Day: December 17, 2022

Youngkin Bans TikTok on State Devices, WiFi

Eric Burk

Governor Glenn Youngkin banned TikToK and WeChat on state devices and WiFi on Friday, the same day Attorney General Jason Miyares signed on to a letter asking Google and Apple to change TikTok age ratings to reflect content on the platform.

“TikTok and WeChat data are a channel to the Chinese Communist Party, and their continued presence represents a threat to national security, the intelligence community, and the personal privacy of every single American,” Youngkin said in a press release announcing his executive order.

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Judge Blocks Biden Admin’s Push to Scrap Trump-Era Border Policy

Virginia Star Staff

A federal judge in Texas blocked the Biden administration from scrapping the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” policy Thursday.

U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk issued a pause on the Biden administration’s decision to end the program, according to the judge’s order. The policy forces certain illegal immigrants to return to Mexico as they await court proceedings.

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Baylor Pediatrics Professor Who Is a Fauci Disciple Rips Medical Freedom Movement as ‘Anti-Science Aggression’ and ‘Major Killing Force’

Susan Berry, PhD

A fervid follower of retiring Dr. Anthony Fauci said the global medical freedom movement should be called “anti-science aggression” because it has become a “major killing force … linked to far extremism on the far right” and has led to the deaths of 200,000 Americans “who needlessly lost their lives because they refused a COVID vaccine.”

In a political rant against those who have exposed the collusion between the federal government, and the giants of technology and the pharmaceutical industry in promoting the mRNA COVID shots, Dr. Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology at Baylor College of Medicine, posted a video message to Twitter that was retweeted by the World Health Organization (WHO).

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Kentucky Supreme Court’s Ruling Dismantles State’s School Choice Program

Virginia Star Staff

The Kentucky Supreme Court unanimously ruled on Thursday against the state’s school choice program created in 2021.

The Education Opportunity Accounts (EOA) Act created a privately funded needs-based assistance program for those seeking a private education. Those who donated to the program received a nearly “dollar-for-dollar” tax credit which the court ruled violated Kentucky’s Constitution which prohibits the collecting of a “sum” for “education other than in common schools.”

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FBI Sued for Suspending Analyst, Military Vet for Espousing ‘Conspiratorial’ January 6 Views

Just the News

The government watchdog group Judicial Watch has filed a lawsuit against the FBI for having put on administrative leave an analyst for espousing “conspiratorial views” that suggest support for the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

The suit was filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina on behalf of FBI analyst Marcus Allen. 

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Worldwide Coal Use Set to Hit an All-Time High Due to Energy Crisis

Virginia Star Staff

Global coal consumption will reach an all-time record by the end of 2022 as shortages of natural gas have driven up energy prices, forcing countries to burn more coal, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The international community is set to use over 8 billion tons of coal in 2022, representing a 1.2% increase in coal consumption compared to 2021, as countries began using coal as a cheaper alternative to natural gas after prices spikedfollowing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the IEA’s annual coal report which was released Friday. The agency predicts that coal consumption will hover around such levels until 2025 as although coal demand could fall in the West, it remains high in developing Asian nations like China and India.

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Del. Bagby Withdraws and Endorses Sen. McClellan in VA-04 Race as Democrats Unite Against Sen. Morrissey

Eric Burk

Delegate Lamont Bagby (D-Henrico) has withdrawn from the race for the nomination for the open VA-04 congressional seat and endorsed Senator Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond), a move that comes as top Virginia Democrats try to block controversial Senator Joe Morrissey (D-Richmond) from taking the nomination for the safe-Democratic seat. After Morrissey announced for the race, endorsements from top Democrats like Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) started to come in, with more coming in after Bagby’s Thursday withdrawal.

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Commentary: Biden-Created Border Crisis About to Get Whole Lot Worse

Virginia Star Staff

One of the last serious border enforcement policies left under the Biden administration is just days away from being removed. 

If it can be believed, things look to become much worse at the southern border, where tens of thousands of illegal immigrants and asylum-seekers are currently gathering.

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Anti-Abortion Group Seeks Total Ban in 2023 Alabama Legislative Session

Virginia Star Staff

Abortion may seem like an issue of the past for many in the state, but some are making its complete abolition a priority in the 2023 legislative session. 

End Abortion Alabama (EAA) is an abortion abolitionist organization that seeks an uncompromising end to abortion, a distinction they believe sets them apart from the majority of pro-life organizations.

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Small Businesses Report Hardship Due to Inflation This Christmas Season

The Center Square

Small businesses around the country still see inflation as a top concern this Christmas season.

Goldman Sachs released survey data that found that 52% of surveyed small business owners say that their profitability “has not met expectations. Even while an overwhelming 79% have increased prices compared to last year.”

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U.S. House Passes Bill Calling for Referendum on Puerto Rico’s Political Status

ADN America

The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill allowing a referendum in Puerto Rico to decide the future of the territory. 

The referendum would allow Puerto Rican voters to choose between three options: becoming an independent nation, becoming a state, or becoming a sovereignty with a formal U.S. association. The options do not include Puerto Rico’s current status as a territory. 

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