🚌 Who put benches at Nashville bus stops?

🏫 Controversial School Immigration Bill Advances

The Tennessee House has passed controversial legislation that would require public schools to track student immigration status and report it to the state. “We should never be afraid of data, truth, facts, figures,” the bill’s sponsor, House Majority Leader William Lamberth, said. The state Senate still needs to vote on the bill. [Tennessee Lookout]

• Last year, the Senate passed a version of the bill that would allow schools to disenroll or charge tuition to students without documentation, challenging the Plyler v. Doe Supreme Court decision. Worried about losing federal funding, Lamberth decided against running the bill in the House, and amended it this year instead. If the House and Senate cannot come to an agreement on the two versions of the bill, both could fail. [Nashville Banner]
• Lamberth is also sponsoring the bill to double Tennessee’s private school vouchers, which many critics have noted fail to track student data, like previous private school enrollment. If passed, the bill would direct $303 million in public dollars to private schools in the next school year. [Chalkbeat Tennessee; City Cast Nashville]
• Here’s a list of state lawmakers who have received money from pro-voucher political action committees. [🔐 The Tennessean]

🫶 ‘To Nashville, With Love’

Pastor Robin L. Owen and a team of volunteers have built dozens of benches to place at bus stops across the city, part of a nationwide movement locally called “To Nashville, With Love.” On today’s podcast, she talks about why these community-built benches matter, and shares her reaction to last week’s news that NDOT was removing the benches. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

📚 Library System Moves Children’s Books

After hours of emotional testimony, the Rutherford County Library Board voted to move 190 children’s books to the adult section, following a letter sent to libraries by the Tennessee Secretary of State requesting an “age appropriateness” review of books. [WKRN]

• Could similar book bans come to Nashville libraries? We asked Christina Soontornvat, the local chapter leader of Authors Against Book Bans. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🇮🇷 Local Artists Celebrate Nowruz

As the U.S. and Israel continue strikes in Iran, Nashville-based Iranian and Kurdish artists pour their feelings into their work. Many of these artists will celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on March 20-21. “While Nowruz traditionally is about renewal and hope, the difficult events of the past year around the world have also brought a sense of mourning,” said Raheleh Filsoofi Raheleh, whose work is currently on display at the Frist Art Museum. [🔐 The Tennessean]

• Enjoy live music at the Nashville Newroz Festival on Saturday, and at the Frist for a free performance on Sunday. [Facebook; Frist Art Museum]