• Metro Council passed a resolution Tuesday night urging the Metro Public Health Department to order masks to be worn at all indoor functions, citing the fast rise in COVID-19 cases. MPHD has indicated they are trying to avoid such an order, fearing reprisal from the state legislature.
• In a bit of an awkward coincidence, the medical director for Metro Health had to isolate after a COVID-19 diagnosis in Ecuador while on a family vacation last week.
• A new COVID-19 testing center has opened near Centennial Park to address the rising demand for the free tests. Testing of symptomatic people helps curb the spread of the virus, as they are instructed to isolate until their test results come in.
• The Ryman Auditorium has joined other music venues around town in requiring proof of a negative test prior to entry.
• Middle Tennessee hospitals are reporting that more than 90 percent of those hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms are unvaccinated, mirroring national trends. Many hospitals set new records for total patients for consecutive days this week.
• Hospital capacity is a function of both the physical space and equipment as well as the staff available to treat patients, with many hospitals running out of money to pay traveling nurses to help cope with recent surge.
• As evictions in Nashville begin to climb after moratoriums were lifted, advocates are asking for city officials to speed up the process for distributing federal rent relief, with hundreds of warrants being issued each month. WPLN has an in-depth look at where the evictions are happening.
• The Tennessee Titans will not require masks or proof of vaccination for home games this season and expects to welcome a full capacity stadium. The league cautions that the situation may change as the season goes on.
• Nashville SC knocked off New York City FC 3-1 Friday night at home. The team travels to face CF Montreal this Saturday.
• The World Cup qualifying match at Nissan Stadium last week beat attendance expectations, with organizers hoping to be one of the host cities for the 2026 event.
• A state panel has approved $65 million in incentives for Oracle to build on the banks of the Cumberland River, moving that process farther along. The company projects it will be bringing 8,500 jobs to the area.
• A singer for the Zac Brown Band reports that $250,000 worth of equipment was in a trailer that was stolen from a lot in East Nashville. Police are investigating.
• The WeGo Public Transit system changes will go live early next month, but advocates are worried about staffing shortages preventing reliable bus service.
• The 12 South neighborhood will soon see the opening of two new eateries.
• The current Beaman Toyota car lot downtown is slated to become a mixed-use development. Does this mean we can get The Amp now?
• An attorney representing HCA went off-the-cuff in offering his thoughts on race, and we’ll say it didn’t go over very well for him. He’s no longer employed at the law firm, and HCA has distanced itself from his remarks.
• The process of drawing district lines for state and federal elections began this week, with Nashville’s population boom likely leading to either a shrinking of the size of districts near the city or splitting them among others nearby.
• A concert was held at City Winery this week to benefit those affected by the flooding in Waverly, Tennessee last month. The flooding killed 20 people.
• The Waverly High School football team will play a “home” game at Nissan Stadium this Friday, hosting White House High School. Their athletic facilities were destroyed in the flooding.
• Nashville International Airport has broken ground on its first hotel on the property, with 292 rooms available for travelers featuring six luxury suites, at an anticipated cost of $95 million.
• In an unusually contentious vote, the Metro Council narrowly approved the appointment of an interim finance director, with opponents citing his lack of experience for the role.
• The company that runs the pedal tavern appearing in a viral video last week wants you to know that the guy who fell off and hit his head on a moving car was not actually part of the group that rented the woo wagon. They say he was just really, really drunk and got on uninvited.
• While the Metro Council has not approved the city’s approach to automated license plate readers, one company is trying to get neighborhoods to sign on instead.

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