• PSA: It’s April 1, so everything you read on the internet today (except for us, of course) should be checked for accuracy.
• Nashville awoke Saturday morning to news that 21 cherry blossom trees would be cut down to make way for a stage at Riverfront park for this month’s NFL Draft, and … let’s just say it didn’t go over well. The city has reversed course after public outcry, though 10 of trees will be transplanted for the stage. ?
• A week of controversy in the Metro Nashville Public School system saw Mayor David Briley promise a lot more involvement from his administration (to the point state law allows) and a push for the School Board to enter into mediation for their acrimonious rhetoric. Briley expressed support for embattled and soon departing Director of Schools Dr. Shawn Joseph.
• The mayor also announced Thursday that Jamari Brown will head the Economic and Community Development department to replace the departing Matt Wiltshire.
• WeWork plans to open a third location in the Capitol View development near downtown, citing growing demand for co-working space. The company already has office space downtown and in East Nashville.
• Nashville voters will have printed paper trail of their ballot in time for the August 1 Metro elections thanks to a system upgrade from the Davidson County Election Commission. The process involves generating the paper ballot on one machine, which is then scanned into another to be cast.
• The Tennessee State Legislature continued a recent trend of getting out ahead of Metro ordinances (or nullifying them after enacted) with a measure designed to prevent the city from banning plastic shopping bags for retailers. Environmental groups cite the bags as a significant contributor to landfills and a public health concern.
• A man was arrested Sunday morning in Joelton for DUI and allegedly leaving the scene of an accident … by stealing a responding Nashville Fire Department vehicle. ?
• The Nashville Predators (44-29-6) picked up a 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins (43-25-11) Friday on the road before dropping a 5-2 game to the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets (45-30-4) Saturday night. The Predators head to Buffalo tomorrow to face the Sabres (31-38-10).
• WPLN’s “Curious Nashville” series takes a look at the tragic backstory of the clock on the front of Hillsboro High in Green Hills, and how workers now keep the time correct on it.
• Midtown adult club Deja Vu Showgirls will no longer play music from rapper Cardi B after she said in a recent interview that she had drugged and robbed men during her time as an adult entertainer. We now know what it takes to be kicked off the playlist at a strip club.
• Vanderbilt University Medical Center announced Friday that it would be purchasing 245-bed Tennova Healthcare-Lebanon from Community Health Systems. It is the only hospital operating in Wilson County.
• US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos will be visiting Nashville today to tour a local charter school with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. The visit will be used to promote the state’s school choice system and various other education initiatives supported by both administrations.
• Car manufacturer Hyundai aided Nashville Police in an Interstate chase Thursday by remotely disabling the stolen SUV. The suspect was later caught after fleeing the vehicle.

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