February 2021 - Page 7 of 8 - The Virginia Star

Hawley Amendment Suggests Giving Planned Parenthood’s Federal Funds to Adoption

February 7, 2021February 6, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley introduced an amendment Thursday that would transfer federal funds given to Planned Parenthood to federal adoption and maternal health programs instead.

“Instead of abusing obscure Senate rules and procedures to give handouts to their favored constituents, why don’t Democrats work across the aisle to help mothers and children in need,” Hawley asked. “If Democrats are serious about unifying the country, then now is the time to drop divisive, partisan agendas and come together on an issue that all Americans can agree with.”

Democrats Unveil Bill That Would Limit Section 230 Protections

February 7, 2021February 6, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

Democrats have unveiled a bill that would limit Section 230 liability shields for social media companies, Reuters reported.

The SAFE Tech Act, proposed by Sens. Amy Klobuchar, Mazie Hirono and Mark Warner, aims to hold social media companies accountable such as Alphabet Inc’s Google, Twitter and Facebook for “enabling cyber-stalking, targeted harassment, and discrimination on their platforms,” according to a statement, Reuters reported.

John Fredericks Commentary: Super Bowl Selection – It’s Now or Never

February 7, 2021February 7, 2021 John Fredericks

Well here we are. Brady Vs. Mahones. Old vs.Young. Grizzled veteran vs. new phenom. Out with the old, in with the new.

I’m 6-6 ATS in the NFL playoffs, so this game makes it breaks it for my record: 7-6 beats 6-7.

Virginia GOP Candidates Start to Collect Endorsements

February 7, 2021February 6, 2021 Eric Burk

As the 2021 campaigns accelerate, Virginia’s GOP gubernatorial candidates have started to pick up some big name endorsements, including from two former governors for Delegate Kirk Cox and from influential grassroots organizer Martha Boneta for Pete Snyder.

“Pete is the trusted, proven conservative that we need to battle career politicians in Richmond that failed us when we needed them most. I want all Republicans to support Pete for governor,” Boneta said in her endorsement Thursday.

Virginia House Passes Bill Hamstringing Landlords

February 7, 2021February 6, 2021 Peter D'Abrosca

The Virginia House of Delegates Friday passed a bill that will bind landlords to tenants who do not pay rent.

The text of HB 2014, sponsored by Rep. Marcia Price (D-VA-95) says the following:

Democrats Kill Right-to-Work Repeal in Virginia House

February 6, 2021February 5, 2021 Eric Burk

Delegate Lee Carter’s right-to-work repeal died in crossover Friday, much like in the previous two years, but on Wednesday, Carter fought to give it one last chance. On the floor of the virtual House session, Carter raised a motion to discharge the bill from committee, a procedural move that would allow delegates to vote on hearing the bill in the House even though it had not been passed out of committee.

Carter said, “I’ve introduced this bill for the last three years running, and its fate in both previous years has been to die in crossover without a recorded vote on its final disposition.”

Commentary: Biden’s Rapidly Deflating Honeymoon Balloon

February 6, 2021February 5, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

After just two weeks, a few political realities are starting to encroach upon the Biden fairyland, whose nativity was heralded in Fox News’ Trump-hater Chris Wallace’s assertion that Biden’s inaugural address was the best in over 60 years.

After all the tear-jerking promises to emancipate Central American waifs from the “Auschwitz-like” cages, as they were called in Pelosi-speak (despite the fact that President Obama set them up), and the compassion-signaling to the open borders advocates, Biden punted. He reopened a “cage” claiming to emancipate the country from the “moral shame” of his predecessor. He is waiting for the reunification of children “ripped out of the arms” of migrant families, although he knows many of the children were brought in as public relations props by people to whom they are not related; in any case, they were abandoned.

Analysis: Snopes and the Fact-Checked Claims That Weren’t Really Made

February 6, 2021February 5, 2021 RealClearWire

A fact-checker’s role is to help readers distinguish fact from fiction by analyzing and rating claims. Sometimes, however, fact-checkers seem to create and check claims that no one is making, or, perhaps inadvertently, blame outlets or individuals for false claims that they didn’t make.

In a fact-check published Jan. 5, Snopes contributor Madison Dapcevich analyzed the claim “Legislation proposed in the New York State Senate in 2021 called for the establishment of COVID-19 ‘detention camps,’” rating this a “Mixture” of truth and falsehood.

Biden Expected to Increase Amount of Refugees Admitted into U.S.

February 6, 2021February 5, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

The Biden administration plans to announce on Thursday that it will increase the cap on the number of refugees to more than eight times the level at which the Trump administration left it.

President Joe Biden is expected to announce the move during a visit to the State Department. The Trump administration had drastically reduced the refugee admissions cap to only 15,000 for this fiscal year, the lowest since 1980, CNN reports.

Eleven Republicans Vote With Democrats to Strip Marjorie Taylor Greene of Her Committee Posts

February 6, 2021February 5, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

By a vote of 230 to 199, the U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday to remove Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) from her committee posts. Eleven Republican voted with the Democrats to remove Greene from the committees.

Democrats in the House forced the vote after several of Green’s controversial social media posts surfaced, triggering a backlash among liberals.

Bank of America Gives Customer Data to Federal Authorities After Capitol Protests

February 6, 2021February 5, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

The mega-bank Bank of America has been giving private information about its customers to the federal government following the mostly peaceful protests at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, as reported by Fox News.

The report comes from Tucker Carlson’s show Tucker Carlson Tonight, which obtained exclusive documents showing that Bank of America went through the private data and transaction history of all of its more than 60 million customers. This was due to the bank coming to an agreement with the federal government to use this information to identify so-called “extremists” who were present for the Capitol protests.

Growing Chorus of Lawmakers Join Effort to Prevent Packing Supreme Court

February 6, 2021February 5, 2021 Jason M. Reynolds

An organization dedicated to preserving the independence of the U.S. Supreme Court reports it has won several large victories in the past week.

Keep Nine said in a statement that Republican Gov. Doug Ducey of Arizona has endorsed its work, making him the first governor to do so.

Commentary: Teachers Unions Continue to Block School Reopenings Across America

February 6, 2021February 5, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

As district school closures enter their 11th month, many parents are frustrated and angry. They may see private schools that have been open for in-person learning since the start of the academic year and wonder why their own children are forced to endure remote schooling indefinitely. They may ask why in some parts of the country district schools have been open for in-person learning for months.

TIME Magazine Lays Out How the 2020 Election Was Rigged

February 6, 2021February 5, 2021 Julie Carr

Hosts of War Room Pandemic Stephen K. Bannon and Raheem Kassam welcome guest Dave Ramaswamy to dissect the recent TIME Magazine 6,500 word article written by Molly Ball on how the 2020 election was rigged.

Steve Bannon Presents ‘War Room: Pandemic’

February 6, 2021February 5, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

An all new LIVE STREAM of War Room: Pandemic starts at 9 a.m. Central Time on Saturday.

Former White House Chief Strategist Stephen K. Bannon began the daily War Room: Pandemic radio show and podcast on January 25, when news of the virus was just beginning to leak out of China around the Lunar New Year. Bannon and co-hosts bring listeners exclusive analysis and breaking updates from top medical, public health, economic, national security, supply chain and geopolitical experts weekdays from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon ET.

Johnson & Johnson Files for Emergency Authorization for Its Coronavirus Vaccine

February 6, 2021February 5, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

Johnson & Johnson filed for emergency use authorization from the FDA on Thursday for its coronavirus vaccine.

The drug maker’s application followed its announcement that its vaccine was 72% effective in combating the virus. Although that’s slightly lower than Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines, Johnson & Johnson’s requires one dose instead of two.

U.S. Added 49,000 Jobs in January, Unemployment Rate Fell to 6.3 Percent

February 6, 2021February 5, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

The U.S. economy reported an increase of 49,000 jobs in January while the unemployment rate fell to 6.3%, according to Department of Labor data released Friday.

Total non-farm payroll employment increased by 49,000 in January, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics report, and the number of unemployed persons fell to 10.1 million. Economists projected 50,000 Americans to be added to payrolls and the unemployment rate to increase to come in at 6.7% prior to Friday’s report, according to the WSJ.

Controversial Biden Executive Order on New Refugees Likely to Find Support in Virginia

February 6, 2021February 5, 2021 Peter D'Abrosca

Based on the past actions and statements from Virginia’s Democrat Governor Ralph Northam, President Joe Biden’s controversial executive order increasing refugee resettlements is likely to find support in Virginia.

After a 2019 executive order by former president Donald J. Trump giving localities autonomy over refugee resettlement, Northam wrote a letter to then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, saying the state would happily continue accepting refugees.

Governor Northam Wants Virginia Schools to Provide In-Person Option by March 15

February 6, 2021February 5, 2021 Eric Burk

Governor Ralph Northam wants Virginia’s schools to provide in-person learning options by March 15, one year and two days after first ordering schools to close on March 13, 2020. On Friday, the governor sent a letter to school districts instructing them to provide in-person options and encouraged the schools to develop learning-loss mitigation strategies.

FBI’s Desperate Pretext to Keep Spying on Carter Page: He Might Write a Book!

February 5, 2021February 5, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

Nine months into a relentless effort to spy on Carter Page with the most awesome surveillance tools the U.S. possesses, the FBI had no proof the former Trump adviser had colluded with Russia to hijack the 2016 election.

In fact, the bureau hid from the FISA court the fact that it knew Page was actually a U.S. asset who had helped the CIA and that in a secret recording with an informant he had denied all the core allegations against him with significant proof.

Bills for In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants Passes Virginia House, Senate

February 5, 2021February 7, 2021 The Center Square

The Virginia Senate and House of Delegates passed their own versions of legislation that would guarantee in-state tuition for illegal immigrants residing in the state this week.

Under both bills, a person would be allowed to receive in-state tuition for public colleges and universities as long as the person meets all other necessary criteria, regardless of whether the person is residing in the country legally. The House version of the bill will be sent to the Senate and the Senate version to the House.

Commentary: When (or If) Comes the Pushback?

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

The corruption of the Renaissance Church prompted the Reformation, which in turn sparked a Counter Reformation of reformist and more zealous Catholics.

The cultural excesses and economic recklessness of the Roaring 20s were followed by the bleak, dour, and impoverished years of the Great Depression.

New Federal Rule: No More Surprise Hospital Bills and More Options for Consumers

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021 The Center Square

Hospitals have begun publishing their actual costs of services, including discounted cash and negotiated rates as a result of a rule change implemented by former President Donald Trump. The rule was challenged by the American Hospital Association and others, who lost in federal district court.

An appeal to the court ruling has not yet been filed. While the association says it is calling on the new administration to adjust the rule, hospitals in the meantime must publish prices for the majority of the services and medications they provide.

Two Weeks After Trump Declassified Russia Memos, Most Aren’t Released

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

More than two weeks after Donald Trump officially declassified the evidence, the vast majority of documents detailing FBI and Justice Department failures in the now-discredited Russia collusion investigation remain out of public view in a delay that has thwarted the former president’s goal of sweeping transparency.

New Jobless Claims Decrease to 779,000, Economists Expected 830,000

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

The number of Americans filing new unemployment claims decreased to 779,000 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 a decrease in the number of new jobless claims compared to the week ending Jan. 23, in which there were 847,000 new jobless claims reported. Roughly 17.8 million Americans continue to collect unemployment benefits, according to the BLS report Thursday.

Commentary: Big Tech to Possibly Target Christians Next

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

There is one issue that many in the clergy would like Americans to fully understand.

Art Pavelski, an upstate New York Pastor of Pierce Hill Christian Fellowship explained, “Christ is neither conservative or liberal and that Christ is both.”

Top DOJ Official’s Connection to Hunter Biden’s Lawyer Will Test Biden’s Commitment to Ethics, Expert Says

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

President Joe Biden’s commitment to ethics will be put to the test in how his Justice Department handles the connection one of its top officials shares with Hunter Biden’s lawyer, a government ethics expert told the Daily Caller News Foundation.

Chris Clark, a partner at the law firm Latham & Watkins, is assisting Hunter Biden with the federal criminal investigation into his foreign business dealings. Clark had worked closely at the law firm with Nicholas McQuaid until the latter’s departure from the firm on Jan. 20 to lead the Justice Department criminal division, which is reportedly involved with the Hunter Biden investigation.

With New Administration, Record Number of People Bought Guns in January

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021 The Center Square

Concerns about President Joe Biden’s potential restrictions on firearm purchases sent sales soaring in January, industry insiders said. More than 4.3 million people purchased guns in the first month of 2021, the highest number on record.

The 4.3 million purchases represent legal applications through the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS); it excludes illegally purchased firearms.

California Gas Prices Reach High of $3.27 a Gallon, 66 Cents More Than National Average

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021 The Center Square

California gasoline prices reached the highest they’ve been since March 9, 2020, hitting $3.27 a gallon, according to a new gasoline benchmark published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

California gas prices are roughly 66 cents more than average price paid by consumers nationwide.

Biden DOJ Drops Yale Discrimination Lawsuit

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

The Department of Justice (DOJ), now under the control of the Biden Administration, has dropped a longstanding discrimination lawsuit against Yale University, as reported by ABC News.

The DOJ informed the district court in Connecticut on Wednesday that it was voluntarily dropping the suit, which was originally filed in October of 2020 after a two-year investigation by the Trump-era DOJ determined that Yale was discriminating against White and Asian applicants based solely on their race. Such racial discrimination was found to be in violation of Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, by “subjecting domestic, non-transfer Asian and White applicants…to unlawful discrimination on the ground of race.”

Virginia Marijuana Legalization Bills Prioritize Licenses and Loans to People with Marijuana Convictions

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021 Eric Burk

Marijuana legalization bills are approaching a floor vote in both the Virginia House of Delegates and the Senate. In addition to removing criminal penalties, the 274-page bills essentially create an entire industry, including regulation of business licenses, creating taxes, and incentivizing entrepreneurs to enter the market.

But Delegate Glenn Davis (R-Virginia Beach) said all of that is just a shell.

Virginia Gubernatorial Candidate Kirk Cox Calls for Next Steps to Address Learning Losses from Virtual Classes

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021 Eric Burk

Virginia’s Democratic leadership is finally starting to call for a return to in-person learning, but gubernatorial candidate Delegate Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights) is calling for immediate next steps to address learning losses caused by virtual learning. In a Thursday press conference, Cox laid out his proposals, including expanding availability of tutors, assessing learning loss, and providing financial support to parents for remedial materials.

Virginia’s Battle over Bingo Intensifies

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021 Peter D'Abrosca

A seemingly-innocuous bill in the Virginia Senate is causing quite a stir among the Commonwealth’s bingo community.

According to the summary of SB 1127, introduced by State Sen. Bryce Reeves (R-17th District), the bill “Removes the requirement that an organization qualified to conduct bingo games may only play instant bingo, network bingo, pull tabs, or seal cards as part of such bingo games and at such times designated in a permit, if any, for regular bingo games.”

Governor Ralph Northam Extends 2021 General Assembly Session

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021 Eric Burk

Virginia Democrats will get more time to pass legislation after Governor Ralph Northam called a special legislative session to begin February 10. Northam’s announcement effectively adds 16 days to the current regular session, which is scheduled to end February 11. The proclamation comes after Republicans blocked a move to extend the 30-day regular session, hoping to limit their losses in a Democrat-controlled legislature.

Virginia House Votes to Double Fines for Littering

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021 Peter D'Abrosca

In a bipartisan effort, the Virginia House of Delegates Wednesday voted to double fines for littering in the Commonwealth, and impose stricter community service guidelines for litterbugs.

HB 1801, introduced by Del. James Edmunds II (R-Halifax), increases the minimum fine for “dumping or disposing of litter, trash, or other unsightly matter on public or private property,” from $250 to $500. The maximum fine, $2500, remains the same.

Virginia Senate Passes Bill to Abolish Death Penalty

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021 Peter D'Abrosca

Virginia is one step closer to abolishing the death penalty after a bill to do so passed the Senate Thursday.

SB 1165 passed by a vote of 21-17 along party lines, with one GOP Senator Bill Stanley (R-20th District) abstaining. Stanley originally co-sponsored the bill, but wanted to add a provision that would ensure murderers convicted of aggravated offenses would never be allowed out of prison.

Virginia House Passes Bill Extending Unemployment to People Who Can’t Work Due to COVID-19

February 4, 2021February 3, 2021 Eric Burk

The House of Delegates passed a bill meant to protect employees from losing unemployment benefits for some employees who can’t work due to COVID-19. It includes a key provision that provides unemployment benefits for people who don’t go to work because they believe their employer is not following COVID-19 safety standards.

Commentary: Nine Election Reforms States Can Implement to Prevent Mistakes and Voter Fraud

February 4, 2021February 3, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

Election fraud is real.

The Heritage Foundation’s Election Fraud Database, which has chronicled more than 1,300 cases of election fraud, proves that election fraud does occur in American elections.

White House Reporters Say Biden Team Wanted Questions in Advance

February 4, 2021February 3, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

The Daily Beast on Monday published a rather scathing piece about the new Biden White House and its press operation.

“White House Reporters: Biden Team Wanted Our Questions in Advance,” blared the headline.

Nation’s Largest Cities Suffered 30 Percent Increase in Homicides in 2020, Report Finds

February 4, 2021February 3, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

Homicides spiked 30% in 34 of the United States’ largest cities in 2020, according to a report conducted by the National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice.

Of the cities studied in the report, Chula Vista, California, saw the greatest increase in homicides, with 150% more in 2020 than the previous year. Madison and Milwaukee, the two largest cities in Wisconsin, saw increases of 100% and 85%, respectively, while only four cities – Raleigh, North Carolina; Baltimore; St. Petersburg, Florida; and Virginia Beach – saw declines in 2020.

Biden Recommended to Appoint ‘Reality Czar’ to ‘Tackle Disinformation’

February 4, 2021February 3, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

Experts have recommended that President Joe Biden appoint a “reality czar” to “tackle disinformation,” the New York Times reported Tuesday.

Technology columnist Kevin Roose’s piece examines how to combat disinformation in media, citing QAnon group chats, OAN reporting, and “YouTube videos alleging that the inauguration was a prerecorded hoax that had been filmed on a Hollywood soundstage.”

Biden State Dept. Spox Calls Police ‘Blue Klux Klan,’ and ‘Largest Threat to U.S. National Security’

February 4, 2021February 3, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

Just a few short years ago, the newly appointed deputy spokesperson for the Biden State Department wrote that the police posed the largest national security threat in America—greater than that of ISIS or Russia—because they were committing “genocide” against Black Americans.

In a 2016 Facebook post, uncovered by the Washington Free Beacon, Jalina Porter wrote: “The largest threat to US national security are US cops. Not ISIS, not Russian hackers, not anyone or anything else. If ya’ll don’t wake up and rise up to this truth, the genocide against Blacks in America will continue until we are near extinct. That’s not the world I seek to live in or create for myself and those around me.”

Commentary: Electric Vehicles and Their Drawbacks, Chapter II

February 4, 2021February 3, 2021 RealClearWire

There is a growing push in the U.S. and throughout much of the developed world to convert transportation from a primary reliance on fossil fuels to an almost-exclusive use of renewable energy (wind and solar). With this goal come promises of unlimited clean and free energy, the creation of millions of green jobs, and the benefit of helping save the planet from an imminent climate catastrophe.

National Park Service Requiring All Employees, Visitors to Wear Masks, in Line with Biden’s Federal Mask Mandate

February 4, 2021February 3, 2021 The Center Square

The National Park Service (NPS) has implemented the federal mask mandate for all employees and visitors of national parks and facilities on Tuesday, the agency announced.

The NPS, which manages 423 properties across the country, is now in line with President Joe Biden’s executive order mandating masks on federal properties that he signed on Jan. 20, his first day in office.

Biden Signs Executive Order to Increase Welfare Dependency for Illegal Aliens

February 4, 2021February 3, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

Joe Biden signed an executive order on Tuesday that aims to increase illegal aliens’ dependency on welfare programs funded by taxpayer dollars, according to Breitbart.

The order revokes a Trump Administration policy that would ultimately put financial responsibility for such welfare benefits directly on the illegals themselves, or otherwise on the family member or business sponsor seeking green cards for any incoming illegals who had previously used a welfare system. Biden’s revoking of that order ultimately puts the cost for such use of the welfare system back on American citizens who fund such programs with their tax dollars.

Virginia House Removes Farm Employee Minimum Wage Exemption

February 4, 2021February 3, 2021 Eric Burk

On Tuesday, the House of Delegates passed Delegate Jeion Ward’s (D-Hampton) HB1786, a bill that would remove an exemption that allows farmers to pay farm employees less than Virginia’s minimum wage.

Currently, the Code of Virginia states, “‘Employee’ includes any individual employed by an employer. ‘Employee’ includes a home care provider. ‘Employee’ does not include the following: 1. Any person employed as a farm laborer or farm employee.”

Virginia Legislature Moving Forward with Constitutional Amendment to Give Felons Voting Rights

February 4, 2021February 3, 2021 Peter D'Abrosca

Virginia’s House Majority Leader celebrated Wednesday morning after a bill she introduced passed through committee.

“What a great way to start the day!” Majority Leader Charniele Herring (D-VA-46) said on Twitter. “My proposed constitutional amendment that will put an end to the disenfranchisement of felons has passed out of the Privileges and Elections Committee and is on its way to the house floor!”

Legislation Prohibiting Firearms, Other Weapons on Capitol Grounds Passes Virginia Senate

February 3, 2021February 2, 2021 Jacob Taylor

Legislation prohibiting the possession and transportation of firearms and other weapons within Richmond’s Capitol Square as well as inside any buildings owned or leased by the state passed the Virginia Senate Tuesday afternoon.

The legislation, Senate Bill 1381, advanced out of the Senate by a 21-18 straight party-line vote with every Democrat in support and all Republicans opposing.

Commentary: Pitchfork Populists v. Wall Street?

February 3, 2021February 2, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

As a long-time financial services executive, every so often I am called upon by friends and family from other walks of life to comment on a story related to the stock market. Such is the case with the GameStop saga.

Given that few of them are well-versed in the ways of Wall Street, that I hail from an investment banking pedigree and not a securities trading — particularly stock trading — background seems to them a distinction without a difference, and I offer my insights as best as I am able. As such, I’ve given more thought to GameStop than I may have otherwise.

Rumors About Lincoln Project John Weaver’s Predatory Behavior Have Swirled for Decades

February 3, 2021February 2, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

The anti-Trump group Lincoln Project claims to be “shocked and sickened” by allegations that co-founder John Weaver sexually harassed young men, but specific accusations have reportedly been known to them since last summer, and rumors about Weaver’s alleged predatory behavior have been simmering for decades. Among the political elite, Weaver’s perverted predilections may well have been an open secret.