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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.

Taylor Swift, Beyoncé reporting jobs get big interest

Applicants include Emmy winners and a White House reporter.

News

Almost 1,000 people have applied for the Tennessean&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Taylor Swift and Beyoncé reporting gigs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/14/tennessean-usa-today-taylor-swift-beyonce-beats" data-vars-content-id="65d4275c-a543-46f9-b37b-372cb4867a3d" data-vars-headline="Taylor Swift, Beyoncé reporting jobs get big interest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/14/tennessean-usa-today-taylor-swift-beyonce-beats" target="_self">Taylor Swift and Beyoncé reporting gigs</a>, per the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Wall Street Journal" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wsj.com/business/media/taylor-swift-beyonce-reporter-applications-a2c827c0" data-vars-content-id="65d4275c-a543-46f9-b37b-372cb4867a3d" data-vars-headline="Taylor Swift, Beyoncé reporting jobs get big interest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wsj.com/business/media/taylor-swift-beyonce-reporter-applications-a2c827c0" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a>.<ul><li>The applicants include Emmy winners, influencers and a White House reporter.</li></ul>Catch up quick: The positions will cover the wide-ranging influence of the pop culture juggernauts.<ul><li>An executive at Gannett, parent company of the Tennessean and USA Today, told the Journal that the positions are expected to generate revenue for the broader company and could help &quot;save local journalism.&quot; If these roles are successful, the executive said, more specifically tailored beats could follow.</li></ul>

Taylor Swift and Beyonce laughing at an awards show.

Vanderbilt doubles down on criticism of U.S. News rankings

Vanderbilt is going on the offense against U.S. News & World Report's college rankings.

Vanderbilt University continues to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="go on the offense" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/09/19/vanderbilt-tennessee-top-college-us-news-rankings" data-vars-content-id="28d6f2b4-8a97-4ff9-84fc-a07c63118ff2" data-vars-headline="Vanderbilt doubles down on criticism of U.S. News rankings" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/09/19/vanderbilt-tennessee-top-college-us-news-rankings" target="_self">go on the offense</a> against U.S. News &amp; World Report&#x27;s college rankings, with university leaders calling the methodology &quot;an attack on the very notion of academic excellence.&quot;Why it matters: Academic institutions <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="have criticized" data-vars-click-url="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/09/22/us-news-rankings-changes-spur-complaints-and-apologies?j=413706&amp;sfmc_sub=49024211&amp;l=1536_HTML&amp;u=12257026&amp;mid=514009777&amp;jb=1004&amp;utm_source=sfmc&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=OOC+-+E2+OV+USNWR&amp;utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.insidehighered.com%2fnews%2fadmissions%2ftraditional-age%2f2023%2f09%2f22%2fus-news-rankings-changes-spur-complaints-and-apologies&amp;utm_id=413706&amp;sfmc_id=49024211" data-vars-content-id="28d6f2b4-8a97-4ff9-84fc-a07c63118ff2" data-vars-headline="Vanderbilt doubles down on criticism of U.S. News rankings" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/admissions/traditional-age/2023/09/22/us-news-rankings-changes-spur-complaints-and-apologies?j=413706&amp;sfmc_sub=49024211&amp;l=1536_HTML&amp;u=12257026&amp;mid=514009777&amp;jb=1004&amp;utm_source=sfmc&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=OOC+-+E2+OV+USNWR&amp;utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.insidehighered.com%2fnews%2fadmissions%2ftraditional-age%2f2023%2f09%2f22%2fus-news-rankings-changes-spur-complaints-and-apologies&amp;utm_id=413706&amp;sfmc_id=49024211" target="_blank">have criticized</a> the U.S. News rankings for years, but the intensity of Vanderbilt&#x27;s opposition reflects a growing backlash.

Illustration of the Vanderbilt mascot Mr. Commodore ripping the U.S. News & World Report logo in half.

Nashville Zoo has matchmaking plans for Andean bears

The newest arrival at the zoo is a bear named Pinocchio.

The newest arrival to the Nashville Zoo is a 10-year-old Andean bear named Pinocchio, who features dark fur and a bit of a blonde goatee.Details: Pinocchio came to the Nashville Zoo in July and underwent a quarantine period as he got used to his new habitat.

Dolly Parton unveils Tennessee Vol-themed edition of her album "Rockstar"

The CD will include a live version of our state song "Rocky Top."

Dolly Parton&#x27;s forthcoming album <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;Rockstar&quot;" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/05/10/dolly-parton-album-rockstar" data-vars-content-id="9d7bf352-2137-4234-96d3-0ababdc2c2f4" data-vars-headline="Dolly Parton unveils Tennessee Vol-themed edition of her album &quot;Rockstar&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/05/10/dolly-parton-album-rockstar" target="_self">&quot;Rockstar&quot;</a> pushes the Tennessee songbird into unfamiliar sonic settings, but she never strays far from her Rocky Top roots.So it shouldn&#x27;t be a surprise that she&#x27;s partnering with the University of Tennessee to release an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="orange-tinted special edition" data-vars-click-url="https://shop.dollyparton.com/products/rockstar-2cd-ut-limited-edition" data-vars-content-id="9d7bf352-2137-4234-96d3-0ababdc2c2f4" data-vars-headline="Dolly Parton unveils Tennessee Vol-themed edition of her album &quot;Rockstar&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://shop.dollyparton.com/products/rockstar-2cd-ut-limited-edition" target="_blank">orange-tinted special edition</a> &quot;Rockstar&quot; CD celebrating the Volunteers.

Nashville is a leader in the nationwide apartment boom

Nashville is one of the top drivers of new apartment construction nationwide.

Nearly 9,000 new apartment units are expected to be built in the Nashville area this year as developers continue to ramp up construction, according to a new report.Why it matters: Nashville is one of the top drivers of new apartment construction nationwide, per a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report from RentCafe" data-vars-click-url="https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-market/market-snapshots/new-apartment-construction/" data-vars-content-id="e2e2443d-8737-420e-b0b8-e9bd19058bd9" data-vars-headline="Nashville is a leader in the nationwide apartment boom" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/rental-market/market-snapshots/new-apartment-construction/" target="_blank">report from RentCafe</a>. (If you&#x27;ve driven around the city recently, that won&#x27;t surprise you.)

Nashville airport adds new international arrival space, retail options

The new additions to the airport are part of a massive expansion plan.

Nashville International Airport is opening its new International Arrival Facility on Wednesday, as well as a new space for travelers to enjoy food and drinks.<ul><li>This marks the completion of the 400,000-square-foot <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="lobby renovation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/01/20/bna-nashville-airport-unveils-new-central-lobby" data-vars-content-id="5b335f67-150e-43b3-af34-658ac96a8bc5" data-vars-headline="Nashville airport adds new international arrival space, retail options" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/01/20/bna-nashville-airport-unveils-new-central-lobby" target="_self">lobby renovation</a>.</li></ul>Why it matters: The new additions to the airport are part of a massive expansion plan that includes upgrades meant to accommodate the growing region.

Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell takes oath of office

O'Connell's oath represents a hard-fought political victory for progressives.

In his first day as mayor of Nashville, Freddie O&#x27;Connell had to go through the same human resources onboarding we all encounter when we start a new job.Driving the news: O&#x27;Connell took the oath of office Monday in the courtroom of Judge David Briley, a former Nashville mayor.<ul><li>O&#x27;Connell said he had to get his Metro email account reactivated. It had been shut down after his council term ended a few weeks ago.</li></ul>Zoom out: Once the paperwork was out of the way, O&#x27;Connell faced the hard work of running the government of a city facing tremendous challenges: a lagging mass transit system, an ongoing political feud with the state and a complicated riverfront redevelopment project.Why it matters: For the progressive wing of Metro politics, O&#x27;Connell&#x27;s oath represents a hard-fought political victory, which his supporters hope brings about a back-to-basics approach to government.What he&#x27;s saying: O&#x27;Connell told reporters a top challenge facing him on Day 1 was the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fractured relationship" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/08/02/nashville-mayor-lawsuits-tennessee-legislature" data-vars-content-id="cdbd9ca8-1fd6-4e6e-9951-43029bdab9dd" data-vars-headline="Nashville Mayor Freddie O&#x27;Connell takes oath of office" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/08/02/nashville-mayor-lawsuits-tennessee-legislature" target="_self">fractured relationship</a> between Metro and the Republican-led state government.<ul><li>&quot;That is also going to be a part of what we get started with today. I have already talked to several state legislators,&quot; O&#x27;Connell told reporters. &quot;I&#x27;ve talked to folks in the governor&#x27;s office. I&#x27;ve talked to some of the key constitutional officers at the state level.&quot;</li><li>&quot;Those conversations will continue, because as we re-engage in a conversation of regionalism, we know not just Nashville but all of Middle Tennessee has to be successful. That&#x27;s only going to happen if this doesn&#x27;t feel like two warring factions, but rather key partners.&quot;</li></ul>Details: O&#x27;Connell said he&#x27;d fill out his administration over the next 100 days.<ul><li>As was previously reported by the Nashville Banner, O&#x27;Connell confirmed legal director Wally Dietz would stay in his role. Finance director Kelly Flannery is unlikely to stay, O&#x27;Connell said.</li></ul>What&#x27;s next: A public inauguration celebration will take place at 11:30am Saturday in Public Square Park.

Freddie O'Connell takes the oath of office.

Tennessee Republican leaders form group to consider rejecting federal education funding

Tennessee would be the first state to turn down federal education funding.

Tennessee&#x27;s top Republican lawmakers are forming a group to consider rejecting federal education funding for the state&#x27;s K-12 schools.Flashback: House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) proposed turning down $1.8 billion in federal money <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="earlier this year" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/politics-bill-lee-tennessee-education-19c635555a8b766322c91b8a5680047a" data-vars-content-id="2b003ab5-2c46-478e-8cea-f290a65aba4a" data-vars-headline="Tennessee Republican leaders form group to consider rejecting federal education funding" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-bill-lee-tennessee-education-19c635555a8b766322c91b8a5680047a" target="_blank">earlier this year</a>.

Illustration of a dollar made out of chalk on a chalkboard being erased

Kayaking company promotes exploring Nashville via the Cumberland River

River Queen Voyages is devoted to celebrating the Cumberland.

Nashville as we know it today exists because of the Cumberland River.<ul><li>It was the backbone of the city&#x27;s early economy, serving as a vital trading post and port. But that history is lost on many longtime residents who only see the Cumberland while driving over a bridge, from point A to point B.</li></ul>That contradiction stood out to Annie Klaver after she moved here in 2005. &quot;I noticed we have a riverfront that no one used,&quot; she tells Axios.<ul><li>In 2015, she began a mission to boost the river&#x27;s reputation.</li></ul>

Freddie O'Connell turns focus to East Bank

O'Connell will be charged with overseeing the East Bank redevelopment.

Mayor-elect Freddie O&#x27;Connell won his new job, in part, by touting his opposition to the new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$2.1 billion Titans stadium" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/04/26/metro-council-approves-funding-for-new-titans-stadium" data-vars-content-id="fb4aaca0-6b66-4bbe-85c7-326e294445df" data-vars-headline="Freddie O&#x27;Connell turns focus to East Bank" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/04/26/metro-council-approves-funding-for-new-titans-stadium" target="_self">$2.1 billion Titans stadium</a>.Why it matters: Now that he&#x27;s in the corner office on the first floor of the courthouse, O&#x27;Connell will go about the work of ensuring the stadium and surrounding East Bank redevelopment project are successful.

A rendering showing people on a redeveloped East Bank.

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