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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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How a people-loving nerd became Nashville's mayor

Over two decades, Freddie O'Connell went from being a political footnote to a beacon of hope for Nashville progressives

Election

Map: When and where to see peak fall foliage

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the best places in the country to admire fall foliage.

Things to Do

The celebrity guide to Nashville

Where Hollywood types like to go in Nashville.

Komodo dragons take center stage at Nashville Zoo

The giant lizards are the new featured attraction at the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere.

Cooper pitches plan to fight homelessness

It involves spending $50 million in federal pandemic relief money.

Politics

Mayor John Cooper pushed Metro Council in a speech Wednesday to approve his plan to spend $50 million in federal pandemic relief funds to combat homelessness.Details: Cooper unveiled the proposal during his <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="State of Metro address earlier this year" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2022/04/28/cooper-prioritizes-education-housing-in-state-of-metro-address" data-vars-content-id="5be6ac50-ea2d-423d-8a11-f742fa110f54" data-vars-headline="Cooper pitches plan to fight homelessness" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2022/04/28/cooper-prioritizes-education-housing-in-state-of-metro-address" target="_self">State of Metro address earlier this year</a>. After being deferred, four linked pieces of legislation are up for a vote soon. He proposes to spend:

Illustration of Nashville City Hall with lines radiating from it.

Our COVID checkup

New COVID-19 cases in Middle Tennessee are increasing, but hospitalizations are staying low.

COVID

New COVID-19 cases in Middle Tennessee are on the rise, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="state data" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov/data/epi-curves.html" data-vars-content-id="ab04dbb5-88b2-4032-b2db-a6966711f35b" data-vars-headline="Our COVID checkup" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov/data/epi-curves.html" target="_blank">state data</a>.<ul><li>While hospitalizations have also ticked up in recent weeks, they remain well below the peak levels seen earlier this year.</li></ul>

Illustration of a pattern of covid particles and positive signs turning into each other.

COVID study's surprising finding regarding food allergies

The study points to a line of research scientists can continue to explore.

People with food allergies are less likely to get the virus that causes COVID-19, according to a new study co-led by a researcher at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.<ul><li>The unexpected finding emerged from a broader analysis of other factors that might influence infections.</li></ul>

Illustration of a coronavirus cell surrounded by hands holding magnifying glasses

Good luck driving in downtown Nashville

Somehow, traffic got worse despite the fact that many people are still working from home.

News

Trips to downtown Nashville are exceeding pre-pandemic levels, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a new analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://inrix.com/learn/back-to-office-traffic-and-activity-report/" data-vars-content-id="60621a52-c069-4263-a587-a475b97cb577" data-vars-headline="Good luck driving in downtown Nashville" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://inrix.com/learn/back-to-office-traffic-and-activity-report/" target="_blank">a new analysis</a> of traffic patterns.Why it matters: Somehow, traffic got worse despite the fact that many people are still working from home.<ul><li>A report from traffic analytics firm Inrix identified Nashville as &quot;a great example of bringing people back&quot; to downtown areas in a &quot;new normal&quot; environment.</li></ul>Zoom out: Researchers analyzed traffic patterns in 10 cities and found most downtown areas were still lagging behind pre-pandemic levels. Nashville was one of the few exceptions.State of play: In 2021, trips downtown were at 60% of pre-COVID levels. By this year, traffic had exceeded those levels by 25%<ul><li>Morning commute volume is up 3.8% in 2022. But traffic during off-hours appeared to be driving much of the surge.</li></ul>What they&#x27;re saying: &quot;Downtown Nashville, which has seen increasing traffic volumes during evenings and weekends, has shown that work-related trips may not be the main driver of traffic and economic activity downtown,&quot; the report stated.Between the lines: Transportation analyst Bob Pishue, who wrote the report, tells Axios the findings suggest the entertainment and tourism activity layered alongside the business district downtown are key factors behind the numbers.<ul><li>&quot;That kind of environment seems to be bringing people in,&quot; he says.</li></ul>

cars lined up bumper to bumper on Broadway in Nashville

Tennessee college enrollment sinks

The percentage of TN high school seniors who go straight into college was 52.8% in 2021.

Fewer Tennessee high schoolers are going to college after graduation, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data released Monday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/thec/bureau/research/college-going-reports/CGR-HSSO%20Report%20Draft_Final.pdf" data-vars-content-id="c6ea8da8-857b-4ff9-867b-969d1f5c05bb" data-vars-headline="Tennessee college enrollment sinks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/thec/bureau/research/college-going-reports/CGR-HSSO%20Report%20Draft_Final.pdf" target="_blank">data released Monday</a>.Why it matters: Tennessee officials at every level of government have spent years trying to encourage more residents to pursue higher education. Enrollment rates dropping substantially during the pandemic is the latest sign of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="lagging interest" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2022/04/04/community-college-enrollment-drop-leads-to-layoffs" data-vars-content-id="c6ea8da8-857b-4ff9-867b-969d1f5c05bb" data-vars-headline="Tennessee college enrollment sinks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2022/04/04/community-college-enrollment-drop-leads-to-layoffs" target="_self">lagging interest</a>.

COVID testing site to close

The last day for testing and vaccinations at 350 28th Avenue North is April 29.

City officials announced Wednesday that one free COVID testing center is closing next week despite a recent &quot;moderate rise in infections.&quot;Why it matters: The move reflects the pandemic&#x27;s changing landscape, as rapid home tests have become widely available while hospitalizations <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="remain low" data-vars-click-url="https://nashville.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=30dd8aa876164e05ad6c0a1726fc77a4" data-vars-content-id="6811aaeb-3f39-40ac-aa5d-923dd01d50c8" data-vars-headline="COVID testing site to close" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://nashville.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=30dd8aa876164e05ad6c0a1726fc77a4" target="_blank">remain low</a>.

Vanderbilt to study long COVID

VUMC received a $1 million grant from the American Heart Association for the study.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center received a $1 million grant to study COVID-19&#x27;s long-term effect on the heart and cardiovascular system.<ul><li>It was one of 11 pandemic-related grants <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="announced last week" data-vars-click-url="https://newsroom.heart.org/news/more-than-10m-in-research-grants-awarded-to-study-long-covid-impact-on-cvd-health" data-vars-content-id="e597eb27-0a2c-42a3-a93c-4179b29a41d3" data-vars-headline="Vanderbilt to study long COVID" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://newsroom.heart.org/news/more-than-10m-in-research-grants-awarded-to-study-long-covid-impact-on-cvd-health" target="_blank">announced last week</a> by the American Heart Association.</li></ul>

Illustration of a child looking at a giant covid virus casting a long shadow

COVID hospitalizations continue sliding

There were 29 active COVID hospitalizations on Wednesday, down from 500 in February.

COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to decline in Nashville.By the numbers: There were 29 active COVID hospitalizations on Wednesday, according to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Metro Public Health Department" data-vars-click-url="https://nashville.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=30dd8aa876164e05ad6c0a1726fc77a4" data-vars-content-id="928743db-84ec-4203-9e7e-59581f8a7771" data-vars-headline="COVID hospitalizations continue sliding" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://nashville.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=30dd8aa876164e05ad6c0a1726fc77a4" target="_blank">Metro Public Health Department</a>, down from more than 500 in early February.

Illustration of a dial with progressively larger coronavirus icon for settings.

DA investigation: Fired Tennessee vaccine chief didn't buy muzzle

It criticized a 2021 state investigation that stated the muzzle was purchased with her credit card.

A new investigation found Tennessee&#x27;s former vaccine chief, Michelle Fiscus, did not send a dog muzzle to herself, according to a report from Nashville prosecutors <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first obtained by WSMV" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wsmv.com/2022/03/11/news-4-investigates-da-confirms-former-top-state-vaccine-official-did-not-send-muzzle-herself/" data-vars-content-id="54de68c6-5d44-484c-917e-d799f8201dc0" data-vars-headline="DA investigation: Fired Tennessee vaccine chief didn&#x27;t buy muzzle" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wsmv.com/2022/03/11/news-4-investigates-da-confirms-former-top-state-vaccine-official-did-not-send-muzzle-herself/" target="_blank">first obtained by WSMV</a>.Driving the news: The memo criticized <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a 2021 state investigation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/tennesee-covid-vaccine-fired-dog-muzzle-michelle-fiscus-b2419534-7e4a-4048-89b5-35300e8da333.html" data-vars-content-id="54de68c6-5d44-484c-917e-d799f8201dc0" data-vars-headline="DA investigation: Fired Tennessee vaccine chief didn&#x27;t buy muzzle" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/tennesee-covid-vaccine-fired-dog-muzzle-michelle-fiscus-b2419534-7e4a-4048-89b5-35300e8da333.html" target="_self">a 2021 state investigation</a> that stated the muzzle was purchased with Fiscus&#x27; credit card.

CDC recommends masks in Nashville

The revised recommendations are based on new COVID-19 benchmarks.

The CDC eased its masking recommendations for much of the U.S. last week, but the agency is still encouraging universal mask wearing for people in many Tennessee counties.Why it matters: The revised recommendations are based on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new COVID-19 benchmarks" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-masks-cdc-guidance-52aaae87-7ea5-4a3b-8ebf-66e3f542ef77.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_atlanta&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="e118f992-7f17-4bde-bbbb-e45f098f3a7f" data-vars-headline="CDC recommends masks in Nashville" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-masks-cdc-guidance-52aaae87-7ea5-4a3b-8ebf-66e3f542ef77.html?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_atlanta&amp;stream=top" target="_self">new COVID-19 benchmarks</a>, including case numbers, hospitalizations and hospital capacity.

COVID 🦠