🏙️ Is Nashville a sanctuary city?

🏙️ Sanctuary Cities, Explained

Federal officials recently accused Nashville of being a “sanctuary city.” Are we? District 30 Councilmember Sandra Sepulveda is on today’s City Cast Nashville podcast to clarify what that term means, and whether Nashville qualifies. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

• Yesterday afternoon, seven Metro Councilmembers, including Sepulveda, filed a lawsuit against the state to challenge whether a new law making it a felony to vote for sanctuary policies is constitutional. [The Tennessean]

📰 Mayor O’Connell Would Rather Be Talking About Transit

In a New York Times profile, Mayor Freddie O’Connell explains that he would much rather be discussing infrastructure and budget changes than addressing the fallout of recent immigration enforcement in Nashville. However, his response to ICE operations has become a focal point of federal scrutiny. [The New York Times]

• Senator Marsha Blackburn and Representative Andy Ogles have been very vocal in their criticism. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🎵 Should Bonnaroo Change Dates?

After canceling the festival for the second time in four years due to rain, Bonnaroo has sent a five-question survey to previous attendees to see if they’d be willing to return to The Farm at a different time of year. [WKRN]

• Love Bonnaroo? Take the survey. [Google Docs]

🔍 Investigation Into Civil Rights Era Bombings Closes

The Metro Nashville Police Department has finished investigating three Civil Rights Era bombings in response to Betsy Phillips’ book “Dynamite Nashville.” While detectives discovered some new evidence, the case will likely go unsolved. [Nashville Scene]

• Our interview with Betsy Phillips about the bombings [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

Summer is mosquito season, and mosquitos sure do love Nashville. While mosquito bites are mostly just annoying, they can carry disease. West Nile Virus was found in a Madison mosquito pool in May, and while no human cases of West Nile Virus have been reported in Nashville this season, it’s smart to stay safe. However, pesticides are harmful to all bugs, like bumblebees and butterflies, so it’s better to use prevention measures that specifically target mosquitos.

🦟 What Are Mosquitos Good for?

Mosquitos are pollinators! Their primary food source is plant nectar. Only while laying eggs do females seek out blood. Mosquitoes are also protein sources for hummingbirds, bats, dragonflies, and other animals. While important, protecting your home from mosquitos won’t cause lasting environmental harm, as long as you avoid pesticides.

💡 Prevention Basics

• Empty any standing water in your yard — from buckets, tires, trash cans, etc. — and if you have a bird bath, change out the water regularly.
• Make sure screen doors and windows are in good condition, and cover gaps in your home’s walls or doors to prevent mosquitos from getting inside.
• Use EPA-registered mosquito repellents when outside for long periods, particularly ones with DEET or picaridin.
• Consider purchasing a Thermacell device, which wards off skeeters with a scent-free repellant that’s safe for humans, pets, and other critters.
• Replace outdoor lighting with yellow “bug” lights to attract fewer mosquitoes.
• Wear lighter clothes; dark colors attract mosquitos. While difficult in this heat, long-sleeved shirts and pants limit the amount of skin mosquitos can bite. Tucking shirts into pants and pants into socks can help, too.

🪣 How To Make a Mosquito Bucket of Doom

Mosquito dunks are inexpensive, and a great way to target mosquitos while letting other critters be. Nashville’s own Joanna Brichetto coined the term Mosquito Bucket of Doom, which kills mosquitos in the larval stage. Here’s how to make one.

• Step 1: Remove all standing water from your yard. You want the bucket to be the most attractive place for mosquitoes to lay eggs.
• Step 2: Fill a bucket halfway up with water.
• Step 3: Add a handful of grass so it smells yummy.
• Step 4: Add a stick as an escape root for other critters that might fall in.
• Step 5: Add ¼ of BTi mosquito dunk once per month. You can find this at local garden stores.

Keep the bucket where mosquitos frequent, a shady spot that doesn’t get a lot of wind.