🚴 Will these new changes make biking safer?

🗳️ Nashville Voters Are Showing Up

On today’s Friday News Roundup, we’re sharing the latest news about the election, from high early voting turnout to deepfake ads. Plus, we’re talking about how recently passed legislation could impact the data center by the zoo, what’s up with the federal search warrant at Metro Water Services, and the latest restaurant upheaval. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

• The Nashville Zoo board has rejected a memorandum of understanding offered by DC BLOX, the developer behind the proposed adjacent data center. The MOU included gifting part of the land to the zoo and building a smaller data center. In a statement, Nashville Zoo CEO Rick Schwartz said, “We stand by what we’ve said from the beginning: A data center this close to vulnerable species, schools, and neighboring communities has not been proven safe.” [WKRN]

🚲 Will These Barriers Make Biking Safer?

As part of a pilot program, the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure has installed concrete Toronto barriers to existing bike lanes in parts of downtown and East Nashville. The hope is the barriers will make biking safer in these areas, and if successful, they could be installed in other areas of Nashville. [WKRN]

• The barriers are being used on parts of Commerce and Davidson streets. NDOT is asking folks to share their thoughts if they use one of those streets. [Survey Monkey]

🤼 The Gym Creating Community One Punch at a Time

At the South Nashville gym Chonburi Muay Thai, people wrestling with their pasts find community, drive, and an affirming third space. Owner Bruce Ratanakul, a former competitive Muay Thai fighter in Bangkok and a U.S. military veteran, coaches an array of fighters, from young adults seeking a better future to adults escaping addiction. “Just being in the trenches with people bonds you in a way that not many things can,” said fighter Sarah London. [Nashville Banner]

🧑‍🌾 How Farms Are Faring in Nashville

Since 2010, Davidson County has lost 30,000 acres of farmland. As Nashville’s farming community shrinks, multigenerational farmers are rethinking how to survive amid a nationwide farming crisis, while an urban garden is reimagining community agriculture. [Nashville Scene]

• The Nashville Food Project helps support refugee farmers. Here’s our interview with them about how they’re fighting food insecurity. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

Meet Mabel and Charlie! While Mabel (left) is the sweetest dog in the world, Charlie (right) is a bit … spicy. Their owner likes to say they’re “salt and pepper; sugar and spice; yin and yang; Beauty and the Beast.” As a shortie, I know how important it is to bring the heat sometimes, so props to Charlie! I love this dynamic.

Do you have a pet you’d like to share with readers? Email me a pet pic!