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The $1,200 Secret That’s Actually Free!

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The $1,200 Secret That’s Actually Free!

The first time I took a full practice SAT, I sat at our kitchen table on a Saturday morning with a timer, two pencils I didn’t need because the test is digital now, and a score at the end that made me want to close the laptop and never open it again. I took fourteen more practice tests after that one. I sat for the real thing multiple times. My score went up every time I put in the hours, and here is the part I want Nashville parents to know. I never paid for a class. Not once.

Some families do buy them. Princeton Review charges $1,200 for a class. Private tutors charge $100 an hour. Those kids are real, and they are sitting next to your kid. There is nothing wrong if your family can afford it, so don’t misconstrue my point. But here is the other true thing. The companies that make these tests give the important prep away for free. They just don’t advertise it very loudly.

Khan Academy Official SAT Practice is where I would tell any family to start. The College Board partnered with Khan Academy years ago to put official SAT practice online at no cost. The questions come from the same people who write the test. The site figures out what your kid is bad at and drills exactly that. This is where most of my fourteen practice tests came from.

Bluebook is the College Board’s free app that actually runs the digital SAT. Every kid who takes the SAT has to download it anyway. Almost nobody realizes there are six full-length official practice tests sitting inside it, free.

ACT.org has free official prep too, and this one matters more for you than it does for me. Tennessee juniors take the ACT as the state test. Kentucky just switched to the SAT. Your kid should not walk into their state-required ACT cold when the makers of the test hand out free practice on their own website.

The Nashville Public Library has the same Princeton Review, Kaplan, and Barron’s books that cost $30 each at the bookstore. SAT, ACT, AP, all of it. Free with a library card. The library card is also free. My library in Warren County works the same way, and I promise the books do not know whether you paid for them.

Khan Academy also has free AP exam prep, which is worth knowing because AP scores can turn into real college credit and real tuition money later.

I will be honest about the part that isn’t free. The hours. Nobody can donate those. I gave up a lot of Saturday mornings, and there were practice tests where my score went down and I had to decide whether to believe one bad morning or the trend. My advice to your kid is the advice I had to give myself: sometimes you take the test a few times. A bad score is information, not a verdict.

Standardized tests can feel like they were not built for families like mine. Maybe they weren’t. But the rigging has gaps, and the gaps are listed above. My whole website exists because I believe help should not be a secret, and this is the least secret secret I know.

Find the gaps. Use them. And tell a neighbor.

Welcome to Tennessee, Where the Only Thing Hotter Than the Weather is the Marsha Blackburn Elevator Drama

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Welcome to Tennessee, Where the Only Thing Hotter Than the Weather is the Marsha Blackburn Elevator Drama

It’s hotter than blue blazes and it’s not gonna cool off enough to feel good for a while. It might storm, it might not. All we know is air conditioning is the most important invention ever. Amen. If Elon Muskrat was worth his weight, he’d be digging underground cooling caverns for us all instead of those dumb tunnels. [NashSevereWx]

Just in case you’re wondering why everything at the airport is gonna start to suck a lot more soon… Tennessee leaders officially took over the state’s major airports on July 1, amid pending litigation and after multiple attempts from Nashville and Chattanooga to block the new state law. [The Tennesseean]

Okay, we know Tennessee has a history of electing the absolute worst people in existence but holy cow. Marsha Blackburn claims she dodged questions outside a slow opening elevator because she was attending a federal event and could not legally answer questions about her campaign for governor. It’s a claim that even fellow Republicans say is not supported by law. [News Channel 5]

One of the most popular tickets in Nashville next week might not be a concert or a sporting event. It could be a ticket to speak at Tuesday’s Metro Council meeting, when city leaders will consider multiple proposals to regulate new data centers. Officials are enacting a new protocol in anticipation of a flood of speakers, following years of tension over the way it handles hot-button public hearings. [WPLN]

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell plans to use eminent domain to stop a data center from moving in near the Nashville Zoo. The mayor released a statement to News 2, which reads: “We’re filing this condemnation legislation because Metro has a legitimate need for this property. I have carefully followed the concerns from the community and the Zoo and also remain deeply concerned about the proposed use.” [WKRN]

Oof, if you’re gonna write for the Vanderbilt student paper, you should at least learn the difference between lose and loose so petty people like us don’t get to point it out. Go read this bad hot take on why Democrats are the worst because they don’t hate Israel or Jewish people enough. It’s a glimpse at the disease that is TikTok brain. Your writer says this as an Independent, mind you. Good grief. [Vanderbilt Hustler]

This is a terrific headline from a paper run by high school students! The Homeschooled Kids Are Not Alright(sic). A recent nationwide surge in homeschooling has prompted a student inside the system to call for sweeping reforms. [Nashville SUNN]

Rosetta Miller-Perry, trailblazer, visionary, bridge builder and motivator, passed peacefully on Friday, June 26, surrounded by family. She was 91. Shortly after she passed, the family posted a message on the Tennessee Tribune’s website. Perry’s remarkable presence and influence extended throughout Tennessee and beyond. [Tennessee Tribune]

Does this mean the Predators are finally gonna embrace the Heated Rivalry craze in order to draw in more fans? Nashville Predators announced that the team hired Dawson Sprigings as Assistant to the General Manager. Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operation and General Manager Chris MacFarland made the announcement. [WZTV]

On Monday, the city continued to grapple with the future of two data centers as Lee Chapel AME Church and the NAACP hosted a community meeting in North Nashville about the proposed 30-megawatt development on Fisk University’s historic campus. Fisk President Dr. Agenia Clark pitched the university’s master plan to a packed sanctuary at the church, including a data center of indeterminate size, for a half hour and attempted to dispel myths about the project. [Nashville Banner]

Dozens of new laws took effect in Tennessee on July 1, 2026 and we’re all just sitting around embarrassed by a lot of them. The laws cover a wide range of issues such as compliance with deportation orders, teacher-student relationships, limitations on classroom technology and more. [WSMV]

DC Blox is not backing of its plans to build data centers next to the Nashville Zoo despite growing pushback and a bold move by Mayor Freddie O’Connell to stop the development. The Atlanta-based developer is hoping to find a “favorable resolution” as the mayor seeks to seize the property through eminent domain. [Nashville Business Journal]

What on earth are you meemaws and poppops doing this weekend? Do this instead of driving your neighbors crazy. Taking over downtown Nashville on July 3 and 4, the two-day Let Freedom Sing! Music City July 4th event will be bigger and bolder than ever, featuring five stages, nonstop live music, and an all-star lineup of Nashville-based artists. [Visit Music City]

Good News: Kids Can Read! Bad News: Pretty Much Everything Else (Except Dolly) Happening in This State

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Good News: Kids Can Read! Bad News: Pretty Much Everything Else (Except Dolly) Happening in This State

Are you sitting down, meemaw? Because it’s time for your week in review!

We’ve got a low level risk of severe weather through Saturday, so be weather aware this weekend. It’s gonna be gross, wet and hot the entire time. And then it’s gonna get even hotter next week. [NashSevereWx & YouTube]

Listen, Dolly’s appearance at the opening of her gas station this week had us nervous and starting a prayer chain. But at least she had her wits about her and cracked a Buc-ee’s joke! Seriously, y’all, start a prayer chain. We’re telling you to do so right here on Dolly Parton’s internet, so you have to. And some of y’all need to visit her gas station ASAP to tell us what it’s like. [The Tennessean]

A Tennessee judge has temporarily blocked the state from sharing information about families enrolled in a federally funded medical program with immigration authorities while a legal challenge moves forward. The temporary order comes one day after the Tennessee Justice Center filed a lawsuit on behalf of three Nashville physicians seeking to stop a new Tennessee Department of Health rule that was set to take effect July 1. [News Channel 5]

Pride Month brings rainbow flags, parades, and celebration. But for many LGBTQ people in Middle Tennessee, it also raises a more complicated question: where do you actually belong the other eleven months of the year? Spoiler alert: you belong everywhere. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. Note from your round-up writer: The use of “queer” needs to be re-evaluated for the public lexicon, as many young people have forgotten their very real history or never bothered to learn. [WPLN]

A controversial mailer sent out by a Young Republican sparked a clash this week at a county party meeting between that activist and a veteran lawmaker over the direction of the GOP. Surely y’all didn’t think all of his hemming and hawing about “Zionists” and the continued normalization of anti-Jewish hatred was going to end well on either the far-left or the far-right. And yes, when you say “Zionist” (95-98% of Jewish people are Zionists – meaning Jews deserve the right to self-determination and safety in their homeland), you mean “Jewish” because you’re forcing a litmus test for Jewish people. [More News Channel 5]

A federal judge has blocked Tennessee from moving forward with a plan that would have prevented people from using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to buy certain sugary foods and drinks. The restrictions were set to take effect July 31 after Tennessee received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture earlier this year. [WKRN]

Vanderbilt announced its new partnership with the University of Ottawa June 10, 2026. The collaboration aims to preserve the history of Indigenous peoples through community and Indigenous-led digital approaches. [Vanderbilt Hustler]

When are y’all gonna come to your senses and remove this embarrassment from public office and never vote for him again? Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles introduced a sweeping immigration bill to revoke the citizenship of some naturalized Americans, end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants and review asylum and refugee approvals made between Jan. 20, 2021, and Jan. 20, 2025. [WZTV]

AI-generated performers are gaining millions of streams, raising questions about authenticity, ownership, and the future of music. School’s out for most but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still be reading all this great work from these students! [Nashville SUNN]

FirstGen Forward, the center for first-generation student success, recently announced Fisk University as one of five (5) higher education institutions to receive the TIAA Innovation Award. The award, provided by FirstGen Forward with support from TIAA, will support new or existing programs, services, or initiatives that implement creative approaches to enhancing campus-wide success for first-generation students. [Tennessee Tribune]

Outside consultants have delivered a final after-action report commissioned by the Electric Power Board in the wake of a winter storm that left half of Nashville Electric Service’s customers without power earlier this year, some for as long as 12 days. The report — like a preliminary version issued in April — identifies a series of faults in NES’ response to the power outages, including in the public utility’s emergency planning, public communications and onboarding of outside repair crews. [Nashville Banner]

New Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) results show Tennessee students made gains in English language arts, math and social studies. The TCAP results were released on Wednesday. According to the state, third-grade students reached their highest proficiency level in English language arts in nearly 10 years. Fourth graders also made substantial growth in mathematics. [WSMV]

Are you sitting down, meemaw? Ryman Hospitality Properties is exploring the sale of its entertainment arm, which includes Nashville icons Ryman Auditorium and the Grand Ole Opry. [Nashville Business Journal]

A Tennessee Christian school agreed to pay a former student $10,000 to settle a legal battle after she sued the school for barring her from graduation and suspending her after she came out as gay on social media. A final judgment entered Monday resolved the lawsuit filed by Morgan Armstrong, a graduating senior at Tennessee Christian Preparatory School near Chattanooga. [The Hill]

Are you ready to make people like Andy Ogles so mad they could spit? Celebrate love, diversity, and community at Nashville Pride 2026, one of the largest LGBTQ+ festivals in the Southeast. Held at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, the event features a Pride Parade, live entertainment, drag performances, local vendors, food trucks, family-friendly activities, and community resources. And after the past year? You know showing up is gonna be worthwhile. [Visit Music City & Nashville Pride]

Country Stars Aren’t Paying Rent and the Entertainment Commission Still Has No Job. But There Are Animatronic Dinosaurs!

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Country Stars Aren’t Paying Rent and the Entertainment Commission Still Has No Job. But There Are Animatronic Dinosaurs!

We’ll keep this bit short and sweet: the weather is apparently going to be hot and fine. At least through Sunday, maybe? Keep an eye out on the weather nerds for updates, as they haven’t let us know what the drill is yet today. [NashSevereWx]

Dolly Parton’s first travel center is opening this week and there’s a days-long celebration. You don’t really need to go read the AI slop this Gannett “journalist” is presenting as their own work, just know it’s happening and Dolly won’t be present. It’ll still be fun when you’re traveling and need gas or a break. [The Tennessean]

Three years after Metro Nashville created the Entertainment Commission, members say they are still waiting to do the job they were appointed to do. What was supposed to be the final step in launching Nashville’s Office of Entertainment has instead turned into another debate over who should oversee it, leaving commissioners frustrated and the future of the office uncertain. [WZTV]

HOWDEEEE! Minnie Pearl was honored with a documentary film screening at Franklin Theatre. Among all the great icons born in Tennessee, this is a good one. She had a famous look, voice, and catchphrases. An event just held shows how much we all still love her. Go read all about it because everything else is terrible. [News Channel 5]

After waiting for years to see results from a tree-planting project, one Nashville organization said it is heartbroken to find those trees have already been damaged. The Nashville Tree Conservation Corps planted Eastern Redbud trees as part of its Shelby Avenue arboretum project back in March 2020. The project was in response to the March 2020 tornadoes, during which the bulk of the neighborhood was defoliated and lost many trees, along with severe property damage. [WKRN]

Winter Storm Fern was devastating for Nashville’s trees, but it has given the city an opportunity to rebuild with a stronger, healthier approach. In January, ice storms brought on by Winter Storm Fern pummeled Nashville, along with much of the American South. The scene of tree limbs strewn among damaged buildings and lampposts looked liked the aftermath of a tornado. Key infrastructure, including roads, power and water lines, was heavily damaged. [Nashville SUNN]

The Metropolitan Government of Nashville, Davidson County and the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block a new Tennessee law that would overhaul the governing board of Nashville International Airport. The lawsuit, filed on June 10 in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, argues that Tennessee officials cannot implement the law before a review process outlined in federal aviation law is completed. [WZTV]

A three-judge panel heard arguments Thursday on the Tennessee redistricting maps case in a federal court in Nashville. The hearing lasted about two and half hours. The ACLU of Tennessee, Memphis voters and the American Civil Liberties Union argue that the state intentionally discriminated against voters. They are asking the court to block the map before it’s used in elections this year. [WSMV]

Patriotic music? ‘Outlaws Almanac’ compilation grapples with American history. The compilation “Outlaws’ Almanac” arrives as grand patriotic ceremonies abound but it’s a celebration of a different kind, “to define and expand the notion of us,” says executive producer Lizzie No. It arrives on Juneteenth. [WPLN]

Former First Lady Jill Biden spoke at Langford Auditorium June 8 about her recently released memoir, “View from the East Wing.” Biden participated in a conversation-style discussion moderated by journalist Demetria Kalodimos, executive producer of The Nashville Banner. Around 700 people attended the event. [Vanderbilt Hustler]

Juneteenth, America at 250 and the hole in the soul of our democracy. As Americans prepare to celebrate Juneteenth and the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, we should take pride in the extraordinary progress our country has made toward becoming a more perfect union. But these milestones also demand honesty. [Tennessee Tribune]

Metro Council passed the city budget, including investments in housing and a grocery tax cut. That groceries are taxed at all is immoral and should be illegal. The council has spent the past two months considering Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s budget proposal and Budget Committee Chair Kyonzté Toombs’ proposed substitute budget, which is the version that ultimately approved. [Nashville Banner]

If you haven’t yet seen it, it’s time to get tickets to attend Hamilton at TPAC. Yes, really, even though it’s expensive. No one will walk away disappointed. Running through the 28th. Just do it because it’s that good. [Visit Music City & TPAC]

But if you’re not made of money and want something fun for the kids, we’ve got the perfect thing for you. Travel back to the age of dinosaurs at DinoTrek, where a hidden trail near the Historic Home comes alive with nearly 50 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs. Encounter more than 20 species, including towering giants over 20 feet tall, in the largest and most immersive DinoTrek experience yet. [Nashville Zoo]

A prominent local developer is suing the celebrity-studded group behind a Nashville steakhouse. Since the article is behind a paywall, we’ll give you the TL;DR: Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and Adam LaRoche are being sued by GBT Realty Corp over their now-closed E3 Chophouse. They allegedly owe back (and future) rent and it all sounds like a bunch of messy drama that may or may not be entertaining. [Nashville Business Journal]

While You’re Dodging Storms and Dining Out Downtown, the SBC is Dodging Women with 1800s Ideological Tropes

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While You’re Dodging Storms and Dining Out Downtown, the SBC is Dodging Women with 1800s Ideological Tropes

There’s no way around it, kids, just prepare for gross weather all weekend. Hot, sticky, rainy, stormy. Gonna be a weird Friday. Then an even weirder Saturday night, as the storms might arrive and roll on into Sunday. But humidity levels and temperatures are gonna decrease a little, maybe! We’re crossing our fingers. [NashSevereWx]

Get ready for the streets of downtown Nashville to look a little different. The area around Lower Broadway will be mostly closed to vehicle traffic on Saturday, June 13 and Saturday, July 11. Instead, the streets are set to be filled with pedestrians and cyclists taking part in Nashville’s latest iteration of “Open Streets” events. [The Tennessean]

Data centers — and a zoo — are at the heart of a heated debate this week. At a packed Metro planning commission meeting Thursday night, over 100 people spoke out against data centers in their community. This, as city leaders considered restrictions as to where and how these facilities can be built. [News Channel 5]

Fans from around the country flew into Nashville to watch, well, not a game, but a soccer practice. Excitement was in the air at Geodis Park on a recent 90-degree afternoon. Traditional taiko drums thundered as Japan’s World Cup team took the pitch. Nashville is the base camp for Japan’s national team, the Samurai Blue. [WPLN]

Nashville’s ever-changing skyline may soon change again. A new 36-story mixed-use tower has been proposed for Nashville Yards. It will be located next to the Pinnacle building and is in the planning stages. [WKRN]

The Spring 2026 Vanderbilt statewide poll surveyed 1,203 registered Tennessee voters from April 13 to April 29, 2026. Questions focused on the economy, artificial intelligence in healthcare, elected officials and international and domestic concerns. Spoilers: The poll found widespread economic anxiety (we’d call it downright panic,) skepticism about artificial intelligence and a decline in support of the orange guy. [Vanderbilt Hustler]

Roots has returned to Knox County School shelves. It was the cry of outrage literally heard round the world. One of the greatest African American writers, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, had his book Roots removed from the shelves of Knox County schools by a secret internal committee that had deemed it too violent. [Tennessee Tribune]

Emmy-winning comedian John Mulaney is headed to Nashville this weekend as part of his latest stand-up tour. Mulaney is scheduled to perform at the Ryman June 12-14, with tickets currently on sale. The comedian is touring internationally with his newest show, “John Mulaney: Mister Whatever,” bringing his signature storytelling style and observational humor to audiences across the globe. [WZTV]

As US Women’s Hockey continues breaking barriers on the world stage, the Harpeth Hall Polar Bears are doing the same in Tennessee. On February 19, 2026, at 12:10 p.m. CST, the US Women’s Hockey Team faced the Canadian Women’s National Hockey Team for the eleventh time in Olympic history. The teams had faced prior during these Olympic Games, with the United States winning 5-0, making the championship game that ensued all the more exhilarating. [Nashville SUNN]

Tennessee political hacks found a new way to discriminate against immigrants trying to send a few dollars back home to their struggling, hungry families. A trade association representing major financial technology companies is challenging a new Tennessee law levying a tax on international financial transfers passed by the Tennessee General Assembly this year. In a Wednesday filing in Davidson County Chancery Court, the Financial Technology Association contends that the tax amounts to a “discriminatory treatment of foreign commerce [that] violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution … and the Import-Export Clause of the U.S. Constitution.” [Nashville Banner]

Weird that local media would run an Associated Press story like this without mentioning how Al Mohler and the rest of them went out of their way to dismiss and whitewash horrific child abuse. Thousands of Southern Baptists overwhelmingly voted Wednesday to advance a formal ban on women pastors in the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, sending a clear message that men alone should preach to these conservative evangelical congregations. [WSMV]

PNC released its first regional economic analysis report in April, identifying Nashville as one of the country’s strongest labor markets. But for PNC economist Ershang Liang, this trend bucked her expectations. [Nashville Business Journal]

The 6th annual InterNASHional Night Market is presented by Nashville Soccer Club and it takes place Saturday night. Expect the InterNASHional Night Market you love, just bigger! Not only will the event be themed around the 2026 World Cup but it will also feature a Kid’s Zone and non-food artisanal vendors. [Visit Music City]

Welcome to June in Nashville: Sweating in Head-to-Toe Denim & Fighting Robots Moving In Next to the Zoo

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Welcome to June in Nashville: Sweating in Head-to-Toe Denim & Fighting Robots Moving In Next to the Zoo

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]

Retiring Elephants, Space Man Spewing Smog and Dancing Senators: Just Another Fun Week in Tennessee

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Retiring Elephants, Space Man Spewing Smog and Dancing Senators: Just Another Fun Week in Tennessee

Scattered storms have returned to the forecast for this afternoon and into this evening. The weekend brings along some drier weather – there are still chances for rain – but the activity picks up again Sunday and into Monday. [NashSevereWx]

You bet your behind Nashville is favoring big business over small business. How is that even a question? More than 300 Nashville small businesses have joined a coalition demanding property tax relief while Metro Nashville considers possible incentives for Starbucks to relocate office operations to the city. [WZTV]

A Republican candidate for governor in Tennessee is an out and proud white nationalist. He says he would ban Islam and outlaw same-sex marriage, two things he would be unable to do. Oh, he’s also a State Representative. Monty Fritts, to be specific. He wants to criminalize abortion in all cases – including rape – and would deny the morning-after pill to women who are raped. So hide your kids, hide your wives, get this lunatic out of public office. [Phil Williams & YouTube]

Looking for exciting music tonight and tomorrow? Here you go. The Nashville Symphony. Teddy Abrams. Time for Three. GRAMMY- and Emmy-winning trio Time for Three joins GRAMMY-winning conductor Teddy Abrams for the genre-defying Silicon Hymnal by Mason Bates, a work blending orchestral sound with electronic textures, with their Americana flair. [Nashville Symphony]

As churches aid the fight for voting rights in Tennessee, some allies are doubting commitment. An explosive protest that spilled throughout the state Capitol on May 7 when lawmakers eliminated Tennessee’s only Black-majority congressional district started days before with strategy meetings at Memphis churches. [The Tennessean]

In June 2026, the world will be watching the World Cup, and Nashville is throwing the biggest party in the Southeast.​ Summer Kickoff at GEODIS Park turns our home into a month-long celebration of concerts, Nashville SC Soccer Celebrations presented by Discount Tire, and can’t-miss cultural moments that bring fans, visitors, and the entire city together. [Summer Kickoff]

State Sen. Charlane Oliver (D-Nashville) says Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R-Oak Ridge) is trying to “silence” her through punishments he handed down following her protest on the Senate floor during the special legislative session to redraw the state’s congressional map, while the Lt. Gov. calls her actions “childish.” In a letter to Oliver, McNally wrote the lawmaker “stood on her desk, unfurled a banner and resisted handing it to the sergeant of arms when requested, and sang while dancing on her desk.” [WKRN]

For most people, the idea of retirement conjures images of travel and leisure: rocking chairs, family time, and seeing the world with one’s hard-earned life’s savings. However, for 36 elephants since 1995, retirement has meant roaming free over 3,060 acres of diverse habitats. [Nashville SUNN]

In a major victory for transparency, the Tennessee Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously ruled that a lower court must unseal records related to former Judge Cheryl Blackburn’s competence. Following a series of articles about sealed court files, the Banner intervened in the criminal case of Randall Johnson in 2024, when attorneys for the defendant entered affidavits questioning the judge’s ability to perform her duties. Blackburn sealed the files without a proper order and then recused herself from the case. When the Banner asked Judge Angelita Dalton to unseal the files, she denied the request, stating that “more compelling interests [were] at stake.” [Nashville Banner]

What happens when inflation, insane property taxes and ridiculous gas prices all get together? McNeil’s Fresh Produce in Bellevue will close this week after 40 years of operation. Owners David and Tabatha McNeil said rising costs of goods, property taxes and gas drove them to close their family-owned business. [WSMV]

According to recent Lobbying Disclosure Act reports from the U.S. Senate, Vanderbilt’s lobbying expenses in 2025 totaled $910,000 — the greatest in university history. The total represents a greater sum than the last four years of lobbying expenditures combined and nearly twice that of 2016, when Vanderbilt University Medical Center was still a part of the university. [Vanderbilt Hustler]

As data centers continue to be developed around Nashville, local leaders are looking into new regulations. The Metro Council will begin considering legislation next week that would restrict some types of data centers in Nashville. Some projects have been met with opposition over possible pollution, water usage and potential electricity cost increases. In Memphis, residents living near Elon Musk’s xAI facility, called ‘Colossus,’ say it is spewing significant amounts of air pollution. [WPLN]

State Sen. Charlane Oliver says she will not be intimidated after receiving a letter from Lt. Gov. Randy McNally outlining disciplinary actions related to her protest against Tennessee’s congressional redistricting maps. She concluded her statement with a message directed at her critics. “This fight is far from over,” Oliver said. “Next time, spell my name right.” [Tennessee Tribune]

At least things are going well for the mega-wealthy? The nation’s largest baking is adding its name to the Nashville skyline. JPMorganChase is consolidating its Nashville headquarters in an office expansion that puts its name in the city’s growing skyline. [Nashville Business Journal]

CMA Fest 2026 is upon us and cool things are happening next week. Joining previously-announced main stage artists, Spotify has revealed their line up of emerging country artists set to take over the Fresh Finds Rooftop. Go see Logan Crosby next Friday for free. [Music Row]

Looking to get out of town for a few hours but don’t want to go too far? Drive the hour north to Bowling Green for Duncan Hines Days. Events kickoff downtown on Sunday afternoon and run through June 6th. Food, food, food, free screening of Steel Magnolias on Monday. If you can’t say anything nice about anybody, you can come sit by us. [Duncan Hines Days]

We Won’t Know Who the Idiots Are Without the Freedom of Speech and First Amendment

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We Won’t Know Who the Idiots Are Without the Freedom of Speech and First Amendment

The weather today (okay, the entire weekend) is pretty gross and you’re gonna struggle to stay dry. Waves of rain will push through from the southwest and the greatest storm potential will be toward the evening hours. [NashSevereWx]

Can we please stop calling these people influencers? Middle Tennessee social media personality Ryan Upchurch has been ordered by a federal jury in Nashville to pay nearly $20 million to the family of Kiely Rodni after being found liable for defamation. [The Tennessean]

Kentucky’s Howdy Doody governor is claiming this as some kind of big win. As if nearly everyone currently working for this company in Tennessee isn’t going to continue working for them in Kentucky. You should see the weirdo press release the Kentucky goober sent out hyping it up. The new location isn’t even 60 miles away from the old one. [News Channel 5]

This Memorial Day, communities and neighborhoods across Middle Tennessee will pause to honor our fallen men and women of the armed forces. At the heart of the weekend is honoring military members who died for our country. [WKRN]

A student injured in the deadly shooting at Antioch High School is suing the company behind the school’s AI-powered gun detection system, claiming the technology failed to detect the shooter’s weapon despite being marketed as a tool that could stop violence before shots were fired. The lawsuit, filed May 1 in Davidson County Circuit Court, was brought by Antonyous Henin, who was wounded during the Jan. 22, 2025, shooting inside the school cafeteria. One student, Josselin Corea Escalante, was killed in the attack. [WZTV]

The First Amendment still exists and you better effing use it before you lose it. Don’t have to like what anyone says, even if it’s trash, but you better step up to defend it. It’s un-American to sit on the sidelines. Tennessee officials will pay $835,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a man who was jailed for more than a month over a Facebook post he made about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The 61-year-old retired police officer spent 37 days behind bars before authorities dropped the felony charge against him in October. [Associated Press]

Tennessee students are among the top performers in the country for post-pandemic academic recovery, showing significant gains in math and reading levels. The annual Education Scorecard measures student growth in those subjects by combining state assessment data of about 35 million students with national data to show academic recovery trends through the 2024-25 school year. The report covers grades three through eight and is a collaborative effort between scholars at Harvard, Stanford and Dartmouth. [WPLN]

Five years after its completion, West End Tower, also known as Zeppos Tower, is just now emerging with a clear purpose. Even so, Vanderbilt’s most recognizable landmark remains a mystery to much of the campus community, defined by its mishmash of uses, unusual design features and student inaccessibility. [Vanderbilt Hustler]

In the Age of AI, Is College Worth It? As Tennessee rapidly expands AI and tech training programs, one student wonders whether a four-year degree is still worth the cost. [Nashville SUNN]

Fisk University President Agenia Clark announced a $900 million plan to remake the historically Black university’s North Nashville campus, complete with a 100,000-square-foot data and technology center. Details remain limited as the 160-year-old university, once home to civil rights luminaries like John Lewis and Ida B. Wells, embarks on the project, dubbed Quantum Leap. [Nashville Banner]

Are we still pretending that the state legislature is anything other than a waking nightmare? Tennessee’s Republican House speaker is punishing Democrats for participating in a chaotic end to the special session lawmakers used to redraw congressional maps to bolster a GOP candidate in the midterm election. House Speaker Cameron Sexton sent a letter Tuesday to House Minority Leader Karen Camper notifying her that Democratic Caucus members will be removed from all standing committees and subcommittees except in cases where their membership is required by House rules. [Tennessee Tribune]

Nashville claims Publix helped fuel the oversupply and diversion of prescription opioids and that this increased costs for first responders, hospitals, law enforcement and homelessness and mental health services. In the lawsuit, the city shared data showing that Tennessee has the third highest levels of prescriptions for opioids in the U.S. In 2016, Tennessee saw 1,631 overdose deaths. [WSMV]

Since the state legislature passed the new congressional maps on May 7, the final day of the three-day special session, four lawsuits have been filed in state and federal courts challenging various aspects of that effort. The three cases in federal court have since been reassigned to the same judge, William Campbell, and will be heard by the same three-judge panel. The state has also moved to consolidate at least two of the cases. [Nashville Banner]

Because nothing says staying on top of things and being forward thinking more than… waiting an entire year to do something extremely commonplace. Gurl (we mean gurl in a mean girls way here), come on, get it together. Mayor Freddie O’Connell is nominating two people to succeed a couple of Nashville heavy-hitters whose terms expired more than a year ago. [Nashville Business Journal]

Okay, here’s a wild headline, just read it: Eli Lilly accuses church bishops, businessmen of fraud in Trulicity drug rebate scheme. Right??? Crazy. And sure, it’s always the people you most expect and they’re probably terrible. But also, who can be mad at a scam to get prescription medications for cheaper from a company minting billions per year? What do y’all have goin on over at the Church of God in Christ? Goodness gracious. [CNBC]

Look, we don’t like kid things because we don’t have the patience, but this is probably gonna be terrific and you should go. How to Train Your Dragon in Concert from the Nashville Symphony Orchestra runs through Sunday. We wouldn’t send you to things we wouldn’t check out. [VMC & Nashville Symphony]

The Real Chuds Are Strutting Around the State Capitol Like Insecure Roosters

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The Real Chuds Are Strutting Around the State Capitol Like Insecure Roosters

Warmer temperatures and higher humidity are moving into the region today and we can kiss the funtimes goodbye for a bit. Scattered storm chances follow into the overnight hours and into Saturday. You’ve got some active patterns to look forward to in the middle of next week, too. [NashSevereWx]

Sure is interesting how these racists with large online followings keep getting themselves into… wait… what’s this? *Checks notes* ATTEMPTED MURDER? That’s right. Someone who calls himself “Chud” has been charged with attempted murder. He got into some shooty boy contest outside the courthouse in Montgomery County. During the altercation at the court complex, “Chud the Builder” — whose legal name is Dalton Eatherly — shot a man in the stomach and managed to also shoot himself in the arm. [The Tennessean]

This is not a drill – you really should go see Water for Elephants if you can. A Broadway musical has arrived at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, ready to amaze audiences with gravity-defying tricks, incredible displays of puppetry, a talented cast that includes a Belmont University alum, and a plot that takes you on an emotional journey through the 20th century. [WKRN & TPAC Tickets]

After facing scandal after scandal – and frequent comparisons to disgraced politician George Santos – Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles tried to open a new chapter Wednesday. But he ended up raising even more questions about a scandal that has long haunted him, involving thousands of dollars he collected from the public for a children’s burial garden that, our NewsChannel 5 investigation discovered, was never built. [Phil Williams]

Tennessee’s largest coal ash site could become a permanent source of pollution near the Cumberland River. The Tennessee Valley Authority has proposed capping an unlined storage site for coal ash at the Cumberland Fossil Plant in Stewart County, about 60 miles northwest of Nashville, instead of moving the material to a lined landfill. [WPLN]

Once defined by its rapid growth, Nashville is now facing the realities of slowing down and settling into its position as a major U.S. city. On any given weekend, Broadway feels less like a main street and more like a stage set, with bachelorette parties, pedal taverns and cowboy boots taking over every square inch. However, a few blocks away, office spaces that used to be full sit vacant, and longtime residents move further out of the city they grew up in. [Vanderbilt Hustler]

Well, well, well! The kids are back and they’re better than ever! Proof that adults need to shut up and get out of the say so they can do their thing with a bit of supervision. What the Supreme Court’s Louisiana v. Callais decision means for voting power, representation and future elections across Tennessee and the U.S. [Nashville SUNN]

Shot: Congressional districts have changed and it’s all a nightmare. Chaser: Here’s how to find your new district so you can vote. The act effectively dilutes the vote of Black Memphians by splitting District 9 into three new districts. They stretch from the city into rural areas and, in two cases, all the way to the outskirts of Nashville. In several cases, neighbors living on the same street have been placed in different congressional districts. [Tennessee Tribune]

An LGBTQ+ bar in Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood was vandalized with hateful messages twice in less than two days. Do y’all think the gays (we are a gay, we can say this, mind your business) are going to go somewhere merely because you vandalize our local watering holes and threaten our fancy clowns with meaningless legislation? Sure, the young folks are dumb and bigoted but the rest of us aren’t and we aren’t going anywhere. We’re here to support our community and drive traffic to cool local businesses. [WZTV]

In a heated three-day special session, Tennessee lawmakers redrew the state’s nine Congressional districts this week, fracturing Memphis and calling into question the motives of those advocating for the sudden, aggressive redistricting. The new boundaries will likely benefit Republicans in the upcoming midterms by eliminating the state’s last Democrat-controlled district. [Nashville Banner]

All members of the House Democratic Caucus have been removed from their committees and subcommittees, according to a letter obtained by WSMV. The letter, signed by House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R) and addressed to Leader Camper, states that “members of the Democratic Caucus will receive individual letters removing them from all standing committees and subcommittees of the House, except where membership is required.” [WSMV]

Haslam, Ingram and other titans meet in private to talk Nashville. Is this how things should be done? A select group of some of the city’s most powerful, influential and well-connected executives have met several times to discuss the state of affairs in Nashville and how to shape the direction it’s heading. [Nashville Business Journal]

Water for Elephants not your thing? Discover the remarkable story behind one of Nashville’s greatest artistic treasures. An American Story invites visitors to experience the Cowan Collection as it has rarely been seen, outside its permanent home in the Parthenon, for the first time in nearly 40 years. [Cheekwood]

Let’s Pretend Nothing Bad is Happening and Focus on Music and Fun Stuff This Weekend

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Let’s Pretend Nothing Bad is Happening and Focus on Music and Fun Stuff This Weekend

Everything’s gonna be pretty okay today and tomorrow, so get outside and enjoy some stuff. It’s gonna get warmer and wetter on Sunday and you’ll probably want to spend the entire day inside. [NashSevereWx]

Listen, this is just racist. That’s all there is to it. It’s always been racist. We’re not even gonna discuss the insanity of redistricting at a time like this. Y’all know what it is and what it’s about. Power and racism. Here’s hoping everyone learns to start voting for decent people regardless of partisan bent. [The Tennessean]

An author felt there just weren’t enough people who knew about an important moment in history. She’s set out to change that. “That story was so heart breaking and compelling,” said Cathy A. Lewis, speaking at a book release at One Garage. Lewis has written a previous book inspired by what she learned about her Jewish family history and family members killed in the Holocaust. Then came this other unexpected inspiration in the form of a 1976 film. [News Channel 5]

In the aftermath of Winter Storm Fern, when hundreds of thousands of Nashvillians lost power — some for more than a week — several people asked Curious Nashville some form of this question: “What would it take to bury power lines in Nashville?” And Nashville Electric Service has taken a step toward evaluating the possibility of moving some lines underground. [WPLN]

Tennessee now ranks last in the nation for K-12 investment, according to the 2026 Rankings and Estimates Report from the National Education Association. It’s a ranking that is fueling sharp debate at the State Capitol over funding priorities and the future of public education. [WKRN]

Weird that Logan Crosby wouldn’t be mentioned amongst all these emerging Nashville voices you need to hear. Consider this your notice to check him out. These rising country artists are already shaping the future of the genre — and it looks bright. [Vanderbilt Hustler]

Oh my goodness, it’s alive kinda! After all these weeks! FINALLY! Tennessee high school debate champion Russell Howard reflects on how competitive debate taught him skills that matter far beyond the classroom. [Nashville SUNN]

There are moments in the life of a city when silence becomes dangerous. This is one of those moments. An election is before us—not somewhere far away, not on a national stage—but right here in Nashville. Local elections shape your daily life more than any other. [Tennessee Tribune]

This is Nashville, obviously, so major artists get all the attention. But you should pay attention to all the independent folks like Logan Crosby. Yes, we’re mentioning him a second time in this round-up. He’s got a new track out this week called “R.I.P. (My Idea of You) and you can stream it everywhere. This isn’t sponsored, just honest hype for your enjoyment. [Logan Crosby]

The Tennessee NAACP filed an emergency court petition Thursday seeking to block the state’s newly approved congressional redistricting plan, arguing Republican lawmakers violated state law and the Tennessee Constitution by redrawing district lines outside the normal census process. The lawsuit, filed in Davidson County Chancery Court, came just hours after Gov. Bill Lee signed Tennessee’s controversial new congressional map into law. [WZTV]

Tennessee spends the least per public school student of any state, according to a new report from the National Education Association. Tennessee dropped from $13,465 to $12,147 per student in average daily attendance between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years. That’s a 9.8 percent decrease that also placed Tennessee in 51st place among all states for the largest one-year decline. The state’s ranking slipped by four spots from 47th last year. [Nashville Banner]

Smyrna police have confirmed an active investigation into a local business after multiple immigrants filed reports alleging they were deceived while seeking help with their immigration status. A spokesman for the Attorney General’s office also confirmed that the office is reviewing complaints about the company, “Hispanos Exitosos.” [WSMV]

What Bowling Green is already doing right and what we owe the kids we trained. This is from 40 minutes north of the city but BG’s kind of a bedroom community, so it’s worth paying attention. College Commitment Day, May 1st, has passed. Every senior in America had to put a deposit down by midnight. Read Kentucky’s data side by side and the picture you get is of six universities not really competing for the same students anymore. [BLBG]

Maybe we can thank Heated Rivalry for this excellent Preds news. The Nashville Predators are starting the $750 million renovation of 30-year-old Bridgestone Arena this month — including a hotel with up to 600 rooms. Here’s a timeline of the three-phase project. [Nashville Business Journal]

We’re on Dolly Parton’s internet, so we might as well tell you to go see her big time exhibit. Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker is at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and it’s great. This exhibition focuses on turning points in Parton’s life and career through the decades, where she overcame obstacles and ignored naysayers to become one of the most beloved and widely recognized celebrities across the world. You’ll probably want reserved tickets but access is included with museum admission. [CMHF]

If that’s not your cup of tea, then hop on over to this Tennessee Writers, Tennessee Stories event. Townmania: Marcus Winchester and the Making of Memphis tells the forgotten story of the man who transformed a frontier settlement on a Mississippi River bluff into the thriving city of Memphis. [Tennessee State Museum]

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