Monthly Archives: December, 2011
Bright & Early: What A Ride Edition
Good morning, Nashville. Rather than causing prison overcrowding, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office claims that the controversial 287(g) program has left hundreds of cells vacant. Under the program, local law enforcement may have any undocumented immigrants they arrest deported, and so far, they’ve deported around 8,000. Though it’s pretty common to see empty cells around this time of year, Sheriff Daron Hall attributes the overall decline in imprisonment to 287(g) and estimates that it’s saving taxpayers around $300,000 per week. Extra cell space is also rented out to neighboring counties and the US Marshal’s office. Opponents of the program argue that it encourages racial profiling and arrests for minor offenses intended to target undocumented immigrants, in addition to perpetuating a distrust of law enforcement in immigrant communities.
- Ice ice baby. As you can see, it’s not really snowing outside! The forecast still calls for some sort of frozen precipitation this afternoon and over the weekend with the possibility of a tiny bit of snow by tomorrow morning.
- Parents these days. A fight broke out a Maplewood High School women’s basketball game a few days ago, leading to the suspension of 10 students. Two parents were also banned from the school when they jumped into the brawl.
- Bits & pieces. MTSU set a new enrollment record of nearly 25,000 this year … It would be in your best interest to avoid White Bridge Road like the plague this weekend … News Channel 5 sounds the alarm about radon … There was a diamond heist in Green Hills last night, and by “diamond heist,” we mean someone ran into Genesis Diamonds, grabbed some merchandise and ran out.
Photo by Brian Quigley.
Good morning, Nashville. Rather than causing prison overcrowding, the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office claims that the controversial 287(g) program has left hundreds of cells vacant. Under the program, local law enforcement may have any undocumented immigrants they arrest deported, and so far, they’ve deported around 8,000. Though it’s pretty common to see empty cells around this [...]
Happy Hour: Like A Bad Habit
- In case you’ve ever wondered how much snow storms cost the city, this is a pretty comprehensive breakdown. The verdict? Those things are expensive. Let’s hope we don’t see another one this weekend. [WKRN]
- Former Belmont women’s soccer coach Lisa Howe wrote a letter to the Metro Council asking them to support a proposed ordinance that would require all of Metro’s contractors to adopt non-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation and gender identity. [City Paper]
- There is apparently a drunk epidemic in downtown Nashville and Metro is cracking down. [WSMV]
- Despite all the proposed budget cuts in other state departments, the Department of Children’s Services says they can’t afford to cut any staff. Though they’ve been caring for less kids than usual over the past few years, they want to be prepared for a rebound as the economy slowly recovers. [WPLN]
- A car flew off an I-40 overpass near the Rosa Parks Blvd. exit today and crashed into a truck below. Six people were injured and the driver may have fallen asleep. [WKRN]
Photo Of A Cupcake Of The Day by Eric Renshaw. We hope you guys have all the cupcakes out of your system.
In case you’ve ever wondered how much snow storms cost the city, this is a pretty comprehensive breakdown. The verdict? Those things are expensive. Let’s hope we don’t see another one this weekend. [WKRN] Former Belmont women’s soccer coach Lisa Howe wrote a letter to the Metro Council asking them to support a proposed ordinance [...]
Bright & Early: Slash Slash Edition
Good morning, Nashville. Your wait at the DMV might get a little bit longer soon. The Department of Safety has proposed cutting 26 driver’s license station workers to help make up for Tennessee’s budget deficit. These cuts are part of a long, long list of reductions proposed in the state budget hearings over the past few days. Also on the chopping block are 29 Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers, hundreds of millions of dollars in TennCare services, several education programs, mental health care services and some swimming pools. It’s shaping up to be a rough year.
- Metro Councilmen Michael Craddock and Eric Crafton may be up for running against Mayor Dean in the next election. Dean is currently unopposed, but potential candidates have until May 19th to file the paperwork.
- The weatherpeople are calling for everyone’s favorite “wintry mix” tomorrow morning and some actual snow possible on Sunday night and Monday. We’re hearing that Metro is already out coating the streets in brine.
- Bits & pieces. There are some stray dogs terrorizing Germantown … The feds raided the home of the Sommet Group’s former CEO earlier this week, but no property was removed … The Titans are expanding their search for a ‘Stache-replacement … Belmont has finally hired a replacement women’s soccer coach … Dozens of homes have been added to Metro’s flood buyout program.
Photo Of Cupcakes Of The Day by dancedivam.
Good morning, Nashville. Your wait at the DMV might get a little bit longer soon. The Department of Safety has proposed cutting 26 driver’s license station workers to help make up for Tennessee’s budget deficit. These cuts are part of a long, long list of reductions proposed in the state budget hearings over the past [...]
Happy Hour: 615 No More
- Nashville’s running out of 615 area codes! By summer 2013, there will probably be a new area code for folks moving to the area. [WSMV]
- The Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association estimate that allowing wine to be sold in grocery stores like normal states could create as many as 3,000 jobs for Tennesseans. [City Paper]
- TVA customers–ourselves included–are still paying an average of 69 cents per month on the cleanup of the December 2008 Kingston Ash Spill. [WZTV]
- Earlier today, the headline for this story read “Doctor Testifies About Rectal Search in Crack Case.” It has since been changed to something far less interesting. [WKRN]
- The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is fully on board with legislation that would require a prescription for cold medicines and other types of over-the-counter drugs that can be used to cook meth. [WTVF]
- More than 100 people were expected to show up to peacefully protest Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak by the Nashville Farmer’s Market late this afternoon. [WSMV]
- The state is working hard to put an end to the latest drug fad before it even starts in Tennessee: “the abuse of so-called bath salts.” So-called!
Photo Of Cupcakes Of The Day by jodestick.
Nashville’s running out of 615 area codes! By summer 2013, there will probably be a new area code for folks moving to the area. [WSMV] The Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association estimate that allowing wine to be sold in grocery stores like normal states could create as many as 3,000 jobs for Tennesseans. [City [...]
Bright & Early: Shadow-Free Edition
Good morning, Nashville, and happy Groundhog Day! Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this morning which is supposed to indicate spring is on the way, though you probably wouldn’t know it based on the freezing temperatures and occasional burst of flurries outside. But hey, at least we’re not blanketed in three feet of snow like the rest of the country.
- It seems that the Starwood Amphitheater will soon be back in business. The Metro Council measure to revive it (at least temporarily) passed its final vote at last night’s meeting.
- Tennessee’s unemployment fund is predicted to hit a new low by the end of this quarter and will probably have to borrow from the federal government. This isn’t the first time they’ve done it, and officials say the loan would be small enough that the state could pay it back in a year.
- Bits & pieces. Flu season is traditionally at its worst in February, though it’s already pretty bad in Tennessee … Vanderbilt University Medical Center is taking part in an international study examining the genetic component of Alzheimer’s … The Department of Correction is proposing an end to convict work crews and the early release of nearly 800 prisoners, which would save the state about $2 million … American Idol finalist Danny Gokey is opening up a new transitional home for families in East Nashville.
Photo by Kerry Woo. We will just keep posting the cupcake pictures from our pool until they run out. Go ahead, try us.
Good morning, Nashville, and happy Groundhog Day! Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this morning which is supposed to indicate spring is on the way, though you probably wouldn’t know it based on the freezing temperatures and occasional burst of flurries outside. But hey, at least we’re not blanketed in three feet of snow [...]
Happy Hour: Dodging The Bullet
- That massive snow storm that we are fortunately not experiencing has already resulted in the cancellation of nearly 2/3rds of the outbound flights at the Nashville International Airport. So if you’re flying out of BNA over the next few days, you’ll want to keep a close eye on that. [WKRN]
- Tennessee has already spent about double the money they budgeted for snow cleanup. As we’ve said before, these snow storms are expensive. [KnoxNews]
- However, Nashville has 500 tons of new salt in the barns for the next snow storm. [WSMV]
- If you tried to buy tickets to the soccer game at LP Field and received one of those nasty emails from Ticketmaster about your tickets being the wrong price, you are definitely not alone. [WSMV]
- The budget cuts just keep rolling in, and this time it may affect our summer pool plans. $200,000 in cuts will close six seasonal swimming pools at state parks and eliminate 20 jobs. [WKRN]
- Friday is the last day that private non-profits can apply for disaster loans from the US Small Business Administration for flood losses. [WKRN]
Photo by Stephen Yeargin. You people keep putting cupcake pictures in our pool and making us hungry.
That massive snow storm that we are fortunately not experiencing has already resulted in the cancellation of nearly 2/3rds of the outbound flights at the Nashville International Airport. So if you’re flying out of BNA over the next few days, you’ll want to keep a close eye on that. [WKRN] Tennessee has already spent about [...]
Bright & Early: When It Rains Edition
Good morning, Nashville. We’re running behind this morning, so you know the drill:
- We’ll be mostly spared from that giant winter storm the rest of the country is freaking out about. For our part, it’ll just be a lot of rain and wind and probably some thunderstorms. [Nashville WX]
- Metro and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency have busted up a hefty drug trafficking operation in Nashville that allegedly pumped around 50 kilos of cocaine per month into Middle Tennessee. Eight people were arrested and 27 kilos confiscated at an estimated street value of more than $1 million. [WSMV]
- Tennessee will be slashing around $70 million from its educational programs, meaning that things like the summer Governor’s Schools, the Coordinated School Health initiative and the state’s funding of Books from Birth will come to an end. [WPLN]
- Mayor Dean is still working to get Nashville State Community College a satellite campus in Antioch. [WKRN]
- As we’ve all been watching Egypt unravel, the Egyptian community in Middle Tennessee has been fearing for the safety of friends and family members back home and wondering what all the unrest means for them. [WSMV]
Photo by Rebecca Seung.
Good morning, Nashville. We’re running behind this morning, so you know the drill: We’ll be mostly spared from that giant winter storm the rest of the country is freaking out about. For our part, it’ll just be a lot of rain and wind and probably some thunderstorms. [Nashville WX] Metro and the federal Drug Enforcement [...]
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