This week’s Dose of news: Nashville finds budget solution and governor says TN will still accept refugees – Tennessean
It’s the giving season. Perhaps, like me, you are still searching for the perfect gift to give the person who has everything. (Like my dad.) We can help! Please consider the gift of local news. It never goes out of style and is always the perfect fit. We promise. And now, here’s your weekly Dose.
This week’s dose of news
As the Mt. Juliet community mourns, it also comes together to support and love one another
The Mt. Juliet community has had a tough week. Neighbors have come together with love to remember the 7-year-old boy who died in this year’s Christmas parade, and a slain addiction and recovery counselor who grew up in Mt. Juliet and was known for her empathy, her humility and her love. Meanwhile, middle school students are working hard to replace thousands of dollars in stolen toys and gifts that were meant for kids in need this holiday season. Hearts go out. Here’s how you can help.
As legislative leaders signal disapproval, Gov. Bill Lee says Tennessee will continue accepting refugees
A deadline looms to inform the federal government of the state’s stance on resettlement, and Tennessee’s governor has made his decision. The state will continue to accept refugees, joining only a handful of Republican-led states in doing so. The disagreement marks the most consequential conflict between the state’s executive and legislative branches since Lee took office in January.
Updates, quick hits and tidbits
- For the second time in two months, Tennessee’s driver’s license centers were crippled by a computer-system outage that lasted hours. What’s up with that?
- Mayor John Cooper and Nashville businessman John Ingram went for a drive together in the mayor’s Prius last week. Just what did they talk about? (Hint: It had to do with soccer stadium hurdles.)
- A plane went missing last week at a Nashville airport, launching an FBI investigation. Guess where they found it.
- First NYC. Then Los Vegas. Now, Nashvegas! Brooklyn Bowl will open in Nashville’s Germantown neighborhood in March. And it has a rockin’ concert lineup.
- Budget shortfall solution? Nashville will use a one-time influx of cash from this city tourism entity to help cover the city’s estimated $41.5 million budget gap.
All the good feels
‘O Holy Night’: Nashville nurse’s duet with veteran musician in cancer ward soothes souls
When oncology nurse Alex Collazo found out one of her patients was having a bad time with chemotherapy, she pulled out a guitar to sing a few duets and cheer him up.
Here’s the twist: The man in the hospital bed was the one playing the guitar.
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Quote of the week
“We’ve done plenty of weeping with women. There’s plenty to grieve about. But when somebody who’s been on the streets, been in prison … gets a house, that’s a day to celebrate.”
— The Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Thistle Farms residential treatment program for women survivors of addiction and trafficking.
Stevens attended a special ceremony for recovering addict Brenda Wilson and two others, who received keys to their new Habitat for Humanity homes last week. The houses were part of the highest-profile build ever to take place in Nashville. Former President Jimmy Carter, 95, and his wife, Rosalynn, joined husband-and-wife country stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, several Predators and Titans and about 700 other volunteers to help build the houses in October.
Numbers worth knowing
About 5,000 disabled Tennesseans are stuck on a TennCare waiting list not getting help
TennCare’s Employment and Community First Choices program was created to offer support services to those with severe intellectual or developmental disabilities like Down syndrome, autism or cerebral palsy. But there is not enough aid to go around. So where is the funding shortage? Here’s a look at the numbers:
Approximately 3,000 people: Participate in the ECF Choices program.
An additional 6,300 people: Are on the program’s waiting list, TennCare spokeswoman Sarah Tanksley said, but about 5,000 are requesting services to begin immediately.
$45 million: Budget proposal request submitted to the governor by TennCare to increase enrollment by about 2,400 people. If granted, that money would be matched with $88 million in federal funding.
400 of those proposed slots: Would be set aside for people with severe health conditions or crisis situations. The remaining 2,000 spaces would be used to whittle down the waiting list of job seekers and people who need help living independently.
What’s on your list?
The close of 2019 means not only the end of the year, but the end of an entire decade. (Gasp! Where does the time go?!?) That means ’tis the season for best-of lists galore. Here are a few just for you — in all our faves of food, music and things to do.
- Yum, yum, double yum: Top 10 new restaurants and bars of 2019 in Nashville
- Last-minute shopping saviors: The 25 best gifts under $50
- Music to my ears: 25 essential Nashville albums of the decade
- Fun, fun, fun: Best memberships to Nashville attractions to give as gifts this year
Speaking of the end of 2019, we won’t be here next week. We’ll be snuggled in for the holidays with family and prepping for the New Year. In the meantime, if you are still searching for something to give for that special someone, please consider the gift of news. Every story in this newsletter is brought to you by a hard-working journalist who cares about keeping you informed and creating positive change in this community. From this reporter to you and yours, have a wonderful week.
Published 10:02 PM EST Dec 18, 2019
