Good morning, Nashville. Governor Phil is still working on figuring out which Very Important Parts of the State Budget will need to be cut in order to make ends meet this year. A few days ago, we heard him consider eliminating funding for neighborhood clinics or just ending all state-sponsored health care programs altogether; yesterday, we saw an enrollment cap on CoverKids. Now we’re hearing reports that the state could be ending all emergency mental health services for adults. Either way, not exactly a banner year for health care in Tennessee.

• The little tower that couldn’t. Downtown developer Tony Giarratana, the guy who wanted to build that mythical Signature Tower and create a “second downtown” in Bells Bend, hasn’t actually paid his workers since January. Though Giarratana is largely responsible for the influx of luxury condos downtown, he’s been bleeding money for several years.
• Hope for the state fair. The Metro Council will be considering a resolution tonight that would save the state fair and fairgrounds–at least through next December. A few weeks ago, Mayor Dean decided to keep everything up and running through the end of 2010 without the fair and racetrack, but Councilman Eric Crafton hopes to save the whole shebang.
• Bits & pieces. The inventor of the Wikipedia (so basically, the internet) will be gracing Nashville with his presence soon … Preds owner David Freeman is pretty much flat broke … The Tennessean explains exactly how the Titans are going to get to the playoffs. We believe! … We don’t know much about zoning, but apparently this is a big deal … H1N1 vaccines are open to everyone now.

Photo by Erackblack.