominees who will help him achieve his administration’s agenda.

His nominees, if confirmed by the Senate after he takes office, would comprise the most diverse Cabinet in American history, a promise which Biden made while campaigning. Below is a list of who he has chosen to head departments throughout the executive branch.

COVID-19 Accelerates Harrisonburg City Schools Plan to Increase Outdoor Learning

January 9, 2021January 8, 2021 Eric Burk

COVID-19 is accelerating Harrisonburg City Schools’ push for more outdoor classrooms. At a school board meeting Tuesday, Superintendent Michael Richards said outdoor classrooms would provide more space for safe in-person classes. But Richards said the plan isn’t just a temporary plan to solve a problem caused by the pandemic.

NFL Wild Card Weekend: Washington Football Team Hosts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

January 9, 2021January 8, 2021 Jacob Taylor

The NFL playoffs have finally arrived and the headline matchup of Wild Card Weekend day one will take place on Saturday night when the Washington Football Team faces the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Washington (7-9) will host the Buccaneers (11-5) at FedEx Field, and will be looking to spoil Tampa Bay and quarterback Tom Brady’s Super Bowl aspirations.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger Bashes Republicans in CNN Interview, Intends to Certify Runoff Election for Democrats

January 9, 2021January 8, 2021 Peter D'Abrosca

CNN found a new darling in Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R), who bashed Republicans and President Donald J. Trump in an interview with the network Thursday.

“For two long months, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger endured, standing in the firing line of Trump’s baseless attacks,” CNN’s Amara Walker said in a television interview featuring Raffensperger.

Facebook Bans Virginia Senator Amanda Chase from Posting for 30 Days

January 9, 2021 Eric Burk

State Senator Amanda Chase (R-Chesterfield) said Friday that she has been banned from posting to her public Facebook page for 30 days, with an additional ban on posting live video for another 30 days. In addition to the ban, Facebook removed some of her posts, including a video showing a woman being shot in the U.S. Capitol and flagged as false Chase’s claims of Antifa involvement in the Wednesday Capitol riot.

FBI Raids Locations Tied to Former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada, Plus Additional Lawmakers and Staff

January 9, 2021 Jason M. Reynolds

The FBI on Friday reportedly raided locations tied to former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada (R-Franklin) and Republican allies over allegations of possible public corruption.

Current Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) issued a statement about the raid that took place at the Cordell Hull Building in Nashville.

Facebook Bans Virginia Senator Amanda Chase from Posting for 30 Days

January 9, 2021January 8, 2021 Eric Burk

Twitter Bans President Trump Permanently

January 8, 2021January 8, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

Social media giant Twitter on Friday night permanently banned President Donald Trump from its servers for what it said were violations of the Twitter rules.

Democrats Set to Control the Sentate as David Perdue Concedes to Jon Ossoff

January 8, 2021January 8, 2021 Peter D'Abrosca

In a move that will effectively give Democrats the majority in the U.S. Senate, incumbent U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA) has conceded his reelection bid to his Democrat challenger.

In a concession statement, Perdue did not mention his opponent, Senator-Elect Jon Ossoff, by name.

Trump Says He Will Not Attend Biden’s Inauguration

January 8, 2021January 8, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

President Trump tweeted Friday – after Twitter reactivated his account – that he will not attend Democrat Joe Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration and that his supporters should feel assured that they will “not be disrespected or treated unfairly” as the White House turns over to a new administration.

Henrico Public Schools Delay Return to In-Person Learning Because of COVID

January 8, 2021January 7, 2021 Jacob Taylor

Henrico County Public Schools (HCPS) announced on Tuesday that the division is delaying the return to in-person learning for pre-kindergarten and elementary school students until the end of January because of the area’s current COVID-19 numbers.

HCPS Superintendent Amy Cashwell made the announcement and discussed the subsequent changes to the timeline for returning to the classroom in an online message to families.

Police: Protest Outside Hawley Home Not ‘That Big of a Deal’

January 8, 2021January 7, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

The Vienna Police department who responded to protestors who gathered outside of Sen. Josh Hawley’s (R-Mo.) Virginia home Monday evening said “people were peaceful” and left after officers explained local picketing laws, contradicting Hawley who said protesters had threatened his family and “vandalized” his door.

Protesters gathered outside Hawley’s Northern Virginia home in response to his announcement that he would be opposing President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory, The Hill reported.

Paul’s Annual Report Details More Than $54B in Wasteful Federal Government Spending

January 8, 2021January 7, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

Congress “spent as never before, doing so ostensibly without a care” in 2020, greatly contributing to what is now a $3.1 trillion deficit, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, argues in his annual wasteful spending report.

At the same time, initial 15-day lockdowns to stop the spread of the coronavirus turned into nearly year-long lockdowns, Paul said, “wreaking havoc on Americans’ health, sanity, and economy, while also empowering petty tyrants across the country.”

Tennessee Senate Considers Bill to Allow First Responders to Live Outside the Jurisdictions They Serve

January 8, 2021 Jason M. Reynolds

State Senator Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown) on Wednesday filed SB 29 which would allow first responders to live where they choose, the Tennessee Senate Republican Caucus said in a statement.

Kelsey posted on the caucus’ Facebook page, “This is a public safety bill. It will enable us to hire more police officers, which will help us fight our rising crime rates.”

Capitol Police Say Four Dead, 52 Arrested at Wednesday’s Massive ‘Stop the Steal’ Rally

January 8, 2021January 7, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

Washington, D.C. police announced Wednesday that four people died during riots following the Stop the Steal rally on Capitol Hill.

Rioters stormed the United States Capitol building Wednesday, committing acts of vandalism and postponing the certification process as members of Congress were forced to evacuate the building.

Between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, authorities have made at least 68 arrests, police announced Thursday. Five of these arrests were for illegal possession of firearms, and two people were arrested for other weapons, police said. Police also said they arrested 28 additional people for violating curfew.

New Jobless Claims Come in at 787,000, Economists Expected 815,000

January 8, 2021January 7, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

The number of Americans filing new unemployment claims stayed at 787,000 last week as the economy continued to suffer the effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to the Department of Labor.

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) figure released Thursday represented no change in the number of new jobless claims compared to the week ending Jan. 2, in which there were also 787,000 new jobless claims reported. Roughly 19.2 million Americans continue to collect unemployment benefits, according to the BLS report Thursday.

Rollout Leaves More Than 70 Percent of COVID-19 Vaccines Unused

January 8, 2021January 7, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

More than 70 percent of COVID-19 vaccines have gone unused, still sitting in freezers US health officials said on Monday.

In Daytona Beach, hundreds of senior citizens camped out in their vehicles in chilly overnight temperatures in the low 40s to secure a place in a vaccination line Tuesday morning, a day after seniors jammed the roads to the vaccination site, NBC Miami reported.

Biden Says Black Lives Matter Protesters Would ‘Have Been Treated Very Differently’ Than Capitol Rioters

January 8, 2021January 7, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday said Black Lives Matter activists would “have been treated very, very differently” if they had stormed the Capitol instead of President Donald Trump supporters.

“No one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protesting yesterday, there wouldn’t — they wouldn’t have been treated very, very differently than the mob of thugs that stormed the Capitol,” Biden said during a speech in Wilmington, Delaware.

Commentary: It’s Time for Mitch to Go

January 8, 2021January 7, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who currently holds what I suppose we now call the Office of the Outgoing Senate Majority Leader, has to go. He’s a man unsuited for the times. The results prove it.

It is McConnell who has been the architect of Republican defeat in the Senate. Heading into the 2016 election, there were 54 Republican senators. After the election there were 52. Then, in 2018, McConnell backed the disastrous candidacy of Martha McSally for an open seat in Arizona. It was McConnell who picked her and crowded out other viable candidates. That year McSally lost by 2.4 percentage points to Kyrsten Sinema while, at the same time, Republican Doug Ducey cruised to a nearly 15-point win as Arizona’s governor.

Senators Blackburn, Hagerty Back Away from Trump to Certify Electoral College

January 8, 2021 Jason M. Reynolds

U.S Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty (both R-TN) reversed course late Wednesday night and allowed Arizona’s disputed electoral votes to be counted, WJHL reported.

Just last week, the duo had pledged to contest the Electoral College results, The Tennessee Star reported.

All Four Virginia Republican Congressmen Challenge Pennsylvania’s Electors

January 8, 2021 Eric Burk

All four of Virginia Republican congressmen voted in support of objections to at least one state’s electors, joining 147 Republican representatives from across the country, according to The Washington Post. Congressmen Ben Cline (R-VA-06), Bob Good (R-VA-05), Morgan Griffith (R-VA-09), and Rob Wittman (R-VA-01) all voted to support objections to Pennsylvania’s electors. Of the four, Wittman was the only one who did not also support a challenge to Arizona’s electors. The objections for both states were defeated, and objections to other states did not have enough support in the 117th Congress to go to a vote.

Retired Judges Select Eight Citizens to Serve on Virginia Redistricting Commission

January 8, 2021January 7, 2021 Jacob Taylor

A selection committee of five retired judges on Wednesday chose the eight citizens who will serve on the Virginia Redistricting Commission, completing the membership determination process for the newly-implemented body tasked with proposing plans for redrawing the Commonwealth’s 111 congressional and legislative districts.

The judges met for several hours on Wednesday morning and had to come up with the eight names from a pool of 62 finalists.

Dominion Energy Announces Equity Scholarship for Minority College Students

January 8, 2021January 7, 2021 Eric Burk

Utilities provider Dominion Energy has announced $500,000 in 2021 scholarships aimed at helping underrepresented minority high school seniors or graduates enrolling in college or vocational schools for the upcoming academic year.

“We have partnered with historically black colleges and universities for nearly 40 years, offering volunteer and financial support,” Dominion Energy’s Executive Chairman Thomas F. Farrell, II, said in a press release. “This scholarship program is another way for us to support the students who will one day lead our nation.”

Five Virginians Arrested for Alleged Involvement in Wednesday D.C. Unrest

January 8, 2021January 7, 2021 Eric Burk

Five Virginians were arrested Wednesday for involvement in unrest at the nation’s capital on Wednesday. A U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) press release states that Cindy Fitchett and Douglas Sweet, both from Virginia’s Middle Peninsula, were arrested for alleged unlawful entry. According to a list from the department, Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police (MPD) arrested three other Virginians, including Daniel Clavijo for an alleged curfew violation and Julian Snell and Timothy Wolfe for allegedly carrying a pistol without a license. The USCP have jurisdiction over Capitol grounds, while the MPD has jurisdiction over the rest of the city.

All Four Virginia Republican Congressmen Challenge Pennsylvania’s Electors

January 8, 2021January 7, 2021 Eric Burk

President Trump Addresses the Nation, Urges Calm and Healing

January 7, 2021January 7, 2021 Julie Carr

President Donald Trump released a video Thursday night condemning the people who broke into the Capitol this week. His focus is now on a smooth transition of power. President-elect Joe Biden is set to be inaugurated on January 20.

Analysis: How the GOP Lost Control of Washington, and What Comes Next

January 7, 2021January 7, 2021 Admin

ow that Democrats are poised to control the White House, Senate and House, the traditional game of finger-pointing and recrimination will begin inside the GOP.

The first instinct for politicians will be to assign blame, call names and jockey for position. But the 2020 election wasn’t just an election, it was a political watershed in which the rules and strategy for winning were rewritten.

Congress Affirms Biden Electoral College Votes; Trump Agrees to ‘Orderly Transition’

January 7, 2021January 7, 2021 The Center Square

A joint session of Congress, completing its work in the early morning hours of Thursday after lawmakers had been forced to flee their chambers by a violent invasion of the Capitol, affirmed that Joe Biden will be the next president of the United States.

The proceedings concluded shortly after 3:30 a.m. EST, drawing to a close an chaotic day in the nation’s house of laws that saw one person shot dead inside the building after some rioters breached its security during a massive rally to support President Trump.