Good morning, Nashville. After a long weekend of waiting, the 2,500 employees at the Spring Hill GM plant were told this morning that the plant will be halting production indefinitely as a part of the company’s restructuring. GM filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this morning, and although that probably doesn’t come as much of a shock to anyone, we’re having a tough time imagining how much losing that many jobs will affect that community. Not the best way to kick off the week, eh?

• Really? In the neverending saga of the TVA and its toxic ash, all the controversy of the past few months has caused folks to question whether the recycled ash that has been donated to schools and parks is actually leeching arsenic and all sorts of fun chemicals into the ground.
• ‘Tis the season. The Summer of Smog is officially underway with the season’s first Air Quality Alert: “Temperatures are expected to soar toward 90 and the sun beats down on the city, creating a haze of exhaust fumes and chemicals that can be unhealthy for people with asthma, lung disease and heart problems, as well as children and the elderly.”
• Bits & pieces. The new(ish) paid parking lot behind Pancake Pantry is making everyone angry, so please remember that the parking people are generous folks … Nashville has a brand new Smart Car store that opens today … Governor Phil is having an “emotional and exhausting” time making all of the budget cuts … Unless biting into metal is your thing, watch out for the recalled ground beef.

Photo by Justyn with a Y!.