• A North Nashville fire that damaged several “tall skinnies” has been ruled arson, though the investigators are not speculating on a motive or identifying suspects. A neighbor says that the sudden influx of new, more expensive properties may be creating friction with the community.
• In separate news, the Nashville Fire Department is feeling the strain as the city grows, particularly when it comes to vehicle maintenance. The budget this year won’t help that much.
• After the Metro Council declined to raise property taxes at its meeting last week, city leaders are bracing for even tougher choices ahead in next year’s cycle ahead of the general election. Layoffs and further cuts are anticipated as revenue is not expected to grow.
• WPLN digs into the proposed “blue ribbon commission” of private businesses that will be asked to look at the city budget for inefficiencies in the coming year. The council would vote on any recommended moves.
• The Nashville MTA announced that starting today, certain bus routes would have service reductions as they await new buses to be delivered. Several routes have been using the smaller Access Ride vans to supplement the aging (and sometimes in accidents) fleet.
• The Nashville Scene takes a look at District 1, the often vacated spot on the Metro Council that occupy the largest geographic area that could wind up with its sixth council member in four years if somebody other than who wins the June 28 run-off election wins in 2019. An at-large council member is appointed to represent the area’s interests when a vacancy occurs.
• The Nashville area unemployment rate remained historically low, inching up a tenth of a percent 2.2 percent for May. The rate does not factor in “underemployed” or those that have stopped looking for work.
• Louisville City eliminated Nashville SC on Wednesday night in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup tournament by a final of 2-1, ending an 11 game unbeaten streak for the team in its inaugural season. The club had made it to the Round of 16, which includes MLS and the second-tier USL that Nashville SC is a member of this season.
• The Nashville Predators picked up four new players after sitting out the first three rounds of the NHL Draft because they had traded their picks away. Their fourth round draft pick, Jáchym Kondelík, is 6’6″, 227 lbs. ?
• The Barbershop Harmony Society, based in Nashville, has begun allowing their chapters to accept women for the first time in its 80 year history. The group aims to preserve barbershop quartert-style singing and provides music education opportunities nationwide.
• The owners of Peg Leg Porker BBQ restaurant in the Gulch would like to know if anyone recognizes this woman, who allegedly vandalized their business late last week.
• And finally, check out this video of a bobcat (the cat, not heavy equipment) cub playing in a tree in West Nashville. ?

Photo by Chris Wage. Want to see your photo featured here?