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💰 What Should Be in Our City Budget?

From the city’s affordability crisis to what Nashvillians say they’d like to see in our proposed budget, we’re digging into the week’s hottest news on today’s Friday News Roundup. Plus, all the festivals we’re looking forward to this weekend, and exciting indie bookstore news. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

• What would you like to see funded in Nashville’s budget? Let me know!

🦒 Zoo ‘Vehemently Opposed’ to Data Center

The Nashville Zoo is “vehemently opposed” to a proposed data center on land adjoining the zoo. DC BLOX, the company that wants to build the data center, says it will provide “much-needed digital infrastructure” and will not be “a burden on local resources.” Metro Council is currently considering a zoning bill that would prohibit data centers beside public areas like the zoo. [🔐 The Tennessean; NewsChannel 5]

• Here’s a picture of the proposed data center’s location. [Instagram]
• Nashville Zoo CEO Rick Schwartz is asking the public to sign a petition opposing the data center. [🔐 The Tennessean; Change.org]
• Listen to our episode about how the Nashville Zoo helps endangered animals. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🚨 Pushback Against MNPD Drone Use

Community advocates and some councilmembers are pushing back against the “Drone as First Responder” pilot program recently implemented in Madison by the Metro Nashville Police Department. The program is being criticized for its lack of oversight. MNPD reports the drones have led to one arrest in a domestic violence case. [WPLN]

🏞️ Park Updates Coming Our Way

After community input, Metro Parks has updated its Plan to Play vision for the future. The master plan includes finishing the Shelby Park Naval Reserve building rehabilitation, designing a new park for Trinity Hills, and replacing the Ellington Parkway pedestrian bridge and approach ramps at Frederick Douglass Park. The updates will start this year and continue through 2031. [WKRN]

• Metro Parks is hosting several community meetings to discuss the updates. [Nashville.gov]

Tennessee celebrated its 230th birthday this week. In honor of the day, Gov. Bill Lee unveiled the state’s new welcome sign, the first major redesign since 1995. But how well do you know Tennessee history? Test yourself to find out!

Which soft drink originated in Tennessee?

My mom is known as The Cat Whisperer at her local vet clinic. She’s rescued dozens of cats over the years and feeds her neighborhood’s strays. Phoenix, the calico, is 17 years old and adopted from the Dickson Humane Society. Both Cinder (back) and Solitaire (notched ear) were strays rescued from my mom’s backyard. Cinder and Phoenix are sweeties, but Solitaire is quite wary of humans. It took her a year to befriend my mom.

Do you have pets you’d like to share with readers? Email me pics!