Latest news with #Tennesseeans
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State lawmakers manipulate language to gaslight Tennesseans on diversity
State Rep. Aron Maberry, a Clarksville Republican, sponsored a pair of bills aiming to "dismantle DEI." (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Language is fluid; it shifts, contorts, and adjusts as culture progresses. Largely due to social media, the fluidity of language has increased exponentially over the last decade. One word that exploded into the public lexicon around 2016 was the term 'gaslighting.' The meaning of the word is quite broad and can apply to interpersonal relationships, work dynamics, and, most notably, politics. Ironically, gaslighting is most effective when it uses the fluidity of language to manipulate a message. When boiled down to its most primal definition, gaslighting is the exploitation of thoughts and emotions by twisting language and truth to fit a desired mindset. To use gaslighting to its fullest potential, one must be well-versed in language, be willing to overlook any nuance, and boil a topic down to the one idea that will elicit the most emotional response in someone else. During the last several legislative sessions, Republican lawmakers in Tennessee have conducted a masterclass in how to gaslight Tennesseeans. The most recent pieces of egregious legislation by the GOP supermajority are bills designed to strip away diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives related to departmental appointments and hiring practices. As with most recent controversial legislation by the GOP, there was a lawmaker ready and willing to break down the gaslighting process. Logic and nuance would tell anyone that 61 years of 'equality' doesn't amount to much when you weigh that amount of time against 300 years of abuse, murder, slavery and marginalization simply based on one's skin color, sexuality or gender. Rep. Aron Maberry, a first term Clarksville Republican, was the House sponsor for HB0622 and HB0923 – both designed to 'dismantle DEI.' The first step for any gaslighting expert is to find a word to target. It doesn't matter what the true definition of that word is as long as that word has attained a certain connotation. In this case, the word Maberry chose was equity — the meat of the DEI sandwich. 'The big problem in DEI is equity. We all know diversity, we all love including people. Equity is not equality, and it's not about treating people fairly or ensuring equal opportunity … equity in the context of DEI is essentially that everybody gets the same outcome,' Maberry said. Maberry paints a bullseye on the word equity and fires. This isn't a difficult shot for him because the connotation of the word had already been established in corners of right-wing conversations five years ago. Now, the word is blasphemous in the world of most conservatives. The true meaning of equity has been lost and replaced by a mutated form of the word, one that is often equated with socialism and promises an equal outcome for everyone, when the actual definition of equity does everything except guarantee an equal outcome for everyone. Equity provides gateways and resources to opportunities that have been historically out of reach for many women and people of color. Maberry and Senate sponsor Jack Johnson, a Franklin Republican, sought to further explain the reasoning behind their bills by entering into phase two of the gaslighting process: ignore all nuances of a given topic. Maberry and Johnson saidthat their bills focus on merit, qualifications, skill and competency in employment decisions, and diversity will 'happen naturally through fair hiring practices.' Yes, in a world devoid of history and nuance, 'fair' hiring practices would occur naturally. What Johnson and Maberry fail to take into account is that systemic racism is still very much alive today, 61 years after the Civil Rights Act of 1964. DEI initiatives were put in place to catalyze the pursuit of more diverse personnel in business and government by intentionally recruiting people who would typically fall outside a company or department's purview. DEI is about making sure we all understand that we don't live in a post-racial society simply because certain hiring practices are illegal. Subconscious and systemic prejudice will always find a way to circumvent the law, even unintentionally. Logic and nuance would tell anyone that 61 years of 'equality' doesn't amount to much when you weigh that amount of time against 300 years of abuse, murder, slavery and marginalization simply based on one's skin color, sexuality or gender. Our society is still in the formative stages of course correction from these atrocities, and the systemic rivers of opportunity that have benefited white men for centuries haven't dried up yet. Removing the dam of DEI initiatives simply allows those rivers to flow faster. For their final act, Maberry and Johnson needed something to stoke the flames of emotion; something to indisputably turn the tables on inclusive initiatives. If DEI were about making room for all people to have equal access and opportunity, then the last card to play in the gaslighting hand is to flip the script completely. Maberry and Johnson initially tread lightly into this final act by disarming their skeptics with the admission that diversity could be beneficial before sealing the entire process with the claim that DEI initiatives weren't just misguided but were actually a form of discrimination themselves. Nothing angers people of privilege more than believing they are the ones being discriminated against. Tennesseans can agree to disagree on issues of policy and legislation, but we should collectively be offended when our supermajority lies to our faces and tells us it's the truth, as members have with anti-DEI laws designed to penalize minorities. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tennessee poultry experts say egg prices due to remain high
Chickens roam at Kelsey Keener's Sequatchie Cove Farm. (Photo: Sequatchie Cove Farm) As Americans look toward the Easter season, and the price of eggs continues to climb, many Tennesseeans are considering changing their usual Easter plans in order to keep eggs on their menus and hidden in their yards. Ginny Minniger's grocery budget isn't as tight as some people's, she says, but she will forgo a few things in order to buy eggs to color for Easter. 'There are some traditions I must carry on,' the Chattanooga woman said. 'So I'll forgo some of the chocolate bunny treats so that I'll be able to afford two dozen eggs to color. I'll defy hard times and buy those eggs!' Dr. Tom Tabler, University of Tennessee Poultry Extension and Research Specialist, doesn't foresee a decline in the price of eggs any time soon. 'Don't expect much relief from high egg prices as we head into the Easter season, always a time of high egg demand,' he said. Tennessee poultry industry not as hard-hit by avian flu, data show In 2023, the average consumption of eggs in the U.S. was estimated at 281 per person. Egg demand has increased for the past 23 consecutive months while avian influenza continues to plague egg-laying chicken flocks across the nation, keeping egg prices at an all-time high. Tabler said the disease has decimated the egg supply in recent months. And at a time when egg demand is high, supply and demand are also helping to fuel egg prices. 'That is not likely to change in the near future,' Tabler said. 'Since the start of the most recent avian influenza outbreak in February 2022, roughly 100 million table-egg laying hens have been lost to the disease.' 'Roughly 52 million of those 100 million were lost between October 2024 and February 2025,' said Tabler. 'The loss of so many birds in such a short timeframe has driven egg prices to record high levels.' According to federal government policies, if one bird in a flock of laying hens is affected by avian influenza, the entire flock must be depopulated. Historically, eggs purchased directly from farms are lower-priced than in supermarkets. 'Local farmers that have signs near the road saying 'Farm fresh eggs for sale' is a good way to find eggs cheaper,' Tabler said. 'Social media may be another potential source to find eggs. Your local county Extension office may be another possibility.' Kelsey Keener has farmed his family land in Marion County since he was a young boy and now offers organic vegetables, native plants, grass-fed meats, fruits, farmstead cheese and pasture-raised eggs at the farm stand at his Sequatchie Cove Farm. He has a flock of 5,000 laying hens and expects that number to grow to 7,000 layers by late April. And with the high demand for eggs and consumers looking for lower prices, business has never been better, he said. 'The national egg shortage caused by the avian flu outbreak has actually been really good for our family's egg operation, as we have had more demand for our eggs than we have ever experienced in our 20-plus years of farming,' he said, adding that the price of the farm's eggs rose 50 cents a dozen, a price increase that was planned before the avian flu epidemic became widespread. Keener sells his eggs for $7 per dozen from the farm and $8 per dozen at Main Street Market on Wednesdays in Chattanooga. To ensure the eggs his customers buy are safe, he feeds his chicken high-quality food and offers them outdoor space in the fresh air to roam. 'That being said, if you have any concerns about the safety of the eggs you are eating, be sure to cook them,' Keeler said. 'The heat from cooking kills all potentially harmful viruses and bacteria.' Restaurants, too, are feeling the pinch of high prices and, in turn, passing the higher prices on to their customers. Mason Whitman, manager of Brother Juniper's, a popular breakfast eatery in Memphis, said his restaurant has added a $1 surcharge per each egg dish on the menu, such as omelets and eggs Benedicts. 'This is a temporary measure, though,' he said. 'We can do away with that once the prices we pay from our suppliers in Arkansas come down.' Farmers and table egg companies are working to replace lost flocks, but it's a process that takes time. 'Replacement birds must be hatched and raised for up to six months before they can begin laying eggs,' Tabler said. 'As long as we continue to lose laying flocks to avian influenza on a regular basis, we will continue to be playing catch up with replacement flocks and egg prices will remain high and possibly go higher for the remainder of the year.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to rename Nashville International Airport for President Donald Trump revived
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A bill to rename Nashville International Airport for President Donald Trump has come back after previously being removed from consideration by its sponsor. HB 217, by Chapel Hill Republican State Rep. Todd Warner, was previously 'taken off notice,' or removed from consideration, by Warner prior to being heard by the House Naming & Designating Committee on Feb. 24. While bills taken off notice by lawmakers, they usually are not up for further consideration by the general assembly; however, if a bill is brought back, it still must make its way through the usual committees before being heard on the full chamber floor. PREVIOUS: Bill to rename Nashville International Airport for President Trump dead – for now The bill saw more resistance in the committee, particularly from the Nashville lawmakers on the committee. 'First of all this bill is a waste of time and money,' Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) said of the legislation. He asked why lawmakers would rename the airport in Nashville, which is in his district, for the current president, stating Trump 'has no connection to our community' and has led the nation 'on the path of shame, on the path of recklessness.' 'I am vehemently against the renaming of this airport,' he said, nothing three-quarters of Nashvillians voted against Trump in the last election. Warner countered, stating Trump is only the second president to ever be elected to nonconsecutive terms. 'President Trump has put America first,' Warner said. 'When he puts America first, it puts Tennessee first.' Warner further took issue with Jones stating Nashvillians rejected the current president, stating Tennesseeans largely supported Trump. 'He got 65 percent of the vote the last three elections in this state,' Warner said. Additionally, Warner said Tennesseans across the state help fund the airport, not just Nashville. An amendment for the bill filed Monday, March 10, makes note of the $23 million appropriated in state funds for the airport in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The amendment also notes BNA, under the authority of the Metro Nashville Airport Authority, has proposed a $34.3 million budget request from the state. Bedford County Republican State Rep. Pat Marsh (R-Shelbyville) said he supported the idea of renaming an airport for Trump, but felt BNA was too small an airport with which to do so. 'We should name LAX or Chicago or Atlanta [for him],' Marsh said. Warner said he disagreed with Marsh, adding state lawmakers lacked the authority to rename the airports Marsh listed. ⏩ The move to rename an airport for the current president has a similar federal push. Federal lawmakers have also filed a bill to rename Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) for the president, according to Committee Chairman Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood). Bulso said he thought it would be a nice piece of 'symmetry' to have both airports serving Washington, D.C. named after presidents, noting the name of Ronald Reagan Washington International Airport (DCA). Warner said he reached out to Congressman Andy Ogles' office on the federal bill, and Ogles' office said that federal bill was 'not moving' forward. The bill ultimately moved out of the Naming & Designating Committee with a negative recommendation, with Reps. Aftyn Behn (D-Nashville), Rush Bricken (R-Tullahoma), Bulso, Vincent Dixie (D-Nashville), Jones, and Marsh all opposed. Reps. Jody Barrett (R-Dickson), Monty Fritts (R-Kingston), Tom Leatherwood (R-Arlington) and Warner in favor. It will next be heard by the House Transportation Committee, according to the state capitol website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
17-02-2025
- Health
- USA Today
As sports betting skyrockets, more Americans search for addiction help, study finds
Seven years ago, only Nevada allowed wagering on sporting events. After the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 struck down a ban on sports gambling, sports betting has spread to all but a dozen states. But a new study links the proliferation of this type of betting to a rise in the number of people who might be addicted to gambling. A study published Monday in the peer-reviewed JAMA Internal Medicine reported a 23% jump in people searching for the phrase: "Am I addicted to gambling?" Meanwhile, sports wagering skyrocketed from $4.9 billion in 2017 to $121.1 billion in 2023. And most of those bets were on mobile apps or other online sites. The study said 94% of sports bets in 2023 were online. After states legalized sports betting, the study said searches for gambling addiction increased at a pace higher than what researchers expected, and the pace is accelerating. Searches for gambling help increased 22% in 2022, 25% in 2023 and 31% through the first 6 months of 2024, according to John Ayers, lead author and vice chief of innovation at University of California, San Diego school of medicine. Ayers and his co-authors make the case that states often are unprepared to handle the increase in sports betting. While gambling has been a boon to state tax coffers, most states dedicate scarce resources to address the potential public health problems linked to gambling disorder, the formal name for gambling addiction, the study said. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. "What the heck are we doing here?" said Ayers. "We have this huge health implication and nobody's talking about it." Researchers and clinicians who did not participate in this study said its main finding - that more people are seeking help for gambling addiction - matches their experience. "These findings are not surprising to me," said James Whelan, executive director of the Tennessee Institute for Gambling Education and Research. The study "shows a correlation and that correlation is real." Whelan's group operates three Tennessee clinics staffed with a network of mental health specialists for people seeking help. Before online sports bookmakers launched in November 2020, Tennesseeans rarely sought counseling for sports betting. In the past two years, 55% to 60% of clients have been men who cited sports wagering as their primary type of gambling, Whelan said. Are states prepared for problem gambling? While states typically highly regulate retail and online sports betting, lawmakers often pay less attention to potential public health harms, the study said. Researchers said state legislatures should work with public health agencies to require mandatory assessments to measure public health impacts (delete harms) when states permit or expand sportsbooks. In 2023, states that legalized sports betting budgeted an average of $3.1 million for gambling addiction services. The average was buoyed by Massachusetts, which allocated $22.6 million for such assistance (delete addiction services). The study said 20 states set aside less than $400 000 for gambling addiction even though they took in substantial tax revenues. New Hampshire allocated about $100,000 to gambling prevention or treatment in 2023 while collecting $36.4 million in tax revenue from sports betting, the paper said. "These states are seeing dollar signs. They just take that money and put it in the general budget," Ayers said. "They're not actually addressing the principle problem here." Ayers said the search traffic shows people are looking for help. The study cited higher-than-expected gambling help searches in Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia after the Supreme Court allowed sports betting. The search traffic in those states reached peak search volume in 2024, "suggesting that searches are continuing to rise following the opening of sportsbooks," the study said. Does the medical community overlook gambling? The study cited a potential "general blind spot" on gambling research with just 59 studies on gambling addiction in a federal research database since the sports betting ban was overturned in 2018. Last October, the Lancet Public Health international commission of 22 health and policy experts warned of gambling's risks in the era of easy online access. Health care professionals also lack sufficient training on gambling addiction, the study said, adding that sportsbooks typically aren't regulated by state and local health departments and don't routinely report public health harms. Whelan acknowledged the medical community's understanding of gambling addiction has evolved slowly. States typically fund support lines for people struggling with gambling, but resources for gambling addiction treatment don't compare to other substance-use disorders such as alcohol and opiod addiction. Still, states are sponsoring more radio and television advertisement for gambling help lines, which might contribute to the rising search volume that the study discovered, Whelan said. He also cited the sporting community's overall embrace of betting. Sports talk radio often chats about betting during segments. And sports venues for professional football, basketball, baseball and hockey routinely display ads for popular betting sites. "You walk into any arena or stadium in the country, and there's advertising for a sports book that is promoted by the team," Whelan said. "If I'm a sports fan, gambling is now readily part of it." If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER, operated by the National Council on Problem Gambling.
