• The city is still working with various agencies and groups to finalize plans for this winter’s emergency shelters after promising they would operate despite budget issues.
• On that front, non-profit Room in the Inn opened for the season on Friday to provide additional shelters through churches and civic groups this winter. The organization needs donations to operate.
• The reported ICE visit to Una Elementary School in southeast Nashville became even murkier this week, with school officials now saying they did not positively identify the two men in military-type clothing requesting records of specific students. The agency says none of their personnel ever visited the school.
• At an average of $223 a night, Nashville is now said to have the most expensive hotel prices in the country, with downtown rates as much as double that figure. Congratulations, uh, we did it? ?
• This is our regular reminder to be wary of scams from people claiming to be with the utility companies and demanding immediate payment.
• Fisk University plans to reestablish the institution’s role in race relations by reviving its Social Justice Program that proved integral during the Civil Rights era.
• Police have been dispatched to the Monroe St. Kroger near Germantown 820 times in 2019 with 658 of those being through the 911 system, a staggering number for any business. The company has installed a surveillance system and hired additional security guards.
• The weather last month was crazy and very not-normal, so you weren’t just imagining it.
• The controversial pedestrian bridge planned for the Gulch has been canceled after surviving withering criticism through three different mayoral administrations. Mayor John Cooper says the money will be spent elsewhere in the city.
• Vanderbilt University will expand its alcohol sales to more basketball and baseball games following a smooth rollout during football season. ?
• The Tennessee Titans (4-5) dropped a road game against the Carolina Panthers (5-3) 30-20, its first loss since switching to quarterback Ryan Tannehill. The Titans host the Kansas City Chiefs (6-3) next Sunday ahead of their bye week.
• The Nashville Predators (8-4-2) lost at home in overtime 6-5 Thursday evening against the surging Calgary Flames (8-6-2) and then lost 2-1 to the visiting New York Rangers (5-5-1) Saturday afternoon. The team begins a four-game road trip tonight against the Detroit Red Wings (4-10-1).
• The team also unveiled their Winter Classic jerseys prior to Saturday afternoon’s game, a throwback homage to the Dixie Flyers that once called Nashville home. The Winter Classic will be held January 1 at Texas Stadium against the Dallas Stars.
• After the signing of captain Roman Josi to a mega deal last week, the team also inked forward Austin Watson to a 3-year $4.5 million deal. Watson’s off-ice struggles had at times made a re-signing unlikely.
• Nashville SC lost its second-round game against Indy Eleven 1-0 at First Tennessee Park. Indy moves on to face Louisville City.
• The Nashville Public Library will stop buying eBooks from Macmillan Publishing, a boycott that has spread to several cities over the publisher’s decision to impose a 60-day embargo on sales to libraries in order to pump up retail sales. ?
• Middle Tennessee is seeing an increase in the number of pet thefts, so keep an extra eye on your furry friends.

Photo by Tyler Neu. Want to see your photo featured here?