• Tennessee set new records for COVID-19 hospitalizations, with those among children following a similar trajectory since July. There were briefly fewer than 100 ICU beds available in the entire state.
• Locally, Vanderbilt University Medical Center set its own records for total patients treated with the virus, with leaders there blaming the states low vaccination rate for the surge.
• With long waits at the two remaining COVID-19 assessment centers, some are pressing the city to open new sites to handle the volume. The large center at Nissan Stadium closed as case numbers fell over the early summer.
• Nearly 600 students and staff at Metro Schools have tested positive for COVID-19, with more than 4,000 currently in mandatory quarantine according to the district. At this time, virtual schooling is not offered.
• Statewide, several districts have closed for days at a time because of teacher shortages, opting to use “snow days” to cover the mandatory classroom time.
• Broadway bar owner Steve Smith is offering a $500 incentive for his employees to get vaccinated, hoping to reduce the amount of time staff miss work with illness.
• STAND UP Nashville is pressing city leaders to slow down the process of redeveloping the east bank of the Cumberland River, saying that the project has not gathered enough community input nor addressed concerns about transit nor worker safety. The area stretches from the Jefferson Street Bridge to the I-24 bridge, to the west of the interstate to the river.
• A local firm will design a new Broadway bridge, replacing the structure that spans the downtown railroad tracks and fronts the Nashville Yards development.
• The latest round of federal relief money is projected to keep Nashville’s popular music spots open for at least a few more months without their regular large crowds, venue owners say.
• Edley’s Barbecue is opening its sixth location, with this one slated to be in the Donelson neighborhood.
• Nashville’s restaurants are increasing their incentives to attract and retain hospitality staff, offering enhanced initial weekly pay and portable training to those that come on board.
• An internal report alleges that leadership at the Metro Arts Commission relied on “fear, intimidation and punishment” when dealing with staff members.
• The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, canceled last year because of the pandemic and postponed from its usual June calendar slot this year, was abruptly canceled because of too much water down on the farm. Please check on your Roo-loving friends, y’all.
• Neighborhood park patrons and homeless advocates are squaring off over encampments around Nashville, with the city looking at new strategies to address the issue. The city estimates there are more than 100 camps of various sizes around the county.
• The Tennessee Performing Arts Center will now require patrons as young as six years-old to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status.
• The Joe Rogan and Dave Chappelle performance at Bridgestone Arena has been postponed until October after Rogan recently tested positive for the coronavirus. The show made headlines earlier in the week when it required all spectators to submit a negative test from 48 hours prior to showtime for admission.
• The ex-husband (for a mere 55 hours) of embattled pop star Britney Spears was arrested at BNA over the weekend because he allegedly wandered the wrong direction through a security exit while looking for his flight. BNA is currently undergoing major construction.
• The Nashville Humane Society is asking the community for help by donating bath towels to be used as bedding for spayed an neutered pets.

Photo by Paul Nicholson. Want to see your photo featured here?