Monthly Archives: December, 2011
Bright & Early: Why The Heck Is It Still Snowing Edition
Good morning, Nashville. So how about that surprise snowstorm last night? Here we were expecting a small dusting and then the sky started falling. After all the slush clears out this morning, we’ll see temperatures drop from Cold to Very Cold. According to the weatherfolk over at Nashville WX, we could have another Situation brewing towards the end of the month. In the meantime, we’re looking at some more wintry weather on Friday and then maybe some more next week and… oi. We’re pretty much going to have snow coming out our ears by the end of February.
- Vetoing the veto. Governor Phil’s calorie count bill veto was overridden in the state House yesterday after being overridden in the Senate as well. The bill would require that only elected officials, rather than appointed health boards, could decide whether or not to require restaurants to post calorie counts.
- Library merge. Metro school libraries could soon be merged with Nashville’s public library system once the program is tested out in three local high schools. The plan has been in the works for about a year now, and Mayor Dean will announce the pilot program today.
- Bits & pieces. A Dickson man found $72,000 in cash and checks lying around in the snow and returned it to the nursing home it belonged to … People are still trying to save the Fairgrounds … News Channel 5 is getting called out all over the internet this morning for a controversial investigative piece on an Islamic community in Tennessee.
Photo by Paul Nicholson.
Good morning, Nashville. So how about that surprise snowstorm last night? Here we were expecting a small dusting and then the sky started falling. After all the slush clears out this morning, we’ll see temperatures drop from Cold to Very Cold. According to the weatherfolk over at Nashville WX, we could have another Situation brewing [...]
Happy Hour: Heart Heart
- Vanderbilt is launching a special free Master’s program for those who have their teaching certification and commit to teaching in Metro schools for three years. The first crop of students will start this summer. [WSMV]
- Winter storm warning! But not for us (though we’ll still see some snow and sleet.) [Nashville WX]
- Economists from the University of Tennessee are predicting that it’ll take our state two more years to recover from this dang Recession. [WTVF]
- Meharry Medical College alum Dr. Conrad Murray pled ‘not guilty’ to a manslaughter charge in the death of Michael Jackson. [City Paper]
- From the Department of Weird Things Spilled On Our Interstate: A tractor-trailer flipped over on I-40 near Mt. Juliet, sending boxes and boxes of cucumbers rolling across the highway. [WKRN]
- Our friends over at WKRN’s Nashville Is Talking announced the blog’s official closure today which makes us both sad to see them go and excited about whatever’s next. NiT has played a huge role in Nashville’s media scene for years and has been an incredible resource for us here at Nashvillest from the beginning. We’ll miss you, NiT! [Nashville Is Talking]
Photo by peppysis.
Vanderbilt is launching a special free Master’s program for those who have their teaching certification and commit to teaching in Metro schools for three years. The first crop of students will start this summer. [WSMV] Winter storm warning! But not for us (though we’ll still see some snow and sleet.) [Nashville WX] Economists from the [...]
Bright & Early: It All Falls Down Edition
Good morning, Nashville. By the time you read this, the demolition of the Nashville Autohaus and several other buildings near the 7th and Shirley intersection will probably be underway (but not Rocketown just yet!) Construction for the Music City Center is expected to break ground today meaning that all of the buildings that are currently in the way will be coming down this week. As we’ve been mentioning, getting around that part of downtown may be a little tricky for the next few weeks as rolling lane closures take place and buildings are taken down.
- Mental health care in trouble. Mental health advocates are concerned about the latest round of TennCare cuts which include significant cuts for mental health care providers, saying that limiting care on the front-end will lead to more hospitalizations and will ultimately cost the state more money.
- We have good roads! For the fourth straight year, the stretch I-40 that runs through Tennessee has earned the “Best Roadway in America” title from a survey of truckers and professional drivers.
- Bits & pieces. Construction on the Franklin Whole Foods begins today … Area shelters were able to bring almost 90% of Nashville’s homeless indoors during the last snow storm and cold snap … Speaking of snow, we won’t be seeing much of it tonight … Sarah Palin made her Tea Party Convention debut in Nashville over the weekend.
Photo by turkeyjerky.
Good morning, Nashville. By the time you read this, the demolition of the Nashville Autohaus and several other buildings near the 7th and Shirley intersection will probably be underway (but not Rocketown just yet!) Construction for the Music City Center is expected to break ground today meaning that all of the buildings that are currently [...]
Happy Hour: Not This Time
- Middle Tennessee is in a Winter Weather Advisory, but this storm looks pretty lame. Which is okay with us. [WSMV]
- The East Coast, however, is expected to get 20-30 inches of snow dumped on them and it’s already causing some widespread flight delays and cancellations at BNA. [Tennessean]
- Seven months after Steve McNair’s murder, police have released tapes of the interviews with the two men who found McNair’s body and called the police. This one’s not for the faint of heart. [WKRN]
- Since the Saturday parking meter thing went into effect a few weeks ago, Nashvillians have already racked up more than 200 tickets. [Tennessean]
- Headline of the day: “Cow Tips Man At UT Ag School, Victim Not Hurt.” [WTVF]
Photo by fallingwater123.
Middle Tennessee is in a Winter Weather Advisory, but this storm looks pretty lame. Which is okay with us. [WSMV] The East Coast, however, is expected to get 20-30 inches of snow dumped on them and it’s already causing some widespread flight delays and cancellations at BNA. [Tennessean] Seven months after Steve McNair’s murder, police [...]
Bright & Early: Getting Around Edition
Good morning, Nashville. More details about the big transit meeting are emerging and it turns out that city leaders are kicking around actual ideas for a light rail system sometime in the (probably distant) future. Though we know that this kind of talk makes the rounds at least once or twice a year, the Nashville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is taking a look at other cities for ideas about how to create a revenue source that would support it. In the meantime, Mayor Dean says that more bus rapid transit routes like the one on Gallatin will be implemented soon. We’re also pretty excited about those free circulator buses we keep hearing about.
- Too salty. Williamson and Rutherford counties are among those who predict they would actually run out of salt completely if we had a Situation repeat. And given all those theories about a miniature ice age, we suppose that’s a possibility.
- Free wi-fi coming soon! The Nashville Technology Council is aiming for the end of February to implement the free wi-fi network downtown. Though it’ll be limited at first while they work out the kinks and convince businesses to buy extenders, everyone should be able to get on the internet downtown for free pretty soon.
- Bits & pieces. It’s eastbound I-440′s turn to be closed this weekend. You may also want to steer clear of White Bridge around the I-40 on-ramp … Snow tonight, but probably not much … If the ‘Noog blows up next year, at least we will know why … Someone’s house is covered in solar panels and it’s not Al Gore.
Photo by victorjames615.
Good morning, Nashville. More details about the big transit meeting are emerging and it turns out that city leaders are kicking around actual ideas for a light rail system sometime in the (probably distant) future. Though we know that this kind of talk makes the rounds at least once or twice a year, the Nashville [...]
Happy Hour: Into The Dark
- The Country Music Marathon is already breaking records with more than 30,000 folks registered to participate. [WTVF]
- State Senator Ophelia Ford may miss most or all of the current legislative session after she faced some complications with a recent surgery. This won’t be the first time it’s happened; she also missed most of 2007′s session for health reasons. [Tennessean]
- Middle Tennessee officials are trying to figure out how to solve some of the midstate’s most pressing transportation challenges and they need our help. Check out the Nashville Area MPO’s planning survey here. [WSMV]
- An East Tennessee funeral home suffered some serious damage when a recalled Toyota crashed into the front of the building. No one was too badly injured, but it looks like the accelerator issue was to blame. [WKRN]
- A judge made quick work of the Tower Investments suit against Metro and Metro will be able to acquire the land after all. Unless the decision is appealed. [City Paper]
Photo by Chris1051.
The Country Music Marathon is already breaking records with more than 30,000 folks registered to participate. [WTVF] State Senator Ophelia Ford may miss most or all of the current legislative session after she faced some complications with a recent surgery. This won’t be the first time it’s happened; she also missed most of 2007′s session [...]
Bright & Early: Take That Back Edition
Good morning, Nashville. On the heels of Governor Phil’s announcement of widespread TennCare cuts, many hospitals are speaking out and comparing the cuts to Armageddon and declaring that “people will die” if they actually go into effect. Among the most devastating, they say, is the $10,000 cap on hospital stays for TennCare patients. This essentially means that the state will stop paying for the patient’s hospitalization once the bill reaches $10,000 over the course of a year, and hospitals are responsible for finding other ways to recoup the remaining balance. Hospital officials say that this will affect most patients who are hospitalized since most do reach that cap.
- Music City Center lawsuit in court. The lawsuit against the developers of the Music City Center has been scheduled for court, at which time Tower Investments will try to build a case against the city for improperly handling eminent domain proceedings and snatching up their land.
- Later start times for MNPS? Metro Schools officials are currently polling families and staff about the possibility of pushing back high school start times by an hour or two. Research suggests that adolescents do better in school when they’ve had more sleep and woken up later in the morning.
- Bits & pieces. Two residents of the homeless encampment Tent City were arrested this week for failing to check in with the sex offender registry … For some reason, people are actually booking Valentine’s Day dates at White Castle … The world-famous Tea Party Convention starts today, complete with Sarah Palin and a billion and a half protests counter-protests if Facebook is any indication … Blah, rain.
Photo by heatherlynn.nashville.
Good morning, Nashville. On the heels of Governor Phil’s announcement of widespread TennCare cuts, many hospitals are speaking out and comparing the cuts to Armageddon and declaring that “people will die” if they actually go into effect. Among the most devastating, they say, is the $10,000 cap on hospital stays for TennCare patients. This essentially [...]
Happy Hour: King Of Pop Edition
- It’s a good thing Michael Jackson is from Tennessee and everything since our state legislators just passed a resolution honoring him. (Note: Michael Jackson is not actually from Tennessee.) [Pith In The Wind]
- But while taking a break from passing Michael Jackson bills, the legislature also passed something that creates a new category of milk called “Tennessee Prime Milk” which indicates that said milk was at least 80% produced in Tennessee. [WZTV]
- With the preparation for the convention center construction, we may see a pretty big reduction in available parking spaces. Check Park It Downtown for some additional parking options as your usual spots start disappearing. [WSMV]
- If digging through public documents and presentations about state budget cuts is your thing, the latest round is online (and it’s Very Colorful!) [Tennessee Anytime]
Photo by Paul Nicholson.
It’s a good thing Michael Jackson is from Tennessee and everything since our state legislators just passed a resolution honoring him. (Note: Michael Jackson is not actually from Tennessee.) [Pith In The Wind] But while taking a break from passing Michael Jackson bills, the legislature also passed something that creates a new category of milk [...]
Neither Rain, Nor Sleet, Nor Snow: Free Day at Country Music Hall Of Fame
Thanks to that good ol’ #TheSituation2010 this past weekend, the Country Music Hall of Fame was closed on Saturday, which also happened to be the date of their annual Ford Community Day, a rare day of free admission. For those crying “conspiracy!” at the museum’s seemingly convenient closing, we expect to see your shining faces this weekend at the rescheduled Ford Community Day!
From 9am-5pm on Saturday, enjoy free admission to the Country Music Hall of Fame (a ticket would normally set you back $20). We took our first trip to the Hall of Fame last year during Ford Community Day, and it was an enjoyable opportunity to see Nashville through the eyes of the rest of the world for a day.
Photo by cliff1066.
Thanks to that good ol’ #TheSituation2010 this past weekend, the Country Music Hall of Fame was closed on Saturday, which also happened to be the date of their annual Ford Community Day, a rare day of free admission. For those crying “conspiracy!” at the museum’s seemingly convenient closing, we expect to see your shining faces [...]
Bright & Early: Off The Tracks Edition
Good morning, Nashville. With all of the budget-related news this week, it’s no surprise to hear that Tennessee lawmakers are considering reducing unemployment benefits, which are already tied with Florida’s for the fourth-lowest in the country. At the rate we’re going, our state’s unemployment fund will be about $20 million in the hole by April and is on track to be in much worse shape by next year. Though unemployment numbers seemed to level out briefly near the end of 2009, they’ve shown a steady increase in the past few months and levying additional taxes on businesses to cover the gap just isn’t cutting it.
- Middle Tennessee is hungry. Second Harvest Food Bank and Feeding America have released a study showing that hunger is a quickly-growing problem in Middle Tennessee. Second Harvest, which feeds an estimated 213,200 folks each year, is also making the news for their innovative frozen meal initiative.
- Long overdue. Traffic may be a little tricky around downtown over the next few weeks as Metro Water Service crews dig up various chunks of the street to replace our water system–parts of which are 120 years old. No wonder they’re breaking.
- Bits & pieces. Nashville is spinning up all sorts of strategies to help strengthen and develop the downtown core, whatever that means … Mayor Dean wants Metro employees to be able to volunteer in MNPS schools, because Lord knows, they need all the help they can get … The West Nashville Farmer’s Market is staying put, for now … The Other Situation is looking pretty week. Sorry guys … TDOT is waxing poetic about the Lifecycle Of A Highway and swears they’ll fix those nasty potholes, someday.
Photo by Peppysis.
Good morning, Nashville. With all of the budget-related news this week, it’s no surprise to hear that Tennessee lawmakers are considering reducing unemployment benefits, which are already tied with Florida’s for the fourth-lowest in the country. At the rate we’re going, our state’s unemployment fund will be about $20 million in the hole by April [...]
Active Discussions