🚨 Do lawmakers want ICE here?

🚨 Do Lawmakers Want ICE Here?

After last May’s joint operation, the Tennessee Highway Patrol has turned down any further partnerships with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, following a pattern of Republican lawmakers publicly supporting ICE while limiting involvement closer to home. [Tennessee Lookout]

• Recently released bodycam footage of May’s operation shows troopers intentionally targeting immigrants with traffic stops. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]
• Republican lawmakers also rejected an ICE detention facility in Lebanon. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]
• The legal team of recently detained Nashville journalist Estefany Rodríguez claims ICE arrested her without a warrant. ICE has submitted a warrant without proper documentation to prove it followed procedure. [Nashville Banner]

🎵 Why Nashville’s Indie Music Venues Are Struggling

The Department of Justice settled its antitrust case against promoter giant Live Nation yesterday, although Tennessee is one of 25 states not accepting that settlement. On today’s podcast, we’re chatting with two local industry specialists about why that lawsuit matters, and the challenges facing indie music venues in Nashville right now. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

👶 Bills Address Nashville’s Child Care Crisis

Three councilmembers — Clay Capp, Rollin Horton, and Jennifer Gamble — have introduced legislation to address Nashville’s child care crisis. One bill would remove a buffer requirement between day care facilities, and another would eliminate the need for child care providers to secure a special exemption from the Board of Zoning Appeals. [Nashville Scene]

• Many parents have to sign up for costly day care waitlists months or even years in advance to secure a spot amid our shortage. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🌨️ State Launches New Weather Network

After Winter Storm Fern, Tennessee is implementing a new statewide system to improve weather event tracking. Each county will receive one mesonet station, which provides real-time weather data. More than 40 states already operate mesonets. [🔐 The Tennessean]