January 18, 2024

VRABEL FIRED

PAGE 5

NOTHING BUNDT CAKES

JANUARY 18, 2024 | VOLUME 36 | NUMBER 2

Tenn. Rep. Jeremy Faison, House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Rep. William Lamberth speak to reporters on Jan. 11, 2024 PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Protesters gather in Tenn. State Capitol on Jan. 9, 2024.

PAGE 11

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

Legislature convenes with education, abortion, taxes on the agenda

BY STEPHEN ELLIOTT

The Tennessee General Assembly opened business for 2024 on Tuesday in Nashville, marking the start of several months of meetings at which lawmakers are expected to debate legislation related to education, taxes and abortion, among other issues.

The state Senate resumed work Tuesday without its leader, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge), who is missing the first few weeks of session as he recovers from ankle surgery. Sen. Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin), the speaker pro tempore, presided over Tuesday’s brief floor session. Senators took time to praise Sen. Art Swann (R-Maryville), who on Tuesday announced his planned retirement.

In the House, some Democratic members questioned House rules during the mostly procedural first day on the floor. In a rules committee meeting on Monday, lawmakers adopted a rule laying out punishment for members ruled out of order by the speaker.

Additionally, Tuesday saw limits on access

to the House floor for some members of the media and half of the second-level gallery for most members of the public. At least one member of the public was ejected from the House on Tuesday.

Gov. Bill Lee’s top priority in 2024 is expanding the voucher-like education savings accounts currently on offer to qualifying students in Davidson, Shelby and Hamilton counties to all students regardless of income or school district. The push, following the contentious 2019 debate over the limited ESA program, is expected to see intense debate in the legislature. School boards across the state, including in conservative districts, have publicly opposed the effort, dubbed by Lee the Education Freedom Scholarship Act. On abortion, Democrats will continue a quest to weaken the Tennessee abortion ban instituted upon the reversal of Roe v. Wade.

At least one Republican, Sen. >> PAGE 2

District 51 Rep. Aftyn Behn greets supporters on the first day of the 2024 legislative session on Jan. 9, 2024. Behn was elected to fill the seat left open following the death of Rep. Bill Beck in June 2023. PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

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THE NEWS

Legislature convenes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Richard Briggs of Knoxville, could propose changes to the abortion ban, too.

The Republican-controlled legislature exhibited no appetite for gun control measures during a special session last year called by Lee, also a Republican, in response to the killing of three students and three staffers at the Covenant School in Nashville. Still, groups of parents and

students have plans to attend the session and urge lawmakers to consider new restrictions on guns.

Another Lee priority, he said last week, is reforming the state’s franchise tax on businesses. The Tennessee Journal reported that threatened legal action against the nearcentury-old tax spurred the proposed changes.

Tenn. State Senators speak on the first day of the 2024 legislative session on Jan. 9, 2024.

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

District 86 Rep. Justin Pearson rallies protesters in the Capitol’s rotunda on Jan. 9, 2024.

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

High school student Adrianne Gott speaks in support of gun reform and public safety measures during a press conference in Cordell Hull on Jan. 11, 2024.

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

District 55 Rep. John Ray Clemmons joins other representatives in applauding members of the Covenant School community who attended the first day of the 2024 legislative session on Jan. 9, 2024. PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

3

JANUARY 18, 2024

Report identifies hazards of rejecting $1B in federal education funds

Senators skeptical of push; House leaders yet to release findings

BY KELSEY BEYELER Lawmakers in the state Senate have released a report related to possibly rejecting more than $1 billion of federal education funds — about 10 percent of Tennessee’s education budget. The report lays out information regarding the amount of federal funding Tennessee and its school districts receive, how it’s distributed, the laws and requirements attached to these funds, and recommendations for potentially working around them.

Senators determined that rejecting federal education funds would not eliminate federal oversight, and that replacing federal dollars with state dollars would affect spending in other areas.

The Senate report comes after House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) tasked a joint House and Senate working group with exploring the idea of rejecting federal education funds last year, a move that other states have considered but hasn’t been done before. Republicans pushed the matter to explore which “strings” are attached to federal education funding, and if the money is worth the requirements associated with

them.

Related hearings were held in November, with a subsequent report due Jan. 9 — the first day of 2024’s legislative session.

November’s hearings included information from sources like the Sycamore Institute, the Tennessee Department of Education and school leaders from across the state. On the last day of the hearing, House leaders heard from the Center for Practical Federalism and right-wing think tank the James Madison Institute. Senate leaders were not present that day to hear those presentations.

The House has not yet released a report.

A letter accompanying the Senate’s report states that it is “preliminary pending further discussions” and that “at this time, the House and Senate have not agreed to mutual recommendations.” While the joint working group’s House co-chair Rep. Debra Moody (R-Covington) was not available for comment, a representative from the office of Speaker Sexton said that the release date for the House’s report is unknown. “The House agreed with [the] Senate’s options for consideration, however the Senate would not agree with the House’s actionable

recommendations moving forward,” reads a statement from Sexton’s office.

“Unfortunately, each body will be filing their own report which will be very similar but not identical.”

The state receives federal education funding through various programs. The largest sources include the Every Student Succeeds Act (formerly known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act) and the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. The former provides funding meant to address educational inequities for economically disadvantaged students, English learners and more; related obligations include reporting, accountability and assessment requirements. The latter supports students with disabilities and requires states to provide a “free appropriate public education” through individualized education plans, among other measures.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture also contributes a large share of federal funding to provide free meals to qualifying students, though it has nutritional guidelines that must be met.

The report states that even if federal K-12

funds are rejected, federal requirements could still apply, “creating questions that would likely be resolved in court.”

Additionally, at more than $1 billion, the cost of replacing the federal funds with state money would be substantial — more than the annual budget for all but a handful of state departments. “Tennessee still likely has room in the budget to reject and replace recurring federal funding in K-12 education, but at the expense of other potential investments,” reads the report.

The report suggests considering exercising flexibilities within federal laws, requesting waivers from certain requirements, attempting to reauthorize federal education laws and involving legislators in grant processes for the Tennessee Department of Education.

“There are more questions than definitive answers about what rejecting federal K-12 dollars could mean for Tennessee’s obligations because no state has ever done so,” reads the report.

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

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THE NEWS

Snow leads to closures, cancellations

BY STEPHEN ELLIOTT

Assembly ordered that legislative business be put off for a full week. All floor sessions and committee hearings are canceled for the week. (In 2020, when a tornado left a trail of destruction within sight of the Capitol, lawmakers delayed hearings for just a few hours.)

Vice Mayor Angie Henderson postponed Tuesday’s Metro Council meeting until next week, with committee meetings moved to Jan. 22-23 and the main meeting scheduled for Jan. 23.

Nashville’s annual MLK Day March was canceled, and a convocation scheduled to take place in person was held online. A college gymnastics meet uniting the sport’s Black women coaches was also canceled.

According to Nashville Severe Weather, more snow is possible Thursday, and temperatures will remain below or near freezing for several days.

Outreach teams with Metro’s Office of Homeless Services canvassed the city Sunday and Monday visiting camps, distributing food and transporting residents to shelters.

Metro’s emergency cold weather shelter will remain open at least through Wednesday morning. Residents registered with Metro Social Services’ nutritional program have been given enough meals to make it through the start of next week, according to the Nashville Office of Emergency Management.

Most Metro departments have reported they will be closed or working remotely during the week. Metro officials urged residents to avoid driving when possible.

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

Burst water pipe causes estimated 8-week closure at Bellevue Branch Library STAFF REPORTS Nashville received several inches of snow on Monday Several inches of snowfall on Sunday and Monday in Nashville resulted in the closure of area institutions and the cancellation of events, including those related to the celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Metro Nashville Public Schools

PHOTO BY ANGELINA CASTILLO

announced Monday that schools would be closed on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

Other area private schools, universities, and public schools in nearby counties have also announced closures related to the weather.

Leaders of the Tennessee General

A burst water pipe has damaged and closed the Nashville Public Library’s Bellevue Branch for eight weeks.

According to a Jan. 8 Nashville Public Library system announcement, the unspecified water damage could see the library closed until early March.

“Metro General Services is working quickly to restore and reopen the Bellevue Branch Library as soon as possible,” a news

release reads.

“We’re committed to providing you with the best customer service possible while repairs take place at [the] Bellevue branch.”

Patrons can return checked out items at any other NPL location, and items that were already on hold for pickup at Bellevue have been transferred to the Green Hills Branch Library, located at 3701 Benham Ave.

Mayor O’Connell names five nominees to Metro Arts Commission

BY CONNOR DARYANI, NASHVILLE BANNER This story is a partnership between the Nashville Banner and The News. For more information, visit NashvilleBanner.com.

Mayor Freddie O’Connell will bring five more nominees for appointment to the Metro Arts Commission before the Metro Council at next week’s meeting.

While arts organizations have confirmed finally receiving the first half of $3.8 million in promised grant funding this month, the rocky road to get here left the arts commission, which is responsible for making decisions on who receives grant funding, with barely enough members to make a quorum. Metro Arts has been in disarray since 2021, when allegations of racism led to an overhaul in department leadership. Following a brutal 2023, which

ended with multiple departures and multiple Metro Human Relations Commission complaints against the body alleging discrimination, all eyes are on O’Connell’s appointment decisions.

Commission members, independent artists and organizations alike have all agreed that the core of the problem is a lack of adequate funding for the arts. Even so, community advocates have been highly critical of the Metro Arts Commission, pointing to the large number of lawyers who typically occupy its seats. With that in mind, the appointment of John P. Nefflen, a white attorney, on Dec. 19 didn’t leave members of the community satisfied.

Of the 15 seats on the commission, seven remain unfilled following Nefflen’s appointment. Here are the five appointees

who will be reviewed by the Metro Council next week.

Timothy Jester: Jester is a certified financial planner at Roussel & Associates, a local financial planning firm.

Heather Lefkowitz: Lefkowitz is a professor at Vanderbilt University. She is also the chair of the board of directors for Actors Bridge, a midsize local theater nonprofit that focuses on elevating traditionally marginalized voices. In early December, Actors Bridge sent out a Giving Tuesday pleading for donations, explaining that the delay in Metro Arts funding could cost the organization its season.

Arlene Nicholas-Phillips: NicholasPhillips works in administration at Tennessee State University. She also provides finance and yoga coaching through RenuVita, a

company she founded.

Dawana Wade: Wade is CEO of Salama Urban Ministries, a Christ-centered academic and performing arts after-school program.

Beverly Watts: Watts is the former director of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. She retired following a human resources report confirming allegations that Watts created a toxic work environment.

The nominees will go before the Metro Council on Tuesday for final approval.

Should they be approved, their terms will last until Jan. 1, 2028.

5

JANUARY 18, 2024

Titans fire Vrabel after six seasons

BY JOHN GLENNON

Mike Vrabel

PHOTO BY JESSIE ROGERS

The Titans have fired head coach Mike Vrabel after six years.

Vrabel went 54-45 in the regular season during his tenure, posting four straight winning campaigns from 2018-2021.

During that stretch, the Titans reached the playoffs three times, won the AFC South twice and went to the AFC Championship

following the 2019 season.

Vrabel was named the NFL coach of the year following the 2021 season.

But the Titans, after starting 7-3 in 2022, came apart at the seams midway through that season. They lost their final seven contests, including a season finale that would have allowed them to win the division and

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The struggles continued in 2023, as the team lost seven of its first 10 games and finished 6-11. The Titans went 1-5 in the AFC South, finishing last in the division.

Vrabel will likely be a candidate for several open head-coaching jobs around the league.

He had been rumored to have interest in the job at New England, if the Patriots part ways with Bill Belichick.

Here are the comments of Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk regarding Vrabel’s firing: “Earlier today, I spoke with Mike Vrabel and told him about my decision to make a change at head coach. As I told Coach Vrabel, this decision was as difficult as any I’ve made as Controlling Owner. I appreciate Mike’s contributions to the Tennessee Titans both on and off the field. Anyone who has ever met him knows how passionate and genuine he is, and he’s been a strong supporter of the Nashville community.

We wish Mike, Jen, and the Vrabel family nothing but the best in the future.

As the NFL continues to innovate and evolve, I believe the teams best positioned for sustained success will be those who empower an aligned and collaborative team across all football functions. Last year, we began a shift in our approach to football leadership and made several changes to our personnel

to advance that plan. As I continued to assess the state of our team, I arrived at the conclusion that the team would also benefit from the fresh approach and perspective of a new coaching staff.

I believe the Tennessee Titans can and will be a premier National Football League franchise. It’s what our fans deserve, and there will be hard decisions along the way.

My decision today is not only a reflection of my disappointment in our past two seasons, but also my recognition that further changes are necessary to fully achieve our vision.

I will never shy away from acknowledging that I have unapologetically high expectations for the football team and every aspect of the Titans organization.

Our vision is not simply to produce more wins than losses, it is to regularly compete for championships. While this season was disappointing, I see early signs of progress taking shape. Last year we added a promising young quarterback and several other talented players to our roster. With a coaching search, enviable cap space, and top-10 draft position, this offseason is as important as any in our history. I’m excited for the weeks and months ahead. We will meet the moment.”

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

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6

THE NEWS

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz rallies GOP voters at Franklin’s 2024 Reagan Day Gala

BY MATT MASTERS

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz speaks at the Williamson County GOP Reagan Day Gala on Jan. 6, 2024 in Franklin PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS The Williamson County Republican Party held their annual Reagan Day Gala on Saturday, Jan. 6, which featured keynote speaker Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who rallied the GOP-faithful for the kick-off celebration of the 2024 election cycle.

The event also featured remarks from Tenn. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Congressmen Mark Green and Andy Ogles, state party chairman Scott Golden and county party chairman Tracy Miller.

“I think we as conservatives have to remind people what we are fighting for, and we have to educate voters on what we’re

doing, and show them that when we take the U.S. Senate, that we’re going to be able to push forward,” Blackburn told the crowd.

Immigration and the ongoing humanitarian crisis at the United States southern border with Mexico was the hot topic among the speakers, as well calling for continued military support for Israel and accountability regarding documents related to deceased pedophile and disgraced financier Jefferey Epstein.

On Wednesday, Green, as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, took the first formal steps to impeach U.S.

Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, who Green called in his Gala remarks “the number one domestic threat to the national security of this country and the safety of Americans.”

Cruz took to the stage invoking the “warrior spirit of Tennessee,” and said that “a moment of powerful change [is] at hand” in 2024, which “presents an opportunity for Republicans to be the party of reason and common sense, unlike these authoritarian, puritanical dictators,” referring to Democrats.

Gala attendees also took part in a straw poll which predictably saw former President — and leading 2024 presidential GOP candidate — Donald Trump selected as the top choice after earning 174 of the poll’s 236 votes.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis earned 34 votes, former United Nations Ambassador and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley earned 24 votes, and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy earned four votes.

Cruz refused to take questions from the press. Cruz, nor most of the other speakers, made mention of Trump’s recent remarks where he said that if re-elected he would only abuse his presidential powers on “day one.”

Miller called Trump’s remarks “campaigntrail rhetoric” and said that voters should look at Trump’s actions and accomplishments in office. When asked by The News about the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, which aimed to violently stop the lawful certification by Congress of the 2020 Presidential Election results, Miller casted doubts on the details and scale of the Capitol attack.

“I think so many of us are still students of what it was that happened on Jan. 6,” Miller said. “I think footage is still being released, and we’re still seeing a more complete picture, and we’re seeing timelines come out.

I don’t want to get off in the weeds here, but

I think there was an attempt to connect this to Trump and Trump supporters who were at the rally when a vast majority of those people weren’t at the rally.”

Miller said that the Gala taking place on the third anniversary of the insurrection was not intentional and was due to the availability of space at the Franklin Marriott and the availability of speakers.

Miller called Cruz a “party icon,” telling The News that the Williamson County GOP is focused on mobilizing both longtime and new Williamson County residents to volunteer, vote and, yes, run for office.

The party is also planning future events throughout 2024, including a Jan. 30 Republican candidate school board forum at the Williamson County Ag Expo.

“We want to identify good conservative Republican candidates, encourage them to run, try to equip them, and then educate the voters, get them to learn about the candidates, get them to learn about the issues,” Miller said.

Williamson County has seen continued civic and social engagement in recent years, especially following the international 2020 Black Lives Matter protests and response to and fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as last year’s Franklin municipal elections which drew national media attention.

Miller said that he hopes that political engagement will continue into 2024 and beyond.

“When everybody starts attending school board meetings or attending county commission meetings and learning what’s going on and learning about the budget, or learning about the infrastructure of what needs to be done, or learning about the curriculum and library books, that’s a great thing.” Miller said. “I hope it continues.”

Nashville’s opioid abatement programming

BY HANNAH HERNER

There will be funding aplenty to address substance use disorder prevention and treatment in Nashville in the coming years.

The question is, how will city leaders choose to spend it?

Nashville is expected to receive $23 million from various lawsuits in the next 18 years due to settlements from companies that made, distributed or sold opioid painkillers.

Those include Purdue Pharma, Johnson & Johnson and Walmart, and the payments are part of much larger amounts filtering into the state. The first of those funds will be put into action this year.

The Nashville-Davidson County Opioid

Settlement Steering Committee has released a request for proposal for a 15-month pilot program, which focuses on connecting people to recovery, including medicationassisted treatment and short-term stays in recovery homes, as well as the hiring of peer recovery specialists. The pilot program will assist 50 to 60 individuals who have been hospitalized, incarcerated, administered naloxone (a treatment for opioid overdose) or referred by outreach services. The program will use a portion of the available funds and will have to be approved by the Metro Council.

As more national lawsuits are settled, the

funds will continue to grow. The money flowing into the state is broken down into a number of sub-funds: • 15 percent goes directly to counties, including $23 million to Davidson County so far • 15 percent goes to the Tennessee General Assembly to spend as it chooses • 70 percent goes into a bank account, managed by the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council, called the Opioid Abatement Trust Fund.

Of that 70 percent, 35 percent is divided by the counties, but each county will have to certify that it complies with a list of strategies

from the council. Davidson County received $3 million from this category in February.

The remaining percentage is open to grant proposals, for which details were released in September In September, the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council opened applications for $600 million over the next 18 years. After evaluating the pilot, the Davidson County steering committee will decide whether to request additional funds from the council.

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

7

JANUARY 18, 2024

State awards $10.7M for Nashville multimodal improvements

BY NICOLLE S. PRAINO

Nashville’s WeGo Public Transit and the Regional Transit Authority of Middle Tennessee are set to receive $10.7 million in grant funding from the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

According to a TDOT release, the department has awarded more than $46 million across the state for multimodal transportation investments from three grant programs: the Transportation Alternatives Program, the IMPROVE Transit Investment Grant and the Multimodal Access Grant.

RTA and WeGo were awarded funding for four projects from the IMPROVE grant, which requires a commitment of local funds.

Metro plans to contribute nearly $2.7 million in funding for the four projects, according to WeGo spokesperson Eric Melcher.

RTA of Middle Tennessee will receive $800,000 for the purchase of equipment for WeGo Star rail vehicles.

“It’s for real-time train arrival information,” Melcher said. “We’ll be able to provide that in a number of different places including information displays at the stations, which we have really needed. It’ll also automatically go to the transit app and some other sites.”

WeGo was awarded $2.4 million for

pedestrian improvements and transit amenities at three sites along Trinity Lane and one on Murfreesboro Pike. The Trinity Lane sites will support the recently proposed crosstown bus route connecting East Nashville to the future North Nashville Transit Center. The route is a part of the Spring 2024 proposed service changes that the WeGo board will vote on at its Jan. 25 meeting.

“It provides for three fairly major construction projects along the route that would provide not only shelters but also crosswalks and other safety features, just to make it safer for folks to be able to use the transit shelters that we’ll build there,” Melcher said.

He said the improvements are planned for where Dickerson Pike, Gallatin Pike and Whites Creek Pike meet Trinity.

The Murfreesboro Pike funding will be for a Route 55 bus stop and pedestrian improvements at Murfreesboro Pike and Thompson Lane.

Additionally, bus stops along the High Injury Network, part of Nashville’s Vision Zero plan, were awarded $5 million in funding. WeGo was awarded funding for similar improvements from the 2023 IMPROVE grant as well.

The third WeGo grant from the funding announcement is $2.5 million for the future Southeast Transit Center planned at the former Hickory Hollow Mall site. WeGo was awarded $5 million in IMPROVE grant funding for this project in 2023 as well.

Melcher said this grant brings the total funds raised for the project to $20 million, adding that comes from multiple funding sources.

The project’s total cost has not been released.

“We are pleased to continue to partner with the State of Tennessee to deliver improved transit infrastructure,” WeGo CEO Steve Bland said. “All of the projects funded by TDOT with this round of IMPROVE Act funding will support public transportation services and enhanced safety for the people of Middle Tennessee,” WeGo CEO Steve Bland said.

In addition to RTA and WeGo, TDOT awarded eight other transit agencies IMPROVE grant funds for a total of $18.7 million. RTA and WeGo regularly receive funding from the TDOT grant program, but $10.7 million is the most the two agencies have received since the grant began in 2018.

TDOT’s Friday announcement also mentioned more than $15 million in Transportation Alternatives Program grants

WeGo Star

PHOTO BY MATT MASTERS

and $12.5 million for 12 Multimodal Access Grant projects in seven communities.

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

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8

THE NEWS

OPINION

Honoring MLK: the call for nonviolent civil disobedience in today’s America

BY BILL FREEMAN

Lee Camp and Reverend James Lawson Jan. 15 marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States, a day when our nation collectively reflects on the profound impact of a man who stood as a beacon for change. MLK Day serves as a reminder that one individual can ignite transformation, paving the way for a more just and equal society. Following that recent commemoration, I thought it important to talk about the essence of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, particularly his unwavering commitment to nonviolent civil disobedience — a philosophy that still resonates and beckons us toward a more compassionate and just future.

King, a visionary leader, not only advocated for civil rights but embodied the principles of nonviolent civil disobedience.

His commitment to this philosophy extended beyond rhetoric — it became the cornerstone of his activism. Nonviolent civil disobedience centers on individuals refusing to obey laws for moral or philosophical reasons. For King, this approach wasn’t merely a tactic but a way of life. He preached that change could be achieved by challenging oppressive systems without

PHOTO PROVIDED BY LEE CAMPY

resorting to aggression.

In this journey toward justice, MLK found a kindred spirit in the Rev. James Lawson. Their profound friendship was cemented by a shared commitment to nonviolent activism. In a 2023 interview conducted by Lee Camp on his No Small Endeavor podcast, Lawson speaks of being influenced by his faith and following the teachings of Jesus Christ. In doing so, he believed — and still believes — that violence had no place in their pursuit of justice. His dedication to nonviolent communication and civil disobedience mirrored MLK’s principles. Together, they envisioned a nation where transformation could occur without bloodshed or hatred.

Lawson says in the interview: “I do not know how many times King and I conferred by phone. I do not know how many times King and I took walks, at Penn Center or in Georgia at our staff retreats, our board retreats, when he and I would take walks for the purpose of talking. … [He would share] with me where he thought things were, and [wanted] me to bounce against it so that he could feel that

he was moving in the right direction.”

The connection between MLK and Lawson ran deep, rooted in the belief that nonviolent means could bring about substantive change. Their partnership and the strength of their shared vision was in the acknowledgment that true change could arise only from a commitment to nonviolence.

Lawson was with his friend MLK only hours before the iconic leader was assassinated. It was a great loss — not only for Lawson, of course, but for all of us who believe in the dream shared so powerfully by MLK. As we reflect on the teachings of these great leaders, it is disheartening to see the current state of our nation. The Rev. Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., recently warned that we are at a critical juncture, “witnessing unprecedented loss of human life” and escalating racial injustices.

Despite her continued dream of a more compassionate world, the reality is that we seem to be straying from the path envisioned by her father and the Rev. Lawson. She added in a Jan. 4 speech that the study and practice of her father’s philosophy of nonviolence could teach people how to live together peacefully — and reminded us that we all have a choice in “whether we will continue to diminish and devastate humanity and the earth or if we will become co-conspirators to shift the cultural climate throughout our nation and world.”

The Rev. Lawson’s perspective also sheds light on the depth of the challenges we face. As he explains on No Small Endeavor, despair still grips him as he reflects on the assassinations of five remarkable individuals in the 1960s — President John F. Kennedy, Sen. Robert Kennedy, Malcolm X, Medgar Evers and King. Lawson’s despair emanates from the recognition that these assassinations disrupted a transformative movement, halting the collaboration between King and Malcolm X, preventing a more profound impact on the nation.

Lawson adds, “It did some transformation anyway, but didn’t do all that it could have done and would’ve done.”

As we assess how far we have come, there is also a perceivable sense that the journey is far from over. The Rev. James Lawson, echoing MLK’s sentiments, reminds us that while progress has been made, forces opposing transformation still persist. The visionaries of the past laid the foundation for change through nonviolent means, advocating for a society where justice prevails without the need for violence or aggression.

Let us reflect on the words of King Jr., who once said: “Darkness cannot drive

out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

The enduring message is clear: The path to real peace and security lies in adopting the principles of nonviolent civil disobedience.

It is a call to action, urging us to learn from the wisdom of those who envisioned a world where justice triumphs through the power of love and nonviolence.

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.

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9

JANUARY 18, 2024

OPINION TICKED OFF! CHRISTMAS DAY BOMBING It has been three years since a man drove his RV down to 2nd Avenue and destroyed himself and the entire block, making it the fourth most destructive domestic terrorist event in the United States (after 9/11, Oklahoma City, and the Boston Marathon).

The newscasts report how it will be at least two years before 2nd Avenue is rebuilt but no one is reporting as to why the man exploded the bomb. He had worked in that building, and he knew that it housed voting machines. He believed that those voting machines were partly responsible for the 2020 election being “stolen” from thenPresident Trump. His was the first death caused by The Big Lie. Two weeks later a mob attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021 at the urging of the twice impeached President Trump.

NO DOONSBURY For many years, every Sunday edition of the Tennessean has contained Gary Trudeau’s Doonsbury cartoon. Some of his cartoons have been very critical of the former President Trump. And the editing staff of the Tennessean has reduced those cartoons to a size that is illegible. This past Sunday, 1/7/2024, there was no Doonsbury cartoon at all. Instead there were two copies of “Pearls before Swine.” One can only assume that somehow in the minds of the editors, Mr. Trudeau has crossed a line and therefore his cartoon was unacceptable. It is bad enough that people are trying to ban books from our libraries. Now you are censoring what we read in the cartoons. Shame on you.

REBUTTAL OF BREATH OF LIFE Your ticked off writer quotes Genesis 2:7 in the Bible “Life begins at first breath.”

Shame on you for printing this and shame on he/she for not taking the time to look at the actual words in the Bible. Genesis 2:7 says “the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and now the man became a living being.” This was the way the FIRST man was given breath. There was no woman at this time for a baby to be born. If a pregnant woman does nothing to prevent a birth, what is coming out is a live baby.... not a frog or a tulip, but a tiny human being.

Life does not begin when that baby takes the first breath....it begins in the womb.

SOLVING THE GUN PROBLEM WHY GOV.LEE’S PLAN OF $200,MILLION. WON’T SOLVE OUR GUN PROBLEM. THAT huge amount of money sounds good, but it won’t work, and here’s why” & the absurdity of the plan: 1. “ Putting Armed Guards at Every School”—How many schools in Nashville?

How many doors does each have? How many windows?? Any of these areas are easy access to a classroom. HOW many schools exists in Nashville—in Tennessee—In the Us??? How many guards does that require??

We already have an inadequate number of police on our forces now; who will want these jobs : vigilantes, bullies, retired needing money, those with little training ?? Surely, we can’t pull them from an already bare-bones police force.

2. Arm The Teachers——ARE YOU KIDDING??? What teacher do you know who wants to strap on “heat” everyday to teach her students??? Teachers went to college to qualify for a civilized profession, and you want them to be ready to Kill on a daily basis ?? How rapidly could they be out-shot by a perpetrator with a war-weapon? What classroom clown or bully would think it’d be cool to take the gun away from the teacher??

Surely, you KNOW this is bound to happen!!

The repercussions would be insurmountable.

3. Locations Other Than Schools.

Although these tragedies pull extremely hard on our heart strings when it involves children, these MASSACRES DON’T END AT THE SCHOOLS!!! It happens, in the grocery stores (Buffalo), in music venues (Las Vegas), in synagogues (Pittsburgh), in nightclubs, in senior citizen celebrations. It IS IMPOSSIBLE TO STATION ARMED GUARDS AT ALL THESE VENUES. THESE ARE BANDAIDS, that don’t solve the problems. Here are some solutions: KEEP YOUR GUNS !! BUT: BAN WAR WEAPONS ENFORCE RED FLAG LAWS REQUIRE TRAINING KEEP AGE LEVEL AT 21 KEEP BACKGROUND CHECK The comments in the Ticked Off column do not reflect the views of FW Publishing.

Send your comments to tickedoff@thenewstn.com

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING The City of Oak Hill Board of Commissioners will hold a Public Hearing on January 23rd, 2024, at 6:00 PM. at the City of Oak Hill Offices, 5548 Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN 37072.

The Public Hearing will be held to hear from citizens concerning the following Ordinances: 1. Ordinance 2023-04 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OAK HILL, TENNESSEE AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL CODE: CHAPTER 14 – ZONING AND LAND USE CONTROL PART 1 – ZONING, PART 3 – PLANNING COMMISSION, AND PART 9- TREE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION 2. Ordinance 2023-05 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OAK HILL, TENNESSEE AMENDING THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF OAK HILL AND CHAPTER 14 – ZONING AND LAND USE CONTROL, PART 1 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF OAK HILL You may view the entire Ordinance Documents at the City’s Website at www.oakhilltn.us For additional information you may visit the city’s website at www.oakhilltn.us or by calling 615. 371.8291

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10

THE NEWS

Moving beyond Freddie O’Connell’s first 100 days

BY ELI MOTYCKA

Nashville Police arrest Uber driver who allegedly robbed two women at gunpoint STAFF REPORTS

Mayor Freddie O’Connell following December’s tornadoes PHOTO COURTESY OF METRO NASHVILLE.

Freddie O’Connell claimed victory on a full stage at Eastside Bowl in September.

It was a mirror image of his advancing to the mayoral runoff six weeks earlier in the packed Midtown event space Analog at the Hutton Hotel. The room showed off his strength: a multiracial, multiethnic, multilingual, intergenerational appeal that united the worlds of business, nonprofits, activism, neighborhood leadership and Metro boards and commissions, all in one Freddie universe. With slogans like “I want you to stay,” he positioned his campaign as a long shot against the profit-seekers controlling the city, a proxy for gentrification and real estate handouts at the expense of reliable city services. A folksy football ad pitted Freddie against cigar-chomping billionaires. His successful brand of polite populism implied fundamental change to lots of different constituencies.

Now he governs. This year will feature O’Connell’s first capital improvements budget and capital spending plan, the real power of the mayor to determine what projects get funded by the city. John Cooper, O’Connell’s predecessor, left the mayor’s office knee-deep in half-finished business, headlined by a legally binding commitment to support the construction of a new domed stadium for the Tennessee Titans and a bustling neighborhood around it. Other projects like Wharf Park downtown and the Global Mall in Antioch will demand some level of coordination and management from O’Connell’s office. These special projects will likely fall to Cooper holdover Sam Wilcox as well as new hire Bob Mendes. Mendes was previously an O’Connell ally in the council, now brought on as the mayor’s chief development officer — a new senior-level position with a $250,000 annual salary.

O’Connell capped his transition with a memo each on transit, city operations and growth. Most paragraphs were bureaucratic jargon. The operations memo recommended that O’Connell “​​ensure that every Metro department delivers excellent customer service, and that every Nashvillian can interact with Metro Government in the way that works best for them.” The growth memo urged the mayor to “empower Nashville’s neighborhoods to articulate and advocate for their priorities,” and “identify or create a team or entity that can bring Metro’s plans to reality.” Two specifics stuck out: executing the development of the East Bank (addressed elsewhere in this issue) and pushing a new transit plan early enough for a November referendum vote (also covered in this issue).

In 2024, we will be watching whether and how O’Connell rolls out a citywide transit plan that will equitably, efficiently and comprehensively address the city’s car-centric transportation infrastructure and its scourge of pedestrian and cyclist deaths. This was the main pillar of his campaign’s central promise — before you move away, give me a shot at fixing Nashville’s growing pains — and must vanquish the specter of failure under Megan Barry, whose mass transit plan was shot down by many of the same sorts of neighborhood advocates as in the O’Connell coalition. The mayor draws praise for how comfortably he moves between rooms, and he will have to manage inevitable fractures in this big tent. Tensions have already begun to emerge from the O’Connell administration’s push for new police TASERs, and an equivocal administration response to Israel’s mass killing in Gaza.

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

Metro Nashville Police have arrested a man they said robbed two women at gunpoint while driving them from Nashville to Nolensville as part of a Jan. 7 Uber ride.

44-year-old Myron K. Hughes was arrested on Jan. 11 in Portland after police began investigating the alleged robbery of two unidentified women, ages 22 and 24, from Broadway early on Jan. 7.

Police said that Hughes claimed to be lost in the area of Nolensville Pike and Yelton Drive when he pulled onto a side street and displayed a pistol before kicking the women out of the car without their belongings.

The victims’ cell phones were recovered hours later on Southlake Drive. The victims later identified Hughes from a photo lineup.

“The victims said that Hughes told them that the female they were expecting was out due to illness,” MNPD said. “Having verified the license number sent to them, they got into the car.”

Myron K. Hughes PHOTO BY MNPD Sumner County authorities arrested Hughes before transferring him to the Davidson County Jail where he was charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and booked on a $76,000 bond.

Nashville woman killed in Bellevue crash last week STAFF REPORTS

A Nashville woman was killed in a traffic crash in Bellevue on the morning of Jan. 12.

According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, the two-vehicle collision occurred at 10:50 a.m. in the 200 block of Old Hickory Boulevard. 26-year-old Hennessy Espana was killed in the crash.

Police said that the crash occurred when 26-year-old Nashvillian George Lutz lost control of his Audi sedan while traveling southbound during a heavy downpour,

causing the vehicle to cross over into oncoming lanes of traffic.

The Audi was struck on the passenger side by a northbound Ford F-150 pickup truck.

Espana, who was in the front passenger seat of the Audi, was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where she died of her injuries. Lutz was also taken to Vanderbilt with non-life threatening injuries.

VUMC receives $13M to lead rare disease trial

BY HANNAH HERNER

Vanderbilt University Medical Center will lead a multisite clinical trial focused on treatments for Rett Syndrome through a $13 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, according to a Tuesday post in VUMC Reporter.

The rare genetic disorder affects brain development in 1 in 10,000 females.

The trial will evaluate repurposed drugs ketamine, vorinostat and donepezil as potential treatment options for patients.

The four trial sites are VUMC, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Boston Children’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Colorado. VUMC has led other trials for Rett syndrome, including one that led to the first FDA-approved drug for the condition,

according to VUMC Reporter.

“The study will evaluate FDA-approved drugs that have preclinical evidence supporting potential clinical benefit,” said Jeffrey Neul, director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center and the grant’s principal investigator. “If any of these drugs show benefit in this trial, further clinical evaluation and ultimately use treating people with Rett syndrome could progress rapidly.

Additionally, successful establishment of this clinical trial platform will allow accelerated evaluation of other potential therapies in Rett syndrome.”

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

11

JANUARY 18, 2024

BUSINESS BRIEFS

Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise expanding around Nashville

BY NICOLLE S. PRAINO

Amy and Jay DeLuca at the Brentwood location PHOTO COURTESY OF NOTHING BUNDT CAKES

Nashville’s Nothing Bundt Cakes empire is expanding. With two new locations opening in Smyrna and Brentwood during the last quarter of 2023, the franchise expects a third to open in Antioch in the first quarter of 2024.

The Brentwood location makes a total of eight bakeries in eight years for owners Amy and Jay DeLuca, who say they are not done yet and have their sights set on at least three more potential locations.

Jay DeLuca said they are looking at Spring Hill, North Nashville and the Gulch as potential locations for more stores.

“As we’ve looked at our total market penetration, downtown is a natural fit for us. The new development that’s going on with North Nashville is a natural fit. And then looking on the peripheral of the greater Nashville area is the next step for us and actually just expanding out from there.”

The DeLucas originally started in 2015 and grew three locations in Ohio. They later acquired the Nashville White Bridge location along with one in Cool Springs and another in Murfreesboro in 2021 with the previous franchise owners looking to retire at the same time the DeLucas were looking to move south. There are other Tennessee Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise owners in Clarksville and Mount Juliet. But, the Nashville location was the first to open east of the Mississippi for the Dallas-based cake company.

“Jay and Amy DeLuca are dynamic leaders with a great vision for bringing joy to Music City through their Nothing Bundt Cakes bakeries,” Dolf Berle, CEO of

Nothing Bundt Cakes, said in a release. “As a former resident of Nashville, I am rooting for the DeLucas and all the great people who work in their bakeries. It’s where I met my wife, and joy is something I have always associated with Nashville.”

The DeLucas employ about 120 people in their six locations between Ohio and Nashville. With the opening of Antioch still to come, along with the two other recent additions, the DeLucas expect to double that for a total of around 300 to 350 employees across the business. Jay DeLuca said they are adding units of leadership to their teams in management ranks and are adding area operators.

“As you see your organization grow, you get to see real growth with your team members,” he said. “Amy’s and my role is to provide support, remove barriers and bring joy to our team. That is the piece that really gets us excited, the ability to see the young people that we bring in to develop and grow and be able to provide for their families as well as be able to see themselves win through success.”

DeLuca added he feels like the franchise expansion is a reinvestment of the financial gains from the business directly back into the communities their bakeries serve.

“Amy and I know the recipe, no pun intended,” he said. “Because it’s not just about making money. If that was the case, there’s a number of different things that we could be doing. This is really about actually having community impact.”

Multibillion-dollar transportation company names CEO STAFF REPORTS

TransCore, a Nashville-based transportation services company, has announced the retirement of CEO and President Tracy Marks after 30 years with the company and the appointment of Whitt Hall to the position.

The transition will take place on March 31, according to a release.

TransCore operates traffic management and open road tolling systems in addition to tolling customer service for multiple state departments of transportation. The company also provides automatic vehicle identification for airports, hospitals and parking facilities.

In 2021, it sold for approximately $2.7 billion to ST Engineering, having previously been a subsidiary of Roper Technologies.

Hall, previously chief operating officer, has been with TransCore for 20 years.

Clint Holley has been promoted to succeed him as chief operating officer. Holley is the program director for New York City’s congestion pricing program and has been with TransCore for more than 15 years.

According to the release, TransCore has doubled in size during the past 11 years under Marks. Last year was “a recordbreaking year with the highest project backlog in the company’s history,” the release noted.

“We have always emphasized the importance of putting the customer first and this is something that is engrained in the culture of TransCore,” Marks said.

“Because this value is such a part of our company culture, and because I know and have worked so closely with Whitt and the rest of the management team for so many years, I have no doubt that this is the right time to depart and I am confident they will continue delivering the best products and services available in the industry.”

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

Whitt Hall PHOTO COURTESY OF TRANSCORE

12

THE NEWS

What’s to come at the ballot box in 2024

BY STEPHEN ELLIOTT

Nashvillians will get their first of several opportunities to vote in 2024 on Super Tuesday, March 5. The presidential primary on the ballot is expected to be sleepy, with Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump expected to wrap up their respective nominations in the coming weeks and months.

But also on the ballot in March are a few key local primaries. Voters countywide will have the chance to pick a new judge for Circuit Court Division IV (the family court that handles divorces and adoptions) following the 2022 death of Judge Philip Smith. Four candidates are on the Democratic ballot, with none on

the Republican ballot, meaning the winner of the Democratic primary will win the seat. Also on the March ballot are primary elections for odd-numbered district seats on the Metro Nashville Public Schools board.

Though some of the districts are losing incumbents, only one (District 1, including North Nashville and Joelton) is contested.

Three Democrats and one Republican will be on the primary ballots, with the winner decided in August.

August is when the action really begins, with the Aug. 1 ballot including the general elections for school board, family court judge and property assessor, plus partisan primaries for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, state House and state Senate.

Races for federal seats are so far attracting the most attention, with high-profile Democrats Gloria Johnson (a Knoxville state representative) and Megan Barry (the former Nashville mayor) launching campaigns in recent months. Though other Democrats (including 2020 nominee Marquita Bradshaw) are also running for the long-shot chance to oust Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Johnson has attracted the most attention and money, and she leads the primary handily in the limited publicly available polling in the race. Barry, meanwhile, is hoping to beat U.S. Rep.

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Mark Green, a Clarksville Republican whose 7th Congressional District took on a chunk of Nashville after 2022 redistricting.

Both Johnson and Barry would face steep odds in the Nov. 5 general election, though some Democrats cling to hope that their name recognition, extensive campaign experience and fundraising abilities could, at least, help boost some candidates further down the ballot.

Of the other congressional districts that took on part of Nashville in 2022, District 5, formerly represented by Democrat Jim Cooper, could again draw much of the campaign-season enthusiasm. No Democrat has yet emerged as a candidate for the seat, won in 2022 by Republican Andy Ogles by more than 13 percentage points over Democrat Heidi Campbell. But Ogles has attracted some negative publicity during his short tenure in Washington, including due to his involvement in efforts to oppose nowformer House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and to his exaggerated biography. Rumblings of a Republican primary challenge to Ogles continue to fester.

Though a court ruling last year would have resulted in a major shuffling of Nashville’s four state Senate districts, a higher court put off redrawing the map for now, leaving little intrigue (so far) for the Davidson County

delegation’s chances in 2024.

Democratic Rep. Darren Jernigan took a job with Metro and will not run for reelection, leaving his Old Hickory and Hermitage seat in the state House open.

Former Metro Councilmember Kevin Rhoten was the only official candidate to replace him, though he too just took a job with Metro. Education policy adviser Indira Dammu and gun control advocate Shaundelle Brooks have said they are considering jumping in the race.

Around the state, Democrats can’t get much lower than they already are in the legislature, where they hold 24 of 99 seats in the House and six of 33 seats in the Senate.

The party will seek to make inroads in the most purple districts they can find, including suburban districts near major cities or in fast-growing places like Clarksville, as the dominant Republican Party uses its extensive resources to fend off such moves.

For many Nashville voters, the election to watch is the one that hasn’t been scheduled: Mayor Freddie O’Connell has signaled he would like to put a new transit referendum on the November ballot to take advantage of higher turnout.

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

13

JANUARY 18, 2024

Five free and cheap family things to do in middle Tennessee

BY AMANDA HAGGARD

they’ll explore snowflake symmetry, animal adaptations and all things snow. This is the perfect timing for this event, as long as the flakes we already have melt in time for the event. This is a time for special-needs families to enjoy the Discovery Center’s exhibits in a sensory-friendly environment. Reservations will help ensure a spot at the event, which takes place on Jan. 18 from 5-7:30 p.m.

FAMILY CAMPFIRE & STARGAZING

Once we’re all unthawed, the kids will be ready to get out of the house, and so will you. This week we’ve got a smattering of stargazing, winter star parties and a celebration of snow for kids with sensory needs. Lowe’s is also beginning the year with a new spate of workshops for kids on select days of the month and Brooklyn Bowl is hosting Rock and Roll Playhouse for a kids show based on the music of Dolly Parton

and Kenny Rogers.

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: ALL ACCESS NIGHT AT DISCOVERY CENTER All Access Night at Discovery provides a Winter Wonderland experience where

The Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center is hosting a $2 campfire that includes fun games, s’mores and the chance to socialize with friends. The staff will talk about different stars in the night sky, what different cultures believe about them and how to identify the many constellations in the sky.

There will be a telescope that the community can view through. Check the site for weather delays before heading to the event, which takes place on Jan. 19 from 6-8:30 p.m.

KIDS TOOLBOX WORKSHOP The Kids Toolbox Workshop at Lowe’s is for kids who are always wanting to tag along on your home improvement projects.

They teach the basic skills of handling tools safely. Workshops are on select days from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and require registering ahead of the workshop. Walk-ins will have

to wait based on availability.

WINTER STAR PARTY Theo Wellington from the Barnard Seyfert Astronomical Society will be on deck at the Warner Park Nature Center to give folks a tour of the night sky. The program takes place at the Special Events Field located at 61 Vaughn Road on Jan. 20 from 6-8 p.m. and is a “unique opportunity to look more closely at the moon, Saturn, Jupiter and the deep sky objects of winter, such as the Orion nebula and the Pleiades star cluster.” Come be awed by what’s above us at night.

MUSIC OF DOLLY PARTON & KENNY ROGERS FOR KIDS The Rock and Roll Playhouse is a family concert series hosted at historic music venues across the country that allows kids to dance and play to iconic hits. This version, at Brooklyn Bowl, will be all things Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers, the perfect chance to let your kiddo brush on some of their greatest hits. Music is played at levels appropriate for children’s ears — it’s not free, but at $16 per person is a decent price for the experience. Children must be accompanied by a parent or adult caregiver.

The show begins at noon on Jan. 20.

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14

THE NEWS

Mayor’s office continues moving toward transit referendum

BY STEPHEN ELLIOTT

Mayor Freddie O’Connell said Friday that he expects to know more about whether a November transit referendum is feasible “by the end of the month.”

He also announced the temporary hiring of Vanderbilt’s Michael Briggs as director of transportation planning in the lead-up to a potential referendum. Briggs’ appointment is in partnership with Vanderbilt, where Briggs is the director of mobility, and he is expected to return to the university in less than two years, O’Connell told reporters.

“He’s coming on to help evaluate feasibility, work with [the Nashville Department of Transportation] and WeGo, work with [Metro’s new transportation director Tanisha Hall] to do some of the technical advisory pieces that would potentially go into a referendum,” the mayor said.

Prior to moving to Vanderbilt, Briggs spent a decade at the Metro Planning Department, eventually leading its

multimodal transportation planning division.

O’Connell’s transit-focused transition committee recommended putting a transit referendum on the November ballot in order to take advantage of higher voter turnout during a presidential year. Metro’s most recent transit referendum was handily defeated in 2018, and O’Connell has said a potential new vote would focus on smallerscale improvements than those sought six years ago.

“The things you need to clear are legal and financial,” O’Connell said Friday.

“First and foremost, can we meet all of the conditions that would allow it to be on the ballot in the first place? The next is can departments, particularly WeGo and NDOT, support the planning process that would meet the financial and legal tests? I think we’ll know that by the end of the month.”

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

Nashville bus stop

PHOTO BY DANIEL MEIGS

SPORTS

Three Ravenwood High players help Michigan claim national title

BY JOHN GLENNON

Ravenwood LB Junior Colson, a Michigan commit, tackles future teammate and fellow Michigan commit J.J. McCarthy in a 2020 game between Ravenwood and IMG Academy. PHOTO BY MICHAEL GALLAGHER Three former Ravenwood High football teammates are national champions.

Linebacker Junior Colson, linebacker

Trevor Andrews and defensive back Myles Pollard are all teammates at Michigan, which won the College Football Playoff National

Championship on Monday by defeating Washington 34-13 in Houston.

Colson, a junior, had his usual big

impact for the Wolverines, who completed their season with a 15-0 record. The 6-3, 247-pound native of Haiti totaled six tackles, which ranked second on the team.

It was quite a season for Colson, who earned second-team all-Big 10 honors. He led Michigan through 14 games with 89 tackles, 28 more than the second-highest total on the team. Colson posted a seasonhigh 11 tackles in Michigan’s win over Ohio State in November, and he added 10 tackles in the Wolverines’ College Football Playoff semifinal win over Alabama.

Colson in December won the Lott IMPACT Trophy, given to the college football player who makes an impact on and off the field.

Pollard, a 6-1, 190-pound sophomore, played in two games this season, posting a tackle in Michigan’s win over Bowling Green in September.

Andrews, a 6-1, 224-pound junior, played in two games this season, against Bowling Green and Indiana.

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

15

JANUARY 18, 2024

SPORTS

TSWA announces first batch of All-State honorees for fall sports STAFF REPORTS DL – Glenn Seabrooks, Davidson Academy, Sr.

VOLLEYBALL Class AAA

LB – Crews Law, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Sr.*

OH : Kaira Knox, Nolensville, Jr.

MH : Maggie Allred, Nolensville, Sr.

Division II-AAA

MH : Alex Chortyk, Summit, Sr.

QB – George MacIntyre, Brentwood Academy, Jr.

MH : Daisy Oatsvall, Brentwood, So.

RB – Brooklen Davis, Montgomery Bell Academy, Jr.

Nolensville All-State volleyball performers Maggie Allred (15) and Kaira Knox (5) PHOTO BY DAVID RUSSELL

Last week, the Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced its All-State selections for the 2023 season for volleyball, Division II football, and Class 1A-3A football.

Below you will find the Nashville-area honorees.

FOOTBALL Division II-A QB – Connor Rosson, Columbia Academy, Sr.

K – Landon Williams, Friendship Christian, Sr. DL – Car’Lando Barton, Friendship Christian, Jr. DL – Andy Griffith, Mt. Juliet Christian, Jr. LB – Brooks Jones, Middle Tennessee Christian, Sr.

QB – Jared Curtis, Nashville Christian, So.

LB – Cade Jackson, Columbia Academy, Sr.

RB – Tyson Wolcott, Friendship Christian, Sr.*

DB – C.J. Durrough, Columbia Academy, Sr.

RB – Montae Baldwin, Columbia Academy, Jr.

DB – Dontae Parker, Friendship Christian, Sr.

RB – Eli Wilson, Middle Tennessee Christian, Sr.

Division II-AA

WR – Harrison Brownlee, Columbia Academy, Jr. WR – Carter Hackman, Donelson Christian Academy, Sr. OL – Daniel Cepicky, Columbia Academy, So. OL – Jesse Perry, Middle Tennessee Christian, Sr. OL – Aaron Lane, Friendship Christian, Sr.

QB – Knox Roberts, Davidson Academy, Sr. RB – Ty Clark, Franklin Road Academy, Sr.*

S : Lauren Duncan, Brentwood, Sr. L : Taylor Baron, Oakland, Sr.

OL – Max Kidd, Father Ryan, Sr.

Class AA

OL – Chauncey Gooden, Lipscomb Academy, Jr.

OH : Noella Obi, Central Magnet, Sr.

DL – Ethan Utley, Ensworth School, Jr. DL – Mekaih Collins, Father Ryan, Sr. LB – Edwin Spillman, Lipscomb Academy, Sr. DB – Kaleb Beasley, Lipscomb Academy, Sr.* CLASS 1A LB – Marshall Spann, Eagleville, Sr. CLASS 2A RB – Isaiah Groves, East Robertson, Jr.* OL – John Randolph, East Robertson, Sr. DL – Zach Groves, East Robertson, So. LB – Elijah Groves, East Robertson, Sr. CLASS 3A OL – RaeShawn Boyce, East Nashville, So. DL – Malik Bolling, East Nashville, Sr.

WR – Arnett Hayes, Battle Ground Academy, Jr.

LB – Jordan Houston, East Nashville, Sr.

OL – John Wayne Oliver, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Sr.

DB – Wendell Billingsley, Fairview, Sr. *-Mr. Football finalist

K – Roman Mathis, Davidson Academy, Jr.

OH : Cate Schroer, Siegel, Sr.

DB – Jackson Mathews, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Sr.

Class A OH : Katie Pennington, East Robertson, Jr. MH : Morgan Jackson, Harpeth, Sr. MH : Libby Keith, East Robertson, Sr. S : Audrey Tribble, Eagleville, Sr. DIVISION II-AA OH : Katie Green, Father Ryan, Sr. OH : Emily Holmes, Father Ryan, Sr. MH : Ruby Walton, Lipscomb Academy, Jr. L : Mary Katherine Hall, Lipscomb Academy, Jr. DIVISION II-A OH : Sadie Kroeger, Providence Christian, So. OH : Anna Clay Shirley, Middle Tennessee Christian, So. OH : McKenna Shotwell, Providence Christian, Sr. S : Haley Hudson, Middle Tennessee Christian, Sr. S : Lillie Meinhart, Providence Christian, Jr. L : Addison Burks, Middle Tennessee Christian, So.

16

THE NEWS

Short-Rib Bibimbap with Kimchi and Fried Egg

BY EDIBLE NASHVILLE

The bright, bold flavors of this Korean dish are welcome this time of year. This dish is best made with leftover cold rice, which is crisped up in a skillet. You can serve with

any kimchi or leave it off altogether. You can also use most any cut of beef, in place of the Korean short ribs.

EDITED BY WILL SHORTZ

NO. 1213

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4 SERVINGS

INGREDIENTS 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon sesame oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons firmly packed light brown sugar 1 teaspoon sesame seeds 1 lb short ribs, cut across the bone into 1⁄2 -inch slices (flanken or Korean style) 1 tablespoon sesame oil 3 cups steamed short-grain rice 1. To prepare the short ribs, in a large bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, brown sugar, and sesame seeds. Add the short ribs and toss to coat. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes, or cover and refrigerate up to overnight.

2. In a large nonstick frying pan over mediumhigh heat, warm the sesame oil. Add the rice and pack it down in an even layer. Cook without stirring until the rice browns and crisps, about 10 minutes, rotating the pan and adjusting the heat as needed to prevent burning. Transfer to a bowl; set aside.

3. Wipe out the pan if necessary, then warm the canola oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring frequently, until crisp and brown, about 3 minutes.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the garlic and ginger to a paper towel–lined plate and

26 Hog heaven

2 tablespoons canola oil 2 tablespoons minced garlic 1 tablespoon peeled and minced fresh ginger 10 oz baby spinach leaves Kosher salt Your favorite kimchi 4 fried eggs Gochujang, for serving

29 Makes

oxygenation 31 As of now 32 Handle the bill 33 “Make yourself

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rating 57 Slithering swimmer

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embarrassing] 43 Social dance in 3/4

time 44 Sidesteps 45 Tennis’s Nadal 46 Latin singer Anthony 48 Monastery hoods 51 Earl ___ tea

ANSWER TO PUZZLE

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56 “Sesame Street”

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61 Online marketplace

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of a “Drop Acid, Not Bombs” poster

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39 Barrel maker

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58 Will of “The Waltons”

Corps of Engineers

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cameras, in brief

18 “___ I say more?”

54 Many an ancient

suggested by the starts of 17-, 24-, 26-, 45- and 47-Across

52 Some 35mm

prompting (from)

13 Traps for the unwary

22 Demarcated places

statue

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stereotypically

55 Natural process

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63 Get-together,

30 Pathway for

34 Wants

set aside. Add the spinach to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, until wilted, about 3 minutes. Transfer the spinach to a bowl, season with salt, and set aside.

4. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat.

Place the short ribs on the pan and cook until browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board, cover loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest for 5 minutes. Cut into slices between the bones, or trim off the line of bones and then slice the meat across the grain.

5. To serve, divide the rice among 4 bowls. Top each with short ribs, spinach, kimchi, and a fried egg. Garnish with the garlic and ginger.

Serve gochujang, a Korean condiment made from red chiles, glutinous rice, and fermented soybeans, alongside.

62 In a foxy fashion

eponym 34 Big name in

combines 35 Speakeasy fear

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JANUARY 18, 2024

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18

THE NEWS

SOCIAL

Nashville Design Collective Champagne Brunch PHOTOS PROVIDED

Nashville Design Collective hosted a lively Champagne Brunch on Thursday to kickoff The 2024 Antiques & Garden Show. Beyond the 13 stunning showrooms, attendees enjoyed noteworthy book signings, experienced the unveiling of new collections, delighted in the upbeat jazz trio, Abigail Flowers, and indulged in an array of other engaging activities. From savoring delectable bites by Chef Jamie Thornton to participating in thrilling giveaways, which included tickets to The Antiques & Garden Show, and an abundance of bubbly champagne, the brunch created an unforgettable morning that set the stage for an exciting weekend ahead!

Abigail Breslin and Emily Bache

Alli Roberts and Mark Simmons

Kylee Chatham and Davis Osborn

Jaclynn Beebe, Ronda Ho and Colleen McCarty

Andrew Denny, Virginia Collins, Richard Anuszkiewicz and Joy Denny

Leslie Newsom Rascoe, Megan Megas, Brooke Stuckey and Jame Fowler of Milieu Magazine

Beth Hudgens, Lindsey Huggins, Vanessa Dellinger, Shelby Brown and Anna Scudder of Renaissance Tile & Bath

Robert Shipley and Jason Owen of Bennett

Haylee Smith and Jessica Bandstra

19

JANUARY 18, 2024

SOCIAL

Christopher Peacock Founder of Christopher Peacock

Evan Millárd and Chelsea Skye Netter

Founder of Peacock Alley, Mary Ella Gabler with her book Uncommon Thread

Hillary Matthews and Blair Bandy

Hollie Deese of Nashville Interiors

Jerry Atnip and Aimee Kinssies

John Lupear, Cheri Snider and Samantha Reedy

Robin Rains, Lily and Garrison Coley

Kathleen Ertle and Morgen Watson of Francois & Co.

Mallika Wallace, Kylee Chatham and Colleen Ramme of Artistic Tile

Alex Kopish, Tommy Lafont, Kelsie Bennett, Paloma Contreras, Gena Dorminey, Caitlin Oehmke, and Russlyn Gesell

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17 10AM-2PM THE FACTORY AT FRANKLIN’S LIBERTY HALL

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21

JANUARY 18, 2024

Headline Homes: Top sales of 2023 STAFF REPORTS

redecoration throughout. In addition to the pool, the outside includes a sports court, abundant parking and a raised garden.

Stonewall Drive

PHOTO BY ERIC ENGLAND

The News sister publication the Nashville Post tracks the 10 most expensive home sales in Nashville and the surrounding area each month. Now, we take a look at the 10 most expensive sales of the entire year (December figures are still outstanding).

Nearly all homes on the list sold for more than $8 million, with No. 10 on the list just barely dipping into the 7s. Two condos in the Four Seasons made the list and topping it off was the former home of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. This year William Harrison Frist Jr. landed on the list after his father Bill Frist was on it last year.

May and July both notched two homes on the annual top 10 list.

1. Bailey Road, Franklin 37064 Buyer: Littlefawn Farm LLC Sale price: $14 million Sellers: Brian and Carin Terp Sellers’ agents: Steve G. Fridrich and Travis Robeson ALC, Fridrich & Clark Realty Buyer’s agent: Tim Thompson, Tim Thompson Premier REALTORS This large home is the former estate of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill — oil and gas investor Brian Terp and his wife, Carin, purchased the home in 2014. It first listed for $16.5 million late last year and in May it sold to a trust. The five-bedroom, five-and-ahalf-bath home is nearly 10,000 square feet and there’s also a 2,845-square-foot guest house, a bar, out buildings, chicken coop and “underground utilities so nothing blocks the beautiful sunsets!” The home also has its own private milelong drive that meanders past a pond and creek on the way to the main estate where a “Georgian era main house awaits with all the modern luxuries one could desire.”

2. Chickering Road, Nashville 37215 Buyer: Chickering Road Trust Sale price: $12.5 million Seller: Elizabeth Stern Seller’s agent: Erin Krueger, Compass Tennessee Buyer’s agent: Chip Wilkison, Engel & Voelkers Nashville A pandemic purchase by Elizabeth Stern was bought by a trust in November. The coveted Chickering Road abode sits on 8.4 acres — “a rare opportunity to own a

private in-town estate in a prime location.”

The home was designed by Pfeffer Torode and renovated by Joshua Builders, and the listing says the “interiors blend color and texture with classic elements to create a jewel box of a home.” The main home is a single level with a large office with its own full bathroom. There’s also a 1,300-square-foot guest suite onsite. Outside, there’s a pool and spa, a fruit orchard, kitchen garden and a greenhouse, as well as a large black Dutch barn outfitted with studio space, a “stylish chicken coop” and several horse stalls.

3. Second Avenue South Buyer: Sandra K. Newman, trustee of The Vine Hill Trust Sale price: $11 million Seller: 151 Nashville Project LP Seller’s agent: Unknown Buyer’s agent: Unknown Happy double digits, Four Seasons! This condo in the new FS building downtown sold for $11 million, straight from the builder to a trust in April. The particular space must have some extremely fancy custom work, as most other sales in the building have gone for less than half that.

4. Stonewall Drive, Nashville, 37220 Buyer: Kned, LLC Sale price: $9.4 million Sellers: Shannon B. Terry and Falon H. Terry Sellers’ agent: Richard B. French, French King Fine Properties Buyer’s agent: Unknown In July, this home was sold by Shannon Terry, an entrepreneur who created and sold Rivals.com and 247Sports.com.

The guest house of the No. 1 sale in this month’s headline homes is larger than the average person’s regular home at more than 2,400 square feet. It only goes up from there. The house itself on Stonewall Drive is 11,188 square feet located on a quiet street in Oak Hill. The main home includes seven bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a gym wing and four en suite bedrooms in addition to a primary suite. There’s a pool between the main home and guest house, joined together by stone terraces and a grill station. R. Higgins Interiors and architect S. Pigott worked to renovate the home in 2020, providing a new kitchen as well as

5. Second Avenue South Buyer: Mary L. Slawek, trustee of the Mary L. Slawek Declaration of Trust Sale price: $9.25 million Seller: 151 Nashville Project LP Seller’s agent: Unknown Buyer’s agent: Unknown This $9.25 million sale was made to a trust in July — the space is a custom build, for which we likely won’t see listing photos until it sells again.

6. Old Highway 96, Franklin 37064 Buyer: Little Chicken Trust Sale price: $8.5 million Seller: Coghlan Family Trust Seller’s agent: Rachel Kaminek, PARKS Buyer’s agent: Greg Musgrave, United Country Real Estate Leipers Fork The first home in May’s list sold to Littlefawn Farm LLC and this one sold to Little Chicken Trust. Historian Bill Powell built this home, which is known as Natchez Flora, with “architectural elements from the 1800s [that] give the home unparalleled character that has proven to be timeless.”

The 7,200-square-foot space includes more modern touches in the kitchen, bathroom, lighting and finishes. The listing says it is the largest residential parcel of land in the heart of Leiper’s Fork near Franklin. The 119 acres of land surrounding the home is heavily wooded and includes a large barn and twostory treehouse.

7. Old Natchez Trace, Franklin 37069 Buyer: 2441 Old Natchez Trace Revocable Trust Sale price: $8.35 million Seller: Williams James & Patti Rev Trust Seller’s agent: Mike Jones, Jones Properties Buyer’s agent: Kristee Dickson, PARKS The main four-bedroom home on this property measures in at a little less than 6,000 square feet, but what it lacks in indoor space, it more than makes up for in acreage.

The nearly 25 acres are gated and private, cordoned off by a stacked stone wall on historic Old Natchez Trace. This August sale makes only the second owner of this custom home, which was built in 1994. The home’s three-car garage includes a living quarters above. Outside there’s a stacked stone pool with a fully apportioned pool house as well as a three-stall horse barn, tack room, hay loft and covered wash stall.

8. Chickering Lane, Nashville 37215 Buyers: Benjamin Alexander Anderson and Morgan Anderson Sale price: $8.15 million Sellers: Brigitte Borchardt Hubbard and William B. Hubbard Sellers’ agent: Steve G. Fridrich,

Fridrich & Clark Realty Buyers’ agents: Laura Stroud and Lisa Fernandez-Wilson, French King Fine Properties In September, entrepreneurs and professional “hustlers” Morgan and Benjamin Anderson purchased this costly Chickering Lane abode, which was designed

by Ron Farris. The listing called the home a “belle” that “exudes all the quintessential Southern graces, charms, manners, pleasantries” you’d expect in a $8.15 million home. In nearly 9,400 square feet, the home includes “light-filled rooms,” fireplaces in almost every room, elevators to each level, two in-law or nanny suites. And, folks, there are “two perfect, level spots for a pool.”

9. Sunnyside Drive, Nashville 37205 Buyers: Tara Eastland Leclerc and Real Henri-Paul Leclerc Sale price: $8.1 million Seller: Sara Perry Seller’s agent: Julie Riven Dretler, Fridrich & Clark Realty Buyers’ agent: Unknown This $8.1 million home has five bedrooms and eight bathrooms. It spans more than 8,700 square feet. Craig Perry, an investor and the CEO of Haloroc Holdings and Alpine Energy Capital, quitclaim deeded his interest in the property to Sara Perry shortly before the June sale. Outside of the fact that the Leclerc’s previously lived in Connecticut, not much else can be found on the folks who paid $8.1 million for this home.

10. Canterbury Drive, Nashville 37205 Buyers: John and Renee Hawkins Sale price: $7,925,000 Sellers: William Harrison Frist Jr. and Ashley Frist Sellers’ agent: Steve G. Fridrich, Fridrich & Clark Realty Buyers’ agent: Timothy King, French King Fine Properties Harrison Frist Jr., CEO at naviHealth and eldest son of former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, and his wife Ashley, bought the highest dollar home on the December 2022 list on Westview Avenue for $8.25 million. In March, they sold their former home and made the top of that list, with the sale now coming in at No. 10 for the year. The home was purchased by John and Renee Hawkins, who endow a business scholarship at Vanderbilt University. This 8,000-square-foot classic “Belle Meade beauty” is on an interior street with a private back yard and guest house.

The main home includes four bedrooms, six baths and the guest house adds an additional 600 square feet of living space. Fridrich represented the Frists in both the Canterbury Drive sale in addition to the purchase of their new Westview Avenue home.

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

22

JANUARY 18, 2024

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JANUARY 18, 2024

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