Your Daily Guide

🏛️ Metro Council Passes Drone & Development Bills

Metro Council met Tuesday night and passed several pieces of legislation on their final readings, including one that would require the Metro Nashville Police Department to obtain Council approval before using surveillance technology for limited periods (an ordinance already exists requiring approval for other surveillance uses). This comes after backlash to MNPD’s Drones as First Responders pilot program. [Nashville Banner;🎧 City Cast Nashville]

• Councilmembers also passed a bill allowing Vanderbilt University to proceed with its plans to build an Innovation Neighborhood along West End Avenue, which will include space for research, retail, and housing. Several amendments were added to the bill after public input, though some Vanderbilt neighbors continue to oppose the development. [Fox 17]

🏳️‍⚧️ The Councilmember Making History

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Councilmember Olivia Hill was voted in as president pro tempore, becoming the first transgender person in Nashville’s history to hold the position. This isn’t her first time making history. She became the first openly trans woman elected to public office in Tennessee when she won an at-large council seat in 2023. The president pro tempore serves as the vice mayor’s stand-in. [WSMV]

🦋 Council Spreads the Dolly Love

Councilmembers unanimously approved a late-filed resolution to rename Nashville International Airport after Dolly Parton, a proposal supported by Gov. Bill Lee. The decision falls to the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority board, which meets on Sept. 17 to discuss the name change. [WSMV]

• State lawmakers have also proposed fully funding Dolly’s Imagination Library in Tennessee by covering postal costs for mailing the books. [NewsChannel 5]

🎂 Happy 25th Birthday, Frist Art Museum!

This year, the Frist Art Museum is celebrating 25 years in Nashville. On today’s podcast, we’re joined by its executive director and CEO, Dr. Seth Feman, to look back at the city’s changing art scene and how the Frist has worked to make art more accessible to Nashvillians of all ages. Plus, Seth shares the upcoming exhibits he’s most excited about and what the next 25 years could hold for the museum. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

📲 Opposition Grows to ICE Call Center

Almost 200 people attended a community meeting hosted by the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition rallying opposition to the planned Immigration and Customs Enforcement call center in Donelson. TIRRC is encouraging folks to contact their representatives about the call center. [Nashville Banner]

• At least 1,900 people have signed a petition opposing the call center. [Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition]
• Here’s more information about how to contact your local leaders. [📰 City Cast Nashville]

🚗 Nashville’s Parking Woes

Despite citywide initiatives to improve transportation and reduce traffic congestion, many residents feel that Nashville is becoming less accessible to locals as parking costs rise. Local musician Thea Danos has noticed ticket sales declining as parking costs increase, while parking eats up her own earnings. One Nashville mom spent $50 on 90 minutes of downtown parking for a Mother’s Day outing. [🔐 The Tennessean]

• Do you have parking cost woes? Email me, and I might share them in the newsletter and podcast.
• Related: Why Nashville hates Metropolis Parking. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🧑‍🏫 Anti-Communist Curriculum at Local High Schools

A new state law creating a Victims of Communism Day on Nov. 7 requires Tennessee high schools to provide at least 45 minutes of instruction about the suffering people have experienced under communist regimes. MNPS high schools will provide the instruction on Nov. 9, and sample lesson plans have yet to be developed. [Nashville Scene]

• Meanwhile, Tennessee is adding an unscored writing field test to its required standardized testing, increasing the amount of time students spend on the high-stakes TCAP test. [Chalkbeat Tennessee]
• Check school TCAP scores, and try your hand at five questions taken from a TCAP practice test. [Chalkbeat Tennessee;📰 City Cast Nashville]