Good morning, Nashville. After this morning’s big FIFA announcement, it doesn’t look like the World Cup will be moving to this side of the pond anytime soon. Instead, the 2018 World Cup will be held in Russia and the 2022 bid went to Qatar where the average July temperature is 115 degrees and no one can drink in public! Ah, better luck next time. We digress.

• Second chance for the State Fair. Mayor Dean will be withdrawing his proposal to move the fairgrounds flea market to the Hickory Hollow Mall, which was controversial from the beginning. Instead, the Metro Council hopes to negotiate a way to keep the State Fair at the current location for at least one more year.
• Tear down this stall! McGavok High School officials became so fed up with students lighting up in the bathrooms that they simply removed all the bathroom stall doors! All stall doors except one, in each restroom, which will likely be the only stall that anyone uses.
• Sounds tasty! We’re not sure what to make of this heartwarming tale about a local veterinarian who saved an endangered whooping crane by dressing like a marshmallow and being very quiet. But hey, it worked.
• Bits & pieces. The State menorah was lit last night for the first night of Hanukkah …  TDOT says that pothole season is upon us … Sunday’s your last day to snag the elusive McRib! … The Preds took home another shootout win last night in Columbus … Thanks to a water main break, some of you on the West side experienced a morning without water … The Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau has launched a fancy new mobile site.

Photo by Grey Street Girl.