Bright & Early: Could Have Been Sweeter Edition

Good morning, Nashville. Our neighbors in Mt. Juliet are looking to add some patriotic flavor to the city by way of two enormous American flags on either side of I-40 entering town. The flags would be 50 feet by 35 feet and fly from 150-foot poles to the tune of $60M, which City Manager Randy Robertson says will hopefully not need to come from taxpayers. “Absolutely no offense intended, but it’s not about large restaurant signs or a hotel or whatever,” Robertson told reporters. “It’s about the United States, it’s about Mt. Juliet – and that’s what I’d like to reinforce to people, and have them think for a few minutes.”

• Biofuel in Tennessee. University of Tennessee is partnering with a private firm to begin work on a pilot project to start producing biofuel from switchgrass by next year. Gov. Bredesen is pretty excited about it, hoping that Tennessee will become a national leader in alternative fuel production.
• McCready to rehab. Poor Mindy McCready has been shipped to an out-of-state treatment facility after her emergency room trip last week. As much trouble as she’s had, she did manage to take the stage at CMApocalypse this year and we wish her the best in her recovery.
• Bits & pieces. Bredesen admits that the buyout offers could have been sweeter since they wanted people to actually accept them … Tennessee is breaking records with their child support collections … Murfreesboro rejoice–you’re getting an Otters! … Minimum wage goes up by 70 cents today … Metro schools will learn their fate regarding No Child Left Behind next week.

Photo by elemak.