The Absurdity of State Republicans' 'Nuclear Family Month' Gov. Bill Lee has signed a declaration proclaiming June to be “Nuclear Family Month." The response to the resolution has been what you’d expect. People are rightly seeing this as a metaphorical middle...

Writes opinion columnist @betsyphillips.bsky.social: Gov. Bill Lee signed a symbolic proclamation praising "God’s design for familial structure" — in a state built on slavery and facing an affordability crisis.

The Scene team puts out these neat lil City Guides every year. Free pocket guides with food/activity recs from our staff. Pickup locations here:

www.instagram.com/p/DXK_DatkyC...

On the Hill: April 13-17 General Assembly approves $58 billion state budget, school voucher expansion and ‘Charlie Kirk Act’ as session heads toward close

From passing school voucher expansion to approving the $58 billion state budget and limiting campus protests under the so-called “Charlie Kirk Act,” here’s what happened at the Capitol during the session’s penultimate week.

Molder Widens Cash Advantage Over Incumbent Ogles Legal debt burdens Ogles’ books amid strong haul from leading Democratic challenger; quarterly reports also show financial positions for Blackburn, Hagerty, Rose

Legal debt burdens Andy Ogles’ books as his leading Democratic challenger Chaz Molder widens his cash advantage.

Pentagon Pete Cites Fake ‘Pulp Fiction’ Bible Verse in Bonkers Prayer Meeting The defense secretary solemnly read the “prayer,” much of which seemed to be the lines delivered by a fictitious hitman in the 1994 film.

These guys LOVE to blaspheme

No need to "bump this back to the top of my inbox," thanks

Soup, a sandwich, a salad and a drink. Overlaid, Nashville Scene logo, Music City Food and Wine logo, and title "Food & Drink: Strip Mall Gems"

From our annual Food & Drink Issue: Some of the city’s best, most diverse and most delicious restaurants can be found in strip malls. Here are 35 of them. www.nashvillescene.com/food_drink/coverstory/be...

He should've said please!

Worth mentioning that in the mere hours between submitting a draft of this story and getting an edit back, the number I included for Nashville fatal crashes became inaccurate... because someone else had already died. So yeah, I'd say traffic calming is a pretty relevant conversation right now.

Activists Protest ICE’s In-Hospital Detention of Murfreesboro Man Activists who attempted to contact the man say the staff at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford turned them away. At the press conference, speakers also raised doubts that the man had received any legal...

Faith leaders and immigration advocates say a man detained by ICE was denied visitation and legal counsel while hospitalized in Murfreesboro.

Street View: Traffic Calming Is a Flashpoint in Old Hickory Old Hickory homeowners wanted traffic calming measures. It worked. Then they petitioned to have them removed.

The latest installment in our Street View column: Old Hickory homeowners wanted traffic calming measures. It worked. Then they petitioned to have them removed.

Voucher Expansion Passes House, Heads Toward Senate Vote Representatives advance bill to offer 35,0000 Education Freedom Scholarships in close vote as senators prepare to discuss different version of legislation

Tennessee House advances bill to expand state voucher program in close vote as Senate prepares to discuss different version of legislation.

Last month, Republicans compared gender-affirming care to "frontal lobotomies." Today they passed this data-tracking bill and referred to gender-affirming care as a "fad."

Untangling More Details About the People Nashville Enslaved What happened to Allen Beasley, a man enslaved at the city's waterworks department?

Asks columnist @betsyphillips.bsky.social: What happened to Allen Beasley, a man enslaved in Nashville's waterworks department?

On the Hill: April 6-10 Voucher expansion, immigration bills barrel toward key votes as state oversight of Music City Loop advances

This week in the state legislature: Voucher expansion and immigration bills barrel toward key votes as state oversight of the Music City Loop advances.

Critic's Pick: Nashville Comedy Festival April 9-19 at venues across the city

Critic's Pick: "The long-running Nashville Comedy Festival is less a conventional festival than it is a broad-ranging smorgasbord."

Growing up, 1 of the springs that fed Sevenmile Creek, & thus Mill Creek, was 2 door down from us & the little creek from that spring ran through our yard

Back then, I thought all creeks must have these fellas & all kids with creeks must surely be trying to catch them (gently, as mom insisted)

The Green Issue 2026: The Endangered Nashville Crayfish The crustacean plays a key role in its Mill Creek ecosystem, but threats remain

I love this little guy. Story by @julianneakers.bsky.social.

Nashville Scene cover for 4/9/2026: Hands water and tend to flowers on a map of the state of Tennesee with title "The Green Issue"

In our annual Green Issue, we explore the local tree canopy and meet endangered Nashville crayfish. Plus, how to get free trees, recycle your electronics and more. www.nashvillescene.com/news/coverstory/green-is...

The Scene Turns 30: Jewels of Jim Scene writers past and present remember Jim Ridley’s greatest hits

Longtime Scene critic, reporter and editor-in-chief Jim Ridley died 10 years ago today. In 2019, Scene staff and contributors looked back at some of Jim's most lasting work.

The Scene Turns 30: Jewels of Jim Scene writers past and present remember Jim Ridley’s greatest hits

Ten years ago today, we lost one of the best to ever do it. Jim Ridley was my boss, my editor, my mentor and my buddy.

Here's a collection of some of his greatest hits. Maybe consider reading a bit of that if you find time today. Or better yet, perform a random act of kindness for someone.

A fun thought experiment

Resting My Eyes 4: A Few Minutes

Exactly six months apart

Taking a Closer Look at the Live Nation Antitrust Trial We catch up on the ongoing lawsuit, filed by the federal DOJ and signed on to by Tennessee’s attorney general.

We take a dive into the details of the ongoing federal antitrust suit against Live Nation, signed on to by dozens of state attorneys general including Tennessee’s.

Remembering Jim Ridley in New Nashville The Scene's late editor died 10 years ago this week. I think he would have loved these two recent news items.

Writes @betsyphillips.bsky.social: The Scene's late editor Jim Ridley died 10 years ago this week. I think he would have loved these two recent news items.

My favorite part is “Like a castle in its corner in a medieval game.” So … chess.

I know I’m 40 now because unfortunately listening to Steely Dan’s “Dirty Work” at max possible volume makes me feel invincible

Out of the Loop: Inside the Weird, Overhyped World of The Boring Company A warning from a Las Vegas Loop critic: ‘Don’t take the bait’

From this week’s cover package on the Music City Loop: Contributor Nick Pipitone takes a look at the weird, overhyped world of Elon Musk’s The Boring Company.