🚗 The best roadside oddities near Nashville

🚦 Debate Continues Over Pedestrian Safety

Over the weekend, an 87-year-old man ran a red light and struck four pedestrians on a crosswalk on Lower Broadway, killing one and injuring the others. While there’s been debate for years about closing Lower Broadway to vehicles, Metro police spokesman Don Aaron says this “very tragic accident” shouldn’t be a catalyst for change. [WSMV; Nashville Banner]

• So far this year, 28 pedestrians have died on Nashville roads. Despite being packed with tourists, Lower Broadway hasn’t seen many pedestrian deaths this year. The most dangerous local roads for pedestrians are Gallatin, Dickerson, Nolensville, and Murfreesboro Pikes. Earlier this year, we spoke with Vision Zero Advisory Committee chair Charlie Weingartner about why pedestrian deaths are rising in Nashville. [🔐 The Tennessean;🎧 City Cast Nashville]
• Nashville is using Choose How You Move funds to build raised pedestrian crosswalks. There are currently three raised crosswalks downtown, with a fourth on the way. [Axios Nashville]
• At tonight’s Metro Council meeting, councilmembers will consider a bill on its first reading that would ban right turns on red lights in Nashville’s Urban Services District, which covers much of the city. The bill’s sponsors argue the rule would make it safer for pedestrians on crosswalks. But some councilmembers argue it would cause traffic problems. [WKRN]

🚗 Must-See Weird Attractions Near Nashville

If you’re sick of normal summer road trips, this episode is for you. City Cast Nashville contributor and travel writer Margaret Littman gives us her guide to the best nearby roadside oddities, including not one but two Stonehenge replicas, a chicken wire Minnie Pearl, and the world’s largest cedar bucket. [🎧 City Cast Nashville]

🏫 Should August Be Nashville History Month?

Local historian Betsy Phillips argues August would be the perfect month to celebrate Nashville’s history. She recommends 10 free or cheap ways to learn more about our history, from kissing Frenchmen (yes, seriously) to fossil hunting and visiting a little-known historic park. [Nashville Scene]

• For more free ideas, I recommend tuning in to our previous episodes with Betsy, from the strange-but-true tale of a local occultist to the story of how enslaved people built our city. Plus, you can visit our archives to read more about Nashville’s history. [City Cast Nashville]

🗳️ Competitive 9th Congressional District

The 9th Congressional District used to be a Democratic stronghold in Memphis, but redistricting has spread it from the city to rural West Tennessee and all the way to Franklin. The newly redrawn district has attracted 10 candidates, including Memphis state Rep. Justin J. Pearson, who has outraised his Democratic primary competitors, and four Republican candidates who are in “lockstep” with the party. [Tennessee Lookout]

• A Tennessee law forbids U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn from spending Senate campaign money on her gubernatorial bid. However, she found a legal loophole by donating her Senate campaign money to a political action committee, which then spent it on political ads urging voters to elect Blackburn for governor. [Tennessee Lookout]
• Election Day is Thursday! Here’s our podcast and article guide. Make sure to check your voter registration so you know where to vote. 10.7% of registered Davidson County voters cast their ballots early. [City Cast Nashville; Tennessee Secretary of State; Nashville.gov]

🚰 Data Center Used 53.4M Gallons of Water in 2025

During the 2025-2026 fiscal year, Meta’s Gallatin AI data center accounted for approximately 2% of all water sold by Gallatin Public Utilities. The data center averages 4.5 million gallons of water every month, pulled from Old Hickory Lake. Gallatin leaders say the utility has sufficient treatment capacity to meet Meta’s current water needs, though the data center has not yet been completed. [🔐 The Tennessean]

• Read our interview with the man leading the fight against data centers in Nashville. [📰 City Cast Nashville]
• Tonight, Metro Council will cast its final vote on whether Nashville should buy the land by the zoo to stop a proposed data center from being built. [WKRN]