Heartbreaking tragedy, wake-up call, many of out core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.
...
...every American should support and draw inspiration from the wave of peaceful protesters in Minneapolis and other parts of the country. They are a timely reminder that ultimately it's up to each of us as citizens to speak out against injustice, protect our basic freedoms, and hold our government accountable.

When Tommy Tuberville became a U.S. Senator, he inadvertently revealed in an interview that he didn’t know what the three branches of government were.

So what does that mean? How far would any of them go?

Two women were detained by ICE, one of the ICE thugs started having seizures, they saved his life.

“I asked if we could just go home,” Amundson said. “I said, ‘We just saved his life. Is that cool with you?’ And they said no.”

“We’re releasing you to your counsel and to your state representative,” the officer said, according to Amundson. “But you need to tell everybody that we treated you kindly.”

Like a "scene in the film version of Catch-22, when Cathcart and Korn are offering to send Yossarian home." "We will issue orders sending you back to the States and there's one thing you have to do for us in return. What would that be? Like us. Like you? Like us. You'll be surprised how easy it is once you begin.

“I was hit so hard with the fact that this man would not do this for me,” she said.

Homeland Security officials have urged disaster response staff at the Federal Emergency Management Agency to avoid using the word “ice” in public messaging about the massive winter storm barreling toward much of the United States, according to two sources familiar with the directive.

The concern is that the word could spark confusion or online mockery, given the ongoing controversy surrounding US Immigration and Customs Enforcement — also known as “ICE.”
...
Officials told staff they worry that certain phrasing – like “watch out for ice” – could be misinterpreted or quickly turned into internet fodder,
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Instead, FEMA staff have been encouraged to use terms like “freezing rain”

Whatta ya gonna do?

Federal officials have charged two contractors with conspiring to disrupt Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Knoxville earlier this month.
...
Federal authorities accuse the two of plotting to block the entrance to a Hardin Valley construction site with Bonilla-Servin’s pickup truck in an effort to impede ICE agents.

Report from WBIR.

This is the first I've heard of such an event in Knoxville area. I hope they have good lawyers.

The White House has issued the following statement. President Trump does know the difference between Greenland and Iceland. He is aware that Norway and Denmark are separate countries, and neither controls Nobel Awards. Mauritius and Mauritania are very different places, and our telegram about the Diego Garcia airbase sent to the latter was an honest typo. We understand that Chile is a country, not a restaurant, and Kash Patel's attempt to redeem a Chili's coupon at the Chilean embassy should be viewed as a joke. Vice President Vance knows the difference between Austria and Australia and should not be criticized for his attempt to book a ski chalet in Melbourne.

Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican singer, is headlining the Super Bowl halftime show. MAGA outrage ensued. Some said an American should perform the halftime show. Others said being a Puerto Rican indicates you are American.

Now, the NFL has announced they have "booked Green Day to perform the Super Bowl opening ceremony ― the punk rock band that fueled our anti-imperialist teenage angst."

Lies, lies, lies.... That is what we get from the current federal administration. Now we also get altered pictures and videos. Who can believe anything from the White House, Capitol, Pentagon, etc.?

It's sad but primarily scary.

White House posts digitally altered image of woman arrested after ICE protest. The White House response, "... The memes will continue. Thank you for your attention to this matter."

While out running errands I noticed our cute little local store that sells propane was packed. There were cars covering all paved areas. Then there was a long line of people with their little propane tanks waiting for refills.

Propane won't help me. However, I am looking to acquire eggs, milk, water, and, aw heck, Ding Dongs.

In an interview that quickly went haywire, Fox News host Sean Hannity and Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones (D) verbally sparred on Tuesday night over Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids targeting immigrants.

“The America I believe in does not look like this,” Jones said, holding up an image of masked ICE agents. “The America I believe in does not look like masked men targeting people. Shameful!”

“The threat to the American people is in the White House,” he said, adding that 70 percent of immigrants “kidnapped” by ICE “goons” haven’t been convicted of any crimes.

“Shame on you!” Jones said again. “God have mercy on you and anybody who believes it’s right, and your children will be ashamed of where you stand in this time, Sean.”

Yahoo News has another story about the interview from Mediaite with more text and possibly the entire segment. You have to watch a 15 second ad.

There is so much more. It is a little hard to find the full video, try Googling justin jones on fox.

TN State Rep. Justin Jones is a good representative of our state. If only more people stood up like he does. I hope he doesn't get arrested for something they make up.

The Tennessee legislature is now in session. What are there issues? What are the issues of the people?

Gov. Lee declined to accept $84 million in federal funds to feed Tennessee kids during summer.

Tennessee lawmakers are more concerned with loosening gun laws than the issues of the people, e.g. cost of living and inflation, health care access and affordability and housing affordability.

"Some bills to look out for are House Bill 1189, ... would change Tennessee’s current handgun carry permit system ... allowing permit holders to legally carry any firearm they own in places where they can now only carry handguns."

"HB 0387 and Senate Bill 0474 limit doctors from asking about gun ownership. If a provider asks a patient if they own, possess, or have access to firearms, ammunition, or accessories, the bill would allow disciplinary action and a fine of up to $1,000."

"SB 1629 deletes the criminal offenses of carrying a firearm with intent to go armed and carrying a weapon in a public park with the intent to go armed. It also prohibits a juvenile from carrying a firearm with the intent to go armed except in certain circumstances."

Sen. Becky Massey (R-Knoxville) said, "I'm not about making a statement. I'm about trying to get things done and trying to pass bills that save lives."

Huh?

‘An inspiration’ | Dr. Tom Kim, founder of Kim Health Center, passes away.

Dr. Tom Kim opened his first Free Medical Clinic of America on Chapman Highway in 1993 and helped thousands of patients.

The clinic at 6209 Chapman Highway, Knoxville, TN 37920, is still helping with free or low cost healthcare. A second clinic has opened at 1610 Magnolia Ave (at the PTSCC campus) Knoxville, TN, 37917.

Many thanks to Dr. Kim for what he did to help those in need for over 30 years. Thank an immigrant today.

KPD said multiple car burglaries were reported at the State Street Garage, the Civic Coliseum parking garage, and the Marble Alley parking garage between January 4 and January 14. Investigators reviewed surveillance video and found the same suspect at each of the burglaries. They were then able to identify Brabson Jr. as the suspect, according to KPD.

WATE Report: Man arrested after series of vehicle burglaries in Downtown Knoxville

WVLT Report: Teen facing almost 20 charges after downtown car break-ins, Knoxville police say

We may be past being embarrassed. We're now in shock?

Many others have worked this song parody, but if there still was a Front Page Follies I'd be working on this:

Super-Callous-Fragile-Ego-Epstein Files-Atrocious
Did you see his hand today, it looks just like necrosis

I sure miss Follies.

The new effort saves much money by focusing on utilitizing railroad lines that are already in place. The aim is to bolster these lines by adding double tracks as well as side tracks where needed so passenger lines on a schedule could veer past freights.

Plans Chugging Down The Track For Passenger Rail Connecting Chattanooga, Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis

Attendance at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the country’s most-visited national park, dropped for second year in a row.

For the first time since 2018, fewer than 12 million people visited Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2025, according to preliminary attendance data from the National Park Service. There were just over 11.5 million visits last year, a 5.4% drop from 2024, which had nearly 12.2 million visitors.

Recently, the administration unveiled a new food pyramid with red meat, cheese, vegetables and fruits pictured at the top.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins "suggested an affordable meal option that met her new guidelines."

“We’ve run over a thousand simulations,” she said. “It can cost around $3 a meal for a piece of chicken, a piece of broccoli, a corn tortilla and one other thing. And so, there is a way to do this that actually will save the average American consumer money.”

The hilarity ensues.

U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY) will introduce the Quick Recognition (QR) Act into Congress next week, a bill that would require Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, as well as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, to have QR codes embedded into their uniforms.

2025 was the third-hottest year ever recorded on Earth, data shows