- The Nashville Health Department announced it will lift all COVID restrictions — except for masks being required indoors — on May 14. That date was chosen because it is six weeks after vaccines became generally available to everyone 16 years and older.
- That same day, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced that he was allowing an Executive Order to expire that allowed the state’s smaller county health departments to implement their own restrictions, including mask mandates. Tennessee never had a statewide mask mandate.
- Today is the “State of Metro” address, where Mayor John Cooper is expected to outline his budget priorities.
- Property owners have begun receiving their quadrennial appraisal notices, which includes instructions on how to request a review.
- Nashville’s Industrial Development Board approved the incentive package dubbed the Oracle deal, sending the measure to Metro Council for consideration after five hours of public hearings and meetings. Activists had sought a delay or deferral in order to more fully vet the proposal, posing several questions to company and civic leaders.
- Councilmember Colby Sledge says that the company insists on having all the approvals done by May 4 or it will back out of the deal.
- Speaking of CM Sledge, he pulled the zoning request for a Wedgehood-Houston development after AJ Captial Partners told him they were no longer engaging with a neighborhood group. The project included mixed-use development and preservation work on the Merritt Mansion.
- The Nashville Business Journal interviewed two entrepreneurs who have worked for Oracle to get their perspective.
- The state legislature has sent a bill to the governor’s desk that will allow for to-go alcohol sales to continue even after the pandemic ends. The popular change had been implemented by an Executive Order that expires at the end of the month.
- Spot checks by the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission indicates that many restaurants and services are not properly checking IDs for those orders, leading to stiff fines and potential loss of the restaurant’s liquor license.
- The Nashville Predators (27-22-2) dropped a 7-4 game to the Florida Panthers (32-14-5) Tuesday night, allowing that team to lock up the third playoff spot. The Predators host the Dallas Stars (21-16-12) Saturday night in their battle for the final spot in the division.
- The Tennessee Titans have selected a new public address announcer, Matt Rogers. Rogers replaces Mike Donegan, who retired last season after more than two decades.
- Franklin’s Pilgrimage Festival set for September 25-26 will be headlined by Dave Matthews Band, Black Keys and Maren Morris organizers announced Wednesday. Tickets go on sale today.
- News Channel 5 talked to a self-defense instructor about personal safety after three different women reported possible kidnapping attempts near the city’s college campuses.
- The CEO of a local telemedicine company was fired after viral video surfaced of him harassing a male student wearing a dress to prom.
- Sea Salt, billed as a ‘farm to table seafood spot’, is closing its location in Printer’s Alley and moving out to the Indian Lake development in Hendersonville, citing high rent and the toll from the pandemic.
- Headline tells the story: “Man on Broadway punched random people, including women, bit Nashville police officer.”
Photo by Sharon Molerus. Want to see your photo featured here?