🚨 Grand jury wants MNPD investigated

🏘️ Old Tent City Closure Causes Concern

Metro leaders announced the closure of the 40-year-old Old Tent City encampment last week. On today’s City Cast Nashville podcast, we asked former Metro Homeless Impact Division head Judith Tackett why this closure and pending anti-encampment state legislation are setting off alarm bells. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

👨🏻‍💼 Mayor Gets High Marks

According to a poll from Vanderbilt University, Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s approval rating is 67%, with 58% of Nashvillians feeling that the city is on the right track. Top concerns among respondents include affordability and education. [WPLN]

📚 Southern Festival of Books Latest Victim of Federal Cuts

Humanities Tennessee has received notice from the Trump administration that it will no longer receive its $1.2 million National Endowment for the Humanities grant, which funds the Southern Festival of Books, Chapter 16, and young reader and writer programs. [Nashville Banner]

• The Southern Festival of Books is one of the nation’s oldest literary festivals. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🚨 Grand Jury Wants Investigation Into MNPD Complaint

The Davidson County Grand Jury has conducted an inquiry into last year’s whistleblower complaint against the Metro Nashville Police Department and determined that there is enough evidence of police criminal and civil violations to warrant investigation by a special prosecutor. [Nashville Banner]

• What the whistleblower complaint was all about [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

Easter is one of my favorite holidays, and Nashville has a lot of kid-friendly Easter activities throughout April, from toy-store bunnies to egg-stravagant egg hunts and breakfast with … mermaids? Whether you’re looking for an all-day affair or a quick free egg hunt and photo op, here are the best Easter activities for kids in Nashville.

🐰 Phillips Toy Mart Bunnies

• Where: Phillips Toy Mart
• When: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., throughout April
• Price: Free
• The scoop: For decades, Phillips Toy Mart has partnered with a bunny farm to bring in rabbits for customers to pet and cuddle. They have a large pen in the back to keep the bunnies, and handlers to monitor them. It’s one of our favorite Easter traditions!

🧑‍🌾 Easter Egg Hunts & the Easter Bunny

• Where: Lucky Ladd Farms
• When: April 12, 13, 18, 19, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Price: $18+
• The scoop: Besides non-stop egg hunts and photo ops with the Easter Bunny, Lucky Ladd Farms in Eagleville is packed with fun farm activities like a petting zoo, pony rides, and tulip picking.

🍑 Easter at the Orchard

• Where: Breeden’s Orchard
• When: April 12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Price: $18
• The scoop: Head over to Breeden’s Orchard in Mt. Juliet for a fun spring day of petting baby animals, chatting with the Easter Bunny, face painting, and Easter egg hunting. Make sure to visit the market while you’re there!

🐣 Second Saturday Play Date: Easter Egg Hunt

• Where: Madison Library Branch
• When: April 12, 10 a.m.-Noon
• Price: Free
• The scoop: Visit the Easter Bunny and find eggs among book stacks at the Madison Library Branch. Refreshments will be provided.

🦞 Easter Egg Hunt & Crawfish Boil

• Where: Tee Line Nashville
• When: April 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Price: Free
• The scoop: While the Easter egg hunt and activities are free, the pancake breakfast and crawfish buckets are available for purchase. The egg hunt and breakfast start at 10 a.m., and the crawfish boil at 2 p.m.

🌷 Spring Celebration

• Where: Fifth + Broadway
• When: April 13, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Price: Free
• The scoop: Have a family day downtown at this free celebration with the Easter Bunny. In addition to meeting the big guy, there will be face painting, an egg hunt, live music, and more. Parents will receive discounts at nearby shops.