Good morning, Nashville. In what is the biggest, most surprising news ever, the Sommet Center is pretty much not the Sommet Center anymore. The Preds have reached a naming rights deal with Bridgestone Americas Inc., and the proposed name for the arena is – wait, you guessed it – Bridgestone Arena. The change will be officially announced today at a press conference, and requires approval by Metro Sports Authority before it’s officially christened as Bridgestone Arena.
- Ruh roh. Just a few weeks after demolition began for the new Music City Center, state inspectors have discovered that some of the demolition materials from the project were dumped illegally at a site in Hermitage.
- Uncut. A decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will put $120 million back into this year’s TennCare budget, meaning that many of the deep budget cuts for this year could be reversed.
- Bars. Parks. Bowhunting. A new measure approved by the House would allow permit holders to carry their handguns during big game bowhunting, but only during the archery-0nly deer season.
- Bits & pieces. Flurries are in the forecast for tomorrow afternoon … Don’t forget to get your free pancakes at IHOP today … Could Nashville play host to the NHL All Star Game, or even the Grammy Awards in the future? … An awesome Nashville 8-year-old was honored yesterday for saving two elderly relatives from an apartment fire (he was awarded a clock radio for his efforts).
Photo by @loudestnoise.