🌳 Is NES damaging our trees?

🧶 Your Local Crafting Guide

On today’s podcast, longtime Metro Nashville Public Schools art teacher Linda Anderson joins her daughter, host Marie Cecile Anderson, to share the best places around town to get crafty, from pottery studios to beginner-friendly classes. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🖤 Nashville Remembers Z. Alexander Looby

April 19 has been named Z. Alexander Looby Day in Nashville, in honor of the civil rights attorney and councilmember whose home was bombed by segregationists on April 19, 1960. Following the attempted assassination, thousands of marchers walked to the Metro courthouse in protest. [Nashville Banner]

• Listen to our conversation with local historian Betsy Phillips to learn more about that bombing. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]
• Mayor Freddie O’Connell has also officially proclaimed April 20 as Todd Snider Day. Snider was a beloved East Nashville folk singer who passed away last November. [WPLN]

🌳 NES’s Aggressive Tree Trimming

Following Winter Storm Fern criticism, Nashville Electric Service has implemented new tree guidelines and increased its trimming efforts to keep up with vegetation management goals. However, some Nashville residents are unhappy with the utility’s more aggressive tree trimming. “They’re out here just hacking them down,” says one local. [WSMV]

• Nashville naturalist Jo Brichetto is also sounding the alarm, explaining that this kind of side pruning can damage trees and deplete wildlife habitats. [Sidewalk Nature]
• Do you have thoughts about NES’s new tree trimming guidelines? Email me!

🧑‍⚖️ Ethics Complaint Against Councilmember

An ethics complaint has been filed against Metro Councilmember Courtney Johnston because of her position on the Music City Children’s Museum board of directors. The complaint says Johnston should’ve disclosed her role in the nonprofit, and recused herself from a vote on a proposed East Bank rezoning, where the museum’s future home could be located. [Nashville Banner]

• Related: In 2024, Johnston failed to unseat U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles despite bringing in more campaign donations. Currently, all of Ogles’ District 5 challengers have also raised more money than Ogles for their campaigns. [Tennessee Lookout]