Monthly Archives: December, 2011
Bright & Early: Springing A Leak Edition
Good morning, Nashville. Bad news continues to come out regarding the new convention center, with a total of four contracts spilling tens of thousands of dollars (or hundreds of thousands, in some cases) over the initial budget. In addition to the PR contract with McNeely Piggot & Fox and the consulting costs for the convention center hotel, the City Paper has identified two more contracts for financial consulting and building management consulting that have carried an unexpectedly hefty price tag. Altogether, these contracts add up to $1.93 million when they were originally capped at $587,000.
- Metro police busted a giant marijuana grow operation in West Nashville thanks to the suspect’s astronomical electricity bills. A tipster first tipped off the police, and when investigators found that the bills were three times higher than surrounding homes in order to power the magical pot-growing lights, they were able to make the bust.
- Councilwoman Pam Murray, who some East Nashvillians are trying to remove from office, thinks that all of the efforts are unfair. Constituents complain that she spends too much time in Detroit (where she works), but she says she works from home in Nashville and visits Detroit 1-3 times per month.
- Bits & pieces. So far, Metro schools seem to be swine flu-free … Some guy threw a gas tank through the gas doors at the federal courthouse downtown … Tennessee has its eyes on a Harley Davidson plant for Murfreesboro … LP Field made it safely through the latest round of eliminations for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Photo by niseag03.
Good morning, Nashville. Bad news continues to come out regarding the new convention center, with a total of four contracts spilling tens of thousands of dollars (or hundreds of thousands, in some cases) over the initial budget. In addition to the PR contract with McNeely Piggot & Fox and the consulting costs for the convention [...]
Happy Hour: It’s Electric
- The TVA is taking about a $3 billion loan to help pay for the Kingston spill cleanup and keep their pension fund from going bankrupt. Starting October 1, they’ll also be increasing electric rates by 8% but decreasing fuel rates by 11%, meaning we’ll all be seeing around $2 less on our bills every month. [WPLN]
- Tennessee’s unemployment rate went down another tenth of a percent this month, bringing us to 10.7%. Unfortunately, this doesn’t really mean that we’re improving so much as it means that folks are giving up on the job search. [Tennessean]
- We have a chance of seeing some more storms roll through tonight, just in case today’s monsoon wasn’t enough for you. By the way, check out this crazy video of the WSIX tower getting struck by lightning this afternoon (about 1:35 in). [Tennessean]
- Mt. Juliet is going to be the recipient of a shiny new Walmart at the end of October. The company is looking to hire about 350 people before it opens. [WKRN]
Photo by cwage.
The TVA is taking about a $3 billion loan to help pay for the Kingston spill cleanup and keep their pension fund from going bankrupt. Starting October 1, they’ll also be increasing electric rates by 8% but decreasing fuel rates by 11%, meaning we’ll all be seeing around $2 less on our bills every month. [...]
This Weekend: Dragons, By The Dozens, In The River
Nashville’s downtown riverfront sees some pretty interesting things during the summer. Like homemade flying contraptions flopping to their watery graves, thousands of rubber duckies racing downstream, and the annual Dragon Boat races, where teams of 20 race each other in the ornate (and sort of awkward looking) boats, complete with viking caps and pirate garb.
The 2009 Dragon Boat & River Festival kicks off this Saturday at the downtown riverfront, and it’s an entertaining (and free) way to spend the day, even if you’re not hitting the paddles (especially if you’re not hitting the paddles – at least, if you’re lazy like us). The races begin bright and sort-of-early at 9am, and continue well into the afternoon. Fun for families with kids, as well as the lurking blogger or two, the Dragon Boat & River Festival has scored itself a permanent space on our calendar every year. Visit NashvilleDragonBoat.com for more information, and check out some photos of last year’s Dragon Boat race here.
Photo by morganlevy.
Nashville’s downtown riverfront sees some pretty interesting things during the summer. Like homemade flying contraptions flopping to their watery graves, thousands of rubber duckies racing downstream, and the annual Dragon Boat races, where teams of 20 race each other in the ornate (and sort of awkward looking) boats, complete with viking caps and pirate garb. [...]
Bright & (Not So) Early: Wash Your Hands Edition
Good morning, Nashville. We’re making this short and sweet this morning since we’re running a little behind:
- Maury County is already feeling the effects of the Swine Flu with close to 10% of the county’s 11,000+ students out sick this week. For information on flu prevention, please take a minute to watch this short instructional video. [Tennessean]
- We’re not sure which headline is our favorite this morning: “Kids Get Shot In Helping With H1N1 Vaccine” or “Robber takes Pizza delivery driver’s money, pizza, pants.” [WSMV & WKRN]
- Rather than waiting another two weeks to decide on the creation of a convention center authority, Councilman Rip Ryman has requested a special meeting to vote tomorrow evening. [City Paper]
- Tennessee Sen. Doug Jackson appeared on CNN accusing local restaurant owner and anti-guns-in-bars advocate Randy Rayburn (Sunset Grill, Cabana) of carrying out a publicity stunt to generate business. [Pith In The Wind]
- Many folks are trying to convince the TVA to keep all of the dangerous, toxic, and apparently spill-able coal ash on their own property rather than dumping it in everyone else’s neighborhoods. [Tennessean]
Photo by Felixe.
Good morning, Nashville. We’re making this short and sweet this morning since we’re running a little behind: Maury County is already feeling the effects of the Swine Flu with close to 10% of the county’s 11,000+ students out sick this week. For information on flu prevention, please take a minute to watch this short instructional [...]
Happy Hour: _________ Started The Fire
- Did you know that if the four most dangerous chemical treatment plants in Nashville exploded, it could affect more than a million people? Or at least that’s what Greenpeace says. [WSMV]
- In that same vein, a Duke University study showed that the folks in Kingston have probably been inhaling all sorts of dangerous particles released in the TVA ash spill that contain high concentrations of trace metals and radioactivity. [Tennessean]
- The Cool Springs Surgery Center was evacuated this afternoon because of a fire scare caused by a bag of popcorn. We imagine it going down something like this. [WKRN]
- We can’t think of many more terrifying things than putting your infant or toddler through the Swine Flu vaccine trial at Vandy, but if you’re into that, they’re still looking for 30 more children from 6 to 35 months old and 20 more kids between 3 and 9 years. [WKRN]
- If you frequent the Vandy football games around here (or any other SEC teams, for that matter) don’t bother Twittering or Facebooking from the stadium because the SEC has placed a ban on social media. However, it only applies to photos and videos, so updating your status is still kosher. For now. [Nashville Is Talking]
- Metro police caught up with a car that was hauling around 102 pounds of pot. [City Paper]
Photo by urbanwoodchuck.
Did you know that if the four most dangerous chemical treatment plants in Nashville exploded, it could affect more than a million people? Or at least that’s what Greenpeace says. [WSMV] In that same vein, a Duke University study showed that the folks in Kingston have probably been inhaling all sorts of dangerous particles released [...]
Bright & Early: On The Agenda Edition
Good morning, Nashville. The Metro Council meeting got a little heated last night as several controversial issues came to a vote. After an emotional debate, the non-discrimination ordinance passed it’s second reading. The council was split evenly down the middle on the issue of guns in parks, forcing Vice Mayor Diane Neighbors to cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of the ban. They were also scheduled to vote on the creation of a convention center authority, but many council members felt the vote was too rushed and they hadn’t had time to explore how the board would affect the convention center project. Consequently, they put off the vote for another two weeks.
- East Nashville rises up. East Nashville is getting closer and closer to giving District 5 councilwoman Pam Murray the proverbial boot. Residents complaining that she lives in Detroit for most of the year and are trying to force a recall to elect another council representative.
- Out with the old. Former Sen. Bill Frist did his part to go green by swapping out his 18-year old Suburban for a shiny new Prius with help from the Cash for Clunkers program last weekend.
- Bits & pieces. Police found a stash of stolen swords and ipods (great combination, right?) underneath a Maury County man’s house … A Metro charter school is so hard up for bus drivers that some kids weren’t dropped off at home until after 9pm on Friday night because drivers had to cover multiple routes … Councilman Eric Crafton has proposed an earth-shattering idea that involves getting taxpayer input before moving forward on the proposed new convention center … The NAACP is still wary of the school rezoning that many folks accused of racially segregating Metro students last year.
Photo by Scruffy Eagle.
Good morning, Nashville. The Metro Council meeting got a little heated last night as several controversial issues came to a vote. After an emotional debate, the non-discrimination ordinance passed it’s second reading. The council was split evenly down the middle on the issue of guns in parks, forcing Vice Mayor Diane Neighbors to cast the [...]
Happy Hour: Where There’s Smoke
- The Justice A.A. Birch building on 2nd Ave. had a bit of a fire scare today when an A/C unit overheated and started billowing smoke. The building was completely evacuated for about 15 minutes before the all-clear was given. [WTVF]
- The Oak Ridge National Lab also had a brush with disaster today when some nitric acid overflowed while workers were loading it into a truck. The spill is under control and they’re now working on the cleanup. [Tennessean]
- The Metro Council will vote on the second reading of the non-discrimination ordinance tonight, and also on the new 9-member convention center authority (for keeps this time.) [City Paper & WTVF]
- Coffee County will soon be raking in the dough from Bonnaroo by way of almost $100,000 in criminal fines. Everybody’s gotta make a buck. [WZTV]
- Metro Police busted a woman and her adult children for running a teen prostitution operation in Davidson and Robertson counties. Though they’ve identified one of the teens, they suspect more will come forward now that the operation has been shut down. [Tennessean]
Photo by niseag03.
The Justice A.A. Birch building on 2nd Ave. had a bit of a fire scare today when an A/C unit overheated and started billowing smoke. The building was completely evacuated for about 15 minutes before the all-clear was given. [WTVF] The Oak Ridge National Lab also had a brush with disaster today when some nitric [...]
Fresh Blends Exits East [Comings & Goings]
Nashville newcomers Fresh Blends are exiting the East Nashville market almost as quickly as they entered it – We’ll be making one (or two… or seven) last trips to say our goodbyes, just one short year after they opened their doors. Their East Nashville location will be closing on August 31, and the business is currently for sale on Craigslist (we just know you’ve been looking for the perfect little juice & smoothie business to purchase).
We are very happy to report that Fresh Blends’ new Belmont location will continue with business as usual, and the transition will allow them to focus on improving their business, product, and reach within the community. Owner Tony Reall hopes to return to the East Nashville market in the near future, but operating the two stores simultaneously proved to be too large of an undertaking. Exciting plans are in the works for the Belmont store, with more relaxed seating, Twitter specials, and fun community events coming soon.
East Nashville, say your goodbyes… And cross the river once in a while! We think that Fresh Blends is worth it.
Photo by stephenyeargin.
Nashville newcomers Fresh Blends are exiting the East Nashville market almost as quickly as they entered it – We’ll be making one (or two… or seven) last trips to say our goodbyes, just one short year after they opened their doors. Their East Nashville location will be closing on August 31, and the business is currently for [...]
SouthComm Aquisition Of The Nashville Scene Is A Go
That potential SouthComm aquisition of the Nashville Scene that we mentioned just a couple of hours ago? Yeah, it’s been confirmed. To the world outside the Scene’s Gulch headquarters, we bring you confirmation from the omniscient Twitters. Well, that was short & sweet.
That potential SouthComm aquisition of the Nashville Scene that we mentioned just a couple of hours ago? Yeah, it’s been confirmed. To the world outside the Scene’s Gulch headquarters, we bring you confirmation from the omniscient Twitters. Well, that was short & sweet.
Bright & Early: Long Days Ahead Edition
Good morning, Nashville. In a continuing effort to get Metro Schools back on track, Mayor Dean wants to explore some ways to increase the actual learning time for students. This could mean longer school days, summer sessions, and even some Saturdays. Though we’d imagine that this might not thrill the kids, several charter and magnet schools have already adopted the technique and found it to be pretty successful so far. Metro narrowly avoided a state takeover this year due to their failure to meet No Child Left Behind benchmarks.
- More convention center drama. Council members and city officials spent the better part of last night pointing fingers and taking swings at each other over the all the latest convention center mishaps. Metro will still be hiring an independent auditor to look over the spending and forming a 9-member convention center authority to oversee the rest of the project.
- Fish theft. Clarksville Police are on the lookout for suspects after 60 very expensive koi fish were pet-napped from a backyard pond in Clarksville. We’re trying to imagine what a feat it would be to steal that many fish, but it was definitely a lucrative one–some of the critters were worth as much as $500.
- Bits & pieces. The former Donelson Middle School teacher who was hired by Metro last year despite accusations of raping a student in Chattanooga was indicted yesterday on 60 counts of sex crimes against minors. He was arrested in March … SouthComm Inc. is in talks to buy the Nashville Scene … The Centennial High School student who was hit by a car on the way to school last week is now in stable condition.
Photo by Nathan T. Baker.
Good morning, Nashville. In a continuing effort to get Metro Schools back on track, Mayor Dean wants to explore some ways to increase the actual learning time for students. This could mean longer school days, summer sessions, and even some Saturdays. Though we’d imagine that this might not thrill the kids, several charter and magnet [...]
Active Discussions