Good morning, Nashville. With Metro’s election day just around the corner, it seems relevant to note that six of our candidates, including two incumbents, have criminal backgrounds. As misdemeanors don’t bar someone from running for office in Davidson County, it’s totally legal for these folks to run. Offenses seem to mostly include DUIs with a little trespassing and assault on the side. And speaking of, er, interesting Metro Council races, there never seems to be a dull moment in East Nashville’s District 5 where candidate Pam Murray decided to have a little fish fry directly across the street from opponent Scott Davis’ house on Saturday. Murray, who was ousted by District 5 voters and replaced by Jamie Hollin last year, also got in a bit of trouble last week for offering free fish sandwiches in exchange for taking voters to the polls.

• As The County Clerk’s Office Turns. Meanwhile, members of the Metro Council are now calling for County Clerk John Arriola’s resignation following weeks of controversy about Arriola allegedly charging a $40 “gratuity” for all weddings performed, then pocketing the cash. The TBI has been checking into it, and it’s recently come to light that he never disclosed the estimated $30,000 per year in gratuities on his ethics forms.
• Stabbing at downtown Provence. A Metro Police officer and homeless man both wound up in the hospital on Friday afternoon after the homeless man cornered the officer in the bathroom at Provence Breads & Cafe downtown and allegedly tried to swipe his gun. The officer pulled out a knife and stabbed the man in the leg and got a little scuffed up himself in the process. The homeless man is expected to recover and will be charged with attempted aggravated assault on a police officer.
• Bits & pieces. We could see some more thunderstorms today … Humans aren’t the only ones struggling with the heat these days … Tennessee has automated the parole check-in process for 3,500 felons, including convicted murders. This means that instead of reporting to a real person, they call in and select options from a phone tree … Shoplifting is on the rise in Hillsboro Village.

Photo by Eva Maria.