April 27, 2023

Legislature leaves Nashville, spurning governor’s call for action on guns

BY STEPHEN ELLIOTT

It’s hard now to recall that the 113th session of the Tennessee General Assembly started back in January, rather than on March 27.

That latter date is when a shooter entered the Covenant School in Green Hills, about seven miles from the state Capitol, and killed three 9-year-old students and three school staffers. The tragedy kicked off a month of mourning, protest and conflict at the state legislature, members of which rushed this week to conclude their business for the year and leave Nashville.

The state House and Senate met throughout the week, adjourning Friday evening after extended floor sessions and

Covenant School mother shares grief, parents call for gun reform

BY MATT MASTERS

back-and-forths between the bodies. Their urgency to leave Nashville was evidenced by their willingness to meet on a Friday. The legislature, dominated in both chambers by Republicans, spent the past month hosting thousands of anti-gun protesters; declining to advance gun restrictions despite calls to do so by Republican Gov. Bill Lee, Democratic members and protesters; and expelling and then almost immediately welcoming back two Democratic members who staged an anti-gun protest on the House floor.

It might have been a year, rather than just a month, since Lt. Gov. Randy McNally weathered a caucus confidence vote in the wake of revelations that the

Hundreds of protestors marched to the Tennessee State Capitol on April 17 as part of the “Moral Monday” protest aimed at continuing to pressure government action on gun violence, which despite support from Gov. Bill Lee, may fall flat in the legislature.

Protestors, many of whom were faith leaders from across the state and nation, gathered at McKendree United Methodist Church before marching to Legislative Plaza and later making their way into the Capitol, carrying with them empty caskets: one adult-sized, three children-sized and one baby-sized.

The protest was led by North Carolinabased Bishop William J. Barber II who began the peaceful Moral Monday civil rights protests in 2013.

Among the protesters was Sarah Shoop Neumann, whose five-year-old son Noah attends The Covenant School.

“My own son, Noah, was okay, he was getting a haircut with his dad, but the rest of our community was inside that building,” Neumann said through tears. “My friends, our children; so many people we love in that building, our safe space.”

Neumann spoke of contacting her friends to warn them of the danger and gathering at the reunification site in a nearby church.

“I won’t ever be able to describe what it was like sitting in that church. I didn’t feel like I was in my own body, holding our friends, praying, waiting to hear if their kids were alive,” Neumann said. “Piecing together things that people saw and heard.

Protestors at the Tennessee State Capitol on April 6, when lawmakers voted to expel Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Bishop William J. Barber II supports Covenant School mother Sarah Shoop Neumann as she speaks through tears about the trauma she, her son and the entire Covenant School community have experienced since the March 27, 2023, school shooting.

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Legislature leaves

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Senate leader frequently posted supportive comments on a young gay man’s Instagram profile. That controversy quickly faded as attention turned to the House. In addition to the expulsions and subsequent return of Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, McNally’s counterpart, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, is facing a controversy of his own after a left-leaning publication reported that Sexton owned a home and sent his kid to school in Nashville, two hours from the district he represents. On Thursday, Rep. Scotty Campbell (R-Mountain City) resigned after NewsChannel5 revealed that an ethics committee determined he had repeatedly sexually harassed a 19-year-old intern; Sexton did not publicly punish Campbell in the more than three weeks since the House speaker received the report.

In the final days of the term, the House and Senate declined to consider gun restrictions, instead nodding to the possibility of a special session later this year.

“I’m here to work whenever the governor calls us back,” House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) said.

Shortly after the legislature adjourned, Lee said he would call a special session because “there is broad agreement that dangerous, unstable individuals who intend to harm themselves or others should not have access to weapons.”

Still, the House Republican Caucus has already said that a red-flag or extreme risk protection order law is a “non-starter” for the supermajority. The legislature did reserve time to make good on most of its promises to punish Nashville, whose Metro Council opted last year not to support a bid for the 2024 Republican National Convention, setting off a furious response from Republicans in the legislature.

One of those efforts — capping the

Covenant mothers

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40-member Metro Council at 20 members — passed earlier in the session and has already been put on hold by a court. Another successful piece of legislation turns community oversight boards, like the one established to independently review the Metro Nashville Police Department, into advisory committees. Others give Republican leaders in state government appointments to Metro boards overseeing Nashville’s airports and sports facilities.

When the Tennessee General Assembly approved the $56.2 billion annual spending plan earlier in the week, it included several significant provisions that — relative to the Saturday Night Live jokes and national news hits that focused on other events from the past month — drew little attention. Among the line items in the budget was Lee’s signature push of the year, a roads plan aimed at partnering with private companies to build paid “choice lanes” on Tennessee highways. The budget also included $400 million for permanent corporate tax cuts and a one-time three-month grocery tax holiday and funding for teacher pay raises and hiring of school resource officers at public schools. Democrats sought, unsuccessfully, to include $13 million to expedite processing of rape test kits in Tennessee.

“It’s an immoral failure of leadership to end session without taking up gun safety legislation,” Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) said in a statement. “The epidemic of gun violence is deadlier than ever, and one community is still reeling from a preventable school shooting that left six people dead, including three 9-year-olds. Even our conservative governor has said enough is enough.”

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

“My dad drove an hour to get the kids so they wouldn’t witness anymore agony, but not before the first mom was told her kid was gone -- Those screams and sorrowing wails,” Neumann continued.

“I worked in pediatric oncology for 13 years; I’ve held kids in my arms as they died way too many times...nothing compared to the scream of that mom.

“The last three weeks have been deeply painful,” Neumann said. “Our days are spent hearing children as young as 3 years old describing in horrific detail what they saw and heard. Third graders saw the dead bodies of their friends, not just the coffins, their classmates. They sat in those rooms shielded by their teachers with bullets flying over them.”

Several other Covenant parents have been attending gun reform demonstrations following the March 27 shooting, including a three-mile-long human chain that stretched from Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt to the Capitol.

“We walked in that school the other day. We saw the bullet holes, we saw where those bodies laid and where the staff laid,” Neumann continued. “We went through the classrooms that looked like they were frozen in time with March 27 still written on the board.

“The trauma is not going to dissipate, it’s not going to leave us or our children, it will just find a home within us, and we’ll learn to live with it.

“The most painful question I have had to answer from my 5-year-old, who keeps proudly telling me how brave his teachers were and how they knew exactly how to keep them safe from the bad guy, but he asked, ‘Mommy, how did they know to practice? Has this happened before?’ I said, ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘A lot, mommy?’ I said, ‘yes.’ He said,

‘The shooters dead, but more can come.”

Neumann said in a social media post that she sent a letter to Democratic State Reps. Justin Jones, Gloria Johnson and Justin Pearson, known collectively as “The Tennessee Three,” that she hopes they will share with President Joe Biden during their April 24 meeting at the White House.

“We had everything; We have good security, we had locked doors, we had intense active shooter training, the teachers heard AR-15s shot and the school had to practice locking down for that. They had everything,” Neumann said. “Our cops are heroes, they didn’t hesitate a second; it’s not enough.

“Sure we’re going to add bulletproof glass now, but what about when they’re on the playground?”

Covenant School mother Sarah Shoop Neumann with an empty casket brought by protestors to the Legislative Plaza.

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Gun reform protesters held hands to form a three-mile long human chain that stretched from Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt to the Capitol on April 18, 2023. PHOTO BY KELSEY BEYELER

The Tennessee Three (from left to right) Reps. Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones, and Justin Pearson) visit President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WHITE HOUSE

House Republican resigns following sexual harassment report

who is not mentioned in the report.

The bipartisan ethics subcommittee sent a memorandum to House Speaker Cameron Sexton detailing the accusations. A staff investigation determined that Campbell violated workplace policies, the memo notes. According to the NC5 report, the victim detailed the experience in a report to her university. The 19-year-old alleges that Campbell made repeated comments about her performing sexual acts and “begged” for hugs. She also alleges that Campbell offered cannabis in exchange for seeing her tattoos and piercings.

A state House ethics subcommittee determined last month that Rep. Scotty Campbell (R-Mountain City) violated workplace policies by sexually harassing at least one legislative intern, according to a report from NewsChannel5’s Phil Williams.

Campbell, who is vice chair of the House Republican Caucus, had not faced any publicly disclosed punishment in the weeks

since. House Speaker Cameron Sexton told The Tennessean Thursday that Campbell had resigned.

According to the NC5 report, the state paid to relocate the victim from the

downtown apartment building where both she and Campbell were living.

“I had consensual, adult conversations with two adults off property,” Campbell told the TV station, referencing a second individual

“I was getting progressively more afraid and uncomfortable,” she wrote, according to the report. “He then reached out his hand toward me and grabbed me around the neck. I recoiled and said I felt sick and immediately left.”

Campbell was among the Republicans who voted to expel three House Democrats for violating decorum rules by staging an anti-gun protest on the House floor. This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Scotty Campbell

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE TENNESSEE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The Tennessee State Capitol PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Tennesseans on both sides of the aisle desire gun reform, but lawmakers decline to consider gun restrictions prior to adjournment

BY BILL FREEMAN

In a somewhat unsurprising turn, before the state legislature adjourned for the year, legislators declined to consider gun restrictions despite calls to do so by Republican Gov. Bill Lee. Lee has therefore called for a special session, saying, “There is broad agreement that dangerous, unstable individuals who intend to harm themselves or others should not have access to weapons.” I’m relieved the governor finally recognizes this piece of the puzzle. As I’ve said before, gun reform is a sensitive issue — as are many issues. But not all sensitive issues could cost us our lives if left unaddressed without basic laws to increase protection.

As reported by CNN, “States with weaker gun laws have higher rates of firearm-related homicides and suicides.” A study conducted by Everytown for Gun Safety showed that California, where gun laws are tighter, has a low rate of 8.5 gun deaths per 100,000 residents — well below the national average of 13.6 per 100,000. “Hawaii has the lowest rate of gun deaths in the country with the second strongest gun law score,” the data shows.

Like many, I am angry and distraught over the Covenant School shooting. Still, it should not be the only reason legislators consider some form of gun reform. As reported by Forbes, “In 2020, 32.1 percent of U.S. adults experienced both a mental health condition and substance abuse.” According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 37 percent of adults

incarcerated in state and federal prisons have a diagnosed mental illness — and 70 percent of youth in the juvenile justice system have a mental health condition.

NewsChannel 5’s Phil Williams recently tweeted, “Five years today, a mentally disturbed man slaughtered innocent people at a Nashville Waffle House — and Tennessee lawmakers just adjourned a fifth legislative session without dealing with the issues raised by the mass shooting.” There is great cause for concern when someone with severe mental illness is able to handle a gun.

Gov. Lee has asked legislators for a set of “new, stronger” order-of-protection laws, also known as extreme risk protection. This is an effort to keep guns out of the hands

of those who pose danger to themselves or others. But Republican lawmakers see this as a form of “red-flag” law. Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville) said legislators are discussing how to make sure someone who poses a “direct, credible, imminent threat” does not have access to a gun, but he also believes “the Republicans in the House are not going to support a red-flag law.” In addition, the National Rifle Association has asked people to call their lawmakers to oppose potential extreme risk laws.

This issue is very important to Tennesseans, and it’s not going to simply disappear this time.

Musicians Amy Grant, Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell and dozens more have taken action by drafting a letter asking lawmakers to pass “common sense gun safety legislation” — including “extreme risk protection laws and legislation strengthening requirements around secure storage of firearms.” The group echoes the thoughts of many Tennesseans.

The Tennessean reports that multiple recent polls “show a majority of Tennesseans on both sides of the aisle would support some form of extreme risk legislation.” One recent poll shows that support for policies like closing background check loopholes, safe gun storage and extreme risk protection orders was overwhelming among all likely voters — including “Trump voters, Republicans, conservatives, and households with guns.”

A recent Power Poll says in part: “We had gun control protests. … We experienced bruising conflict between city and state, Republicans and Democrats. … That the chaos was broadcast far and wide sent shivers up and down the spine of our city. We gazed in wonder. Was this us? Aren’t we the friendly city? Aren’t we the happy, wellmeaning, highly functional, make-it-happen

pro-business city that accommodates all newcomers with a slightly lefty set of social values? … Maybe we’ve reached a new level of political and social behavior ruled more by anger and extremist ideology. Maybe we’ve handed the discussion off to the 10 percent who occupy the far reaches of the left and right.”

I don’t think that last part is accurate. I prefer to believe we are still, as a whole, a well-meaning people who want to preserve the lives of those precious to us. When the special legislative session comes, I hope Tennessee lawmakers will find it in their hearts to take action based on the voice of the people, and not on love for the sound of their own voices.

Bill

Freeman

Bill Freeman is the owner of FW Publishing, the publishing company that produces the Nashville Scene, Nfocus, the Nashville Post and The News.

Protesters rally against gun violence at the state Capitol, April 3, 2023

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

House passes bills targeting Nashville

BY STEPHEN ELLIOTT

The session-long spanking of Nashville by the Tennessee General Assembly continues at full speed this week.

The legislature, seeking to conclude its business for the year this week, is moving ahead with several pieces of legislation that would alter Metro governance. These efforts follow the legislature’s earlier legislation cutting the Metro Council in half; that law was quickly put on hold by a court.

Here’s a rundown of where other antiNashville bills stand:

The Tennessee House voted 67-19 Thursday for new legislation curtailing community oversight boards like the one established by Nashville voters in 2018.

The Senate passed the legislation earlier this month, and now it heads to Gov. Bill Lee.

Nashville voters backed the establishment of the new police oversight body in the wake of the police shootings of Jocques Clemmons in 2017 and Daniel Hambrick in 2018.

The state House on Thursday voted 6922 to approve legislation reconstituting the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, which oversees Nashville International Airport and John C. Tune Airport. The legislation now goes back to the state Senate, which previously voted in favor of a different version of the bill.

Under the proposed law, the governor, the speaker of the House and the speaker of the Senate would each get two appointments to the airport board, as would the Nashville mayor. Currently, the mayor appoints the full board.

The state House voted 71-21 Thursday in favor of legislation restricting Nashville’s Convention Center Authority finances.

The Senate previously passed the bill.

Initially, Republican lawmakers proposed stripping the authority’s ability to collect taxes to pay back debt on the Music City Center. The move was quickly called illegal.

An amendment instead forces the authority to spend any excess revenue either on paying back the Music City Center debt or on MCC improvements or expansions. In recent years, some excess revenue has gone to Nashville’s general fund.

Earlier this week, the state House passed a bill reconstituting that Metropolitan Sports Authority, which oversees Nissan Stadium, Bridgestone Arena and other Nashville sports facilities. The legislation, which would give state leaders six of the board’s 13 appointments, still requires Senate approval.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Franklin Alderman Gabrielle Hanson faces public criticism, ethics complaint following podcast interview

MNPD called Hanson’s theory about The Covenant Schoo l shooting “false”

BY MATT MASTERS

Franklin Alderman-At-Large Gabrielle Hanson is facing public criticism and an ethics complaint following inaccurate comments she made on a podcast about the March 27 Covenant School shooting, comments that she later defended in a heated radio interview.

The issue began during a discussion on the April 18 Mill Creek View Tennessee podcast about the recent Franklin Pride Festival vote which saw Hanson stand in opposition to the festival.

The Franklin-based podcast is hosted by Steve Abramowicz and originated in Washington state where Abramowicz runs the Mill Creek View website and paper.

That podcast episode entitled “Gabrielle Hanson Nashville Shooting Bombshell and More” was self-described as “an inside look at Williams[on] County Politics” where Hanson “divulges the real reason the school shooter did what they did.”

On April 20, the Tennessee Conservative News published a story entitled “Shocking Motive Revealed For Transgender Covenant School Shooter” which recounted Hanson’s

inaccurate claims.

Hanson told the podcast that she was filing a police report with the Franklin Police Department regarding alleged threats she received because of her position on the nowapproved Franklin Pride festival.

Hanson said that in this exchange she told the officer “My gut is telling me that there’s going to be an active shooter.”

Hanson said that she had “zero basis” for her claim, adding that no one had informed her of any plans, but said that “it could be a holy spirit-thing.”

According to FPD, the police report filed by Hanson has no mention of any premonition of a mass shooting.

88 people have died in 17 mass killings over 111 days in the United States, making mass casualty events common across the country.

Hanson also claimed on the podcast that “within thirty minutes of that shooting I had the whole story -- I know what happened,” alleging that the motive for the shooting was a “love triangle” involving the shooter, Audrey Hale, who was killed by police, and

“an individual that worked at the school related to the principal.”

However, a Metro Nashville Police Department spokesperson told The News, “As to the theory of a love triangle, that has never come up in our investigation. We believe that assertion to be false.”

The ongoing criminal investigation is being conducted with the assistance of both the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and MNPD would not comment further on the shooting, in which a motive has not yet been made public.

Hanson also alleged that Hale “accidentally” killed The Covenant School staff member Mike Hill and that Hale “had to take out two children to get to the daughter” of the pastor. Police have called the shooting a “targeted attack.”

The same day, Hanson appeared on a SuperTalk 99.7’s radio show The Drive with Brian Wilson where guest host Matt Murphy confronted Hanson about her statements on the podcast, statements that Hanson defended throughout their interview.

“I do not like liars. I do not like people who choose to put themselves in front of a story like this when people are dead and people are suffering,” Murphy said, calling on Hanson’s removal from BOMA.

“The citizens of Franklin ought to be looking for a new alderman -- You can do better than that,” Murphy said, adding, “Not only is it irresponsible, it’s gross.”

Hanson also faced public criticism on social media, as well as a call for her to resign from Franklin resident and Williamson County Schools Board Member Eric Welch. Welch called Hanson’s comments “unconscionable gossip-mongering.”

By April 21, both the Mill Creek View Tennessee podcast and the Tennessee Conservative News story were removed from their respective websites, but The News obtained and reviewed both the podcast and the written story in full.

Hanson did not return several requests for comment about the public outcry or the response from police about her theory.

Conspiracy theories are not uncommon surrounding mass killings, and The Covenant School shooting is no different, having been the subject of exploitation by prominent right-wing figures including Donald Trump Jr. and Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.

In January, the U.S. Secret Service published a 60-page report on mass violence

which revealed that personal grievances were the leading motive, and that “one-quarter of the attackers subscribed to a belief system involving conspiracies or hateful ideologies.”

BOMA Members React

The News reached out to Hanson’s fellow BOMA members for reaction to her comments with Mayor Ken Moore and Aldermen Beverly Burger, Jason Potts and Brandy Blanton all stating that Hanson was speaking for herself and not BOMA, with some of those respondents offering their continued condolences for the shooting victims. Alderman Patrick Baggett responded to The News but declined to issue any comment.

Aldermen Matt Brown, Ann Petersen and Clyde Barnhill did not return a request for comment.

“Our community continues to grieve with the precious families of those killed and all the people impacted by this senseless tragedy,” Burger said.

Burger herself recently made inaccurate comments following the Franklin Pride vote when she told The News that “the transgender community has been calling for violence,” and invoked fears of a potential “inside job” disruption of Franklin Pride, statements that Hanson agreed with during our joint-interview with the Aldermen on April 11.

Potts also told The News on April 21 that he had received more than a dozen emails from Franklin residents “expressing their desire for an ethics review, disciplinary action(s), resignation, and/or removal from office,” and that he will “thoroughly evaluate the details of this situation.”

The city confirmed that they received at least one ethics complaint against Hanson, but the exact number of complaints and their contents was not immediately clear, pending an open records request.

Ethics complaints are handled by the city’s Ethics Commission, and according to a city spokesperson, an alderman who receives a complaint has 30 days to respond, and the Ethics Commission will have a public hearing in 60 days.

Franklin Alderman Brandy Blanton (right) listens as Alderman Gabrielle Hanson (left) speaks at the April 11, 2023, Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Gov. Lee unveils language for ‘extreme risk’ gun legislation

BY CONNOR DARYANI

Gov. Bill Lee has unveiled proposed language for an extreme risk protection plan, which would temporarily remove guns from the possession of people who have been deemed a threat to themselves or others.

“We all agree that dangerous, unstable individuals who intend to harm themselves or others should not have access to weapons,”

Lee said in a video statement. “And that should be done in a way that requires due process and high burden of proof, supports law enforcement, punishes false reporting, enhances mental health support and preserves the Second Amendment for lawabiding citizens.”

The legislation has not yet been filed

as a late bill or attached to any existing bills as an amendment. But the proposed language has been released, and Lee said it follows a similar structure to Tennessee law requiring people who have been convicted of domestic violence have their guns temporarily confiscated.

Following court proceedings, the legislation would allow for a person’s guns to be confiscated for up to 180 days if she/ he is considered a mental health risk. The bill also outlines scenarios that could warrant someone’s guns being removed.

Shortly after the release of Lee’s statement, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally announced his support of the legislation.

“Making sure the mentally ill and those in crisis do not have access to firearms while protecting the Second Amendment rights of everyone else is no easy task,” McNally said in his statement. “It is an extremely delicate balance. I believe that balance has been struck with this proposed temporary mental health order of protection.”

While McNally previously voiced support for some form of legislation removing guns from the possession of people who may be a risk, other Republican legislators have been more hesitant. On Tuesday, a Sen. Joey

Hensley (R-Hohenwald)-sponsored bill that, rather than protect people from guns, protects gun manufacturers and sellers from lawsuits over illegal acts carried out using their products passed. It is not yet clear when the new legislation could hit the floor, what this means for the budget (which is supposed to be before both the House and Senate floors Wednesday) or if it has the support it needs to make it to Lee’s desk.

“There’s broad agreement that this is the right approach,” said Lee. “It should be that simple. But sadly it’s not. Political groups began drawing their battle lines before the bill was even completed.” Lee is calling on lawmakers to set aside politics and get the legislation through before the session comes to an end, which could happen as soon as this week.

The House Republican Caucus said in a joint statement that the legislation was a “non-starter” for the group, which controls a supermajority in the House. Pro-gun groups have also said they oppose Lee’s push, while Democrats are backing it.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Scene.

Gov. Bill Lee PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Titans stadium deal clears big hurdle

BY STEVE CAVENDISH, NASHVILLE BANNER

This story is a partnership between the Nashville Banner and the Nashville Post. The Banner is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization focused on civic news and will launch later this year. For more information, visit NashvilleBanner.com.

In a contentious meeting that featured packed galleries, shouting supporters and a slew of parliamentary procedures, the Metro Council advanced a $2.1 billion proposal to replace Nissan Stadium with a domed structure.

A third and final reading of the bill will take place next week at a specially called meeting, which will include up to four hours of public comment on the bill. Passage of the bill is all but assured.

“I’m 100 percent convinced that this is the best deal for Davidson County taxpayers,” said District 25 Councilmember Russ Pulley. Proponents of the deal have emphasized the city’s current obligation to make repairs at Nissan Stadium, estimated by some to represent between $300-800

million in costs that would come from Metro’s general fund. The bill passed 25-11.

The stadium, which would be funded by dedicated hotel and sales tax streams as well as a $500 million grant from the state, in addition to contributions from the Titans, has faced resistance in the Council, mainly from progressives

“It would represent the largest public subsidy for an NFL stadium in the history of the NFL,” said District 19 Councilmember Freddie O’Connell, who is also running for mayor. “Meanwhile, other cities are seeing fully privately funded stadiums. Worse, as we consider the proposal for a new football stadium, the state House just passed a bill that dramatically reduced local control by giving state appointments to six of the 13 members of the Sports Authority.”

The debate lasted for more than five hours as more than 25 amendments were filed. Unlike the previous Council meeting, where stadium opponents had successfully taken most of the public seating space in the gallery

and created chaos for the bill’s shepherds, Tuesday night saw the opposite happen.

In the hours before the 6:30 p.m. meeting, Titans supporters packed the public gallery, taking nearly every available seat. Stadium opponents had ruled the day at the last meeting, loudly cheering amendments designed to slow or kill the deal and celebrating a deferral of one meeting after District 21 Councilmember Brandon Taylor’s amendment adding a perticket fee for some events at the stadium to generate money for the city’s general fund was voted on.

Opponents were relegated to the hallway and shouting through the doors.

“We got here around 4:45 p.m.,” said Odessa Kelly of advocacy group Stand Up Nashville. “The Council meeting didn’t start until 6:30 p.m. It was already full, so you know, give one to the Calvert Street team [hired by the Titans] for being able to get people here earlier than we could. We represent working class individuals. It is very hard to build urgency around taxes.”

Kelly had roughly 30 people still there at 7 p.m., having lost a big group of SEIU members and others after being shut out of the Council chamber. They were fortified by pizzas sent by District 7 Councilmember Emily Benedict, a stadium opponent, and continued to be heard inside by councilmembers, chanting “we want a public hearing,” “don’t silence our voices” and “we are Nashville.”

One Titans supporter replied, “The votes are in here, not outside with the TV cameras.”

On the Council floor, At-Large Councilmember Bob Mendes used the threat of a state takeover as the theme for a number of the 13 amendments he filed.

But organized resistance from supporters, lobbyists and the administration meant that only two of them passed.

At one point, a frustrated Mendes introduced one amendment like this: “The explanation is: the administration is in favor of it, so I’m not sure anybody cares what it actually says. So let’s just vote.” It passed 37-0.

At the center of the most contentious part of the debate was Taylor’s amendment, which had passed at the previous meeting, that would have introduced a surcharge on non-NFL events in the new stadium. After narrowly passing by a single vote, in the chaos of the last meeting, stadium supporters rallied behind District 3 Councilmember Jennifer Gamble’s “compromise” version. After complaints from CMA Fest organizers and others, Gamble’s amendment narrowed the scope of affected events and created a surcharge on tickets — generating the greater of $3 or 3 percent — as she argued that Taylor’s amendment would push prices too high and make it a “deal killer” for the Titans. College events like Tennessee State games or the Final Four and College Football Playoff, plus WWE events like WrestleMania, are exempted from the fee. Gamble’s amendment passed and then a subsequent amendment from O’Connell directed the money generated to Metro’s general fund. It’s expected to raise $4 million a year.

District 34 Councilmember Angie Henderson, who’s making a run for vice mayor, attempted to defer the meeting another week, but weary members voted the effort down. Henderson was, however, successful in opening up a public hearing before the final vote.

“This is the biggest decision we will make as a body, and probably our subsequent colleagues that will follow us, and it just strikes me as really inappropriate and tone deaf that we would not have a public hearing on something of this magnitude,” Henderson said. A previous attempt to call a public hearing was unsuccessful.

Mayor John Cooper expressed his pleasure at the bill’s advance.

“I appreciate Metro Council’s diligent and thoughtful consideration of this deal, and their consistent vote of confidence that this is the right move for Nashville taxpayers,” Cooper said. “I’m also proud of the transparent and thorough process conducted to consider this proposal, which has included dozens of public meetings and extensive engagement with community and neighborhood groups throughout the city. I look forward to next week’s third and final reading.”

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Rendering of stadium PHOTO BY TENNESSEE TITANS

Rendering of stadium PHOTO BY TENNESSEE TITANS

TennCare begins renewal process to return to pre-pandemic enrollment

BY HANNAH HERNER

TennCare renewal packets are hitting mailboxes for the first time in nearly three years. The state insurance provider kicked off its 12-month unwinding process on April 1.

Up first are people who were slated for renewal in April 2020, and members have 40 days to respond online or via mail. If TennCare requests additional documentation, the person will have 20 days to complete that request. Since January 2020, under the federal COVID-19 public health emergency, those on TennCare have not been required to renew their coverage.

The first termination letters for those who did not respond at all to TennCare’s correspondence will be mailed May 22 with coverage to cease June 12.

TennCare does allow two stopgaps for members, however. Members can be reenrolled if they return the packet within 90 days of termination for failure to engage in the process if they are still eligible for TennCare. In addition, If a person is determined no longer eligible for TennCare, their information is automatically sent to the Federal Marketplace, TennCare spokesperson

Amy Lawrence told the Post. Thanks to ex-parte waivers, some members won’t have to complete the renewal process.The latest waiver the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services granted to Tennessee allows those reported under 100 percent federal poverty level as of March 2019 to be automatically renewed if TennCare cannot find recent income data for them.

In addition, CMS will renew certain individuals’ eligibility based on SNAP enrollment, temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) eligibility and for whom they received update information from managed care organizations or the United States Postal Service.

Local organizations including Tennessee Justice Center and Family and Children’s Services have begun assisting clients with their renewal packets. Family and Children’s Services encourages people to still complete the application even if they think they are no longer eligible. They can also check in to find out when their renewal date is. Health care navigator Emilee Fauchet is encouraged by the addition of ex parte renewal, pre-populated renewal packets and simpler questions.

“We’ll see how it goes when that first batch of terminations actually hit,” Fauchet said.

Michele Johnson, executive director of health advocacy organization Tennesssee Justice Center encourages people to appeal, whether it be because they didn’t receive a notice, if they were unenrolled

without reason, or if the reasoning for their disenrollment is not true. She said she is especially worried about those receiving mental health treatment, and those with disabilities having appropriate accommodations to complete the packet.

“This is super vital for folks who might need who might be on medicine, and any sort of interruption to that medicine could be disastrous,” Johnson said. “Any option that the state has taken to make it simpler will make a difference. They have the option to even broaden the number of people that they do ex-parte reviews on.”

Where typically people would be cycled off each year due to ineligibility, the number of those enrolled in TennCare has grown to more than 1.7 million from a typical 1.4 million in the last three years. As TennCare seeks to reduce its rolls down to prepandemic levels, Johnson expressed concern around what that means for more than 300,000 Tennesseans.

“TennCare has a long history of seeming to think it’s a win if they can lessen the number of people on the program as opposed to a win if they have the number of people on the program reflects the need of Tennesseans,” she said.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Legislature passes fairgrounds, sports authority workarounds

BY STEPHEN ELLIOTT

The Tennessee General Assembly is rushing toward concluding its business for the year, perhaps as soon as this week.

On Monday, legislation that would reconstitute the Metropolitan Sports Authority — the body that oversees Nissan Stadium, Bridgestone Arena and other Nashville sports facilities — passed 7423 in the state House. Under House Bill 1197, which is awaiting a Senate floor vote, the 13-member sports authority would be made up of two members appointed by the governor, two members appointed by the House speaker, two members appointed by the Senate speaker and seven members appointed by Nashville’s mayor.

Some local officials have pointed to the legislation as reason for skepticism about plans to build an enclosed stadium to replace Nissan Stadium, as the sports authority would control the project. Other similar agencies around the state do not have representatives appointed by state

government leaders.

Also on Monday, the Senate voted 25-6 to approve legislation that would ease the path toward renovations to the racetrack at the Fairgrounds Nashville. House Bill 864 previously passed in the House. Now, instead of a supermajority of the 40-member Metro Council, a renovation would require a simple majority.

Other legislation targeted at Metro Nashville remains outstanding, including an effort to reconstitute the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority. One piece of legislation that passed earlier this session and would force Metro to cut its 40-member council in half has been enjoined by a state court and will not go into effect until 2027 at the earliest.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Rendering of Fairgrounds racetrack PHOTO COURTESY OF PERKINS-EASTMAN

Belmont names pharmacy and health sciences dean

BY HANNAH HERNER

Belmont University has named Dr. Sharrel Pinto dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, the university announced Monday.

The university is restructuring its colleges, combining the College of Pharmacy and College of Health Sciences and Nursing to create the college Pinto will lead and spinning off a separate college of nursing. The changes will take effect this summer, a Belmont spokesperson told the Post, and Pinto will oversee degree programs of physical therapy, occupational therapy, mental health counseling, social work, public health, exercise science and pharmacy beginning July 1.

Pinto most recently worked at South Dakota State University’s College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions. She was the founding director of the Community Practice Innovator Center,

the university’s Department of Allied and Population Health.

She will lead more than 100 faculty and staff and around 850 students and oversee the expansion of the college’s research and outreach arm, according to a press release.

Pinto is a alumna of the University of Bombay in India, the University of Toledo and the University of Florida.

“I am excited to welcome Dr. Pinto to the Belmont community,” said Greg Jones, Belmont University president. “Her Christcentered leadership approach is precisely what we seek out in leaders at Belmont. I am confident that her demonstrated innovative thinking and leadership, commitment to relationship building and heart for service will be a great asset to Belmont as we seek to train future providers who will make a difference in the world.”

Belmont University is slated to welcome

Work continues on senior living building in Green Hills

BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS

A major permit has been issued and a new image created related to work on senior living building The Crestmoor, now under construction in Green Hills on the property once home to Tokyo Japanese Steak House.

Valued at about $24.2 million, the permit will allow for construction of the building’s structure. Nashville’s Crain Construction is the general contractor.

An LLC affiliated with Houston-based Bridgewood Property Company owns the property, located at 3808 Cleghorn Ave., having just paid $9.65 million for it. The LLC acquired the one-acre site from a related LLC that paid $7.65 million for it in April 2021.

Charlotte-based BB+M is handling design work, with ESa, a locally based firm, having previously undertaken preliminary design efforts. Nashville-based Catalyst Design Group is overseeing land-planning and

been 205) senior living residences, various amenities and a leasing space. The facility will include memory care, assisted living and independent living units.

Rising more than 100 feet, The Crestmoor will be one of Nashville’s tallest buildings of its type.

This is Bridgewood’s first project in Nashville. However, the company, which focuses on the Texas market, owns properties in Memphis and Birmingham.

Bridgewood acquired the property from Rochford Realty, which developed an adjacent site home to the Green Hills Hampton Inn & Suites hotel. Prior to Tokyo Japanese Steak House operating within the since-razed building, Mexican restaurant La Paz was a tenant. The Mall at Green Hills sits nearby.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Nature Conservancy names state director

STAFF REPORTS

served on the advisory boards of Urban Green Lab, Walk Bike Nashville and Tennessee Women in Green, which she cofounded in 2008.

On a regional level, Creech has served on the Southeast Sustainability Directors’ Network’s steering committee and has been co-host of the SSDN’s Green Minds podcast.

A long-distance runner, cyclist and triathlete, Creech created and led for 13 years outdoors club Team Green Adventures.

Creech also offers a radio history, having been a broadcaster for both WXNA 101.5FM and WMOT 89.5FM.

“We are thrilled to have Laurel at the helm to lead The Nature Conservancy’s work in Tennessee,” James McDonald, TNC board chair. “Her experience in government, alternative energy, sustainability and other environmental issues make her a great addition to our talented staff and growing program.”

INVITATION TO BID

The City of Forest Hills will accept sealed bids for PW 2023-03 Street Signs. This Invitation to Bid is subject to the instructions, conditions, specifications, addenda, and other elements, including those incorporated by reference.

ISSUE DATE: May 2, 2023

BID TITLE: PW 2023-03 Street Signs

CONTACT: Brad Bivens, City Engineer of the City of Forest Hills

TELEPHONE: (615) 383-8420

E-MAIL ADDRESS: brad.bivens@neel-schaffer.com

BID OPENING: Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. CST

LOCATION: City of Forest Hills, City Hall 6300 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215

Copies of this solicitation may be obtained from the City of Forest Hills Vendor Registry. You may register your business, and obtain the solicitation at the link below: https://vrapp.vendorregistry.com/Bids/View/BidsList?BuyerId=bb43feeb-0407-4794-836ca1aa4278eac4

Bids must be received by the City of Forest Hills Office on or before Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. CST (Bids received after that time will not be considered), at which time the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud.

SUBMIT BID via electronic submission using the City of Forest Hills Vendor Registry link. Vendor Registry Link: https://vrapp.vendorregistry.com/Bids/View/BidsList?BuyerId=bb43feeb-0407-4794-836ca1aa4278eac4

Laurel Creech has been named director for The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee. According to a release, Creech comes to Brentwood-based TNC from Metro, for which she most recently served as the assistant director for the city’s division of sustainability. While there, Creech oversaw renewable energy, energy efficiency, green infrastructure and waste reduction initiatives. Under her leadership, the division received two Governor’s Environmental Stewardship awards and four U.S. Green Building Council Impact Tennessee awards. Creech previously served on the boards of directors of the Nashville Parks Foundation, Cumberland Trails Conference and the Tennessee Nature Academy. She also has

The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee was founded in 1978 and has protected more than 450,000 acres in the state. The conservancy has helped to create or expand 31 state parks and natural areas, 20 state wildlife management areas and nine national parks, forests and wildlife refuges in Tennessee, in addition to establishing a system of nature preserves.

Founded in 1951 and based in Arlington, Va., The Nature Conservancy has more than 1 million members. Its staff and more than 400 scientists aid in conservation work in 76 countries and territories: 37 by direct conservation impact and 39 through partners.

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Chago’s to reopen in June

BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS

Belmont University-area Mexican restaurant Chago’s Cantina is slated to reopen in June under new ownership and after having closed in August 2022.

Post sister publication Nashville Scene reports Brandon Styll and brothers Steven Smithing and Christopher Smithing will own and operate the new Chago’s.

Located at 2015 Belmont Blvd., the restaurant opened in late 2011 and was owned by Chad Head. In mid-2011, Head and wife Denise Head paid $925,000 for the property, Metro records show.

Steven and Christopher work at Mere Bulles and Green Hills Grille, respectively, while Styll serves as director of operations

at both restaurants (and is co-host with Caroline Galzin of Nashville Restaurant Radio podcast). The three men have spent the past few months working on the Chago’s interior.

“We’re going to use the same name,” Steven Smithing said. “I like Nashville brand names that have a good history, and Chad did a great job building that restaurant. We’re just happy to go in and make some tweaks, some adjustments and probably some menu modifications and system modifications, but other than that, we’re going to ride on his very good coattails.”

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

All bids must be made on the forms included in this solicitation. All bids must be signed. Unsigned bid forms or bid proposals will not be considered. The City will not accept faxed, mailed, hand delivered, or emailed.

INVITATION TO BID

The City of Forest Hills will accept sealed bids for PW 2023-02 Street Preservation. This Invitation to Bid is subject to the instructions, conditions, specifications, addenda, and other elements, including those incorporated by reference.

ISSUE DATE: May 2, 2023

BID TITLE: PW 2023-02 Street Preservation

CONTACT: Brad Bivens, City Engineer of the City of Forest Hills

TELEPHONE: (615) 383-8420

E-MAIL ADDRESS: brad.bivens@neel-schaffer.com

BID OPENING: Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. CST

LOCATION: City of Forest Hills, City Hall 6300 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215

Copies of this solicitation may be obtained from the City of Forest Hills Vendor Registry. You may register your business, and obtain the solicitation at the link below: https://vrapp.vendorregistry.com/Bids/View/BidsList?BuyerId=bb43feeb-0407-4794-836ca1aa4278eac4

Bids must be received by the City of Forest Hills Office on or before Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. CST (Bids received after that time will not be considered), at which time the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud.

SUBMIT BID via electronic submission using the City of Forest Hills Vendor Registry link. Vendor Registry Link: https://vrapp.vendorregistry.com/Bids/View/BidsList?BuyerId=bb43feeb-0407-4794-836ca1aa4278eac4

All bids must be made on the forms included in this solicit ation. All bids must be signed. Unsigned bid forms or bid proposals will not be considered. The City will not accept faxed, mailed, hand delivered, or emailed.

Laurel Creech

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

Full day of events at Parnassus highlights local Independent Bookstore Day slate

BY KARIN MATHIS

There’s nothing more satisfying than browsing through bookshelves, and enough people agree that Independent Bookstore Day has become a nationwide celebration.

Local bookstores are essential community hubs that foster culture, curiosity and a love of reading, and Nashville is blessed with several bookish sanctuaries. These places of refuge, escapism and education can only flourish when the community stands with local businesses (RIP, Davis-Kidd Booksellers).

Luckily, quite a few of those local spots have plans for the 10th annual Independent Bookstore Day. Parnassus Books, a longtime Green Hills staple, has an all-day celebration planned, featuring author appearances, exclusive IBD merchandise and an online auction.

The simply named The Bookshop is a newer space in East Nashville, but arguably no less beloved — a rising indie tide lifts all hardback boats. The Bookshop is celebrating all day as well, offering exclusive merch (in limited quantities) and giveaways galore, including a certain number of free “No Shelf-Control” iced drinks from neighboring

Southern Festival of Books moves to Bicentennial Mall

BY LAURA HUTSON HUNTER

Hanna Bee Coffee.

No word yet on IBD plans at Novelette or Fairytales Books, but support our local indie booksellers nonetheless! And if you aren’t able to make it out on Saturday, you can always support indies — from the comfort of your reading nook du jour — at BookShop. org. All day at various locations.

Check out the full schedule for Saturday’s author appearances at Parnassus:

10:30 AM - Storytime with Jessica Young

11:30-12:30 PM- Signing line with Tyler Merritt

2:00-3:00 PM - YA author signing with Julian Vaca, Erica Waters, and Jeff Zentner

3:00-4:00 PM - Romance author signing with Lauren Kung Jessen and Sarah Adams (Special offer! We will have copies of Sarah Adams’s upcoming book, Practice Makes Perfect, for sale during the event. Get your copy three days before official release! In store only.)

4:00-5:00 PM - Signing line with Ann Patchett

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Scene.

The Southern Festival of Books is celebrating its 35th anniversary, and this year’s installment will be at a new venue. The long-running celebration of literature will

be held Oct. 20 through 22 at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, the Tennessee State Museum and the Tennessee State Library. One of the area’s oldest literary events, the Southern Festival of Books will be open to the public on Saturday, Oct. 21, and Sunday, Oct. 22, for panel sessions, discussions and readings. But before all that — and for the first time in the festival’s history — Friday, Oct. 20, will be Student Day, which will welcome 1,000 students from area schools for author meet-and-greets, book giveaways and educational programming. Featured festival books will be available for purchase and can even be signed by authors throughout the weekend.

The full lineup hasn’t yet been announced — watch for a full lineup announcement July 20 at the Tennessee State Museum. Roughly 150 authors are slated to attend, including bestselling novelist and recent National Humanities Medal recipient Ann Patchett, award-winning and bestselling author Lee Smith and Nashville-based author and New York Times columnist Margaret Renkl.

For more information, visit sofestofbooks. org — and stay updated on Festival announcements by following the Festival on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Five free and cheap family things to do in middle Tennessee

BY AMANDA HAGGARD

In the realm of free and cheap this week, we have some entries for continued Earth Day celebrations, a Mt. Juliet carnival, lots of outside fun and some book time for the indoor kids. Independent Bookstore Day 2023 is having a big to-do over at Parnassus Books on April 29. (Always, always support

independent bookstores.) You can pay a small price to camp on a Franklin farm with the whole family — think of it as camping lite. It’s a good spot to test the kids’ fortitude for the real thing.

As part of our series on free and cheap things to do with the family, here is our

weekly roundup of places to spend time together over the next week:

TODDLERS AT TRAVELLERS REST EARTH DAY PROGRAM

Travellers Rest Historic House Museum is now hosting a series of 90-minute toddler programs this year. The programs will include storytime, hands-on crafts, snacks and a group activity. Caregivers should plan to stay with their child, and the events are geared toward children from 18 months old to 4 years old. The program on April 29 will be Earth Day inspired.

FAMILY CAMPOUT

Southall Farms is inviting your family to spend the night on their farm. Families should bring their own tent, sleeping bags, flashlights, water bottles, insect repellant and chairs. Southall will provide the vibes, a kid’s nature program, s’mores around the campfire and snacks and drinks for sale. The evening on the farm is $25 per family.

EARLY BIRD SPRING NATURE FEST

Spring Nature Fest begins with a bird walk along the Little Harpeth River

Greenway, where folks can learn about the river corridor, which offers a mix of resident, breeding and migrating birds. Registration is required by emailing wpnc@nashville.gov.

INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY 2023

Parnassus Books has a bevy of happenings on Independent Bookstore Day 2023 on April 29. The celebration of all things local and literary includes author talks, signings, Parnassus coloring sheets, exclusive IBD merchandise and an online auction of signed books and retired Parnassus merch. The day begins with a storytime with Jessica Young for the kiddos, and there’s something for everyone as the day goes on, ending with a signing with Ann Patchett.

SPRING CARNIVAL AT PROVIDENCE MARKETPLACE

Over in Mt. Juliet, the Providence Marketplace is hosting a Cinema Circle Spring Carnival. The free, family-friendly event includes trackless train rides, carnival games, photo booth, putt-putt golf, caricature artists and free mini donuts for the first 250 to show up.

Southern Festival of Books FILE PHOTO

‘Hues of Hughes’ exhibit on display at Richland Fine Art Gallery through May 31

STAFF REPORTS

Richland Fine Art Gallery held a reception and artist talk on April 13 with Nashville painter Kayce Hughes for her solo exhibition “Hues of Hughes” which runs through May 31.

Hughes is one of several artists represented by the Green Hills gallery known for her “vibrant, colorful paintings that explore the natural world and beauty of everyday life.”

“We are excited to present Kayce Hughes, our great friend and an artist who provides beauty and inspiration to all who know her,” Richland Fine Art Gallery CoOwner Stacy Beam said in a news release.

“Hues of Hughes” is open to the public during Richland Fine Art Gallery’s normal business hours.

Nashville location of local sporting goods franchise to close after more than three decades

STAFF REPORTS

Local sporting goods franchise Sport Seasons is set to close its Nashville location later this summer.

After more than three decades on White Bridge Road, the popular Nashville store is going to shut down operations in late July, according to a report from News Channel 5. The store has operated in Lion’s Head Village since 1989.

Following the closure of the locations at Rivergate Mall in Goodlettsville and Cool Springs in Franklin, the only Sport Seasons to remain open is in Murfreesboro at The Oaks, an outdoor shopping center.

Prior to the store closing in July, there will be an ongoing sale of its Tennessee Titans, Nashville Predators, and Nashville SC gear, as well as other items throughout the store.

You will have access to miles of walking trails and a 20 acre city park. Plus, you are within walking distance to Indian Lake Village with its shopping and movie theaters while being only 25 minutes north of downtown Nashville. Nearby are golf courses, country clubs and Old Hickory Lake!

Richland Gallery Director Campbell Mobley (left) leads Q&A with Artist Kayce Hughes (right) at the opening of her new Richland exhibit “Hues of Hughes” which runs through May 31.

PHOTO BY BRADLEY HICKMAN

Nashville celebrates 2023 Earth Day at Centennial Park

organized by Centennial Park Conservancy with participation from local community groups, environmental organizations, as well as state and metro agencies that “collectively strive to educate Nashvillians about protecting our environment.”

According to a news release, Since 2020, event proceeds have been donated to support environmental projects across Nashville, with several projects underwritten last year thanks to corporate and foundation partners.

Those projects include the planting of 60 trees at Carter Lawrence Elementary in Edgehill, Dudley Park in Napier, and a streetscaping project in North Nashville, as well as the donation of 1,250 trees, in partnership with The Nashville Tree Foundation, to help restore Nashville’s urban canopy.

Earth Day celebrations took place across the United States on Saturday, April 22, with Nashville’s free celebration drawing an estimated 10,000 attendees to Centennial Park.

Visitors enjoyed live music, free trees, food trucks, yoga, a dozen EarthTalks presentations, and more than 100 business and community vendors.

The annual Earth Day celebration is

The Underwriting the Sustainable Classrooms program, in partnership with Urban Green Lab, helps to train 24 teachers who will educate 2,400 Metro Nashville Public School children on the importance of sustainable living, while the annual care for 160,000 bees that reside in hives located in Centennial Park was made possible through a partnership with Nashville Area Beekeepers Association.

STAFF REPORTS

Hundreds of free trees were given away during the 2023 Nashville Earth Day Festival at Centennial Park. PHOTO COURTESY OF NASHVILLE EARTH DAY/FACEBOOK

Report: Vanderbilt’s Lawrence enters transfer portal

BY LOGAN BUTTS

Lawson adds ex-BA, Austin Peay, Tennessee Tech

QB Oatsvall as offensive coordinator

BY LOGAN BUTTS

Metro Nashville’s newest high school football program has added an offensive coordinator (OC) with a lengthy local resume.

Over the weekend, Lawson High School announced that former Brentwood Academy star Jeremiah Oatsvall will be the team’s OC during its inaugural season. Oatsvall will coach alongside James Lilly in his first head coaching role.

At BA, Oatsvall led the Eagles to backto-back state titles in 2015 and 2016, setting the state championship game record for most total yards in 2016 with 495.

Oatsvall earned three all-state honors while at BA and finished his career with 15 school records, including most passing yards (6,111) and most touchdowns (91).

The offseason mass exodus from Memorial Gymnasium continues. According to a report from 247Sports, Vanderbilt guard Tyrin Lawrence has become the latest Commodore to enter the transfer portal.

The junior guard enjoyed a breakout campaign in his first season as a full-time starter in Nashville, finishing second on the team in scoring at 13.1 points per game on 50.2% shooting and adding 4.4 rebounds per contest.

Previously, Lawrence had tested the NBA Draft waters while maintaining his

college eligibility.

Vanderbilt has now lost seven of its top nine leading scorers from last season’s NIT quarterfinalist including transfers Jordan Wright to LSU and Myles Stute to South Carolina.

Ezra Manjon (10.5 points per game) and Colin Smith are the only members of the team’s eight-man rotation returning.

The ‘Dores have added Lehigh’s Evan Taylor (14.2 points, 6.5 rebounds) from the transfer portal.

At Austin Peay, Oatsvall was named the OVC Freshman of the Year in 2017 after compiling 1,601 total yards and 13 total touchdowns. He followed that up with 2,148 yards and 26 touchdowns during sophomore campaign before missing the bulk of 2019 due to injury.

After the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Oatsvall transferred to Memphis where he spent a season as a wide receiver before finishing his college career back in the Ohio Valley Conference at Tennessee Tech last season. At Tech, he combined for 2,274 total yards and 24 touchdowns.

Lawson, which replaced Hillwood High School, is located in Bellevue. When the

school opens in August 2023, it will be the first new Metro Nashville Public School since 2008. The Lightning will compete in Region 6-5A against Centennial, Glencliff, Hillsboro, Nolensville, and Page.

Titans GM Carthon: Low test scores ‘not the end all, be all’

BY JOHN GLENNON

A low S2 Cognition test score would not be a dealbreaker for Titans general manager Ran Carthon when it comes to potentially selecting a quarterback — or any other position player — in this week’s NFL Draft. Carthon said the S2 is just a piece of the evaluation puzzle.

The S2 is different than the Wonderlic test, which measures intelligence in a 50-minute exam. Instead, the 40-45 minute S2 test is more a measure of how quickly and accurately athletes process information. The Nashville-based company’s site says the S2’s “scientifically validated evaluation determines how athletes process information at game speed and react when the pressure is on.”

“This is my first experience with the S2, so I’m still learning it myself,” Carthon said during a Monday press conference. “There’s still space for me to grow. We’re working through it. We met with [the company] last

week so I can get a better understanding of how to use it as part of our analytical component to evaluate a player. But myself, I’m still learning.”

So how have the NFL’s top five quarterback prospects fared when taking the S2 this year?

Per longtime NFL Draft analyst Bob McGinn, Alabama’s Bryce Young topped that group at 98 percent, followed by Kentucky’s Will Levis (93 percent), Florida’s Anthony Richardson (79 percent), Tennessee’s Herndon Hooker (46 percent) and Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud (18 percent).

Some draft insiders believe the Titans have interest in drafting Stroud, trading up from their current 11th spot to No. 3 to do so.

How much might a low S2 score like Stroud’s impact the Titans’ scouting report on him?

“It’s a part of the analytics piece,”

Carthon said of S2 scores. “It’s not the end all, be all. But it’s just another way for us to use and evaluate players. Whatever the test scores are, they are. It makes us go back and do homework, one way or the other.”

NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky, a former quarterback in the league, praised Stroud’s cognitive ability, tweeting, “I do know that on tape Stroud plays very intelligent and [processes] a lot of information pre snap well and post snap quick.”

Stroud was not one of the 30 players invited to the Titans’ facility for a pre-draft visit, but coach Mike Vrabel and offensive coordinator Tim Kelly spent time with him at Ohio State’s pro day.

“Mike and Tim spent time with him at the pro day in Columbus, and they feel good about him as a person,” Carthon said.

One other tidbit of interest regarding the S2: Quarterback Brock Purdy reportedly

scored in the mid-90s last year. Carthon’s former team, the San Francisco 49ers, drafted him in the seventh round and he had a very impressive rookie year — winning his first seven starts and posting a regular-season quarterback rating of 107.3 before he was hurt in the NFC Championship.

“It doesn’t surprise me,” Carthon said. “But more than anything, I think you have to to know the human that Brock is. Brock knew he wasn’t the tallest or fastest or had the strongest arm, but … he put in the work.

“So I don’t know if the S2 picks that up, but I saw the work and type of human he was, which I think supersedes any type of cognitive testing.”

This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Tyrin Lawrence PHOTO BY DAVID RUSSELL

Jeremiah Oatsvall

PHOTO COURTESY OF AUSTIN PEAY ATHLETICS

Chile-Rubbed Skirt Steak With Rustic Chimichurri

BY EDIBLE NASHVILLE

Not sure about you, but our garden is overflowing with beautiful plump mint. This simple flank steak is smothered with a fresh herb “chimichurri” that uses mint,

parsley and cilantro. The bright, fresh herb topping contrasts beautifully with the smoky, spicy steak.

ACROSS

1 “All right, already!”

5 Actress Swinton

10 Lemon meringue pie ingredient

14 Singer Aguilar with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

15 Decorate

16 Cr ushing on

17 Oracle

18 What a captcha tries to detect

19 Exam for jrs.

20 “Malcolm X” or “Milk”?

23 “Not in a million years!”

24 Shushes

25 “T itanic” or “Jaws”?

30 QB protectors, for short

31 Run, as dye

32 Max

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons sherry vinegar

1/2 teaspoon lime zest, plus 1 tablespoon fresh juice (from 1 lime)

6 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup torn fresh flat-leaf parsley

1/4 cup torn fresh cilantro

2 tablespoons torn fresh mint

1. Preheat grill to medium-high (about 450°F). To prepare chimmichurri, whisk together the sherry vinegar, zest, juice, and 1/4 cup of the oil in a small bowl. Stir in the parsley, cilantro, mint, shallots, and 1/4 teaspoon each of the salt and pepper.

2. To prepare steak, combine the ancho chile powder, red chile flakes, and remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2

2 tablespoons minced shallots

1 teaspoon fine sea salt

3/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 1/2 teaspoons ancho chile powder

1/2 teaspoon red chile flakes

1 pound skirt steak

teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Rub the steak with the remaining 2 tablespoons oil; sprinkle both sides of the steak with the spice mixture.

3. Grill, uncovered, to desired degree of doneness, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Let stand 10 minutes; cut diagonally across the grain into thin slices. Serve with the chimichurri.

Follow Edible Nashville on instagram @ediblenashtn and their website ediblenashville.com. To subscribe to the magazine that comes out 6x/year, go to ediblenashville.com.

35 Instrument prominently heard in both Seal’s “Kiss From a Rose” and Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe”

36 Change

37 Prefix with syllabic

38 Completely miss the ball

39 Bozos

40 Live tweeters, of a sort

41 “Wild” or “The Road”?

43 Commit an illegal act

46 Some pub orders

47 “Freaky Friday” or “The Parent Trap”?

52 ___ bean

53 Loved from afar, say

54 ___ pyrite (fool’s gold)

56 “You said it!”

57 Direction at the beginning of a stage script

58 F irm communication?

59 In case

60 Attention-hoarding, say

61 Members of a flock

DOWN

1 Covert ___

2 Stay fresh

3 Classic kids’ game that tests motor skills

4 Lamp oil

5 Duty

6 K-pop star, e.g.

7 Section of the brain

8 Delete

9 Many treasured heir looms

10 Plastic fastener

11 Follow

12 Be on the A-team, say

13 Popular gifts in pledge drives

21 Sack

22 What falls by the wheyside?

25 Sound from one at the end of one’s leash

26 Actress Jessica

27 Novel novel format

28 Suspect’s need

29 Anxious

32 Move in spirals

33 “Me, myself ___”

34 Something you might have to sit still for

36 “S.N.L.” sketch that kicks off the show

37 Impor tant number for a middle-distance runner

39 Count (on)

40 Island near Java

41 Words shared by forbidden lovers, maybe

42 Tacky and loud

43 Meat mar ket scraps

44 Olympic symbol

45 Bills with an estimated life span of 5.5 years (appropriately)

48 Numismatic rating

49 Pot part

50 March Madness number

51 Plate umpire’s place

55 #s

ANSWER TO PUZZLE

Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 9,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/ crosswords ($39.95 a year).

Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay.

Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/ studentcrosswords.

4 SERVING(S)

EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ NO. 0322

PUZZLE BY MADELINE KAPLAN

Moves & Grooves’ A Taste of Gratitude

BY BRENDA BATEY PHOTOS BY BRENDA BATEY

A Taste of Gratitude was held to benefit Moves & Grooves, a non-profit organization which seeks to inspire youth to create for themselves and to discover, learn, and grow through the arts.

The event was held at the top of the impressive building which houses AllianceBerstein, a global investment management firm which moved its corporate headquarters to Nashville last year.

Moves & Grooves Executive Director Emerald Mitchell welcomed the guests and Criminal Court Clerk Howard Gentry explained about the importance of the organization to the students it serves.

Hank Ingram was on hand to give a tasting of aged whiskey produced by his company, Brown Water Spirits. Everyone enjoyed sipping the beverages and hearing about the history of the family and company behind the spirits.

AllianceBerstein’s Chef Ryan Holmes provided a delicious cocktail buffet, offering beef tenderloin crostini, eggplant and pesto, chicken piccata, a colorful array of fresh vegetables and dips, tuna tartare, a charcuterie display with cured meats, artisanal cheeses, olives, and more.

Everyone relished the wonderful food while enjoying the views from the 26th floor of the building. Guests gazed down on the various towers, including those that house AT&T, Truist and Regions, the Bridgestone Arena, the Cumberland River and bridges spanning its width, and shorter buildings with amazing plantings on their roofs.

There were impressive performances of dance and song by some of the students who demonstrated what they had learned while

attending Moves & Grooves.

The organization’s mission is to enhance the academic achievement of children through creative arts programs, and it boasts a ninety-five percent high school graduation rate among the students and eighty percent improvement in math, reading and other academic subjects.

Soon Moves & Grooves will continue to fulfill its mission to enhance the academic achievement of children in a new facility which will be made possible through an innovative plan with Metro Nashville.

The Moves & Grooves Center for the Arts will be a 12,000 square foot space that will include multi-purpose classrooms for academics, visual arts, photography, music recording, video production and graphic design. The space will boast an independent study lounge, college and career center, computer lab, cafeteria, office space, dance studios, retail store, performance auditorium and STEM Lab.

As an added safety feature planned and partially funded by the city government, the entire Moves & Grooves Center for the Arts will double as a storm shelter. It will provide emergency safety from tornadoes and natural disasters for children and families within a one mile radius.

The programs are offered free to Nashville Metro students at the organization’s partner schools. In addition, summer camp is offered in July, with field trips and academic enhancement.

For more information about Moves & Grooves, call 615-953-1363, email admin@movesandgrooves.org, or visit movesandgrooves.org.

Anastasia Krajeck, Bill DuBois, and Chamile Wharton

Blake Patterson, Moves & Grooves’ Executive Director Emerald Mitchell, Jim Robert, and Marisa Swystun

Debra Edwards, Carla Hawkins, and Portia Burton

Britney Taylor, Amber Hardin, and Jameon Hatcher

Board Chair Chase Manning and Maegan Manning

Kristina Jordan and Sharon Reynolds

Amy Pentecost and Rita McDonald

Dell and Fierce Oliver

Deitrick Mitchell and Elisabeth Constantine

Kaniisha Wilson, Chosen Mitchell, and Christine and Richard Thigpen

Rose Jordan Fairely and David Armstrong

Hank Ingram and Howard Gentry

Mary Lee Divito and Shane Stevens

Leisa and Andy Gill

Delfine Fox and Allison Janeway

Tina Gottstein and Chef Ryan Holmes Tunja Ashford and Marina Carrier

Hank Ingram and Joshua McDonald

Iroquois Steeplechase Kick-off Event

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL GOMEZ

The Iroquois Steeplechase sponsored by Bank of America, benefiting Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt recently held the annual kick-off event and announced the honorary chair John (Jay) C. Wellons III, MD, MSPH, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery and Cal Turner Chair in Pediatric Neurosurgery at Monroe Carell.

“I’m honored to represent the many physicians and staff at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt who work on behalf of the children of our community and beyond,” said Wellons. “The Iroquois Steeplechase has a long history of partnering with the hospital and bringing necessary support to children and families in need. I am grateful to everyone involved in the event and excited to carry out my role!”

This year’s Child Ambassador from Monroe Carell is 10-year-old Rivers DeLisle. Rivers was born with a rare heart condition called tetralogy of Fallot that includes a combination of four congenital heart defects. He underwent his first open heart surgery at just one month old. Due to complications, he suffered cardiac arrest and was placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a form of life support for those with life-threatening illness or injury that affects the function of their heart or lungs. At seven months old, Rivers had his last open-heart surgery. Today, he is a thriving and energetic 10-year-old who enjoys horseback riding with his pony Jelly Bean, swimming, listening to music and dancing with his friends.

“It is difficult to put into words exactly what the hospital means to our family,” said Rivers’ mother Jessica. “They saved our son’s life, and we are forever grateful

to the doctors and nurses who bring an immeasurable amount of knowledge and compassion to their patients. We are thankful for all the support staff who brought children’s books, toys and even a toothbrush if needed. We also deeply appreciated the staff who would clean our hospital room every day with a smile and kind word. We are so blessed to have this hospital right here in Middle Tennessee.”

Iroquois Steeplechase Chairman Dwight Hall said, “We’re so honored to have Rivers as our Child Ambassador this year. He has demonstrated incredible strength and is an inspiration to us all. His father Matthew DeLisle is a partner with Tennessee Equine Hospital that has served as a sponsor of the Iroquois Steeplechase for many years. He has assisted in the care of the horses during the race, so their family has been part of the Iroquois family for years. River’s love of horses is engrained in him, and we can’t wait to have him participate in this year’s event.”

This year’s official Iroquois Steeplechase artwork was unveiled at the official kick-off event. Michael J. McBride was selected as this year’s artist and his painting entitled SteepleChase Ghost Rider was unveiled depicting a black and white oil painting of an energized horse race with a horse and rider hovering above the track. At the unveiling, Iroquois Steeplechase President Marianne Byrd said, “We enjoyed meeting Michael last year and having him display and sell some of his original artwork at the race. We’re so proud of the piece he painted depicting the Iroquois Steeplechase for this year’s official poster.”

Posters of his work will be for sale at Steeplechase Central on race day or through the website www.iroquoissteeplechase.org.

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