👻 Is the Ryman haunted?

👻 The Ryman’s Haunted History

Ryman Auditorium isn’t just the Mother Church of Country Music; it’s also one of the most haunted places in Nashville. On today’s City Cast Nashville podcast, tour guide Ken Wood takes us inside the Ryman’s haunted history, sharing its spookiest stories. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

• In the mood for more local scary stories? Listen to our Bell Witch episode. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

💰 City To Audit Office of Homeless Services

City officials have approved Councilmember Ginny Welsch’s request to audit the Office of Homeless Services after numerous allegations of financial mismanagement. [Nashville Scene]

• Our conversation with Welsch about those allegations [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

👨🏻‍💼 Key Member of Mayor's Office Steps Down

Metro’s chief development officer Bob Mendes is stepping down, the second close advisor to Mayor O’Connell to leave in the past few weeks. Chief of staff Marjorie Pomeroy-Wallace stepped down earlier this month. [Nashville Banner]

🏫 Education News Roundup

• The Metro Nashville Public Schools board voted unanimously to install the Evolv weapon detection system at all middle schools. Evolv is already installed at local high schools, and is funded by a grant. [Nashville Banner]
• The school board also voted to rezone Ida B. Wells Elementary School. [Nashville Banner]
• The Tennessee Department of Education turned away over 11,100 income-qualified school voucher applicants in favor of students whose families make above the income threshold of $173,000. [The Tennessean]
• Representative Caleb Hemmer of Nashville is considering suing the state Department of Education over the lack of school voucher transparency. [WKRN]

Wondering what to read this fall? Here are the newest book releases by Nashville authors, from Cherokee astronauts to vampire romances and a Grand Ole Opry tribute.

“To the Moon and Back” by Eliana Ramage

Steph Harper has wanted to become the first Cherokee astronaut since childhood, but in pursuing her goal, she risks breaking ties with the women she holds most dear. Read debut author Eliana Ramage’s interview with WPLN!

“Bees in June” by Elizabeth Bass Parman

Rennie Hendricks lives in a small Tennessee town in 1969. Mourning the loss of her infant son and finding no solace with her abusive husband, she begins helping her uncle care for his bees, who magically glow when she’s near.

“Fowl Play” by Kristin O'Donnell Tubb

When middle schooler Chloe’s uncle dies, he leaves her his African grey parrot, Charlie. After hearing Charlie squawk the words “murder” and “cyanide,” Chloe decides to investigate her uncle’s death. Tubb has written numerous novels for kids 8+, like this one.

“Howdy! Welcome to the Grand Ole Opry!” by Emily Frans & Susanna Chapman, forward by Lainey Wilson

This children’s picture book takes readers behind the scenes of the Grand Ole Opry in celebration of its 100th birthday. The Opry invites young readers inside to prepare for a performance, while the collage illustrations show famous musicians who have been on the stage in the past.

“Twin Lead Lines” by Lou Turner

Musician Lou Turner’s debut is a collection of poems exploring show business, art-making, and found family. Turner is a Nashville Metro Arts Thrive Grant recipient and 2024 winner of The Porch Prize in Poetry.

“Road Trip With a Vampire” by Jenna Levine

In the third installment of Levine’s funny paranormal romance series “My Vampires,” former bad witch Zelda is done working with vampires, until a hot vampire with amnesia appears on her doorstep, asking for help. Each book can be read as a standalone.