• VUMC now says 97 percent of its workforce is fully vaccinated, up two percent from last week but still could see 900 of its nearly 30,000 employees lose their jobs for failing to comply with the requirement.
• The Metro Council is considering extending a popular program that eased the process for restaurants to have sidewalk cafes and even expand into their parking lots to allow for social distancing. Without action, the measure would expire next February.
• In the first two years of his term, Mayor John Cooper has missed the statutory deadly for 17 appointments to various boards and commissions, creating a headache for the Metro Council and those boards. The mayor’s office says some of the responsibility had been delegated to Vice Mayor Jim Shulman.
• The District Attorney’s office says the finance disclosures filed by Metro Councilmember Jonathan Hall are “troubling,” and is now recommending further review by the State Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance to determine if he should face civil fines. At issue is an alleged failure to itemize and disclose large campaign contributions and a $1,500 discrepancy in the reports.
• Middle Tennessee educators are concerned about the a reported ten incidents of guns being brought on school grounds so far this academic year, with students ranging in age from elementary school to high school.
• A 54 year-old woman from Texas has died after the Lime scooter she was riding collided with the rear wheels of a tractor trailer truck on 3rd Avenue downtown near the symphony hall.
• Mercy Lounge, Cannery Ballroom and the High Watt will not be able to renew their leases next year at their location on Cannery Row in yet another blow to the live music community, though the building owners say they expect to continue to use some of the space as a music venue.
• WKRN has an interview with Bob Bernstein about the changes in the Hillsboro Village neighborhood, where several long time family-run businesses have closed in recent years to be replaced with out of town franchises.
• Protestors demonstrated Saturday in front of the State Capitol over reproductive rights restrictions as part of a national movement to respond to a Texas law that banned most abortions. Several legislators have voiced support for a similar law to be passed in Tennessee.
• The Tennessee Titans (2-2) lost 24-27 in overtime to the previously win-less New York Jets (1-3) on a missed field goal that would have likely only saved a tie. The team will host the still-win-less Jacksonville Jaguars (0-4) this Sunday.
• Nashville SC (11-3-14) did manage to get a scoreless draw against New York City FC (11-10-7) to maintain their hold on the second place position heading into the playoffs next month. The team travels to face DC United (12-12-4) this Saturday.
• The Nashville Predators knocked off the Tampa Bay Lighting 6-1 Saturday night at home in preseason action. The team will face the Carolina Hurricanes Tuesday to begin a home-and-home series to close out the preseason.
• We enjoyed this feature story about WLAC’s reputation in the 1950s and 60s as a late night rhythm and blues station, helping boost the profile dozens of artists from the era. The now-talk radio station … doesn’t do that anymore.
• A youth design team is building a glow in the dark crosswalk on Dickerson Pike and Hart Lane to help improve pedestrian safety in that area after numerous injuries and fatalities.
• PSA: If you are sending a letter outside of Nashville (such as paying your bills), be prepared for it to take several days longer as the USPS begins its process of slowing mail service in order to reduce costs.

Photo by Sharron Mollerus. Want to see your photo featured here?