December 18, 2022 - The Michigan Star

Four Republican Senators Who Voted Against Reinstating Troops Who Refused the Vaccine

December 18, 2022December 17, 2022 Michigan Star Staff

Four Republican senators joined Democrats in shooting down an amendment to a massive defense authorization package that would have reinstated troops discharged for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

The 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the Senate 83-11 Thursday night, and along with it a provision overturning the Biden administration’s service-wide vaccine requirement. Republican Senators Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Mike Rounds of South Dakota voted no on a last-minute amendment to the bill re-enlisting thousands of troops separated for refusing the vaccine mandate, collapsing the proposal 54 to 40.

The Biden Admin Overestimated Recent Job Growth by over 10,000 Percent: Report

December 18, 2022December 17, 2022 Michigan Star Staff

The Bureau of Labor Statistics overestimated the number of jobs added nationwide from March through June by roughly 10,600%, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia reported Tuesday.

The U.S. added just 10,500 net new jobs in the second quarter of 2022, a far cry from the 1,121,500 estimated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) monthly report on state-level data known as the Current Employment Situation (CES), according to the Philadelphia Fed. By using more comprehensive data from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), which samples roughly 11 million businesses compared to the 670,000 measured by the monthly CES, the Philadelphia Fed is able to make revisions to initial employment estimates, the regional bank reported.

Denver City Resources Nearing ‘Breaking Point’ from Influx of Migrants, Mayor Says

December 18, 2022December 18, 2022 The Center Square

The city of Denver is under an official state of emergency following an influx of migrants from the U.S. border with Mexico.

Mayor Michael Hancock issued the emergency declaration on Thursday, saying 247 migrants have arrived since Monday.

Michigan Senator Received $55,600 from FTX Employees Before Leading Crypto Bill

December 18, 2022December 17, 2022 The Center Square

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-MI, received at least $55,600 in donations this year from employees of FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange platform that declared bankruptcy after allegedly misusing client funds.

Then, Stabenow, who as Agriculture Committee Chairwoman oversees the Commodities Future Trading Commission, a cryptocurrency regulator, sponsored legislation to regulate cryptocurrency.

Commentary: The Bad Faith Arguments Against Marriage Defenders

December 18, 2022December 17, 2022 Michigan Star Staff

It would be an interesting investigation to reverse the names of every major bill passed by Congress and signed into law by the president, and then see whether that does not better describe the result of the law, if not the intent of the lawmakers. Names, in our day, are advertisements, and advertisements, as we well know, appeal very rarely and only glancingly to reason, but mainly to passions, and among those usually to the most powerful prompts to hasty action, such as lust, fear, avarice, and vanity.

Mortgage Rates Drop for Fifth Straight Week, Still More than Double from Year Ago

December 18, 2022December 17, 2022 Just the News

Mortgage rates continued a slow but steady decline over the past week, suggesting a small but notable reversal from the meteoric rise they underwent over the past year.

Thirty-year fixed mortgage rates “averaged 6.31 percent as of December 15, 2022, down from last week when it averaged 6.33 percent,” Freddie Mac said in its weekly rate update on Thursday.

Fifteen-year rates, meanwhile, averaged 5.54%, down from 5.67% last week.

Baker to Transition from Massachusetts Governor to NCAA President

December 18, 2022December 17, 2022 The Center Square

Outgoing Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has already found a landing spot for his post-political career.

The second-term Republican governor has been named as the next president of the National Collegiate Athletics Association, the organization said. Baker, who played basketball at Harvard University, will take the reins in March from Dr. Mark Emmert. Emmert will serve as a consultant to the organization through June.

Commentary: Nicaragua’s Brutal Catholic Crackdown

December 18, 2022December 17, 2022 RealClearWire

For millions of Christians around the world, the official religious Christmas season kicked off this week with a renewed sense of normalcy – an abundance of colorful lights, parades and processions, family and church gatherings, and even fireworks in some areas.

Many believers in countries where Christians are religious minorities such as China and India are embracing the festivities with new enthusiasm. Early December marks the first time annual public and private advent gatherings have been allowed since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Texas Nurse Sues Veteran Affairs over New Federally Funded Abortion Policy

December 18, 2022December 17, 2022 The Center Square

A health care worker has filed suit against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs saying the federal agency has not allowed her a religious accommodation to avoid participating in the agency’s new federally funded abortion plan.

First Liberty Institute filed a lawsuit on behalf of Stephanie Carter, a nurse practitioner at the Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Center in Temple, Texas. She’s worked for the VA for 23 years.