🤔 The Legislature did something kinda … good?

🏡 $142K Salary Needed to Afford Median Nashville Home Price

Yeah, it’s getting worse. High interest rates and limited supply pushed the income needed to buy a house in Nashville to $142K, up 7.6% from last year. The median home price is currently sitting at a whopping $505K, which, like, come on. [WKRN]

• But there’s some rare good news: the Tennessee General Assembly passed nearly a dozen bills this session that could make it easier (!!) for Nashville to incentivize and build affordable housing. LFG! [Nashville Banner]

🤠 FGL House Goes Bye, Lainey Wilson Says Hi.

To borrow a phrase from my pal Joe Hudak, pour out the Fireball: FGL House is officially closed. The three-story bar that somehow lasted two years longer than the band itself dissolved operations last weekend. [Rolling Stone 🔒]

• What’s next? A Lainey Wilson venture named Bell Bottoms Up. Wilson becomes just the second female artist (behind Miranda Lambert) with her own joint in our downtown debauchery district, unless you count Tanya Tucker’s new tequila cantina inside Nudie’s, which you effing should. [Nashville Business Journal 🔒]

🏛️ Mayor O’Connell Approaches His First Big Tests

Mayor Freddie O’Connell will give his first State of Metro address next Tuesday, with budget season in full swing. It’s a chance for him to sell us on his forthcoming transit referendum, while addressing stagnant revenues that may require a property tax hike next year. He’ll deliver his remarks at the Fairgrounds, where the battle over racetrack renovations rolls on — glean from that what you will. [Nashville Scene]

🛶 Groups Challenge ‘Unsustainable’ Withdrawals from Duck River

Local outdoor enthusiasts know the Duck River as a terrific destination for a slow weekend float, but if you’ve ever had to portage your canoe over its long stretches of low water, you won’t be surprised to learn it’s one of the most endangered rivers in the nation. The Tennessee Wildlife Federation is among those pushing back against new water company permits that could lead to 73 million gallons being drained from the Duck every day. [Tennessee Lookout]

🏰 Get Your Mead On

With the Tennessee Renaissance Festival in full swing every weekend this month, I loved Wednesday’s episode of “This Is Nashville,” bringing together a group of medieval enthusiasts to talk about what makes the ren faire community so special. Featuring an actual jester! [WPLN]