Good morning, Nashville. Though lots of folks are fans of the new convention center, they have a lot of concerns about who’s going to end up footing the bill. There’s been talk of paying for construction out of property taxes, but Mayor Dean is going on record to say that Nashville taxpayers shouldn’t have to be the ones paying for it. After Mayor Dean filed an amendment prohibiting the use of property taxes, Metro Finance Director Rich Riebeling told the Tennessean that they’re planning instead to target tourists with taxes and fees and if that doesn’t cover it, “we shouldn’t do the project.”

• Disease at Vandy. A Vanderbilt freshman was hospitalized last night with meningococcal bacterial meningitis, which is a highly contageous and life-threatening disease for which most of us are supposed to be vaccinated. So, Vandy folks, pay close attention to your school alerts and hope it doesn’t spread.
• House to vote on abortion bill. The Tennessee House will vote on an amendment today that would let voters sound off on greater restrictions for abortions. Supporters have been trying to pass the bill for years, but this is the furthest it’s ever gotten.
• Moby Teeth the Movie. Pith In The Wind brings us the actual video footage of Toby Keith’s now-famous ACM meltdown.
• Bits & pieces. Metro Schools claim they didn’t do anything wrong in the process of hiring at least two alleged sex offenders … Bread & Co. is doing the unthinkable and actually lowering the prices of their food … Two twin girls who were joined at the torso and shared a liver were separated successfully at Vandy yesterday.

Photo by catchitearly.