Good morning, Nashville. We’re hearing plenty of harrowing reports about Tennesseans who were in Haiti on mission trips when the earthquake hit, but members of Nashville’s Haitian community (yes, we have one of those) are also trying to get in touch with relatives back home who were likely affected. Much like Fisk University Haitian radio host Caismy Sejour and his wife, most have been unable to make contact with relatives to find out whether or not they survived. Our thoughts and prayers are with these folks as they wait.

• Convention center fight escalates. The fight against the proposed convention center is starting to heat up as Gaylord Entertainment has been not-so-subtly hinting that they won’t be renewing their membership in the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce next year. The general consensus is that Gaylord sees the convention center as direct competition for Gaylord Opryland.
• Obligatory. In case you were experiencing symptoms of withdrawal, here is your Lane Kiffin fix for the morning. And while we’re at it, USAToday published a piece on how much money goes into college sports and where it all comes from.
• Bits & pieces. Everyone can breathe a sigh of relief, for Franklin won’t be banning chain link fences anytime soon … Somehow despite the departure of GM, Spring Hill was listed as the third most high-growth areas in 2009 according to an economic development survey … Hallelujah, it’s getting warmer! … Guns-in-bars opponents say that the law is causing other cities to lure tourists away from Tennessee.

Photo by cwage.