• Nearly 1,200 teachers and more than 16,000 students were absent from Metro Schools on this fine day which would have been the first day of Spring Break had students not missed just about all of January due to snow and ice. [WSMV]
• Governor Haslam is giving his State of the State address in the House chambers as we write this. We should have a better idea about what’s up with the budget situation by tomorrow morning. [WTVF]
• Franklin is creating some new videos and educational opportunities for their residents to learn about recycling since it was recently discovered through a survey that no one knows what to put in their recycling bins out there. To be fair, they’ve only had a curbside recycling option since July. [WSMV]
• The final vote on Metro’s nondiscrimination ordinance, which requires all of Metro’s contractors to have nondiscrimination policies that include sexual orientation and gender identity, happens tomorrow night. Nike issued a letter of support to Metro Councilman Mike Jameson this morning. [WSMV]
• Mayor Dean issued a statement from Japan today. [In Session]
• Speaking of, several local nonprofits have launched initiatives to help Japan get back on their feet. [WSMV]

Photo by Joel Williams.