Connect with us

Southeast

Tennessee governor joins GOP trend of vetting candidates on support for school choice: 'So important to me'

Published

on

Tennessee governor joins GOP trend of vetting candidates on support for school choice: 'So important to me'

Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee vows to vet future GOP primary candidates on whether they support school choice support in the next election cycle.

“I’ve said a lot of times I get engaged in elections, and I get engaged in candidates, and I’ve met with several candidates, some who are in open seats; some who are incumbents,” Lee said, according to WKRN News 2. “This year what I’m talking to candidates about is education freedom and choice for parents. I want to know where new candidates stand on that issue because it’s so important to me, so you’ll see me talking to candidates.”

Tennessee Republicans have been divided over the issue, especially lawmakers who represent rural school districts.

According to WKRN News 2, Lee was asked whether he would reject anti-school choice Republicans during the primary election. 

UTAH LEGISLATURE DOUBLES FUNDING FOR SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM AFTER ‘OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS’

Advertisement

EAGLE PASS, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 4: Governor of Tennessee Bill Lee joins Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Governors for a press conference along the Rio Grande at the U.S.-Mexico border to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns on Sunday, February 4, 2024 in Eagle Pass, Texas.  (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

“I will find out everything about all the candidates in a particular district to understand who I can be most supportive and most helpful to,” Lee said.

However, the local news reported that the governor didn’t “explicitly say yes or no.”

After Lee expected a school choice “revolution” to unfold in the Volunteer State, his hopes were struck down back in March when a school choice bill died in the state legislature. Lee’s school choice bill was struck down last legislative session, which delayed any possible statewide school voucher program until at least next year.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Lee touted a “revolution in America right now around school choice.” Lee called for a $400 million bill to overhaul public school achievement testing and implement universal school choice advances in the state legislature. 

Advertisement

However, Lee’s hopes could become a reality, according to American Federation For Children senior fellow Corey DeAngelis.

DeAngelis told Fox News Digital that the “so-called” Republicans should have learned a lesson from recent state GOP primary elections, which saw some incumbents lose over this issue. He added that Tennessee should have no problem passing the Republican Party platform issue of school choice as Republicans control both chambers.

HERE’S WHY RURAL REPUBLICANS ARE FINALLY BEGINNING TO SHIFT AND SUPPORT SCHOOL CHOICE

“Governor Bill Lee should help parents hold these fake Republicans accountable as we witnessed with Texas Governor Greg Abbott in the March primaries. In fact, good news is that Gov. Lee just told local reporters he will ‘certainly be talking to primary candidates about how they feel about school choice.’”

DeAngelis referred to comments Lee made that were covered by ABC News in April.

Advertisement

“I’ve always been engaged in primaries in the state whenever there’s an election,” Lee told local reporters, per ABC News in April. “But I’ll certainly be talking to primary candidates about how they feel about school choice.”

Lee’s comments echo two other GOP governors, who are using the issue of school choice as a litmus test for their support. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced they would get involved in their party’s primaries to help give the boot to any candidates opposing school choice. 

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott looks on during a news conference on March 15, 2023 in Austin, Texas. Abbott has butted heads with big-city mayors over the migrant crisis at the southern border. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Abbott, who recently promised school vouchers to be available soon, deliberately sought to remove anti-school choice Republicans during this year’s state primary elections. 

Several rural Republicans in Texas lost their primary, including staunch anti-school choice critic Rep. Travis Clardy. The 12-year incumbent was defeated in the primary by Joanne Shofner in House District 12 on March 5. 

In the Midwest, Reynolds endorsed nine candidates with a pro-parent platform in primary elections, ousting the incumbent GOP candidates who did not support that platform. She was able to pass universal school choice legislation.

Advertisement

The Hawkeye State joined a wave of red states passing universal school choice legislation when Reynolds signed an unprecedented school choice bill called the Students First Act. It allows any Iowa student to use public money to pay for private school tuition or other expenses.

Lee’s office did not immediately respond for comment.

Kim Reynolds speaks

 Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds speaks at the Family Leadership Summit on July 14, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The Associated Press contributed to this report.



Read the full article from Here

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Southeast

Lara Trump removes herself from consideration for Marco Rubio’s US Senate seat

Published

on

Lara Trump removes herself from consideration for Marco Rubio’s US Senate seat

Lara Trump, President-elect Trump’s daughter-in-law, said Saturday she is removing herself from consideration for Florida Republican Marco Rubio’s seat in the U.S. Senate. 

“After an incredible amount of thought, contemplation, and encouragement from so many, I have decided to remove my name from consideration for the United States Senate,” she wrote on X Saturday. 

The president-elect has nominated Rubio to be secretary of state. 

“I could not have been more honored to serve as RNC co-chair during the most high-stakes election of our lifetime and I’m truly humbled by the unbelievable support shown to me by the people of our country, and here in the great state of Florida,” Lara Trump added.

TRUMP SAYS HE DOESN’T EXPECT DESANTIS TO NAME DAUGHTER-IN-LAW LARA TRUMP AS RUBIO’S SENATE REPLACEMENT

Advertisement

Lara Trump, President-elect Trump’s daughter-in-law, said Saturday she is removing herself from consideration for Florida Republican Marco Rubio’s seat in the U.S. Senate. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Trump, the wife of Eric Trump, the president-elect’s son, stepped down as co-chair of the Republican National Committee earlier this month.

” I have read so many of your kind messages and I cannot thank you enough,” Lara Trump said, adding she has a “big announcement that I’m excited to share in January.”

She said she remains “incredibly passionate about public service and (looks) forward to serving our country again sometime in the future. In the meantime, I wish Governor DeSantis the best of luck with this appointment.”

The president-elect had previously pressed DeSantis to name Lara as Rubio’s replacement, a source in his political orbit told Fox News Digital, but he later told reporters he didn’t necessarily expect him to select her. 

Advertisement
Marco Rubio at the RNC

The president-elect has nominated Sen. Marco Rubio to be secretary of state. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST FOX NEWS REPORTING ON THE TRUMP TRANSITION

“That’s his choice,” the president-elect added. 

Rubio’s senate replacement will be appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and will serve the remaining two years of Rubio’s term. 

In 2026, the seat will be open for a full six-year term. 

Lara Trump with her husband at President-elect Trump's election night party.

Lara Trump is married to President-elect Trump’s son, Eric Trump.  (Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Lara Trump had previously said she was “seriously considering” the position, although she wasn’t sure it was right for her. 

Advertisement

DeSantis previously said he would make an appointment by early January. 

Lara Trump did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Read the full article from Here

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Southeast

Florida driver hits student with her truck, covers license plate before fleeing, deputies say

Published

on

Florida driver hits student with her truck, covers license plate before fleeing, deputies say

A Florida woman was arrested after she allegedly struck a teenager who was crossing the road with her truck, covered her license plate and sped off.

Sarah Wright, 37, was arrested Thursday and charged with leaving the scene of a crash with injuries and driving with a suspended license.

The crash happened shortly before 4 p.m. at the intersection of Gage Avenue and Noah Street in Deltona, Florida, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.

The victim, a 16-year-old boy, was riding his scooter home from Pine Ridge High School when he was struck by a black Chevrolet Silverado as he was using the crosswalk, the sheriff’s office said.

FLORIDA MAN BERATED, PHYSICALLY ABUSED CHILD FOR NEARLY 30 MINUTES OVER MISSING COUCH CUSHION: DEPUTIES

Advertisement

Sarah Wright, 37, is facing charges of leaving the scene of a crash with injuries and driving with a suspended license. (Flagler County Jail)

The teenager fell to the ground, resulting in a serious laceration to the back of his head as well as an arm injury, but he remained alert and conscious after the incident.

A witness reported that she was checking her mailbox nearby when she heard the crash. She told investigators that the suspect, later identified as Wright, exited her truck after the crash and checked on the boy before she went back to her vehicle and covered her license plate with paper and tape.

But the witness still managed to see the first character of her tag. A neighborhood Ring camera also captured the truck fleeing the scene.

Sarah Wright's truck

A witness managed to see the first character on the truck’s tag and a neighborhood Ring camera captured the vehicle fleeing the scene. (Volusia County Sheriff’s Office)

The victim and the witness were also able to provide a detailed description of the suspect.

Advertisement

Officials were then able to locate a suspect vehicle captured on a nearby License Plate Reader camera within minutes.

Wright was found in Flagler County and taken into custody with assistance from Florida Highway Patrol and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

FLORIDA SHERIFF MOURNS ‘REALLY GREAT’ DEPUTY KILLED DURING TRAFFIC STOP; SUSPECT LATER KILLED

Jail

Sarah Wright was booked into the Flagler County Jail on a $3,500 bond. (iStock)

She was booked into the Flagler County Jail on a $3,500 bond.

Advertisement

The teenage victim required staples for the laceration and treatment for his arm injury, but he is expected to make a full recovery.

Read the full article from Here

Continue Reading

Southeast

Drone mishap during Orlando holiday aerial show sends child to hospital

Published

on

Drone mishap during Orlando holiday aerial show sends child to hospital

A child was hospitalized on Saturday after being hit by a drone that was part of an Orlando, Florida holiday drone show.

According to the Orlando Fire Department, a 7-year-old boy was transported to the hospital because of injuries sustained from the falling drones, FOX 35 in Orlando reported. 

In a video posted online by X user MosquitoCoFl, hundreds of drones being used as part of an aerial light show appeared to be flying into position before several started falling from the sky before slamming to the ground.

A man could be heard saying to children nearby, “Oh no! I don’t believe they’re supposed to be falling.”

MYSTERY DRONES COULD BE IDENTIFIED FASTER USING NEW DETECTION TOOL, BUT FAA LACKS RESOURCES

Advertisement

Several drones malfunctioned during a drone show in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, sending the unmanned aerial objects crashing to the ground. (Credit – X/MosquitoCoFL)

Geese also appear on the water, flapping their wings to try and get out of the way of the chaotic scene.

City officials told the station the holiday drone show was permitted by the FAA.

Still, after one drone show went wrong, the city chose to cancel the second that night at 8 p.m. due to “technical difficulties.”

DRONES SPOTTED ACROSS NORTHEAST LIKELY COMING FROM ‘INSIDE THE US,’ MILITARY EXPERT SAYS

Advertisement
several drones crashed during an aerial show in orlando, florida (2)

Several drones malfunctioned during a drone show in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, sending the unmanned aerial objects crashing to the ground. (Credit – X/MosquitoCoFL)

The FAA told Fox News Digital it will investigate the cause of the drone show malfunction.

“Several small drones collided and fell into a crowd during a holiday drone show over [Eola] Lake in Orlando, Florida,” the FAA said. “The incident occurred around 6:45 p.m. local time on Saturday, December 21.”

According to the agency, drone arrays and light shows are subject to FAA regulations and typically require a waiver to a regulation that prohibits operating more than one drone at a time.

For each drone show application, the FAA looks at things like the software controlling the drones, procedures for setting up safe and restricted areas to keep people a safe distance from the show, procedures if drones fail, and procedures for when an aircraft gets too close to the show.

DRONE MYSTERY: NEW JERSEY HOMEOWNERS THREATEN TO TAKE MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS IF GOVERNMENT DOESN’T ACT

Advertisement
several drones crashed during an aerial show in orlando, florida (1)

Several drones malfunctioned during a drone show in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, sending the unmanned aerial objects crashing to the ground. (Credit – X/MosquitoCoFL)

Additionally, the FAA reviews how the operator will keep the drones inside a confined area using Geofencing, and whether the operator has an adequate number of people to run the show.

For the second year, the City of Orlando used Sky Elements Drones as its vendor to operate the drones, the station reported.

Sky Elements Drones did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the matter.

In a statement to Fox 35, the vendor said, “Sky Elements Drones wants to extend our sincere hope for a full and speedy recovery to those impacted at our Lake Eola show in Orlando on Saturday, Dec. 21.

Advertisement

“The well-being of our audience is our utmost priority, and we regret any distress or inconvenience caused,” the company continued. “We are diligently working with the FAA and City of Orlando officials to determine the cause and are committed to establishing a clear picture of what transpired. Millions of people see our shows annually, and we are committed to maintaining the highest safety regulations set forth by the FAA.”

Read the full article from Here

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending