Metro Council to review Nashville Downtown Partnership budget - Nashville Banner Metro Council gains oversight of the Nashville Downtown Partnership, which will submit its budget in a departure from how the organization previously operated.

The Nashville Downtown Partnership is not renewing its contract with controversial security firm Solaren, instead turning to a new provider as the Central Business Improvement District seeks Metro Council approval of its budget.

nashvillebanner.com/2026/04/15/m...

Family separation a common occurrence under Trump administration - Nashville Banner Volunteers and advocates share stories of Nashville families and others that have been separated by ICE detention and deportation under the Trump administration.

My new story is about how Trump's indiscriminate detention and deportation regime is separating parents from their children in Tennessee and one Nashville woman who has been reuniting them herself. nashvillebanner.com/2026/04/09/n...

Metro Council rejects water credit; East Bank rezoning deferred - Nashville Banner Nashville's Metro Council voted against water credits for Metro customers, deferred a final vote on East Bank rezoning and more at its first April meeting.

The Metro Council voted 18-16 on Tuesday to reject a mayor’s office proposal to credit Metro Water customer bills. The mayor’s office offered the credit in response to the winter storm earlier this year.

✍️ @stelliott.bsky.social

Metro Council set for vote on East Bank rezoning proposal - Nashville Banner Metro Council set to vote on long-pursued rezoning proposal for an East Bank site in addition to a water credit and more at its first April meeting.

At tonight’s Metro Council meeting, councilmembers are scheduled to vote for the final time on a rezoning for the East Bank scrapyard site. Representatives have proposed 18 amendments to the legislation aimed at parking, roadway design & hotel capacity in the redevelopment.

@stelliott.bsky.social

Quorum Watch in that fifth year would be brutal

VUMC decision leaves a gap in gender-affirming surgery - Nashville Banner Vanderbilt University Medical Center stops offering gender-affirming surgeries, leaving transgender patients in Tennessee with limited options for care.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center's announcement it would cease gender-affirming surgeries is just latest move from the institution significantly limiting health care for trans patients. leaving them with nowhere to turn in Tennessee.

✍️ @ejturner02.bsky.social

Dedicated transit lanes in Nashville nearing state approval - Nashville Banner The Tennessee General Assembly is close to approving dedicated transit lanes in Nashville, paving the way for transportation improvements.

If Metro Nashville wants to build dedicated transit lanes on state-controlled corridors, it needs the sign-off of the TN General Assembly. This week, the legislature is nearing approval of the city’s plans for dedicated lanes downtown and along Gallatin and Nolensville pikes.

@stelliott.bsky.social

Join | Nashville Public Media Nashville Public Media is supported by people like you. Support Nashville Public Media today.

Today, the @nashvillebanner.bsky.social is kicking off its spring fundraising campaign. The money we raise in the next few weeks allows our team to keep producing in-depth reporting about Nashville.

Join us:

Affordable Housing Co-op in Nashville Faces Legal Hurdles - Nashville Banner Residents of the Cottages at Drakes Creek fight to keep their neighbors from being displaced as they transition to a housing cooperative.

The Cottages at Drakes Creek is a 60-unit property projected to become Nashville’s first limited-equity housing cooperative. The plans recently hit a roadblock when developers informed residents that the city’s income requirements would disqualify many of them.

✍️ @ejturner02.bsky.social

Estefany Rodríguez shares her immigration detention story - Nashville Banner Journalist Estefany Rodríguez shares her experience in immigration detention and the impact other there had -- and will have -- on her approach to her work.

Nashville journalist Estefany Rodríguez said she plans to return to work following her release from federal immigration custody: “Just give me a little chance this week so I can sleep a bit.”

📝 @aracelireports.bsky.social & @mikeiereiland.bsky.social

East Nashville owner ordered to rebuild demolished building - Nashville Banner Owner of illegally demolished East Nashville building ordered to rebuild. Historic preservation violation sparks intense reaction in the community.

A Metro commission has ordered the owner of an illegally demolished building in East Nashville to rebuild a substantially similar structure. The property owner called his own actions “reckless” and said he would cooperate with the city.

📝: @stelliott.bsky.social

Nashville Scene cover for 3/19/2026: Scene logo appears stylized as a headstone with title "The Forgotten History of the People Nashville Enslaved" and black-and-white photo of a cemetery

This week’s cover story, from contributor Bill Carey: Nashville taxpayers owned at least 33 people in the 19th century. Our city has done nothing to acknowledge them. www.nashvillescene.com/news/coverstory/nashvill...

Metro Council considers new child care cost bills - Nashville Banner Metro Council approved a zoning change for Buchanan Street in North Nashville, continued to deal with issues related to the recent winter storm and more.

At its meeting Tuesday night, the Metro Council commenced consideration of two new bills aimed at lowering child care costs, and took a final vote on a proposed overlay restricting certain businesses on Buchanan Street. Here’s the full recap.

✒️: @stelliott.bsky.social

State wants to reach into the convention center's coffers - Nashville Business Journal Top state lawmakers are eyeing the convention center's $143 million surplus.

State considering diverting convention center surplus to East Bank infrastructure, major events and support for downtown businesses:

Metro Council to discuss child care, homelessness funding and more - Nashville Banner Nashville's Metro Council will consider bills on child care business restrictions, homelessness funding, zoning on Buchanan St. and more.

At its meeting tonight, the Metro Council will begin consideration of two new bills aimed at lowering child care costs, and also take a final vote on a proposed overlay restricting certain businesses on Buchanan Street.

✍️ @stelliott.bsky.social

Nashville bench removal angers community advocates - Nashville Banner Tensions rise as Nashville Department of Transportation removes wooden benches built by community advocates, sparking disappointment and frustration.

Guerilla bench-builders were alarmed Thursday to learn that Metro had removed more than a dozen of the benches they placed at bus stops around town. The group says they’re planning to build many more.

✍️ @iamstevenhale.bsky.social

MarketStreet project near Fairgrounds Speedway delayed - Nashville Banner Aspects of planned development ajacent to Geodis Park delayed due to potential racetrack expansion, putting affordable housing and child care plans on hold.

Development of a child care facility and more housing promised as part of the Geodis Park community benefits agreement is on hold. Developer MarketStreet told the Banner it’s because of racetrack expansion considerations.

✒️: @stelliott.bsky.social

ICE detains reporter Estefany Rodríguez in Nashville - Nashville Banner Reporter Estefany Rodríguez, detained by ICE with no arrest warrant, may face deportation. Her attorneys seek immediate review of the legality of her case.

A Nashville reporter who has reported on ICE was detained at a stop in South Nashville yesterday. Estefany Rodríguez fled Colombia after getting death threats and is awaitng an asylum hearing.

nashvillebanner.com/2026/03/05/j...

Plus updates on East Bend/PSC scrapyard site, Buchanan Street overlay and Choose How You Move progress:

Nashville Library's main branch to reopen after fire damage - Nashville Banner The Nashville Public Library plans to reopen its main branch on March 30 after a fire in an adjacent garage caused a nine-month closure. Staff will return March 16.

Nashville Public Library main downtown branch finally has a tentative reopening date (March 30) after nine months closed. From the @nashvillebanner.bsky.social:

House speaker kickstarts new attempt to overhaul airport board - Nashville Business Journal The bill would oust the current airport board and make a new one with a state majority

New proposal from House Speaker Cameron Sexton would take over all airport authorities, not just Nashville's. Seems designed to avoid Home Rule arguments at issue in ongoing Supreme Court case.

Tennessee officials say little on THP conduct while working with ICE - Nashville Banner Questions continues about Tennessee Highway Patrol and ICE conduct during immigration arrests in Nashville. Gov. Bill Lee claims ignorance of the issue.

TN homeland security commissioner re: @nashvillebanner.bsky.social and co. ICE/THP investigation:

“I don’t think it’s appropriate what happened. ... We don’t have control over other agencies, but we limited the amount of participation that we did after that. That’s the only operation we’ve done."

Blackburn Coordinated With NES CEO for Special Treatment During Ice Storm Senator used office to coordinate personal restoration timeline with Teresa Broyles-Aplin for Brentwood residence

According to emails reviewed by the Scene, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn coordinated a personal power restoration timeline with NES CEO Teresa Broyles-Aplin during Winter Storm Fern.

Tennessee AG, Metro Council agree sanctuary city law is unconstitutional - Nashville Banner After a Metro Council challenge, the state AG agreed a Tennessee law criminalizing sanctuary policies by local governments is unconstitutional.

NEW: In an agreed order, the Attorney General’s Office said it will not enforce a law that would impose felony criminal liability on elected officials who vote for sanctuary policies. CM Clay Capp: "This is a huge victory for free speech and self-government”

nashvillebanner.com/2026/02/25/t...

Metro Council still waiting on MNPD school safety report - Nashville Banner Frustration grows over the wait for MNPD's release of a report on safety procedures at Nashville public schools, which Metro Council requested more than a year ago.

In the aftermath of the Antioch school shooting, Metro Council adopted a resolution requesting that MNPD assess the safety plans of Nashville’s public schools. One year later, that report hasn’t been released yet.

Metro Parks closes gyms due to structural concerns - Nashville Banner Structural concerns lead to closure of Shelby Park and Easley Community Center gyms. No timeline for repair or reopening.

The gyms at Shelby Park and Easley community centers were closed last week due to structural concerns. An official said the ice storm caused “cracking” in beams, but a community center gym roof with the same design collapsed last year.

✍️ @stelliott.bsky.social

www.youtube.com/watch?v=scI1...

Agents wrote on detainees, in one case referring to the "mark of the beast," to track arrests by team. After a restaurant employee was detained, an agent joked, "The guacamole’s never going to taste the same now," and continued even after the trooper said his body cam was “hot.” (4/11)

Nashville families still reeling from May 2025 THP, ICE operation - Nashville Banner An analysis of the May 2025 ICE operation in Nashville reveals THP was not focused on traffic safety. The fallout for those detained and/or deported continues.

@stelliott.bsky.social and Araceli Crescencio also wrote this story, detailing the aftermath of these arrests on individuals who were deported and their families. It highlights conditions in detention centers and economic strain caused by the operation:

nashvillebanner.com/2026/02/19/i...