• A Washington DC research firm gave Nashville high marks for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, but says the city should do more to coordinate with the rest of Tennessee.
• New variants of the COVID-19 virus pose an even greater risk in areas with low vaccination rates health officials say. The Tennessee Department of Health says that 49.9 percent of the state is fully vaccinated, with Nashville at 59.39 percent.
• Party wagon operators say the new booze-free requirement has already hurt its business and led to numerous cancellations as revelers decide it’s just not the same kind of party without it.
• The Metro Planning Commission has released its third draft of the newly drawn council district lines based on community feedback, likely to be the final revision before the group moves towards adoption. The maps must be approved by the Metro Council, or the versions will go to a city referendum.
• Nashville continues to be a draw for tech industry companies and workers according to a report by the Greater Nashville Technology Council and MTSU.
• The Nashville Predators dropped a 2-0 game to the Boston Bruins Thursday before picking up a 4-3 overtime win over the visiting Montreal Canadiens Saturday night. The team opens a four-game road trip tomorrow night in Detroit against the Red Wings.
• The Music City Bowl will feature Purdue and Tennessee at 2 p.m. December 30 at Nissan Stadium, so prepare for a whole lot of orange in the days leading up to the game. Last year’s game between Missouri and Iowa State was cancelled because of COVID-19 issues in Missouri’s program.
• The Preds also unveiled their Stadium Series jerseys to go along with their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in February, and the internet was … not kind.
• The Equity Alliance has unveiled a new specialty license plate to support the organization, featuring a solid black background and their “E” logo worked into the end of the state’s name.
• Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s office has created a clemency review process for people convicted before September 2020 of drug-related crimes within 1,000 feet of a school. The radius for “enhanced” charges was dropped to 500 feet last legislative session.
• The Flying Saucer, a downtown beer hall since 1998 adjacent to Union Station, will close its doors Wednesday of next week, a social media post said Friday. Your Nashvillest crew is particularly sad about this one.
• Lower Broadway’s sidewalks will be getting a bit wider to accommodate the growing amount of foot traffic between first and second avenues.
• A partnership between the Nashville Public Library and the American Heart Association will allow residents to check out a blood pressure monitoring kit for up to 84 days a time.
• If your excitement for the holidays is ho-ho-hum, there’s a running list from Eater Nashville of pop-ups and festivals to make your spirits bright.
• The Metro Parks Board is continuing to look at whether to amend rules that caps the number of ballparks in Percy Warner as one for special needs children is set to be built, resulting in the planned closure of another.

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