February 15, 2024 by FW Publishing

TENSIONS FLARE

NATIONAL SIGNING DAY

FEBRUARY 15, 2024 | VOLUME 36 | NUMBER 6

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Bellevue teens charged in shooting deaths of area teens at Meigs Magnet School BY MATT MASTERS

Rep. Sam Whitson

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Outgoing lawmakers signal a shifting political era BY ELI MOTYCKA

Election cycles come like waves. New names and personalities come into old seats, often with promises to improve on the status quo. Old names disappear by defeat or by choice, and eras shift. East Tennessee Sen. Art Swann (R-Maryville) slipped in his retirement announcement during this year’s opening state Senate session. “We all have a shelf life here,” Swann told his colleagues. “And I’ve had two.” Swann served one stint in the House in the mid-1980s, rejoined in 2010 and crossed over to the Senate in 2017 by appointment when his predecessor was tapped to be a U.S. attorney by then-President Trump. His brief remarks drew tremendous applause from fellow senators of both parties and prompted floor speeches from Sens. Ken

Yager (R-Kingston), Paul Bailey (R-Sparta), Becky Duncan Massey (R-Knoxville), Rusty Crowe (R-Johnson City) and Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville), all of whom painted Swann as a mentor and confidant. He wants to spend time with his wife and friends. Deputy Speaker Curtis Johnson (R-Clarksville), a topranking House Republican, wants to golf as much as possible. They are two of a handful of longtime lawmakers who have announced they won’t seek reelection this year. “Everyone has their own reasons,” says Darren Jernigan (D-Old Hickory). In October, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell recruited Jernigan as a bridgebuilder between Metro and the state legislature. “And maybe the environment pushes them to go ahead and do it.”

Jernigan and Rep. Sam Whitson (R-Franklin), a conservative representing a big chunk of Williamson County, bonded as back-benchers in Whitson’s first term. Both have bowed out of reelection. They reflected on a combined 20 years in the legislature one Thursday during an impromptu meeting of the “peanut-butter-and-jelly caucus,” Whitson’s name for their frequent lunch dates. Jernigan worked on a loaded baked potato from the cafeteria in the Cordell Hull Building. In the fall, Whitson publicly opposed Gabrielle Hanson’s upstart campaign for Franklin mayor. Hanson, a former alderman, had publicly courted local Nazi groups and embraced extreme right-wing politics. Whitson and Jernigan >> PAGE 2

Metro Nashville Police have charged an 18-year-old and a 17-year-old with two counts of criminal homicide each for Thursday night’s fatal shooting of two teens at Meigs Magnet School in East Nashville. Police identified the two victims as Jalen McAdams, 17, of Franklin, and Takeo Bills, 16, of Chapel Hill. 18-year-old Rico Doss, Jr., was arrested early Friday morning at his Bellevue apartment complex after police tracked a Honda they said Doss traveled to the school in, along with another person, later identified as 17-year-old Ashton Brown. Brown was arrested later on Friday after MNPD put out a cash reward for information on what they called a “drugrelated” shooting. It’s unclear at this time if community tips led to Brown’s arrest. “The investigation to this point shows that Bills and McAdams traveled together to the school parking lot in a white Nissan Altima at 6:50 p.m. Thursday,” MNPD said in a Friday news release. “Already in the lot was a black Honda Accord containing Doss and one other person. After the Altima parked next to the Honda, Doss and the other individual got into the back seat of Altima. The two victims were shot. Doss and the other person got out of the Altima and sped away in the Honda.” McAdams died at the scene, while Bills died shortly after arriving at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. GoFundMe fundraisers have been created to help pay for funeral expenses for McAdams, a Centennial High School junior, and Bills. “Jalen was so loved by our Williamson County school community,” Willliamson County Schools said in a statement to >> PAGE 2 The News. “Every teacher and

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Bellevue teens

Outgoing lawmakers

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administrator who knew him loved him immensely. He brought so much joy and energy into our lives, and he was deeply loved by those who knew him. We send our deepest sympathies to Jalen’s family and friends.” Doss is also being charged with

attempted criminal homicide for an outstanding warrant related to the Feb. 3 shooting of a 17-year-old on Westchester Drive. That unidentified victim was shot in the leg in what police called “a marijuana deal gone bad.”

Ashton Brown

Rico Doss

PHOTO BY MNPD

Franklin pastor indicted on numerous sex crimes BY MATT MASTERS

Rev. Juan Carlos Garcia PHOTO BY NASHVILLE DIOCESE

A pastor at Franklin’s St. Philip Catholic Church has been indicted on sex crimes by a Williamson County Grand Jury following an internal investigation that saw him removed from his position in January. As previously reported, the Diocese of Nashville announced the investigation into allegations of “sexual misconduct” by associate pastor Juan Carlos Garcia, who has now been charged with one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child, one count of aggravated sexual battery, four counts of sexual battery by an authority figure and two counts of sexual battery.

Few details have been released, but according to court documents the alleged crimes occurred between July 1, 2022, and Dec. 31, 2023, in Franklin. The grand jury indictment lists five victims, four of whom were children between the ages of 11 and 16 years old when the alleged abuse occurred. Garcia was ordained in 2020 and assigned to St. Philip in July 2022, having previously served at Saint Rose of Lima in Murfreesboro. In November 2023, a complaint was made by church officials to the Diocese of Nashville Safe Environment Office after an unidentified teenager in the parish “made a report of improper touching.” “Per diocesan protocols, a report was immediately made by the Diocese and St. Philip representatives to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS),” the diocese said in a January news release. “Pursuant to the Diocesan Safe Environment Policy, an outside investigator, who is a former FBI agent, was retained by the Diocese to investigate the report.” Anyone with information regarding Father Garcia is urged to contact detective Andrea Clark of the Franklin Police Department at 615-476-2809.

compliment each other as “statesmen” rather than politicians preparing to leave parties that, both say, are moving toward extremes. A few outgoing lawmakers will not change the political balance in Tennessee, says Jernigan. But it could take away swing votes that determine what gets out of subcommittees or the informal social bonds that mitigate interpersonal ill will after otherwise contentious floor debates. In other words, who you’ll ride the elevator with, says Whitson. Executive secretary Linda Bowers plans to beat her boss, Deputy Speaker Johnson, into retirement by a few months. Bowers has 45 years working for lawmakers in the legislature to Johnson’s 20 years. It’s easy to see how both have survived for so long. Neither dints their party, however much it’s changed since Johnson’s first election in 2004. Every few minutes, Johnson’s eyes check in with the tape recorder on his desk. Bowers’ memory is an encyclopedia of scandals and missteps; her desk has the physical newspaper clippings to match. “Shoot straight with your colleagues and with your constituents and whoever’s working bills,” Johnson says. “Your word is your bond here. If you lie once, it’ll stick with you.” Neither Johnson nor Swann mentions thorny culture-war issues like trans health care or abortion in two hours’ worth of conversation. Unlike in today’s stump speeches by newer colleagues, both talk about money. Anti-tax populism swept Johnson into office, and fiscal conservatism is Swann’s ideological bedrock. Tennessee’s full coffers were evidence they did right by

their constituents. Tax-slashing and austere social spending helped Republicans gain control of Tennessee through the mid-2000s. Party talking points have drifted since then, favoring cultural, religious and social battles framed as an existential fight against a Democratic menace. On his way out, Swann warns that missteps can follow stretches of unchecked political decadence. “When things get too easy or too hard for you, that’s when changes occur,” says Swann. “We all have a sense of what’s proper and what’s improper. I believe we’re in one of those times of change. We’ll just have to see what the adjustment is.” Swann has taken the party line on many contentious topics — notably co-signing a letter backing former President Trump’s unfounded challenge of 2020 election results. But he won’t follow Republicans’ unequivocal contempt for gun control. “I grew up a hunter,” Swann tells the Scene in his seventh-floor office. “My grandaddy was a hunter. And the one place I was most torn is the gun issue. It challenged my belief system about right and wrong. I recognized that we had a problem and further recognized that I’ve been a part of that problem all these years. When we’re making guns for military purposes and giving them out to the general public, there’s serious concern we’re going to see more and more of these shootings everywhere. I think we have a social responsibility to protect each other, not just ourselves.” This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Scene.

Studio Tenn’s One Night Only fundraiser returns April 6 STAFF REPORTS

Studio Tenn’s annual One Night Only fundraiser returns on April 6 featuring the music of iconic theater composing duo Rodgers and Hammerstein. The event kicks off in the Factory at Franklin’s Liberty Hall at 6:30 p.m. featuring photo opportunities, a premium open bar and a dinner buffet, followed by Studio Tenn’s tribute to Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II from 8-9:30 p.m., inspired by productions including Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, Cinderella and The Sound of Music. Studio Tenn will unveil its 2024-25 season lineup, marking the nonprofit theatre group’s 15th season. The season is set to begin this fall at Turner Theater, its new and permanent home in The Factory, which opened in October 2023. “One Night Only is a joint celebration of our supporters and the joy of live theatre,” Studio Tenn’s board of directors development

chair Lynne McAlister said. “We work all year to plan an immersive evening, and with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s music as the backdrop of this year’s celebration, guests are in for an unforgettable night of Broadwayquality performances.” Franklin residents Bethni and Trent Hemphill and Susan and Robert Deaton will serve as the event chairs. Studio Tenn artistic director Patrick Cassidy, whose mother Shirley Jones performed in Oklahoma!, Carousel and The Partridge Family, is also planning a tribute to his mother and her iconic roles. “The music of Rodgers and Hammerstein is incredibly special to me,” Cassidy said. “At a time when all actors were under contracts to studios, my mom was the only person to ever sign a personal contract exclusively with Rodgers and Hammerstein. To be able to pay tribute to their historic professional relationship is an honor for me.”

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

O’Connell funnels cash to state allies BY ELI MOTYCKA

Freddie O’Connell

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Mayor Freddie O’Connell sent $5,250 to state lawmakers this month via

a new political action committee created in November with leftover campaign

cash. Every incumbent state lawmaker in Davidson County — including sole Nashville conservative Sen. Mark Pody — received a check, with two exceptions: Democratic Reps. Vincent Dixie and Justin Jones. O’Connell also sent $1,000 to TIRRC Votes, the political arm of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Center. In August, O’Connell emerged from a hard-fought general election in pole position facing conservative Alice Rolli in a runoff. He collected oodles of cash during that time and ended September with $559,480. Soon after bringing on outgoing Democratic Rep. Darren Jernigan as a state relations adviser, O’Connell seeded the state-level READY PAC on Nov. 8 with $290,000. “We’ve directed a few [donations] that are mostly focused on Davidson County,” O’Connell told reporters on Friday. “That is as far as we’ve done any planning.” City-state relations were a key issue in last year’s mayoral race. State lawmakers targeted Nashville in the 2023 legislative session with a variety of creatively crafted bills, several of which were struck down or paused by court order. During and after his election, O’Connell pledged to restore the intergovernmental relationship to a functional equilibrium. He tapped Jernigan

— a veteran of the Tennessee General Assembly respected by colleagues on both sides of the aisle — to orchestrate a truce between arch-conservative state lawmakers rankled by Nashville’s liberal streak. In that context, O’Connell’s $250 check to conservative Sen. Pody, whose Senate district includes Hermitage and Donelson, looks like an overture in line with O’Connell’s central message: What’s good for Nashville is good for Tennessee. Leaving out Rep. Justin Jones, one of the chamber’s most outspoken critics of the GOP but otherwise a popular local incumbent, can likewise be seen as an appeal to conservative leadership. More than $280,000 remains in READY PAC coffers. Jernigan’s open seat in Old Hickory could be the county’s most purple general election, pending August’s Democratic primary shaping up between gun control advocate Shaundelle Brooks and financial adviser Tim Jester. Money could help tip the scales there or continue to be an expression of goodwill by O’Connell toward his preferred Davidson County electeds. This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Scene.

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Bills moving to curb child care ‘hidden crisis’ BY HANNAH HERNER

Sen. Charlane Oliver PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) is leading a charge to make child care more accessible and affordable for Tennessee families with a slate of bills she said work in tandem to mitigate what she called a “hidden crisis.” Three bills target the Department of Human Services’ Smart Steps program, which offers child care payment assistance for low income families at participating centers. With Rep. Bob Freeman (D-Nashville), Oliver introduced Senate Bill 2064/House Bill 2233, which would raise the income cap for eligible families from 85 percent to 100 percent of the area median income. Another bill (SB2207/

HB2822) brought by Oliver and Rep. Karen Camper (D-Memphis) would eliminate a co-pay required to be part of the program for those making under 150 percent of the federal poverty level and caps fees at 7 percent of household income for families above the federal poverty line. The latter is set to be heard on Wednesday’s Senate Health and Welfare Committee docket. An additional bill directed at DHS, SB1805/HB1962 brought by Oliver and Rep. Jason Powell (D-Nashville), would require the organization to revamp its calculation of reimbursement rates for child care centers accepting its Smart Steps vouchers. The current “market rate” survey underestimates the cost of child care without factoring in all of the labor costs including training, professional development and benefits, Oliver said. “Instead of just basing the rate off of a survey that only a fraction of providers in the state fill out, we’re actually basing it off of the full cost, so that day cares can actually keep the doors open,” she told the Post. Oliver said a DHS representative called her to push back on the proposed changes on Friday. The department told the Post in a statement: ”Our department is currently reviewing the proposed legislation and analyzing the impact if it is passed.” Oliver, along with Rep. Torrey Harris (D-Memphis), is also proposing a new tax on transpotainment vehicles that would create a state fund to match local government funding for early childhood care. (SB1907/HB2517) Because of low pay among those who work in child care, Oliver and Freeman’s SB2063/HB2232 would implement a two-

year pilot program during which the state would allow people who stay working in child care to continue to receive government benefits like SNAP even if their pay raises above the income threshold. As part of this bill, the Tennessee Advisory Committee on Intergovernmental Relations would be tasked with studying establishing an early educator target compensation scale and whether the benefits are successful. “If they’re trying to improve their lives and go after jobs that pay more, that leaves a worker shortage because they’re leaving the child care industry, but even if they stay at the job, providers can’t pay them more,” Oliver said. “Even if they do get a pay increase, that increase could kick them off of benefits because it’s above the threshold for the eligibility requirements for that program, which puts that person in a more dire financial situation than what they started with. It disincentivizes people who are trying to climb out of poverty to seek self-sufficiency and economic mobility.” All of the bills in question are headed up by Democratic legislators in both the House and Senate. Oliver said she is working on bipartisan support and pointed out that previous initiatives like the Tennessee Child Care Task Force saw support from Sen. Becky Massey (R-Knoxville). “It’s a hidden crisis that we’re not talking about enough, because we just think that child care in general is a mother’s problem,” Oliver said. “We think that it’s only a family’s problem, but this is a problem for employers. This is a problem for providers as well and parents. So we all need to be chipping in to

find a solution and investing in the solution.” Oliver started off this legislative session with a win — finding out that a bill she introduced in 2023 to allow campaign funds to be used for child care was not needed because it was already legal. She hopes more awareness of this fact will encourage more young parents like herself to run for office. Even before the pandemic, profit margins were small for child care centers. In September, American Rescue Plan funds were exhausted and monthly payments that helped keep child care centers afloat ended. At the time, think tank the Century Foundation projected that 1,199 Tennessee child care centers would close as a result of American Rescue Plan Act stabilization grants ending — adding up to an estimated 89,989 children potentially losing care. The state has stepped in to help, though the new numbers are nowhere near the $550 million in state funds (plus additional federal dollars) deployed in Tennessee over the past three years. The Biden administration requested that $16 billion be added to the federal budget to keep the ARP funding going for another year. Tennessee is administering $5 million worth of Child Care Hub pilot grants aimed at establishing newly licensed child care locations from the $220 million federal Child Care Development Block Grant. In addition, the state approved a part of a $15 million Child Care Improvement Fund in the fall and increased reimbursement rates for centers accepting child care vouchers. This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Republicans introduce legislation to vacate TSU’s board BY KELSEY BEYELER Republican lawmakers have filed bills that could threaten the future of Tennessee State University’s board of trustees. The historically Black university has been under intense scrutiny by state leaders in recent years amid ongoing issues — even as the school has been subjected to severe underfunding from the state. Last year, a critical comptroller report addressed communication, finance and housing-related issues during a subcommittee. The report came alongside policy suggestions such as placing TSU under the direction of the Board of Regents, reconfiguring TSU’s current board of trustees, replacing TSU management, increasing reporting on scholarship and enrollment information, and increasing campus housing options. TSU president Glenda Glover, who has since announced her retirement, testified at the committee and agreed to make changes. The subcommittee unanimously voted to recommend an extension of TSU’s board

of trustees for another year with continued reporting requirements. In 2021, a joint legislative committee researched TSU’s history of underfunding. A report found that between 1956 and 2006, the university had been shorted at least $544 million by the state — even though the state’s other land-grant university, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, wasn’t. In 2022, the state gave TSU $250 million. In September 2023, however, federal leaders indicated that the school has been shorted more than $2.1 billion in the past 30 years. Several pieces of legislation regarding TSU have been filed for the 2024 legislative session, though two bills show the intent of some lawmakers to vacate the board and turn the university over to the state. SB1596/ HB1739 — sponsored by Rep. John Ragan (R-Oak Ridge) and Sens. Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield), Jon Lundberg (R-Bristol) and Bo Watson (R-Hixson) — would terminate TSU’s board on June 30. The bill is scheduled to be heard in a Senate

government operations committee on Feb.7. SB2109/HB2346, which is sponsored by Lundberg and Ragan, would transfer state university boards that no longer exist to the state. In its current state, the proposed legislation would transfer board duties to the Tennessee Higher Education Commission on June 29 at 11:59 p.m. of the year the board sunsets. The bill also allows the governor to give control of the board to another state entity. The bill is scheduled to be heard in a Senate education committee on Feb. 7. “Clearly, there’s various issues, whether it’s lack of competence, lack of attention, not only from the administration and the president of the institution, but candidly from the board,” Lundberg said Friday. “The president has announced her intention to retire and that’s very positive.” He called the current move to vacate the board and the history of underfunding “two separate issues” On Monday, WKRN reported that some TSU students who won scholarships

and financial aid had not received their expected funds and feared being purged by the school amid a payment deadline. Though TSU told WKRN in a statement that institutional scholarships had been allocated, it was also “seeking assistance from third parties to help students.” “TSU is working with legislators to address potential issues and challenges associated with this bill, addressing any legislation that would have detrimental effects on our students and the university, and avoid the potential existence of a substantially different governance structure than created under the FOCUS Act,” TSU said in a statement, per WKRN’s Chris O’Brien. The school further warned that legislative threats to the university’s leadership could hurt the ongoing search for a new president. This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Scene.

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

Tensions flare as abortion ban exceptions killed again BY HANNAH HERNER

Protesters gather at a House Population Health subcommittee, Feb. 6, 2024 PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

At a House Population Health subcommittee meeting Tuesday, members killed a bill that would allow abortion in cases of rape and incest, and in cases of a mental or physical medical emergency. House Bill 1884/Senate Bill 1826, which would allow further exceptions to Tennessee’s strict abortion ban, is sponsored by Rep. Yusuf Hakeem (D-Chattanooga) and Sen. London Lamar (D-Memphis). A similar bill from the duo (HB1729/ SB1728) would allow exceptions for

physical and mental health, incest or rape (though requiring the patient to report the offense to law enforcement), but Hakeem on Monday withdrew it from consideration. Exceptions for rape and incest were also voted down last year. A bill establishing a limited carveout for doctors performing abortions passed in 2023. Hakeem said rape is a traumatic experience, and noted that it happens to minors too. “The humane thing for us to do is not to

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force the person to carry that child,” he said. Many in the hearing room Tuesday held signs protesting HB1895, the “abortion trafficking” bill brought by Rep. Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville). The bill, which would create a criminal offense for an adult taking a minor out of state for an abortion, was rolled to the next committee meeting on Feb. 13. Rep. Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville) responded emotionally to Hakeem. “There are people, adults, children who are alive today who thank God every day that their mothers didn’t go and have them removed from their body,” Farmer said. “For you to come in this committee and say that every life that came from rape or incest is worthless, and meaningless and has no hope for meaning is just a false statement in my opinion.” Population Health subcommittee chair Michele Carringer (R-Knoxville) threatened to expel members of the gallery for interrupting Farmer’s comments. Several left willingly. Protesters on each side of the issue argued outside of the room following the event. “Some minds were probably already made up,” Hakeem told the Post. “There is a national position that’s been taken by particularly one of the parties. I think as

a result of that, they’re not giving enough weight to the value and worth of a woman, her life and that of our families. Hopefully in time, that will change.” Additional abortion-related bills are set to be heard in the ongoing session. Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) and Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) introduced a bill (HB2603/SB2613) allowing abortions for individuals younger than 13. Democrats put forth a symbolic bill that would legalize abortion entirely, while Sen. Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville) teased a bill allowing exceptions mainly for fatal fetal anomalies or conditions that affect fertility. Briggs confirmed to the Post that Sen. Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald) is set to sponsor the bill. A House bill from GOP Rep. Debra Moody of Covington, which has yet to secure a Senate sponsor, requires district attorneys general to file a report on “potential criminal abortions.” Another bill would require the state health department to publish information on reversing the effects of a medication abortion in additional languages. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, reversal is not supported by science. This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Scene.

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BUSINESS BRIEFS

Sauna and cold plunge studio opens in Berry Hill STAFF REPORTS

Allen Penn PHOTO COURTESY OF FRAMEWORK

Nashville sauna and cold plunge studio business Framework has opened in Berry Hill. A temporary location, the facility is located at 436 East Iris Drive while the permanent future facility remains under construction in Wedgewood-Houston.

The building to house the wellness services business will be located at 1411 Fourth Ave. S. and is slated to open by year’s end. According to a release, Framework is billed as the first studio in Nashville to offer both traditional sauna and cold plunge services. Framework memberships begin at $99 per month for four monthly sessions, while unlimited memberships are priced at $199 per month, a rate that will also be honored at the future Wedgewood-Houston location for a limited time. First-timers can try Framework for $15 ($45 for subsequent individual sessions). “Regular use of sauna and cold exposure is one of the simplest routines to add to your week to improve your health — once you get in, you just have to sit there — but you will feel physical and mental changes immediately,” Allen Penn, founder of Framework, said in the release. This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Nashville cancer care company involved in $236M deal STAFF REPORTS

Radiation Business Solutions, with a headquarters in Joelton, and its affiliate RBS Evolution, along with Loop Capital have “consummated a $236 million transaction in the sale of several radiation oncology centers to institutional bond investors and clients of RBS,” according to a release. RBS has provided billing and management services to both freestanding and hospitalbased radiation oncology centers. RBS Evolution is a partnership between the company and physician clients aimed to bringing cancer care to underserved communities, including rural Alaska. According to the release, the 501c3 structure of the deal “allows tax-exempt bonds to secure the permanency of care to patients in remote areas while creating succession opportunities and continued autonomy to providers outside typical hospital arrangements.”

Investment firm Loop Capital assisted in the bond placement. Prakash Ramani, managing director of Loop’s investment banking division, called the transaction “unique to the bond community.” “Two years of working for, and with, providers, legal teams, valuation firms and an array of experts that we brought together resulted in a very positive outcome for everyone,” Daniel Moore, CEO of RBS, said in the release. “Hundreds of disparate centers across the nation with a modest census, technology upgrade needs and financial pressures are in need of aggregation and converting to a foundation bond model. We have a lot of work yet to do.” RBS has additional offices in Pennsylvania and Texas. This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Sperry’s owners eye March debut of café in Bellevue BY WILLIAM WILLIAMS

The owners of West Nashville’s venerable Sperry’s Restaurant are planning to open in March two sister concepts within a Bellevue building last home to a Shoney’s. According to a release, Trish Thomas and Al Thomas will operate Café Sperry’s and Sperry’s Mercantile in the building, with an address of 7745 Highway 70 S. The married couple acquired the property in March 2022 for $1.95 million, Metro records note. The effort to open the two food and beverage businesses comes as the Thomases will celebrate, also in March, the 50th anniversary of operations for Sperry’s, which is located at 5109 Harding Pike just outside the Belle Meade city limits and near Hillwood. The original Sperry’s Mercantile — which opened in 2015 and serves as a small gourmet market selling meats, sauces, seasonings, etc. — operates from a small building positioned behind Sperry’s. The future Sperry’s Café and Sperry’s Mercantile will operate from a building located adjacent to a structure that houses Royal Range USA. That structure had been, years, ago a multi-screen cineplex. The release notes Cafe Sperry’s is a new venture, billed as a “craft coffee” shop that

will offer drive-thru and dine-in options. Also sharing the space will be a fulfillment center for SperrysMeats.com, an e-commerce entity launched in 2023 and via which are shipped Sperry’s meats, seafood, sides and gourmet items. Founded in 1974 by brothers Houston Thomas and Dick Thomas, Sperry’s Restaurant is known for its Old English steakhouse décor and introduced what is believed to have been Nashville’s first salad bar. Al Thomas, Houston’s son, purchased the business from his father and uncle in 2000, keeping the menu and decor largely unchanged to this day. Thomas expanded the business in 2006 with the opening of Sperry’s Restaurant in Cool Springs. “As residents of Bellevue, my wife and I are excited to bring Sperry’s Mercantile and Cafe Sperry’s to the neighborhood,” Al Thomas said in the release. “The opening couldn’t be more timely, aligning with the 50th anniversary of Sperry’s Restaurant, a milestone I am proud to hit as a secondgeneration family business owner. “If only my father and uncle could see how the business is thriving fifty years after they first opened the doors to Sperry’s in 1974,” he added. “It means a lot to my family to usher in this next

Sperry’s Mercantile

PHOTO COURTESY OF SPERRY’S

chapter of our business around the corner from our home.” Sperry’s Mercantile in Bellevue will be open Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cafe Sperry’s — to offer coffee, tea, espresso, pastries, sandwiches

and snacks. The décor will take cues from Sperry’s Restaurant. The cafe will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. for dine-in or drive-thru service. This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

Expect a continued push for Lee’s universal school voucher program BY KELSEY BEYELER

The 2024 legislative session will see more of the controversial education legislation that has helped define Bill Lee’s tenure as governor. Under Lee, Republicans have passed legislation that censors what can be taught in schools, sets strict academic standards, allows certain students to receive private school vouchers and overhauls the state’s education funding formula. While many of these monumental changes are behind us, we may see some backtracking this year, and certainly more substantial bills that will affect students from Memphis to Mountain City. Leading the Tennessee Department of Education in facilitating these policies is the state’s new education commissioner Lizzette Reynolds, who has already received bipartisan criticism. Reps. Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville) and John Ray Clemmons (D-Nashville) called on Reynolds to resign after stating she isn’t qualified for her position under Tennessee state law. Sen. Mark Pody (R-Lebanon) called out Reynolds and the TDOE for poor communication amid the rollout of a law that threatens to retain third- and fourthgraders who don’t score high enough on the reading portion of a state test and fail to demonstrate enough growth after receiving specific learning interventions. The reading law went into effect last year. When lawmakers convened last year, education advocates asked them to roll the law back — they didn’t. Instead, they added benchmark testing so a student’s academic advancement wouldn’t be determined by a single test (though that provision won’t kick in until this year). While just over 1 percent of third-graders were retained last year, many more students could be retained in fourth grade if they don’t show enough growth, as defined by a complicated formula

that won’t be officially adopted by the state’s board of education until later this month. Lawmakers may add some additional interventions for fourth-grade students facing retention this year. “We don’t want to back off on what we’re doing, but we may need to have additional interventions for that fourth-grader — and even that fifth-grader — as they’re moving through the school year.” says Rep. Mark White (R-Memphis), who chairs the House Education Administration Committee. Perhaps the biggest education topic of this session will concern Gov. Lee’s push for a universal school voucher system. Since Lee announced his desire for such a program in November, several school boards — including those in Jackson and Roane counties and Collierville — have passed resolutions opposing the program. It’s worth watching how Republicans react to the intense scrutiny on this divisive matter and balance the desires of their constituents with those of school-privatization lobbyists. Familiar bills that fell by the wayside after the Covenant School shooting or that didn’t pass during August’s related special session are likely to resurface this year. One from House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland) would require schools to develop policies related to how they respond to alarms in the event of active shooters or other emergencies. Another, which has already advanced through one subcommittee as of this writing, would allow teachers to carry guns in private schools that have pre-K programs — a move that some Covenant School parents have opposed. These bills come alongside others aimed at enhancing school safety. At the end of last year’s session, the future of Tennessee State University was unclear as a comptroller report addressed critical

Gov. Bill Lee

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

findings from the university, and lawmakers considered reducing the size of TSU’s board of trustees. Since then, TSU president Glenda Glover announced her retirement, and federal leaders indicated that the school has been shorted more than $2 billion in the past 30 years. Whether these developments change lawmakers’ plans regarding TSU remains unclear. Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D-Memphis) is vice-chair of the Senate Education Committee. She anticipates more legislation targeting diversity, equity and inclusion practices in education, echoing national trends following a Supreme Court

ruling that bans affirmative action in higher education. “We’ll see,” says Akbari. “I’m hoping that some of my colleagues will really get back to the basics of, ‘Can they read? Can they write? Can they count? Can they compete on a national and international level? Are they safe?’ That’s what I want to see, and I think to a certain degree we want [the same] things — but we just have different ideas about how to achieve them.” This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Scene.

January homes sales increase 5 percent year-over-year STAFF REPORTS The Nashville area saw 1,886 home closings in January — a 5 percent increase compared to the figure of the same month in 2023, when 1,802 closings were recorded — and fueling hopes that expected mortgage rate dips might be having a positive effect, according to Greater Nashville Realtors. This follows the market finishing 2023 with 33,349 home closings — a 16 percent decrease compared to the figure of 2022, when 39,831 closings were recorded. Realtor. com is forecasting area home prices to drop about 5 percent this year. According to a GNR release, the area had 1,898 sales pending at the end of January, compared to 2,567 pending sales for the corresponding period of last year.

The median price for a residential singlefamily home in January was $460,000; for a condominium, it was $349,360. The figures compare with January 2023’s median residential and condominium prices of $450,000 and $325,000 respectively. Inventory at the end of January was 8,875, according to the release. The figure indicates a 4 percent increase from the 8,572 active listings reported for the same month in 2023. Last month, GNR reported three months of available December inventory after having recorded 3.5 month of inventory in November and five months of inventory in October. The average number of days on the market for a single-family home in January

was 57. December saw an average number of 50 days on the market, while November recorded an average of 43. Kevin Wilson, Greater Nashville Realtors president, said in the release that January’s key performance indicators “are positive,” particularly the increases in the number of closings and sales prices year-over-year. “As interest rates begin to soften, we are experiencing more buyers moving from the sidelines,” Wilson added. “In addition, we are seeing seller confidence improving with a four percent increase in inventory.” Forbes reported this week the current average mortgage rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is 7.26 percent, down 0.04 percentage points from the mark of the

previous week. The National Association of Realtors forecasts first-quarter mortgage rates to average 6.8 percent, U.S. News reports. That figure could drop to 6.6 percent in the second quarter. Realtor.com foresees an average rate of 6.5 percent by year’s end, Forbes reports. The GNR data was collected from Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Maury, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson and Wilson counties. This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

THE NEWS

OPINION

A comedic tale of MAGA economics BY BILL FREEMAN

William H. “Bill” Freeman with President Joseph Biden, Jr. at the Miami fundraiser on January 30, 2024. Mr. Freeman is a longtime contributor and former finance C] chair for the Tennessee Democratic Party. Among the hosts of the Miami fundraiser were Coral Gables attorney Chris Korge, a longtime Democratic donor and the national finance chair of the Biden Victory Fund; the joint fundraising apparatus shared by the Biden campaign; the Democratic National Committee and state Democratic parties. Korge is also finance chair for the DNC. PHOTO PROVIDED BY DINNER HOST COMMITTEE

I recently stumbled upon a column by USA Today’s Rex Huppke that left me both chuckling and nodding in agreement. Huppke’s tongue-in-cheek exploration of the MAGA faithful’s dilemma in a booming Biden economy is simultaneously amusing and surprisingly accurate — and perhaps a bit gratifying. Huppke titled his article, “True MAGA patriots must remove themselves from Biden’s booming economy, cash out 401(k)s.” They must do this despite the income they’re seeing, Huppke writes, going on to discuss numbers that detail an improved economy. He humorously states that “no matter how much we

say the economy is terrible, it keeps unpatriotically refusing to be terrible.” Huppke adds mockingly that “it’s clear Democrats are manipulating the economy and making it the strongest economy in the world in order to fool voters into thinking Biden is a competent president.” Well now, that’s quite the conspiracy theory. If any group had the power to manipulate the economy in that way, it seems logical that such influence would have been wielded ages ago, sparing America from economic downturns altogether. Let’s dive into the definitive facts about the current state of our economy. Despite some Republicans’ fervent

attempts to downplay it, according to recent reporting from CNN, the U.S. economy remained robust in the fourth quarter of 2023, closing out a remarkable year. Gross domestic product “rose at a seasonally and inflation-adjusted annualized rate of 3.3% from October through December,” which “trounced the 1.5% that economists were expecting.” “Consumer spending, business investment, government outlays, exports and improvements in housing conditions” all contributed to this unexpected economic strength. “Consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of the U.S. economy, grew at a healthy 2.8% rate in the fourth quarter … [while] business spending accelerated to a 1.9% rate.” Also according to CNN, reporting on information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics: “The U.S. economy added 353,000 jobs last month. … January’s gains blew economists’ expectations out of the water: Consensus forecasts had called for a net gain of 176,500 jobs last month, according to FactSet.” The article further notes that with the unemployment rate remaining at 3.7%, “it’s the 24th consecutive month that the nation’s jobless rate has been under 4%.” These numbers showcase the strength of the U.S. economy in the face of a presidential election, despite the gloom and doom coming from the Trump camp. As the United States gears up for this election, these economic indicators provide evidence that the economy is far from recession territory. Despite Trump supporters’ attempts to sow fear, as noted by CNN, “Americans are still opening their wallets and U.S. consumer sentiment is soaring, mostly thanks to slowing inflation.” The U.S. stock market’s record high, alongside steady wage growth, further contributes to this positive economic outlook. As we head toward a presidential election, President Joe Biden’s administration is expected to emphasize the nation’s strong economic performance, acknowledging existing inequalities that still need addressing. Let’s return to Huppke’s entertaining take on the situation. In a mock-serious tone, Huppke outlines the apparent fear among MAGA faithful as positive economic news threatens to shift the GOP narrative. The call to “remove themselves from the CORRUPTLY BOOMING BIDEN ECONOMY” is accompanied by humorous suggestions like cashing out 401(k)s, quitting jobs and refusing pay raises. While these suggestions are presented in jest, they do serve as satirical commentary on the

reluctance of some to acknowledge these positive economic trends. In all seriousness, Huppke makes a compelling case for the stark contrast between the reality of a thriving economy and the attempts to negate its positive aspects. The numbers speak for themselves, so why not enjoy our improving economy — and contribute to its continued success? When the numbers speak so emphatically, it’s only right that we feel gratified and want to relish the fruits of our economic achievements. 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.

LOGAN BUTTS ASSOCIATE EDITOR MATT MASTERS NEWS REPORTER AND PHOTOJOURNALIST NICOLLE S. PRAINO STAFF REPORTER LISA BOLD PRODUCTION MANAGER CHELON HASTY SALES OPERATIONS MANAGER HEATHER CANTRELL MULLINS PUBLISHER ELIZABETH JONES CORPORATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR TODD PATTON CFO MIKE SMITH PRESIDENT AND CEO BILL FREEMAN OWNER

FW PUBLISHING, LLC THENEWS @ FWPUBLISHING.COM 615.298.1500 | THENEWSTN.COM TICKED OFF: tickedoff@fwpublishing.com FW Publishing, LLC. 210 12th Avenue South, Suite 100, Nashville, TN 37203

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

OPINION TICKED OFF! STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS While I am not a Lee fan, he does deserve the respect as the governor and the folks that were so rude as to keep interrupting his speech should be ashamed of themselves. It’s too bad the governor doesn’t have the same respect for the people who put him in office. As one of the roots of the GOP power hungry Supermajority Legislators, Gov. Lee doesn’t have the courtesy to listen to we who put him in office. In all the time Gov. Lee has been trying to push his $141.5 million dollars to fund (his) Education Freedom Scholarships program. I have not seen one positive remark from any one except the people directly under him, now it is possible I have missed them but you don’t hear many voters expressing positive remarks about taking OUR tax dollars to fund a program that will benefit the wealthy more than joe blow average citizen. While we elect politicians to do the jobs we thought were a priority to us, again I have not seen the Governor or most of the legislators doing what they were elected for TO REPRESENT US. They do represent themselves and the heck with what the voters want. Or don’t want. I always thought that our Representatives were supposed to REPRESENT the VOTERS who put them in office, NOT the political party they belong to. . MEN AND THEIR MINDSET RESPONSE Bravo, kudos, you go. I am a male, carry permitted gun owner, but shooting blanks. The male species of our time have taken it upon themselves to dictate too many precedents to control too many people. Yes, for certain, women need and should have 100% say as to their health and bodies. Women have been the ones to take the step about birth control, because men’s egos are too fragile to be told no. The “have to” own an AK-47 is an ego boost and an extension of the thing that causes pregnancy. Get with the program, guys. Vasectomies can be reversed, so get a pair and allow the females some rest. BILL FREEMAN OPINION I find myself interestingly agreeing with Bill Freeman’s assessment of House bill 2193. What we really do need is to sell more guns to raise more tax money to hire more school counselors to counsel more students affected by more shootings in our schools. MIXED USE BUILDING IN GREEN HILLS Just read your article about a new building, this is the last thing Green Hills needs! No one in Metro Gov’t. takes into consideration the HUGE Flooding Issues going on in the area between I440 and Hillsboro Rd. Two years ago a Builder had to rearrange a new

home site because of an underground problem they encountered because they were building a 10,000 sq. ft. home on Golf Club Lane when they got permission from the city to expand the building site they disrupted a natural spring and now WATER constantly flows down to the very shallow ditch at the end of my back yard, I have lived at my property for 50 years and NEVER have I had CONSTANT WATER FLOWING, it is fresh water. A portion of my backyard stays wet all year long. This problem affects several of my neighbors as well. As I noticed a line in your article reads “The development co. is now seeking water & sewer service CAPACITY from metro” Metro does not seem to know what impact they are giving all these builders in the neighborhood around their so-called PROGRESS! It’s all about MONEY. The City needs to make the Builders of this Golf Club Lane house pay to fix this mess they have created. GREEN HILLS HAS SOME REAL BIG PROBLEMS. DEMOCRACY IS ALIVE & HOPE IT SURVIVES! I am a Republican conservative who is pro America and therefore pro democracy, which many have died to preserve and the world depends on. I am therefore ticked off that Trump basically had to be told by the Courts this week that he cannot operate with complete immunity, with no checks by the other branches of government to basically act as a dictator like those he admires. Fortunately, he was told that is not how democracy, our constitution and America works and yet people who claim to be Republican conservative Americans will still vote for him. I am ticked-off that the only truth about Trump is typically the opposite of what he says (and claims) and this cult figure heads the formerly legitimate Republican party. May God help and bless our great country and voters to see the light and the truth! FLAG AUCTION Can’t believe a tattered U.S. Flag (almost cut in half ) which flew over a car dealership in Madison is being auctioned off as a keepsake. A worn U.S. Flag should be disposed of properly with the assistance of any American Legion Post in the area. Ideally, the U.S. Flag should be lowered during inclement weather. Still, how often do we see a tattered flag flying during a storm or hurricane?? Please – no more pics of a torn U.S. Flag. It’s nothing to be proud of! The comments in the Ticked Off column do not reflect the views of FW Publishing.

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Local students honored at 2024 Middle Tennessee Scholastic Art Awards STAFF REPORTS

Middle Tennessee Scholastic art projects. On Jan. 13, students from across the area were honored at the 33rd annual Middle Tennessee Scholastic Art Awards. More than 1,500 works of art were submitted in a variety of categories for the awards, which have been hosted at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens since 1991. The American Visions and Voices awards recognize artists’ “originality, skill and the emergence of personal vision or voice.” Judges from each region may select up to five works to be American Visions and Voices nominees. One nominee from each region will be selected to receive a National American Visions or Voices Medal. Gold Key winners will be considered for national awards, including Gold Medals, Silver Medals and scholarship awards. BATTLE GROUND ACADEMY GOLD KEY Addison Irvin Jimin Lee SILVER KEY Albi Barnes Hailey Burns Isabel Cifuentes Bella Covington Jimin Lee Olivia Whitley BEECH HIGH SCHOOL GOLD KEY

Sydney Owens Brentwood Academy SILVER KEY

Olivia Hughes

Gideon Shin (2 Silver Keys) Ryan Shin CANE RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL SILVER KEY Hailey James CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL GOLD KEY Joshua Park Silver Key Joshua Park CENTRAL MAGNET SCHOOL GOLD KEY Abby Ramsay Silver Key Abby Ramsay CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN ACADEMY GOLD KEY Reid Phelps (American Visions Nominee)

HOMESCHOOL GOLD KEY

Abby Ditto

Abigail Manor (2 Gold Keys) Zhiyan Zeng Silver Key Abigail Manor Zhiyan Zeng

HARPETH HALL SCHOOL GOLD KEY

HUME-FOGG MAGNET SCHOOL GOLD KEY

Kelly Aquino Anna Maria Bacchetta Sophia Baldwin Emaline Cash Lillian Cashen Ellery Cook Hallie Gibson Addie Hardy Sara Wallace Marley Warren

Amna Abdelhalim SJ Clayton Sophia Glapion Knight Pineda

SILVER KEY

HUNTER’S LANE COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL GOLD KEY

FRANKLIN ROAD ACADEMY SILVER KEY

SILVER KEY Ibtihal Cheko SJ Clayton Casey Dawson Evie Stack

Walker Perry SILVER KEY Charles Atwood Juniper Mixon

Anna Maria Bacchetta Lillian Cashen (3 Silver Keys) Olivia Decastro Mae Eads Hallie Gibson Madison Goodman Chloe Gray Audrey Harris Lillian Kapanka Abby Lara Anaya Singh

FATHER RYAN HIGH SCHOOL GOLD KEY

HENDERSONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL GOLD KEY

JAMES LAWSON HIGH SCHOOL SILVER KEY

Rosanna Yang

Sasha Dishman Anna McDowell (American Visions Nominee)

Safiya Margarette Austria Delana Hayes

SILVER KEY Reid Phelps Hannah Walker ENSWORTH SCHOOL GOLD KEY

FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL GOLD KEY

Emily Wilson

Sophie Jiang (2 Gold Keys) Grace Kwon Amelia Prugh Avery Sledesky (2 Gold Keys)

SILVER KEY

Olivia Hughes Ivy Chang Callie Impoco

Allegra Alfaro Isaac Hancock Sasha Kozimor

BRENTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL GOLD KEY

Grace Kwon Amelia Prugh Avery Sledesky

Ker Deng INDEPENDENCE HIGH SCHOOL GOLD KEY Hanley Ressler SILVER KEY Ike Bryan Corinne Weller

SILVER KEY

JIANG’S STUDIO OF ART GOLD KEY

Anna McDowell (2 Silver Keys)

Suzie Zhao (American Visions Nominee)

HILLSBORO HIGH SCHOOL GOLD KEY

LIPSCOMB ACADEMY GOLD KEY

Caramia Johnson

Jackson Savage

SILVER KEY Joshua Miller

FEBRUARY 15, 2024 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MAGNET SCHOOL GOLD KEY Ruby Barton MEIGS MAGNET SCHOOL GOLD KEY Ethan Jeong SILVER KEY Ethan Jeong MILL CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL GOLD KEY Maxwell Stem MONTGOMERY BELL ACADEMY GOLD KEY Eason Calfee Mitchell Chaffin Lawson Cox Huck Humphrey Michael Kong Spencer Simmons Owen Willers SILVER KEY Charlie Coles Brash Cook (2 Silver Keys) Walker Dovan (2 Silver Keys) Richard Kunath Nicholas Lucas Griffin Moody Bobby Moss William Sawyer Henry Schirm Eric Zhong MONTHAVEN ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTER GOLD KEY Amelia Spradling NASHVILLE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS GOLD KEY Maxwell Caplenor Veville Innis Betty Marsh Ken Sorrow

Middle Tennessee Scholastic art projects.

SILVER KEY Skye Chambers Destinie Cosby Mason Friddel Joselyn Lara Garcia| Betty Marsh Sasha Martin Fox Nelson Ken Sorrow (3 Silver Keys) Sarah Thompson NOLENSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL GOLD KEY Eunchan Lee SILVER KEY Claire Tomlinson POPE JOHN PAUL II PREPARATORY SCHOOL GOLD KEY Addison Lynn SILVER KEY Addison Lynn

Levi Nuyens Ananya Kanagaraj Sangeeth Priya Mia Scialdone Mariama Shekie Sarah Beth Waechter

SUMMIT HIGH SCHOOL GOLD KEY

Mckenna Aquino (2 Gold Key, American Visions Nominee) Lindsey Mercadante

Gabriella Phillips

SILVER KEY Lyrik Ford RIVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL GOLD KEY Lillian Green Kacy Momon SILVER KEY Bee Crowell ST. CECILIA ACADEMY SILVER KEY

Alexandra Chetyrkina

Paige Treyvig

RAVENWOOD HIGH SCHOOL GOLD KEY

STATION CAMP HIGH SCHOOL GOLD KEY

Navy Dobson Chloe Dobson Gentry Faeth Katie Fei Caleb Park Mia Scialdone (2 Gold Keys) Davis Young Gabrielle Yuan Emmanuelle Yuan (American Visions Nominee)

Mollie Brinkley Emma Marasigan (4 Gold Keys)

Gabi Boduch Luke Campbell Lauren Cerezo Chloe Dobson (2 Silver Keys) Katie Fei Stephie Lee

Bella Collier (2 Silver Keys) Gabrielle Lazala Aili Mickinak Andrea Pina Joshua Reed

RENAISSANCE HIGH SCHOOL GOLD KEY

PRIVATE STUDY SILVER KEY

SILVER KEY

SILVER KEY Mollie Brinkley River Chambliss (2 Silver Keys) Colin Cox Zach Hall Emma Marasigan (2 Silver Keys) Juan Pajoy STEWARTS CREEK HIGH SCHOOL GOLD KEY Aili Mickinak Corinne Saiyasak

SILVER KEY Kaleigh Cash Emily Derrick Maxwell Puckett Cailen Turner UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NASHVILLE GOLD KEY Iliana Behague-Mentzel Cleo Gauthier Lucy Gibbs Gardner Harris Lin Zheng SILVER KEY Carmen Gaskin Eliana Gorden Elliott King Ansley Martin Greta Molvig Charles Sloan VALOR COLLEGE PREP GOLD KEY Sarah Ji Keeley Lamb (4 Gold Keys) Eli Sheahen SILVER KEY Grace Kim Keeley Lamb Tea Rakes

THE NEWS

SPORTS

Jennings passes for one TD, catches another in 49ers’ Super Bowl loss Tennessee, Blackman alum stands out on big stage BY JOHN GLENNON

Jauan Jennings PHOTO COURTESY OF UT ATHLETICS

Jauan Jennings did everything in his power to prevent Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs from winning Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday.

The former University of Tennessee and Blackman High standout played a part in each of the San Francisco 49ers’ two touchdowns, and he also drew a critical penalty against Kansas City in overtime. In the end, though, it wasn’t enough, as the Chiefs beat the 49ers 25-22 on Mecole Hardman’s touchdown reception. Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes was named the game’s most valuable player after throwing for 333 yards and two touchdowns. But Jennings likely would have claimed the award had the 49ers found a way to win. Jennings, a wide receiver, threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffery and caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Brock Purdy, the latter giving San Francisco a 16-13 lead early in the fourth quarter. He wound up with four catches for 42 yards and a touchdown, after making only 19 catches in 13 games during the 2023 regular season. The Cowan native became just the second

player in history with a touchdown pass and catch in a Super Bowl game, per ESPN. Jennings was one of the nation’s top quarterback recruits while at Blackman, but switched to receiver when he went to Tennessee. Still, Jennings threw two touchdown passes on trick plays during his Vols tenure— hitting former Titans quarterback Josh Dobbs for four- and 58yard scores. He hadn’t attempted a pass in his four NFL seasons, but Jennings’ cross-field throw to McCaffery was on the money. In the fourth quarter, with the 49ers trailing 13-10, Purdy hit Jennings on a short slant six yards short of the goal line. Jennings was well covered on the play, but broke away from Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed’s tackle and bulled his way into the end zone for an unlikely score. The heart shown by Jennings on the play prompted Jim Nagy, executive director of the Senior Bowl, to tweet what a Tennessee

coach once told him about the 6-3, 212-pound receiver. (Jennings played in the 2020 Senior Bowl.) “Will never forget what a Tennessee coach told me about Jauan Jennings’ competitiveness: ‘He wants to rip your face off.’ All-time line that always stuck with me. And a big reason why Jennings has become the NFL player he is.” A seventh-round draft pick of the 49ers in 2020, Jennings made another big contribution in overtime. With the 49ers facing third-and-13 at their own 22-yard-line, he drew a holding call on Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie, a penalty that earned a first down and eventually helped San Francisco take a 22-19 lead. But Mahomes and the Chiefs scored a touchdown on the next drive, putting an end to San Francisco’s Super Bowl dream and Jennings’ MVP hopes. This story was first published by our sister publication Nashville Post.

Local swimmers earn state titles at TISCA championship meet BY LOGAN BUTTS The Tennessee Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (TISCA) state championship meet took place at Montgomery Bell Academy on Friday and Saturday, and a number of Williamson County and Nashvillearea swimmers competed, with a handful taking home state titles. Below you can find some of the top results from area schools from the weekend: WOMEN 200 YARD MEDLEY RELAY 2 Ravenwood 1:43.69 3 Father Ryan 1:46.93 Men 200 yard medley relay 1 - Montgomery Bell Academy 1:31.27 5 - Martin Luther King 1:34.00 WOMEN 200 YARD FREESTYLE 1 - Lilly Robertson - Ensworth - 1:49.70 defending state champion 3 - Madeline Webb - Brentwood - 1:51.70 4 - Riley Wagers - Ensworth - 1:51.80 5 - Zara Kocak - Station Camp - 1:51.98 MEN 200 YARD FREESTYLE 1 - Mack Schumann - Donelson Christian Academy - 1:37.66 4 - Jack Teasley - MBA - 1:39.96 WOMEN 200 YARD IM 1 - Anna Hulan - USN - 2:02.71 defending state champion 3 - Lauren Gage - Ravenwood - 2:07.16

MEN 200 YARD IM

WOMEN 500 YARD FREESTYLE

1 - Maston Ballew - FRA - 1:48.08 defending state champion

2 - Elizabeth Helmer - Father Ryan - 4:59.10 3 - Lucy Trailov - Father Ryan - 4:59.16 4 - Sarah Carrico - Ravenwood - 5:02.99 5 - Riley Wagers - Ensworth - 5:03.31

WOMEN 50 YARD FREESTYLE 1 - Margaret Petty - Harpeth Hall - 22.80 3 - Madeline Schaefer - Ravenwood - 23.82 MEN 50 YARD FREESTYLE 2 - David Amlicke - Pope Prep - 19.95 5 - Todd Dong - MBA - 20.83 WOMEN 100 YARD BUTTERFLY 2 - Lucy Trailov - Father Ryan - 54.97 3 - Zara Kocak - Station Camp - 55.74 4 - Elizabeth Yon - Ravenwood - 56.19

MEN 500 YARD FREESTYLE 1 - Mack Schumann - DCA - 4:22.38 4 - Matthew Hughes - Brentwood - 4:32.21 WOMEN 200 YARD FREESTYLE RELAY 1 - Ensworth - 1:34.83 2 - Harpeth Hall - 1:36.31 3 - Ravenwood - 1:36.68

MEN 100 YARD BUTTERFLY

MEN 200 YARD FREESTYLE RELAY

1 - Spencer Nicholas - MLK - 45.08 defending state champion 3 - Jack Teasley - MBA - 48.84 5 - George Attmore - Brentwood 49.35

4 - Montgomery Bell Academy - 1:24.05 Women 100 Yard Backstroke 2 - Anna Hulan - USN - 55.30 3 - Alexandra Joyce - Ravenwood - 55.75

WOMEN 100 YARD FREESTYLE

MEN 100 YARD BACKSTROKE

1 - Lilly Robertson - Ensworth - 49.80 defending state champion 2 - Margaret Petty - Harpeth Hall - 49.95 3 - Madeline Webb - Brentwood - 51.28 4 - Emilia Trailov - Father Ryan - 51.87

1 - Spencer Nicholas - MLK - 46.68 defending state champion 4 - David Hammond - Ravenwood - 50.41

MEN 100 YARD FREESTYLE 2 - David Amlicke - Pope Prep - 43.63 4- Quincy Topping - Ensworth - 45.52

WOMEN 100 YARD BREASTSTROKE 1 - Bryce Winzenread - Mount Juliet 1:02.80 5 - Molli Back - Franklin - 1:05.07

MEN 100 YARD BREASTSTROKE 1 - George Attmore - Brentwood - 54.21 2 - Jay Schlosser - MBA - 55.26 5 - Maston Ballew - FRA - 55.86 WOMEN 400 YARD FREESTYLE RELAY 1 - Ensworth - 3:26.00 - defending state champion 3 - Harpeth Hall - 3:30.66 5 - Ravenwood - 3:31.83 MEN 400 YARD FREESTYLE RELAY 3 - Montgomery Bell Academy - 3:06.45 5 - Brentwood - 3:12.01 WOMEN - TEAM SCORES 2 - Ravenwood - 219 3 - Ensworth - 209 5 - Harpeth Hall - 167 6 - Father Ryan - 154 10 - University School of Nashville - 88 MEN - TEAM SCORES 3 - Montgomery Bell Academy - 248 4 - Brentwood 115 8 - Ensworth - 86 9 - Pope Prep - 80

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

SPORTS

Slew of local football prospects ink deals on National Signing Day BY LOGAN BUTTS Following December’s early period National Signing Day for football, more local football prospects made their decision on where to play at the next level on the official National Signing Day on Wednesday. Check out the list of Nashville-area signees below to see where they will be headed for their college careers. Rocco Abbagnaro, CPA, Kentucky Wesleyan Luke Armistead, Brentwood, Dartmouth Brenden Anes, Page, Wisconsin Kaiki Baker, Hillsboro, TSU Mason Baker, Hendersonville, Navy AJ Barbat, Brentwood Academy, Army Ryan Barker, Brentwood, Kentucky Wesleyan Lance Bell Jr., East Nashville, Lindsey Wilson Wendell Billingsley, Fairview, Carson-Newman Brady Blevins, Wilson Central, Mount St. Josephs Kofi Boggs, Lipscomb Academy, MTSU Malik Bolling, East Nashville, Kentucky Wesleyan Owen Borba, Wilson Central, TSU Ty Brinkmann, Brentwood Academy, Middlebury Boyd Brown, FRA, Campbellsville Joseph Carano, Nolensville, Arkansas Tech Henry Cason, Page, Lindsey Wilson Ty Clark III, FRA, Wake Forest Clarence Cobbins, Springfield, UT-Martin

Brentwood’s Baylor Hayes

PHOTO BY DAVID RUSSELL

Ty Collins, Nolensville, Arkansas State

Ethan Kimes, Wilson Central, Kentucky Wesleyan

Blake Ragsdale, MBA, Georgia Tech

Bobby Council Jr., FRA, MTSU

Devin King, Pearl-Cohn, Bethel

John Randolph, East Robertson, Lindsey Wilson

Tion Curry, East Nashville, Kentucky Wesleyan

Kyle Kowalski, Page, Maryville

D’Arious Reed, Pearl-Cohn, Tennessee Tech

Juju Davis, Wilson Central, Carson-Newman

Justyce Law, Stratford, Campbellsville

Keshawn Tarleton, Pearl-Cohn, Lindsey Wilson

Ryan Demonbreun, Nashville Chrisian, Kentucky Wesleyan

George MacIntyre, Brentwood Academy, Tennessee

Zion Tamaska, Nolensville, Mt. Union

Cooper Felts, Summit, Mount St. Josephs

Wyatt Martin, Nashville Christian, UAB

Jacob Taylor, Oakland, MTSU

JT Gawrys, Brentwood, Valparaiso

Maddox McKim, Brentwood, Samford Jake Moore, MBA, Princeton Zaidyn Moore, Ensworth, MTSU

Jacob Thompson, Ravenwood, UAB

Graham Gilner, Brentwood Academy, Missouri Braden Graham, Riverdale, Holy Cross Baylor Hayes, Brentwood, ETSU Dominick Hollis, Summit, Kentucky Wesleyan Thomas Jones, Smyrna, Vanderbilt

Elisha Nieves, Centennial, Concordia Cody Pagach, Alcoa (Ravenwood), West Georgia Jonathan Palmer, Page, Gardner-Webb Luke Raab, Brentwood Academy, Georgia

Elijah Usher, East Nashville, Campbellsville Caden Walker, Page, Maryville Ja’Quis Williams, Pearl-Cohn, Campbellsville In addition, local alums in the transfer portal committed to new schools. Kyndrich Breedlove, Pearl-Cohn, Purdue (Colorado)

THE NEWS

SPORTS

Several local athletes among Mr., Miss Basketball finalists STAFF REPORTS

Zundrá Jackson, Chattanooga Christian Tyler Tanner, Brentwood Academy CLASS 1A MR. BASKETBALL FINALISTS Jordan Allen, Hillcrest Malaki Brooks, Union City Jordan McCullum, Harriman CLASS 2A MR. BASKETBALL FINALISTS Jahvin Carter, Alcoa Shane Cherry, Austin-East

Brentwood Academy’s Tyler Tanner

Ty Glasper, Gatlinburg-Pittman

PHOTO BY CARL EDMONDSON JR.

The 2024 Mr. and Miss Basketball Awards finalists were announced on Thursday, and the nominees included several Middle Tennessee athletes. The awards will be presented to the top girls and boys in six TSSAA classifications the on the floor of MTSU’s Murphy Center on March 12 at 5 p.m. A statewide committee of sportswriters will elect the winners based on performance during the 2023-2024 regular season. Academics and character were also taken into consideration. High school head basketball coaches and members of the media nominated the finalists.

Sydney Mains, Knoxville Catholic

Addison Melton, Murfreesboro Central

Kamora Moore, Chattanooga Christian

Celeste Reed, White County

CLASS 1A MISS BASKETBALL FINALISTS

CLASS 4A MISS BASKETBALL FINALISTS

Haley Bailey, North Greene

Imari Berry, Clarksville

Blair Baugus, Wayne County

Kimora Fields, Bradley Central

Savannah Davis, McKenzie

Natalya Hodge, Bearden

DIVISION II-A MISS BASKETBALL FINALISTS

CLASS 2A MISS BASKETBALL FINALISTS

DIVISION II-A MR. BASKETBALL FINALISTS

Haylen Ayers, USJ

Reese Beaty, York Institute

Jayden Jones, Goodpasture

Daisy Gale, Providence Christian

Micah Hart, Gibson County

Kavien Jones, BGA

Kelsie Johnson, Silverdale Baptist

Maddy Newman, Gatlinburg-Pittman

Ayden Shaw, Jackson Christian

DIVISION II-AA MISS BASKETBALL FINALISTS

CLASS 3A MISS BASKETBALL FINALISTS

DIVISION II-AA MR. BASKETBALL FINALISTS

Dasha Biriuk, The Webb School

Carlee Lowry, Signal Mountain

Cooper Haynes, Briarcrest

CLASS 3A MR. BASKETBALL FINALISTS Cade Capps, Stone Memorial Tyler Lee, Fulton Trey Thompson, Greeneville CLASS 4A MR. BASKETBALL FINALISTS Jett Montgomery, Independence Emerson Tenner, Jr., Cordova Caden Windle, William Blount

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

Five free and cheap family things to do in Middle Tennessee BY AMANDA HAGGARD

FAMILY PROGRAM: LINE DANCE WORKSHOP Dance instructor Dana Romanello will host a line dancing event at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on Saturday from 2-3 p.m. Romanello will present and teach line dances to some of country music’s biggest hits. Families need not bring a partner, everyone can learn regardless of age. Children get into the museum for free if they live in Davidson County or some of the surrounding counties in Middle Tennessee. PRESIDENTS DAY CAMP: FLORA AND FAUNA FANATICS

This week we’ve got everything from boots on ground to boots in space. Jump into the rhythm of country music with a Line Dance Workshop at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, where dance instructor Dana Romanello will teach lively moves to all ages. Explore the wonders of flora and fauna at the Presidents Day Camp hosted by the Adventure Science Center, or get creative at the Creation Station in Hadley Park Library. Don’t miss the soulful

journey through Motown hits at Motor City Magic in Williamson County Performing Arts Center. For young space enthusiasts, the NASA Astro Camp at the Discovery Center in Murfreesboro promises an out-of-thisworld experience. As part of our series on free cheap things to do with the family, here is our weekly roundup of places to spend time together over the next week:

At the Adventure Science Center, they’re offering a day-long camp experience exploring the wild world of flora and fauna at Presidents Day Camp on Feb. 19. Day campers will be “enlightened by life on earth as they discover their green thumb, investigate captivating creatures and learn hands-on how to build a habitat for their very-own worms.” CREATION STATION: HADLEY PARK LIBRARY Every Saturday at Hadley Park Library, they host kids aged 3 to 7 for crafts, games and other activities that promote child

literacy skills. All are welcome, but activities are geared toward younger children. MOTOR CITY MAGIC The Williamson County Performing Arts Center is hosting a musical tribute to the legendary artists of Motown. Motor City Magic pays homage to the record label that transformed American pop music and defined a generation, according to the event description. Three singers and a live band will perform hits from Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, The Temptations and more. This one cost $25 per person, so a bit more expensive than the average item, but a great way to go back in time with the kiddos. Showtimes are 7 p.m. on Feb. 16 and 17. NASA ASTRO CAMP At the Discovery Center in Murfreesboro, they’ll host this NASA Astro Camp where kids can learn about the Earth, solar system and the universe. The program is free to attend with registration, plus museum admission. Attendees can also spend the rest of their day checking out the museum’s offerings, which span two stories. The event lasts from 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Feb. 17.

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THE NEWS

Molly Martin’s Cauliflower Slaw with Sherry Citrus Vinaigrette BY EDIBLE NASHVILLE

This zesty winter salad that serves a gang, is from chef Molly Martin of Juniper Green Kitchen. It contains inseason cruciferous vegetables (cauliflower, cabbage and radicchio) with oranges in a

EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ

NO. 0110

ACROSS 1 Podcasters’ needs 5 Meaty pasta sauce

zesty citrus vinaigrette. Serve alongside our Citrus Roasted Chicken (at ediblenashville. com) for a great Sunday dinner. High in fiber and nutrients, this salad saves well too for leftovers.

9 “Hey, by the way …” 14 Apple with multiple

cores 15 Eurasian river 16 Abstain from 17 *Job for a coxswain

with rowdy rowers? 20 What’s tolerated by

every body? 21 Natural hairstyles 22 Poorly 23 *Review for a so-so

bakery? 26 2007 Michael Moore

documentary about health care 28 “You’ve got ___

PUZZLE BY CHLOE REVERY AND ALISSA REVNESS

nerve!” 29 Melody

68 Brighter times

30 It’s often in stock 34 Chose a course

DOWN

37 Dorothy Parker

1 It’s catching

quality 38 *Person who assigns

the order of opening presents? 40 “Yes,” in Japanese

SLAW

SHERRY CITRUS VINAIGRETTE

1 head cauliflower 1 head Napa cabbage 1 head radicchio 1 small red onion 4 Satsumas, (or oranges) peeled and separated into sections 1/4 cup mint leaves

1 orange, juice and zest 1/2 lemon, juice and zest 1 cup olive oil 1/4 cup sherry vinegar 1/2 tablespoon creamy Dijon mustard 1/2 tablespoon maple syrup 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt pinch of white pepper

1. To prepare slaw, with a sharp knife or on a mandoline, shave the cauliflower, cabbage, radicchio, and red onion into very thin slices. Rough chop mint, leaving some larger pieces. 2. To prepare vinaigrette, combine ingredients and whisk until well blended. Toss with vegetables to coat.

Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Add satsumas and mint last and lightly toss again to incorporate. Allow flavors to marry for roughly 1 hour, then serve at room temperature. 3. Optional add-ins: toasted almonds, sunflower seeds, kale

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.

41 Check box of last

resort 43 Norse protector of

humankind 44 Complain querulously 45 Kyrgyzstan mountain

range 47 Extremist sects 49 *Completes

a superhero transformation? 54 And others too

numerous to mention 55 Nary a soul 56 Island nation whose

currency is the tala 60 Preschool teacher’s

mantra … or a hint to the answers to the starred clues

2 “Not sure yet” 3 Something to make

or break 4 “Magic that works,”

per Vonnegut 5 Runner on the

ground? 6 Like an excited crowd 7 Social blunder 8 Marine leader? 9 Small ice cream

order

a 1956 Doris Day single

36 Dance floor flourish 38 Less sharp, as

footage

just said!” 12 One of the Astaires

Leon Uris) 58 Exclusively 59 Wrinkles in time?

39 Animal whose

brain has the most gray matter of any mammal

61 Its ways are

numbered: Abbr. 62 O.S.S. successor

42 They’re raised in Chi-

Town 44 Found innocent 46 Part of, as a plot 48 “___-daisy!” 49 Tales of daring 50 Frome of fiction

52 Chilling

ANSWER TO PUZZLE

13 Caterwauls 18 Cozy corner 19 Romantic attraction,

slangily, with “the” 24 Its name means

“waterless place” in Mongolian 26 Something to follow,

67 Word repeated in

57 “___ 18” (novel by

11 “Never mind what I

64 Brazilian berry

might accompany a mustache twirl

35 Buds go in them

51 Classical cover-ups

25 Hype (up)

66 Expression that

53 Labor activist Chavez

10 Ad ___

63 Have a nibble of

65 She, on the Seine

33 Writer Umberto

in cards 27 “If so, then …” 29 Number of graduates

in the first class at West Point (1802) 31 Poetic frequency 32 Utmost

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.

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

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WINDOW CLEANING

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ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS HERE CALL 615.298.1500 FOR INFORMATION

WOODMONT BAPTIST CHURCH

Feature your obituaries online for free. To add into the print issue, please contact info@thenewstn.com for pricing. Join us for worship on Sunday morning or watch the broadcast at 10:30 am on WUXP MYTV30 9:15am Children/Youth classes

Need Prayer?

10:30am Sun. morning worship

If you are in need of prayer, Call 888-388-2683

Sunday

9:15am Sunday life groups

12noon Swahili worship service Wednesday nights 6:30pm

2100 WOODMONT BLVD | 615.297.5303

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association will have prayer partners available to talk with you 24/7.

THE NEWS

SOCIAL

La Bella Notte Patron Party BY BRENDA BATEY

PHOTOS BY BRENDA BATEY Gracious hosts Jennifer Harris and Joseph Sliskovich stood at the front door of their spectacular home to personally welcome guests for the La Bella Notte Patron Party, which benefits Nashville Opera. After some time to mingle, everyone enjoyed performances by talented young performers and appetizers from SIP N BITE. The wine sampled during the evening was curated by Sliskovich. John Hoomes, CEO and artistic director of Nashville Opera, spoke to the crowd and gave commentary to guests about the songs they were about to hear. As always, musical presentations were a highlight of the opera’s event and performers were Sabreena Cherrington, Maria De Conzo, Jordan Costa, and Andrew Payne. Stephen Carey accompanied these talented singers. Home design and event decor were by Kelly Schandel’s ThinkPure, of Los Angeles and Nashville. Supporters of La Belle Notte included: Stacey Widelitz, Laurie and Jim Seabury, Rachel Robinson, Charlie and Laura

Niewold, Allen DeCuyper, Steve Sirls, Ann and Joseph Gilbert, John T. Lewis, Rebecca and Chris Rouland, and Cal Turner, Jr. Nashville Opera is located at The Noah Liff Opera Center. For more information, call 615-832-5242 or visit nashvilleopera.org.

La Bella Notte Chairs Julie and John Schneider

Josh Trusley and Douglas Henry

Hosts Jennifer Harris and Joseph Sliskovich Martin and Ann Marie McNamara, and Maud and Nicholas McClay

Leah Berman, Doralyn Harris, and Barbara Chazen Anne Shepherd, Donna Summar, Maria De Conzo, Hannah Marco, and Frances Ho

Anne Pennington, Betty Thackston, Susan Holt, and Mark Patterson

Brian Buckley, Katie Marchetti and Kelly Schandel

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

SOCIAL

Lynn and Elizabeth Greer

David and Janice Morgan

Rob Turner and Jay Jones

Sabreena Cherrington performs for the guests.

Stephen Carey and Andrew Payne

Margaret Carpenter and Sandra Frank

Milton White and June Bogle

Ken and Bev Leiser

Bill and Tracy Wade, and Kathleen Evers

Dee and Ryan Thompson

Nancy Russell and Susan Falk

Rachel Robinson, Apphia Maxima, and Sharon and Todd Sandahl

Tyler Moody, Brooke Trusley, Ashley Henry, and Emily Humphreys

THE NEWS

SOCIAL

The Ruby Gala BY BRENDA BATEY

PHOTOS BY BRENDA BATEY The Ruby Gala was held at Marathon Music Works to benefit The Vanderbilt Comprehensive Care Clinic (VCCC), which assists people living with HIV and AIDS. Guests enjoyed a performance from Burning Las Vegas, a seated dinner, and beverages. The event co-chairs were Sean Kelly and Margaret Wailes. Dinner began with a Ruby Red Grapefruit Salad, featuring arugula, grapefruit, almonds, avocado, and honey vinaigrette. The second course offered an entrée with Chicken Piccato and grilled flank steak, while the vegan option was Gobi Manchurian with Jasmine rice. The dessert course was a selection of macarons, flourless chocolate torte, and Key Lime and Jack Daniel’s apple crumb bites. Bobby Honaker, of Walker Wyatt Florals, has designed the event since 2021, and this year he selected alternating white and red tablecloths, crisp white chairs and white plates with gold rims. Gold tableware and sprays of red orchids in gold bowls completed the elegant look. The Ruby Gala is an annual event to raise funds and awareness needed to help people

with HIV overcome barriers to receiving treatment, and to provide recruitment and training of HIV practitioners. The live auction presented for bid a Burmese ruby pendant, diamond and white gold hoop earrings, a Wagyu steak and wine package, a Kentucky Bourbon distillery getaway, and a luxury trip to Palm Springs with business class airfare. Silent auction items included: trips to South Africa, Scotland, Tuscany, Costa Rica, Croatia, Greece, Alaska, and Key West. VCCC board of directors include: Kelse Beeri, Alexandra Benya, Brandi Cheatham, Teri Cason, Katrina Hartwig, Casey Holden, Bobby Honaker, Shelby Huggins, Chris James, Suzanne Kopulos, Kim Penz, Alexandra Price, Kelly Prince, Kandi Richie, Michael Ruth, Brian Schmidt, Sherise Stogner, Jaime Stratford, and Chris Terndrup. Sponsors included: NPS Pharmacy, Gilead Sciences, ViiV Healthcare, Walker Wyatt Florals, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, L27 Rooftop Lounge, Music City PrEP Clinic, Lady Luck Songs, Lipman Brothers, and Genesis Diamonds.

Chris Sofka, Stacey Roth, Meghan Jahn, and Amy Sofka

Krystn Wagner, David Archey, and Kelly Dooley

Event Co-chairs Sean Kelly and Margaret Wailes Minna Sorros, Jessica Carty, Sarah Sherman, and Margaret Wailes

Vic Sorrell, Shonda Sumner, and Ken Stroop

Molly Zeiher, Stacey Frank, Brian Neely, and Mitch Washer

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

SOCIAL

Ron Sofka, Brittany Lacey, and Carole and Chris Sofka

Tom and Keipp Talbot, and Martha and Mark Melson

Ashley Williams, Kayla Jones, Jose Ramos, and Logan Smith

James and Mistie Skinner, Roger Baskin, and Joey Cooke

Doug Norman, and Kevin and Katy Hartman

Kathie Scalf, David Rapley, Brian Schmidt, and Nickolas Pylinski

Kelly Prince, Chandler Patterson, and Alexandra Price

Jim Ireland, Rahul Iyengar, Elissa Pelton, and Tyler Stone

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

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