Good morning, Nashville. With all of the budget-related news this week, it’s no surprise to hear that Tennessee lawmakers are considering reducing unemployment benefits, which are already tied with Florida’s for the fourth-lowest in the country. At the rate we’re going, our state’s unemployment fund will be about $20 million in the hole by April and is on track to be in much worse shape by next year. Though unemployment numbers seemed to level out briefly near the end of 2009, they’ve shown a steady increase in the past few months and levying additional taxes on businesses to cover the gap just isn’t cutting it.
- Middle Tennessee is hungry. Second Harvest Food Bank and Feeding America have released a study showing that hunger is a quickly-growing problem in Middle Tennessee. Second Harvest, which feeds an estimated 213,200 folks each year, is also making the news for their innovative frozen meal initiative.
- Long overdue. Traffic may be a little tricky around downtown over the next few weeks as Metro Water Service crews dig up various chunks of the street to replace our water system–parts of which are 120 years old. No wonder they’re breaking.
- Bits & pieces. Nashville is spinning up all sorts of strategies to help strengthen and develop the downtown core, whatever that means … Mayor Dean wants Metro employees to be able to volunteer in MNPS schools, because Lord knows, they need all the help they can get … The West Nashville Farmer’s Market is staying put, for now … The Other Situation is looking pretty week. Sorry guys … TDOT is waxing poetic about the Lifecycle Of A Highway and swears they’ll fix those nasty potholes, someday.
Photo by Peppysis.
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