• Vanderbilt University Medical Center announced over the weekend that they were over capacity and turning away transfer requests because of the sudden increase in COVID-19 patients.  Doctors are unable to quickly treat non-COVID illness and injuries because of it.
• WPLN has a story about a ECMO machine (a device needed if the ventilator is not enough) that is in very short supply because of the staff it takes to operate it, with other area hospitals seeing capacity issues as well.
• Tennessee Lookout has interviews with parents and teachers very concerned about COVID-19 cases in the classroom and the school district’s ability to handle outbreaks.
• Metro Nashville is preparing to roll out a third dose for immunocompromised residents following the recommendation from the CDC late last week of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Clinical testing has shown that while the vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe illness, antibody production in some individuals may need the extra help.
• US Customs and Border Protection agents in Memphis seized fake COVID-19 vaccination cards shipped in from China, some of which were bound for Nashville. It is a federal crime to produce or purchase a counterfeit vaccination record.
• Nashville’s Oktoberfest has been rescheduled for 2022 after organizers determined rising COVID cases meant it was not feasible to hold the event.
• Phase 2 of a major outdoor renovation to Centennial Park has completed after 18 months, with changes that will allow the park to host larger music and arts festivals than in the past with better drainage and traffic support. Phase 3 calls for a large events pavilion on the northern section of the park.
• The Tennessee Titans opened up their three-game preseason with a 23-3 win over the Atlanta Falcons on the road. The Titans will travel to face the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Sunday.
• Nashville SC (7-2-10) fell behind early but then routed DC United (8-8-3) for a 5-2 win at home. The team hosts Orlando City (8-4-6) on Wednesday.
• Popular East Nashville bar Beyond the Edge was damaged in the 2020 tornado and made its partial return in time for this past weekend’s Tomato Arts Fest. They hope to be fully open in time for the Titans regular season in September.
• The former site of Jackalope Brewing in the Gulch will be the home of a 24-store hotel, while the brewery has moved on to a location near Fort Negley.
• Television food personality Guy Fieri said it was an honor to open his Chicken Guy restaurant in the same city as Prince’s Hot Chicken. The second-avenue restaurant sustained some damage during renovations from the Christmas Day bombing.
• Stanley, a rhinoceros hornbill (bird) will soon be making his debut with the Nashville Zoo’s ambassador animal collection, meaning that he and his very loud call will be interacting directly with park guests at educational presentations.

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