Nuclear Firm Working With Chinese Military Companies Pushes for $900 Million US Uranium Contract

On its face, Orano Federal Services, a North Carolina-based nuclear fuel cycle company, is a plausible partner for a $1 billion Department of Energy contract to produce uranium for America's nuclear plants. But the firm's parent company, the French majority state-owned Orano Group, also works with two Chinese military companies to boost Beijing's nuclear power industry, something experts and industry officials warn should disqualify the firm from receiving U.S. taxpayer dollars.

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Jelly Roll receives second chance, thanks to Tennessee governor's Christmas season tradition



Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) maintains an annual Christmas season tradition of granting clemency to select individuals, highlighting stories of redemption and second chances.

This year, Lee extended pardons to 33 individuals. The most notable beneficiary was country music star Jelly Roll, who was previously convicted of robbery and drug felonies.

'His story is remarkable, and it's a redemptive, powerful story, which is what you look for and what you hope for.'

"I am genuinely inspired by the broadness of the folks that are getting pardons today," Lee said, the Tennessean reported.

The governor called his pardon power "a very serious responsibility."

While federal pardons allow convicted individuals to avoid prison time, Tennessee pardons serve as a statement of forgiveness after time has been served. The AP reported that they offer a path to restoring certain civil rights, including voting rights. The governor may specify the terms of the pardon.

Jelly Roll, whose given name is Jason DeFord, stated during a January 2024 congressional hearing that his right to vote had been restricted due to his criminal past.

RELATED: Country music star and former drug dealer Jelly Roll gives powerful testimony before Congress about dangers of fentanyl

Jelly Roll. Photo by Georgiana Dallas/WWE via Getty Images

As part of the clemency process, applications undergo a months-long review, the Associated Press reported. The state parole board reportedly issued a unanimous, non-binding recommendation for Jelly Roll in April.

The music artist visited the governor's mansion on Thursday to receive the news.

"His story is remarkable, and it's a redemptive, powerful story, which is what you look for and what you hope for," Lee stated.

RELATED: 'I thought I'd die young': Jelly Roll breaks down in tears as Joe Rogan delivers huge surprise in emotional clip

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Jelly Roll stated that the clemency would make it easier for him to travel internationally for his concert tours and Christian missionary work.

Earlier this month, while appearing on Joe Rogan's podcast, Jelly Roll received word that he had been invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

"I didn't even dream of it," Jelly Roll told Rogan. "God will make things bigger than your dreams. Somebody out there right now is dreaming of something, and it's too small. Dream bigger, baby."

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Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District Stays Red In 9-Point Win For GOP

'Running from Trump is how you lose. Running with Trump is how you win,' Republican Matt Van Epps said after his special election win.

MAGA Republican defeats Nashville-hating Democrat in special election



The Republican candidate has prevailed in the special election for the 7th congressional district of Tennessee.

With 81% of the vote in, Matt Van Epps, a Trump-endorsed Republican, holds a lead of more than 11,000 votes over radical Democratic state Rep. Aftyn Behn. CNN and NBC News among other outlets have called the race for Van Epps.

'I hate all of the things that make Nashville.'

Though as of this writing he hasn't yet claimed victory on social media, Van Epps did tweet, "THANK YOU, TENNESSEE," shortly after media began calling the race.

Behn has not commented on social media.

However, she has lately had to answer for some previous comments and behaviors that indicate an erratic temperament and a deep-seated animus for Nashville, the city she was running to represent in Congress.

"I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville, apparently, an 'it' city to the rest of the country," she said.

In 2019, Behn also stormed into the office of Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, and security had to come in and forcibly remove her, video revealed. She then began kicking, screaming, and sobbing on the floor.

By contrast, President Trump described Van Epps as a "phenomenal Candidate" and a "MAGA Warrior" in a Truth Social post on Tuesday morning.

RELATED: Trump torches Nashville-hating Democrat for string of scandals: 'How the hell can you elect a person like that?'

Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images

The special election was held on Tuesday to replace former Republican Rep. Mark Green, who abruptly retired in June after helping pass Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Green said he planned to pursue a private sector opportunity that was "too exciting to pass up."

By holding the seat, Republicans will keep a 220-213 majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, though Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has already announced she plans to resign in January. Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill also stepped down from her seat after winning the New Jersey gubernatorial election last month.

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Republicans Hold On To House Seat In Tennessee

race was triggered after former Republican Tennessee Rep. Mark Green resigned

Tennessee Democrat Aftyn Behn Loses Bid To Represent City She ‘Hates’ in State She Called ‘Racist’

Democrat Aftyn Behn once said she "hates" the city of Nashville. It turns out that voters there aren’t too fond of her, either.

The post Tennessee Democrat Aftyn Behn Loses Bid To Represent City She ‘Hates’ in State She Called ‘Racist’ appeared first on .

Aftyn Behn Promises To Reinstate Medicaid Spending For Illegal Immigrants On Taxpayers’ Dime

'Definitely restore Medicaid funding'

You Would Think Tennessee’s Special Election Was The One To Win It All

'Aftyn Behn wants one thing'

Trump torches Nashville-hating Democrat for string of scandals: 'How the hell can you elect a person like that?'



President Donald Trump is weighing in ahead of a high-stakes special election in Tennessee.

Constituents in Tennessee's 7th congressional district will cast their last votes on Tuesday to replace retired Republican Rep. Mark Green, choosing between Trump-endorsed Matt Van Epps and scandal-ridden Democrat Aftyn Behn.

'She hates Christianity. ... She hates country music.'

"Matt Van Epps, he's a winner," Trump said over the phone during a rally with Speaker Mike Johnson. "He's going to be great. Don't let this stuff fool you. The Democrats are spending a fortune."

Apart from party affiliation and policy platform, Trump pointed to two main reasons why Tennesseans should turn their backs on Behn.

RELATED: It gets worse for Nashville Democrat who 'hates' her own city: 'Burning down a police station is justified'

Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

"She said two things above all else that bothered me," Trump said.

"Number one, she hates Christianity. Number two, she hates country music," Trump said. "How the hell can you elect a person like that?"

Trump is referring to just some of Behn's many scandals that have plagued the Democrat's campaign, including a number of notorious comments and erratic displays. Behn infamously expressed her hatred for Nashville, the very city she is running to represent, and in at least one instance refused to walk it back.

"I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns, I hate country music, I hate all of the things that make Nashville, apparently, an 'it' city to the rest of the country," Behn said. "But I hate it."

RELATED: 'Do I have to stay until I'm assassinated?' Marjorie Taylor Greene lashes out over calls to finish her term

On a separate occasion, Behn was confronted for past tweets condoning the burning down of police stations during the 2020 riots, which she also failed to apologize for.

One of these tweets read, "Good morning, especially to the 54% of Americans that believe burning down a police station is justified."

If Behn's past podcast episodes or deleted tweets didn't come back to haunt her enough, another video resurfaced showing the Democrat state legislator storming into Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee's office in 2019 before being forcibly removed by security. This video put Behn's capacity to govern on full display, showing her kicking, screaming, and later sobbing on the floor as she was removed by Lee's security.

Blaze News reached out to Behn's campaign for comment.

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Left-Wing Democrat Aftyn Behn In Striking Distance Of Winning In Trump Country, Poll Shows

A hotly-contested House race for a heavily Republican seat in Tennessee is in a dead heat less than one week out from election day, according to new polling. An Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey released Wednesday found Republican candidate Matt Van Epps leading Democratic Tennessee state Rep. Aftyn Behn by two percentage points — 46% […]