January 2021 - Page 7 of 7 - The Michigan Star

Boston Removes Lincoln Emancipation Memorial

January 3, 2021January 2, 2021 Michigan Star Staff

The Emancipation Memorial statue, put up in Boston’s Park Square in 1879, has been taken down after an online petition with more than 12,000 signatures called for its removal.

The statue of Abraham Lincoln with a freed slave appearing to kneel at his feet drew objections amid a national reckoning with ‘racial injustice’. The decision to remove “acknowledged the statue’s role in perpetuating harmful prejudices and obscuring the role of Black Americans in shaping the nation’s freedoms,” AP reports.

Millions of COVID-19 Vaccines Have Yet to Be Used Since First U.S. Distribution

January 3, 2021January 2, 2021 Michigan Star Staff

Over 9 million COVID-19 vaccines have yet to be administered in the U.S. since they were initially distributed on Dec. 13, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Of the 12,409,050 doses of the vaccines that have been distributed, only 2,794,588 have been administered as of Wednesday morning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Commentary: Lockdowns Are Killing Young Adults

January 3, 2021January 2, 2021 Michigan Star Staff

On Dec. 16 the top-ranked Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a headline-grabbing article about the risks that Covid poses to young people. The article and an accompanying New York Times piece by its authors strongly implied that people under the age of 45 face a high risk from the disease and, furthermore, this risk is understated by official statistics.

NY Stock Exchange Begins Delisting Securities of China Telecom Companies, Following Trump’s Order

January 3, 2021January 2, 2021 Michigan Star Staff

The New York Stock Exchange has began the process of delisting securities of three China telecom companies, following President Trump’s order last month barring U.S. investments in Chinese firms believed to be owned or controlled by the Chinese military.

Amazon, Walmart Saw Profits Surge in 2020 as Small Businesses Decimated by Pandemic

January 3, 2021January 2, 2021 Michigan Star Staff

Globally dominant retailers Amazon and Walmart saw profits soar in 2020 on the strength of surging online sales amid a traditional retail environment decimated by COVID-19 closures and shoppers too nervous to venture out into brick-and-mortar establishments.

Vice President Mike Pence Welcomes the Efforts of Representatives and Senators to Object to Electoral College Votes

January 3, 2021October 10, 2021 Admin

In a statement Saturday, Vice President Mike Pence issued a statement through his Chief of Staff Marc Short that he welcomes the actions of some members of the House and Senate, who say they will object to the final certification of the Electoral College vote on Wednesday. “Vice President…

Michigan Residents Pay $4,040 Per Capita in Key State Tax Levies, Study Finds

January 3, 2021January 2, 2021 The Center Square

Michigan residents pay 8.47% of their income per capita toward property, income and sales taxes – or $4,040 per person – according to a new study examining tax burdens in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The share of income paid by Michigan residents for these three taxes represented the 25th highest state tax burden among the 50 states and Washington, D.C., the HireAHelper website reported. The state’s residents paid 3.07% of their income on property taxes, according to the website, which provides moving services.

Eleven Republican U.S. Senators and Senators-Elect Join Growing Chorus in Congress Who Say They Will Challenge Electoral College Results Wednesday

January 2, 2021January 2, 2021 Jason M. Reynolds

Eleven more Republican U.S. senators and senators-elect from 10 states said they will contest the Electoral College results Wednesday over fraud concerns.

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), one of the 11, made the announcement Saturday. Senator-Elect Bill Hagerty (R-TN), who was endorsed by President Donald Trump in the election, is working with her in the dissent.

Eleven Republican U.S. Senators and Senators-Elect Join Growing Chorus in Congress Who Say They Will Challenge Electoral College Results Wednesday

January 2, 2021 Jason M. Reynolds

Eleven more Republican U.S. senators and senators-elect from 10 states said they will contest the Electoral College results Wednesday over fraud concerns.

Major Flaws in Georgia Secretary of State’s ‘Audit’ of Absentee Ballot Signature Matching in Cobb County

January 2, 2021January 2, 2021 Peter D'Abrosca

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is not responding to questions about major flaws in his office’s “audit” of Cobb County absentee ballot envelope signatures counted in the November 3 presidential election, the results of which were announced in a press release last week.

Raffensperger and Gov. Brian Kemp, both Republicans, have certified that former Vice President Joe Biden secured a razor thin margin of victory of 11,779 votes in Georgia in the November 3 election, despite numerous lawsuits alleging significant irregularities in that election.

Commentary: Ossoff Must Be Defeated Yet Again

January 2, 2021January 1, 2021 Michigan Star Staff

This week, I shared my thoughts on the evil soul of the White-hater, Jew-hater, Israel-hater, and overall despicable person Raphael Warnock. To summarize those 1500 words in 20 words: Warnock, who has the theological soul of a Warlock, regards the Wrong Rev. Jeremiah Wright as a modern-day Biblical “prophet.” In truth, Wright is so viciously despicable that even Obama, who once worshipped at Wright’s feet, fled from that church and left Wright as soon as the public learned what that White-hater, America-hater, and Jew-hater was saying each week from his true Bully Pulpit, the pulpit of a bully.

Portland Rioters Attack Federal Courthouse with Molotovs on New Year’s Eve

January 2, 2021January 1, 2021 Michigan Star Staff

A group of violent demonstrators in Portland hurled “Molotovs cocktail-style firebombs”, lit fires and tried to break into a federal courthouse house on New Year’s Eve, authorities said.

Between 80 and 100 rioters tossed at least two firebombs and launched “aerial-grade fireworks” at both the federal building and a county justice facility, according to a press release from the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). Others in the group attempted to break into the federal facility using tools, the department wrote.

Report: At Least 140 GOP House Members Plan to Challenge Electoral College Results on January 6

January 2, 2021January 1, 2021 Michigan Star Staff

At least 140 Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives plan to challenge the electoral vote results on January 6 when Congress meets to certify the next president, CNN reported on Thursday.

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), who launched the effort to challenge the “flawed election,” expressed surprise on Twitter that the number of House members joining him had grown that high.

Commentary: Enough Already with Using Cartoons and Cookies to Sell LGBTQ Agenda to Kids

January 2, 2021January 1, 2021 Michigan Star Staff

The year 2020 was tough for everyone, children and adults alike. Most school-age kids were forced to attend school virtually, at least for part of the year. This, combined with lockdowns, caused screen time use to surge.

More than usual, parents may fear kids aren’t learning well or are being exposed to things they aren’t yet mature enough to handle. On this, their intuition may be correct: 2020 saw an increase in LGBTQ-friendly marketing targeted at kids.

Analysis: Electric Vehicles and Their Drawbacks

January 2, 2021January 1, 2021 RealClearWire

Electric-powered cars are now the rage. Tesla’s market capitalization is seven times larger than that of General Motors and fourteen times larger than Ford’s, though it builds a fraction of the vehicles that those companies do. Many politicians are even considering banning gasoline-powered cars within a few years in favor of electric vehicles (EVs), all in the name of saving the planet.

Republicans Have Doubled the Number of Poll Watchers for Georgia Runoffs, Officials Say

January 2, 2021January 1, 2021 Michigan Star Staff

Georgia Republicans say they have doubled the number of poll watch volunteers to supervise the contentious Senate runoff elections which will be tallied next week.

A total of 8,000 people volunteered to join a “historic effort” to ensure election integrity ahead of Jan. 5, Fox News reported, citing GOP officials. The number of recruits increased two-fold from the 4,000 volunteers who have been supervising early voting in the state for the past few weeks, according to Fox.

Congress Overrides Trump’s Veto of Defense Authorization Bill

January 2, 2021January 1, 2021 Michigan Star Staff

The Senate on Friday voted to override President Trump’s veto of the $741 billion defense authorization bill, giving Trump the first veto overide of his presidency.

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Appeal to McConnell, Georgia Court Sets Hearing in Latest Election Challenges

January 2, 2021January 1, 2021 Michigan Star Staff

President Trump’s supporters across the country are escalating efforts to contest the Nov. 3 election results ahead of Wednesday’s official certification by Congress, with some Pennsylvania lawmakers making a special appeal to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Georgia Republicans scoring an 11th-hour court hearing.

FDA Alert: Pet Food Recalled After 28 Dogs Reportedly Die from Toxin

January 2, 2021January 1, 2021 Jacob Taylor

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) put out an alert to pet owners and veterinarians on Wednesday that certain lots of Sportmix pet food have been recalled after the deaths of 28 dogs that ate the products was reported.

Multiple samples of Sportmix products were tested by the Missouri Department of Agriculture and found to contain high, potentially fatal levels of aflatoxin, a toxin that is produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus and can cause both illness and death in pets, according to the FDA alert.

Michigan AG Nessel Finds ‘No Evidence of Criminal Conduct’ in Contact Tracing Contract Controversy

January 2, 2021January 1, 2021 The Center Square

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Wednesday released a 29-page report saying her office found “no evidence of criminal conduct” after an investigation into April allegations the state health department unlawfully contracted with a COVID-19 contact-tracing vendor associated with Democrat consultant Michael Kolehouse.

Immigration Expert Says Biden’s Immigration Plans Could Provide Amnesty for Millions of People

January 1, 2021December 31, 2020 Michigan Star Staff

Todd Bensman, a senior national security fellow at the immigration-skeptical Center for Immigration Studies, spoke with the Daily Caller News Foundation’s Samantha Renck about the implications of the Biden administration’s immigration policies, a possible influx of migrants at the southern border and more.

Commentary: Trump’s Top 10 Accomplishments of 2020

January 1, 2021December 31, 2020 RealClearWire

This year has been dominated by the pain and suffering thrust upon the globe by the criminal acts of the Chinese Communist Party. Even amid these harsh challenges, President Trump persevered to reach historic achievements. Therefore, as the year draws to its conclusion, it is worth detailing his 2020 accomplishments, as I have previously cataloged for each of the last three years.

Commentary: Nine Wasteful Programs from Massive Spending Bill That Can, and Should, Be Reversed

January 1, 2021December 31, 2020 Michigan Star Staff

President Donald Trump is right: There’s a lot of ridiculous gimmicks and wasteful projects in the new massive spending bill.

And the good news is there’s something that Trump can do about it, even though he recently signed the huge COVID-19 stimulus and omnibus spending bill into law.

At Princeton, a Racial Reckoning and a Free Speech Battle

January 1, 2021December 31, 2020 RealClearWire

In 2015, Princeton University became the second higher-education institution to sign the University of Chicago Statement supporting campus free speech. Yet, five years later, Princeton professor Keith E. Whittington wrote that the university stood “on the front lines” of the battle over speech. Those battle lines were drawn this summer by students and faculty demanding the adoption of “anti-racist” policies, which some on campus say run counter to free speech and open inquiry.

These Companies Are Linked to Forced Uighur Slave Labor

January 1, 2021December 31, 2020 Michigan Star Staff

A number of companies and brands have been linked to labor forced on Uighur Muslims by the Chinese government, according to multiple reports.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday that Apple supplier Lens Technology uses Uighur workers in its factories, according to documents obtained by the Tech Transparency Project. These workers were transferred from labor camps in the Xinjiang region of western China, WaPo reported.

New Jobless Claims Decrease to 787,000, Economists Expected 828,000

January 1, 2021December 31, 2020 Michigan Star Staff

The number of Americans filing new unemployment claims decreased to 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 a decrease of new jobless claims compared to the week ending Dec. 26, in which there were 803,000 new jobless claims reported. Roughly 19.6 million Americans continue to collect unemployment benefits, according to the BLS report Thursday.

Commentary: 2020’s Never Before (and Never Again?) Milestones

January 1, 2021December 31, 2020 RealClearWire

We’ve all been deluged with lists of 2020 winners, losers, and reasons why everyone is saying good riddance to this challenging, tragic, chaotic, and unusual year.

This one has a different slant: Five “never before and never again” phenomena unique to 2020. (Yes, I know that one must “never say never,” but the following qualify as two-headed freaks of politics and economics.)

Michigan Business, Political Leaders Question Whitmer Veto of $220 Million Unemployment Appropriation

January 1, 2021January 1, 2021 The Center Square

Michigan business and political leaders are pondering exactly why Gov. Gretchen Whitmer chose to veto Tuesday a bipartisan effort to allocate $220 million for Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.

Although the governor signed the bipartisan relief bill, she exercised a line-time veto of a portion of the bill that would have appropriated $220 million to the UITF.