• The Metro Council passed the new city budget on a voice vote, which is uncommon for a chamber that typically takes hours into the early morning to settle on it. The meeting was interrupted by protestors that had called for reductions to police funding.
• The flying banners around downtown will remain after a proposed ordinance banning the practice failed in Metro Council. The FAA has jurisdiction over the airspace, leading to many council members to vote against it.
• One of the big features of the budget was increased funding for Metro Schools, which will go towards more counselors and advocacy centers.
• Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, given to the “player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution to his community.”
• A word of advice: Don’t go jumping off bridges into the Cumberland.
• The Middle Tennessee Girl Scouts council is suing their national organization over $200,000 in unpaid technology fees that were passed along to the organization. The chapter’s charter is under “viability review” over the dispute.
• A party bus patron got a drink returned to him at a rather high velocity after tossing it toward a nearby car. Filed under “scenes from Lower Broadway.”
• Some residents in the Edgehill neighborhood weren’t exactly thrilled with a Chicago-based developer’s plan for a mixed-use property near I-40.
• There’s a national lifeguard shortage, but Metro Parks says they are fully staffed at the city’s 10 pools  and water parks.
• Tennessee needs to have more folks taking the COVID-19 vaccine, so the Nashville Scene has some ideas to incentivize them.
• Amazon announced this week that they are pledging $75 million in affordable housing grants for construction 800 units near existing WeGo bus lines.
• Walk Bike Nashville has a call out for artists in creating at least memorials for the 37 pedestrians killed last year when struck by vehicles. 2020 was the deadliest on record for people walking in Nashville.

Photo by Brent Moore. Want to see your photo featured here?