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Request a DemoClear skies ahead? Tennessee governor signs ‘chemtrails’ ban into law
Republican Gov. Bill Lee has quietly signed a bill into law that sponsors say will prohibit the deployment of “chemtrails” over Tennessee.
Officially, the measure sponsored by Rep. Monty Fritts, R-Kingston, and Sen. Steve Southerland, R-Morrison, is targeted at banning “geoengineering experiments by intentionally dispersing chemicals into the atmosphere.” But sponsors privately said the bill is aimed at stopping chemtrails, a popular conspiracy theory that alleges the government is using aircraft to spray chemicals into the atmosphere for the purpose of mind control.
Opponents of the proposal said it would ban legitimate practices like cloud seeding. Critics also questioned whether the state has any authority about what happens in the atmosphere.
Supporters cited a congressionally mandated White House report released last year about solar geoengineering as evidence that movements were afoot to control the climate. But the study stressed there are “no plans underway to establish a comprehensive research program focused on solar radiation modification.”
The Tennessee law states: “The intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances, or apparatus within the borders of this state into the atmosphere with the express purpose of affecting temperature, weather, or the intensity of the sunlight is prohibited.”
The measure cleared the Senate 25-6 and the House followed suit 70-22.
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Former U.S. Sen. Jim Sasser of Tennessee dies at 87
Jim Sasser, a former 18-year U.S. senator from Tennessee who went on to become the nation’s ambassador to China, has died. He was 87. The former Democratic politician’s son, Gray Sasser, confirmed his father had passed away in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on Tuesday evening. Sasser, a Memphis native and long-time active in Democratic circles, …
Feds allege Russians funneled $10M through conservative outlet in Tennessee
After being dropped by distributors in 2022, the television network formerly known as Russia Today covertly funded a conservative content creation company in Tennessee to spread misinformation, according to a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday. RT employees Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva were charged with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act and to commit …
Republicans threaten $78M in state funding if Memphis ‘goes rogue’ on gun control
House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, threatening financial retribution for Memphis if the city goes through with ballot measures on guns in November. Secretary of State Tre Hargett followed up the missive by announcing his office would not approve the ballot unless the questions are removed. The referendums would ask voters if …
FBI seized Andy Ogles’ phone the day after he won GOP primary
Federal agents executed a search warrant on controversial U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles’ phone the day after he won the Republican nomination to serve another term in the 5th Congressional District seat. “It has been widely reported for months that my campaign made mistakes in our initial financial filings,” Ogles said in a statement Tuesday. “We …