Good morning, Nashville! It’s Monday, August 31st. New in Nashville’s neighborhoods today: targeting speeders and street racers, $15 million for half an acre, park renovations, and a 73 health score.
⚡ Top stories
Weather: ☀️ High: 96, Low: 74. Heat building this week
What it could cost to rename Nashville’s airport: Just a few months ago, Tennessee Republicans were talking about turning Nashville International Airport into Trump International Airport. The legislation failed, but it gives us an idea of what it’ll cost to rename BNA in honor of Dolly Parton after Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced plans to do so on Friday. According to a financial analysis for the Trump International bill, airport officials predicted a cost of $10.3 million. The biggest share of the cost comes from infrastructure and signage. The airport would also have to pay millions for new branding, trademarks, and legal costs. I think most Tennesseans will say Dolly deserves the honor, but let me know what you think in today’s poll (below). The airport board will talk about the renaming at its September 17th meeting, the governor’s office said.
Hospital’s warning: The CEO of Nashville General Hospital, the city’s safety-net hospital, warns that “strict work requirements for Medicaid,” along with people losing their insurance after cuts to federal subsidies, could have an impact on “uncompensated care” at the hospital starting in January. “It will be a factor for safety-net hospitals and many other hospitals around the nation,” the CEO said. The hospital, which has a history of financial struggles, is looking at ways to diversify revenue and control costs.
While the TBI investigates, a Metro Police officer is decommissioned after he killed a man armed with a sword on Saturday. Body camera video from the scene at Cheshire Drive appears to show the sword drop to the ground after the officer’s first shot. (It’s unclear if the man fell too because the video is censored through pixelation.) Then, the officer fired two more shots. According to police, the officer shot the armed man after he refused to let a woman leave his car, a relative reported him to 911 as a “danger to others,” and he threatened to kill someone else earlier in the day.
Nearly every type of crime in Nashville is down by double-digit percentages since last year, according to new police data, but if you zoom into specific precincts, several crimes are surging. Reports of rape increased 46% in West Precinct (15 cases to 22), 51% in South Precinct (49 cases to 74), and 20% in Southeast Precinct (54 cases to 65). The most significant increases in residential burglaries are in the Central Precinct (28%, 21 cases to 27), Hermitage Precinct (25%, 81 cases to 102), and the Midtown Hills Precinct (13%, 90 cases to 102). Countywide, reports of rape and residential burglaries are down slightly.
🏠 What’s new in Nashville’s neighborhoods
Downtown Nashville
Half an acre for $15 million: The Pins Mechanical arcade property at 1102 Grundy Street recently sold for $15 million. That more than doubles what the owner paid for the property in less than a decade. They bought it for $6.3 million in 2017, according to Metro property records.
Cowan Street will close each night from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. through Friday for installation of a new sewer line. More info from NDOT here.
The Nations
73 restaurant health score: A health inspector who visited Maru Nations at 5511 Centennial Boulevard reported food temperature and storage issues, an employee preparing food without hair restraints, and more. You can read the full inspection here.
Antioch
Targeting speeders and street racers: Metro Police’s Southeast Precinct will coordinate with the Midtown Hills Precinct on several days starting this week as part of a pilot program to target dangerous drivers, a police sergeant said at a community meeting. It will “act kind of like an enforcement unit,” the sergeant said. Police have been focused on Nolensville Pike, Una Antioch Pike, Murfreesboro Road, Bell Road, and Blue Hole Road.
East Nashville
Less than a month before it was set to go to trial, Roy Meat Service at 605 South 19th Street settled a neighbor’s lawsuit, the Tennessean reported. The lawsuit alleged “the meat cooking wafts fumes of burning wood that permeate” the neighbor’s property even with her windows closed. A GoFundMe page in support of the meat market, which raised more than $45,000, said the lawsuit came from a “new neighbor.” According to the Tennessean, the shop will change when it cooks.
South Nashville
New kayak access: The Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association wants to build a new canoe and kayak access structure along Mill Creek at Whitsett Park. Metro’s Board of Parks and Recreation is scheduled to vote tomorrow on accepting the donation pending approvals of the project from Metro’s Parks Department.
Madison
More hot chicken: Dave’s Hot Chicken, a fast-food chain based in California, received a building permit for a new restaurant at 1705 Gallatin Pike.
Bellevue
Renovations at Warner Parks: Warner Park Headquarters and the Bob Brown Field Station, which was damaged in the January ice storm, are on track for $2.5 million in renovations. Friends of Warner Parks will pay for the upgrades. Metro’s Board of Parks and Recreation is set to decide tomorrow whether to approve the donation.
📰 A few final headlines…
WeGo Transit plans to expand service again in January. It’s part of Nashville’s Choose How You Move transit plan, which voters agreed to fund through a sales tax increase. WeGo plans to share its proposal with the public next month. The agency says ridership last quarter increased by 20% compared to 2025. Also part of Choose How You Move: I reported earlier this month on plans to upgrade 99 traffic signals, and I found the traffic lights that get the most complaints for timing issues.
“Tennessee hunting and fishing license fees could increase by an average of 29% next year in an effort to bridge a multi-million-dollar deficit in the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s budget,” the Tennessee Lookout reported.
Poll results: On Friday, I asked whether Davidson County’s sheriff should be forced to sign an agreement with ICE. 66% of respondents said no.
🧠 Today’s puzzle: Odd One Out
How closely did you pay attention to Friday’s newsletter? Three of the four in each round have something in common. Pick the one that doesn’t belong.
Round 1: Old Tent City · School for the Blind · Riverfront Park · Hospitality Hub
Round 2: Jacob Kupin · Cameron Sexton · Bill Lee · Samira Hardcastle
Round 3: Children at unlicensed daycare · Properties swept in Antioch codes audit · Starbucks Workers United’s demanded starting wage · Friday’s overnight low temperature
🍔 MAP: click here for restaurant inspections across Nashville
Correction, feedback, question? Just reply to this email or email me directly at ryan@nash.news. Hope you have a great day! -Ryan
More people need to know the cost of re naming Nashville International Airport and I am sure many would vote against it.