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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Nashville. Written by Nate Rau and Adam Tamburin.

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Tennessee has the worst quality of life in the U.S., per CNBC ranking

CNBC's rankings highlight some reasons businesses might stay away.

Business

Tennessee has the worst quality of life in the country, according to CNBC, which gave the Volunteer State an F for quality of life in its annual ranking of the best states for businesses.Why it matters: State leaders often pride themselves on making Tennessee <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="as business-friendly as possible" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/01/10/in-n-out-burger-expanding-corporate-office-restaurant-nashville-tennessee" data-vars-content-id="8a1428ed-7a85-4c6d-9944-7f70a0eb5124" data-vars-headline="Tennessee has the worst quality of life in the U.S., per CNBC ranking" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/01/10/in-n-out-burger-expanding-corporate-office-restaurant-nashville-tennessee" target="_self">as business-friendly as possible</a>, but <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CNBC&#x27;s closely watched rankings" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/09/americas-top-states-for-business-full-rankings.html" data-vars-content-id="8a1428ed-7a85-4c6d-9944-7f70a0eb5124" data-vars-headline="Tennessee has the worst quality of life in the U.S., per CNBC ranking" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/09/americas-top-states-for-business-full-rankings.html" target="_blank">CNBC&#x27;s closely watched rankings</a> highlight some reasons businesses might stay away.

Gut-wrecking stomach illness cyclosporiasis hits Tennessee

Tennessee has seen as many as 30 reported cases as of last week.

News

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gut-wrecking parasite" data-vars-click-url="https://link.axios.com/click/46522957.6255/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjYvMDcvMDcvY3ljbG9zcG9yaWFzaXMtc3RvbWFjaC1idWctY2FzZXMtc3ltcHRvbXMtb3V0YnJlYWs_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXJfYXhpb3Nsb2NhbF9waGlsYWRlbHBoaWEmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/610c4e3224241d4f337f4dd3Bf2d3f76a" data-vars-content-id="1e077917-b136-449b-9748-a3868e0a2436" data-vars-headline="Gut-wrecking stomach illness cyclosporiasis hits Tennessee" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://link.axios.com/click/46522957.6255/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXhpb3MuY29tLzIwMjYvMDcvMDcvY3ljbG9zcG9yaWFzaXMtc3RvbWFjaC1idWctY2FzZXMtc3ltcHRvbXMtb3V0YnJlYWs_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1uZXdzbGV0dGVyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPW5ld3NsZXR0ZXJfYXhpb3Nsb2NhbF9waGlsYWRlbHBoaWEmc3RyZWFtPXRvcA/610c4e3224241d4f337f4dd3Bf2d3f76a" target="_self">gut-wrecking parasite</a> surging in the U.S. is also spreading in Tennessee.

O'Connell, Blackburn spar with fortune cookies on social media

Mayor O'Connell and Sen. Blackburn spar via fortune cookies on social media.

Politics

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Nashville Mayor Freddie O&#x27;Connell" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/05/04/nashville-mayor-freddie-oconnell-reelection" data-vars-content-id="5077b1ea-fc46-4d6d-a40b-f6824cb49532" data-vars-headline="O&#x27;Connell, Blackburn spar with fortune cookies on social media" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/05/04/nashville-mayor-freddie-oconnell-reelection" target="_self">Nashville Mayor Freddie O&#x27;Connell</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/08/07/blackburn-reshapes-2026-race-for-tennessee-governor" data-vars-content-id="5077b1ea-fc46-4d6d-a40b-f6824cb49532" data-vars-headline="O&#x27;Connell, Blackburn spar with fortune cookies on social media" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/08/07/blackburn-reshapes-2026-race-for-tennessee-governor" target="_self">U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn</a> engaged in a war of fortune cookies on social media over the weekend.Why it matters: The spat could blow over as typical partisan gamesmanship, or it could foreshadow a dysfunctional relationship ahead.

Joyland closes Nashville burger joints

Joyland closes Nashville shops following its investor's financial turmoil.

Food and Drink

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Joyland" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2022/01/28/a-new-era-at-sean-brocks-joyland" data-vars-content-id="35c4d825-fc1b-4c95-bbf0-3259169cb0eb" data-vars-headline="Joyland closes Nashville burger joints" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2022/01/28/a-new-era-at-sean-brocks-joyland" target="_self">Joyland</a>, the fast food burger concept from acclaimed chef Sean Brock, abruptly closed both of its Nashville locations over the weekend.Why it matters: A reliably good burger option is off the menu for Nashvillians.

Inside Nashville's convention for conventions

Music City Center played host to a vital convention for Nashville's future tourism business.

It didn&#x27;t come with the glitz and glamor of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a Super Bowl" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/05/19/nashville-picked-to-host-super-bowl-in-2030" data-vars-content-id="d0636bb6-f356-49b0-be9f-2de485825b3b" data-vars-headline="Inside Nashville&#x27;s convention for conventions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/05/19/nashville-picked-to-host-super-bowl-in-2030" target="_self">a Super Bowl</a>, but earlier this week Nashville hosted a convention that&#x27;s vital to the future of the city&#x27;s tourism business.Why it matters: The Cvent Connect is a convention for convention and meeting planners, giving our hospitality industry a chance to sell key decision makers on bringing their bookings to Nashville.<ul><li>Winning over a key event planner can result in massive future convention business, which means hotel room bookings and big dollars spent at restaurants and music venues.</li></ul>

Country Music Association taps new CEO

Brittany Schaffer will replace outgoing CEO Sarah Trahern.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Country Music Association" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/01/15/country-music-association-cma-sarah-trahern-retire" data-vars-content-id="fa413a43-a64c-44bb-bf59-69ab495ad1fc" data-vars-headline="Country Music Association taps new CEO" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/01/15/country-music-association-cma-sarah-trahern-retire" target="_self">Country Music Association</a> announced Wednesday that it has selected Belmont University official Brittany Schaffer to serve as its next CEO.Why it matters: The CMA is one of the most powerful institutions on Music Row. The organization&#x27;s leaders oversee Country Music Hall of Fame inductions, the CMA Awards and CMA Fest.

How Nashville's July 4 celebration evolved into a primetime spectacle

The event has ballooned into one of the best-attended and most highly regarded July 4 events in the country.

Things to Do

When the Nashville Convention &amp; Visitors Corp. took over production of the city&#x27;s July 4 celebration in 2004, country artists like Phil Vassar performed on top of a barge on the Cumberland River. A tasteful fireworks display brought the festivities to a close.Why it matters: From there, the event has ballooned into one of the best-attended and most highly regarded July 4 events in the country. It is headlined by artists representing a wide variety of genres, and the fireworks show puts most other cities&#x27; to shame.<ul><li>July 4 planners took things to another level for the nation&#x27;s 250th anniversary, turning the party into a two-day event that will culminate in a live national broadcast on ABC.</li></ul>

What to know about Nashville's data center debate

What to do about data centers has become the great land-use debate in Nashville.

Without much fanfare, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nine data centers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/06/29/mayor-occonnell-eminent-domain-nashville-zoo-data-center" data-vars-content-id="329f627b-b3f8-41aa-ab79-df760f9cb7d4" data-vars-headline="What to know about Nashville&#x27;s data center debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/06/29/mayor-occonnell-eminent-domain-nashville-zoo-data-center" target="_self">nine data centers</a> were already up and running in Nashville and a 10th was <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="under construction" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nashville.gov/sites/default/files/2026-06/062526Staffreport.pdf?ct=1782826131" data-vars-content-id="329f627b-b3f8-41aa-ab79-df760f9cb7d4" data-vars-headline="What to know about Nashville&#x27;s data center debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nashville.gov/sites/default/files/2026-06/062526Staffreport.pdf?ct=1782826131" target="_blank">under construction</a> as the issue flew under the radar.<ul><li>Then came <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="plans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/06/09/opposition-to-data-center-near-nashville-zoo-grows-as-city-plays-catch-up" data-vars-content-id="329f627b-b3f8-41aa-ab79-df760f9cb7d4" data-vars-headline="What to know about Nashville&#x27;s data center debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/06/09/opposition-to-data-center-near-nashville-zoo-grows-as-city-plays-catch-up" target="_self">plans</a> for a 69,000-square-foot data center next to the Nashville Zoo and a 100,000-square-foot data center and academic complex on the Fisk University campus.</li></ul>Why it matters: What to do about data centers has become the great land-use debate in Nashville, as Metro Council pursues new guardrails and organizers rally to oppose the new projects.

DC Blox presses forward with Nashville data center plans despite pushback

Despite mounting pressure, DC Blox says it is moving forward with a data center near the zoo.

DC Blox is moving forward with plans for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a data center near the Nashville Zoo" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/06/09/opposition-to-data-center-near-nashville-zoo-grows-as-city-plays-catch-up" data-vars-content-id="bb47264e-83d5-43fa-b549-561e81dd5ee0" data-vars-headline="DC Blox presses forward with Nashville data center plans despite pushback" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/06/09/opposition-to-data-center-near-nashville-zoo-grows-as-city-plays-catch-up" target="_self">a data center near the Nashville Zoo</a> despite gargantuan public pushback — and new criticism from environmental groups that say the project could harm endangered animals in the zoo and beyond.Why it matters: The proposed data center is Nashville&#x27;s most controversial development in recent years. More than half a million people have signed a petition opposing the effort.

Bill Haslam, Colin Reed headline appointments to new Nashville tourism board

The board will be in charge of deciding how to spend millions of dollars sales tax dollars from the downtown tourism development zone.

Former Gov. Bill Haslam and hospitality executive Colin Reed headline the influential civic leaders who will serve on the state&#x27;s powerful <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new Nashville tourism board" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/03/24/state-plan-would-send-convention-hall-money-to-east-bank-super-bowl-recruitment" data-vars-content-id="81a2af9f-86ec-4252-badb-d3ffde3558a0" data-vars-headline="Bill Haslam, Colin Reed headline appointments to new Nashville tourism board" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/03/24/state-plan-would-send-convention-hall-money-to-east-bank-super-bowl-recruitment" target="_self">new Nashville tourism board</a>.Why it matters: The board will be in charge of deciding how to spend millions of dollars sales tax dollars from the downtown tourism development zone (TDZ), which was created to help finance the Music City Center.<ul><li>The Joint Capital Tourism Board will spend the money on recruiting new tourism events and public safety initiatives.</li></ul>

Clive Davis was inspired by country music's songwriting model

Clive Davis said Nashville's music industry approach inspired his own career.

Music

Nashville&#x27;s music industry was closely linked to the career of iconic record executive Clive Davis, who died Monday at the age of 94.Flashback: In a 2017 interview Nate conducted when he was at The Tennessean, Davis described how the Music Row machine influenced his approach.<ul><li>Earlier in his career, when he was in the rock world, most of the artists Davis worked with wrote their own songs.</li><li>But in Nashville&#x27;s country music industry, most artists were be paired with well-written songs from professional songwriters.</li></ul>

Metro sues to stop state takeover of Nashville's airport board

The city sued in federal court to block a state takeover.

Mayor Freddie O&#x27;Connell&#x27;s administration announced Wednesday it is suing to block the state&#x27;s latest attempt to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="take control of the Airport Authority&#x27;s board of directors" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/04/17/tennessee-republicans-close-to-airport-board-overhaul" data-vars-content-id="09e12987-40df-4d50-bdbe-85da2f5ff338" data-vars-headline="Metro sues to stop state takeover of Nashville&#x27;s airport board" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/04/17/tennessee-republicans-close-to-airport-board-overhaul" target="_self">take control of the Airport Authority&#x27;s board of directors</a>.Why it matters: The airport is thriving and expanding, making control of its board especially important.<ul><li>The lawsuit is the latest example of Metro taking to the courts to fight what it calls state overreach.</li></ul>

Bonnaroo looks to bounce back

Bonnaroo looks to rebound after last year's cancellation.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/06/27/bonnaroo-turns-to-fans-to-help-decide-festivals-future" data-vars-content-id="719805ad-e120-422e-afc6-478107e132a5" data-vars-headline="Bonnaroo looks to bounce back" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/06/27/bonnaroo-turns-to-fans-to-help-decide-festivals-future" target="_self">The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival</a> returns to the Farm Thursday, one year after torrential rain <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ruined the event" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/06/16/bonnaroo-ends-early-after-heavy-rain-hits" data-vars-content-id="719805ad-e120-422e-afc6-478107e132a5" data-vars-headline="Bonnaroo looks to bounce back" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/06/16/bonnaroo-ends-early-after-heavy-rain-hits" target="_self">ruined the event</a>.Why it matters: Bonnaroo remains a crucial economic engine for Middle Tennessee and a unique concert experience, but the event is facing headwinds from recent cancellations and increasing festival competition.

Business 🏦

Inside Nashville's convention for conventions

Tennessee has the worst quality of life in the U.S., per CNBC ranking

Country Music Association taps new CEO

How Nashville's July 4 celebration evolved into a primetime spectacle

What to know about Nashville's data center debate