The weather is going to get hotter and muggier throughout the weekend because there’s no such thing as pleasant humidity. Then it’ll be gross come Sunday and the lil storms will begin to roll in to ruin everything. [NashSevereWx]
Boots? Check. Hat? Check. Head-to-toe denim? Yes ma’am. Y’all know what that means: 2026 CMA Fest is officially off to the races. On Thursday, June 4, thousands of country music lovers flocked to downtown Nashville for the four-day music festival, which runs through Sunday, June 7. Go see Logan Crosby tonight! [The Tennesseean]
The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Tennessee and the National Immigration Law Center filed a federal class-action lawsuit Thursday challenging Tennessee’s new immigration law, HB 1704. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, seeks to block the law before it takes effect July 1. [News Channel 5]
Just west of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Mount Victory, Kentucky, there’s a small wetland site that’s been researched for almost 20 years. In May 2025, it was in the path of a tornado that tore through the nearby communities of Somerset and London. One year later, trees are still tipped over within the wetlands, with small pools of water forming under the root balls. Amid the devastation, bright green shoots come up in the moss — the sprouts of the white fringeless orchid. [WPLN]
A community food pantry is working to fill the gap for many who are struggling financially with rising gas and grocery costs. The East Nashville Care Market, like many other nonprofits, has seen more need for essentials compared to 2025. Checking off your grocery list at the store is routine for many, but inside the ENCM along Gallatin Pike, it is a community effort to fill shelves and carts. [WKRN]
Amid the 2026 search for the first Romance Languages, Cultures and Diasporas faculty chair, professors in the department are circulating an open letter directed to Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Timothy McNamara, Vice Dean and Dean of Academic Affairs Bonnie Dow, Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and Provost C. Cybele Raver. The letter outlines professors’ concerns with the job search, specifically condemning the administration’s process for its disregard for faculty judgement, replacement of long-established procedures and commitment to hiring an outside candidate. [Vanderbilt Hustler]
As the school year draws to an end, many of us are shifting into jobs, internships, camps and hopefully some much-needed downtime. One of the best parts of the break from daily school and homework — apart from pool days, popsicles, and Netflix binges — is finally getting to read the books you want to read, not just those you’re assigned in school. [Nashville SUNN]
Head coaches at Tennessee State University have submitted a vote of no confidence in Athletic Director Dr. Mikki Allen, citing concerns about the athletics department’s direction, leadership, communication and operational management. In a May 28 letter addressed to President Dwayne Tucker and the Tennessee State University Board of Trustees, the coaches said the action was not taken lightly and was driven by concerns about the development, safety and success of student-athletes. [Tennessee Tribune]
The Nashville Zoo is asking community members to oppose a proposed data center that could be built on property adjacent to the zoo, citing concerns about potential impacts on animals, visitors and natural resources. In a petition launched this week, zoo officials said developers are seeking to build a 69,000-square-foot data center on land next to the zoo. The petition urges supporters to sign on in opposition to the project and contact local leaders. [WZTV & Change.org Petition]
The Metro Council voted Tuesday night to reject the annual budget for the Central Business Improvement District, leaving open questions about the entity moving into the 2027 fiscal year that begins in July. The vote was 20-8 in favor of the resolution, with two abstentions, but it required 21 votes for passage. The CBID deploys fees and assessments collected in the downtown entertainment district, primarily through the Nashville Downtown Partnership, to fund services such as street cleaning, downtown ambassadors and off-duty law enforcement patrols. [Nashville Banner]
More than 4,000 working Tennesseans have been affected by either layoffs or closures as we march toward the halfway point of 2026. The latest WARN Notices posted by the state are coming from Dura-Shiloh (Dickson County) and Shimmick Construction Company (Hamilton County), affecting more than 250 workers in the Volunteer State. [WSMV]
Wanna see how the business journalists reported on the zoo fighting a massive data center being built right next door? The headline is: “Top tourist attraction alarmed by data center plans” with the subhed of: “Metro zoning and building codes don’t have any definitions or classifications for data centers. That would change under newly filed legislation.” Really instills confidence. [Nashville Business Journal]
Wild nights at Spotify House have become a part of Nashville folklore, from spontaneous sing-alongs to crowds so rowdy they border on the ungovernable. Each year during CMA Fest for the past seven years, Spotify takes over Ole Red on Broadway, curating a lineup of country stars and surprise drop-in performances. This year’s Fresh Finds Rooftop features Logan Crosby, Gareth, Abbie Callahan and more. [USA Today]
