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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.

Tennessee Democrats back Biden's gun violence office

The Biden administration is forming a new federal office focusing on gun violence prevention.

News

Three Tennessee lawmakers will be on hand Friday for President Biden&#x27;s official announcement about forming a new federal office focusing on gun violence prevention.Details: State Sen. Raumesh Akbari, state Rep. Karen Camper and state Rep. Harold Love will attend the announcement, according to a press release from Senate Democrats.

The first time Freddie O&#x27;Connell ran for public office, he got his teeth kicked in.In 2002, he challenged state Rep. Beth Harwell, who was in the early years of her enormously successful political career. He ran as an independent and ended up with 5.6% of the vote.<ul><li>That was the last election O&#x27;Connell lost.</li></ul>

An interview with Nashville Councilmember Zulfat Suara

We interviewed Suara about her first term on the council and her thoughts on what the next four years could look like.

In the competition for Metro Council at-large seats, there&#x27;s always been a race within <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the race" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/08/04/henderson-vice-mayor-progressives-metro-council-nashville" data-vars-content-id="14124392-8c28-4780-992d-ce9d49077199" data-vars-headline="An interview with Nashville Councilmember Zulfat Suara" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/08/04/henderson-vice-mayor-progressives-metro-council-nashville" target="_self">the race</a>.Of course, each candidate wants to reach one of the five seats representing all of Davidson County.<ul><li>But the top prize is the first chair, which goes to the candidate who earns the most votes.</li></ul>

Freddie O'Connell sets fundraising record

O'Connell raised $1.2 million for the runoff, according to his campaign disclosure filed Friday.

Freddie O&#x27;Connell, whose mayoral chances many Metro insiders initially dismissed because they didn&#x27;t think he could raise enough money, set a Nashville mayor&#x27;s race fundraising record for runoffs.

Tennessee Three member Gloria Johnson to challenge Sen. Marsha Blackburn in 2024

Johnson is harnessing her newly enhanced national profile to challenge the Republican incumbent.

State Rep. Gloria Johnson, one of the Tennessee Three lawmakers who <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Republicans sought to expel from office" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/04/two-expelled-democrats-tennessee-special-election-win" data-vars-content-id="d73f789f-5b22-470b-bd27-da10a90977f8" data-vars-headline="Tennessee Three member Gloria Johnson to challenge Sen. Marsha Blackburn in 2024" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/08/04/two-expelled-democrats-tennessee-special-election-win" target="_self">Republicans sought to expel from office</a>, announced Tuesday she is running for the U.S. Senate.Why it matters: Johnson <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="is harnessing her newly enhanced national profile" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/04/24/biden-tennessee-three-white-house" data-vars-content-id="d73f789f-5b22-470b-bd27-da10a90977f8" data-vars-headline="Tennessee Three member Gloria Johnson to challenge Sen. Marsha Blackburn in 2024" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/04/24/biden-tennessee-three-white-house" target="_self">is harnessing her newly enhanced national profile</a> to challenge incumbent U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, a pro-Trump conservative firebrand, in 2024.

Gloria Johnson surrounded by reporters with microphones.

House, Senate spar as Tennessee's special session continues

Republican leaders in the House are aggressively criticizing senators.

As the special session responding to The Covenant School shooting enters week two, feuding among lawmakers has boiled over.<ul><li>Republican leaders in the House are aggressively criticizing senators for setting aside most of the legislation filed for the session.</li></ul>

Illustration of a clock face with fountain pens for hands, with ink drops scattered around.

Debate over signs in the statehouse heads to court

A Nashville judge has stopped the Tennessee House from banning handheld signs in its galleries.

A Nashville judge has stopped the Tennessee House from banning handheld signs in its galleries.Driving the news: The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee sued over the House&#x27;s new anti-sign rule after members of the public <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="were forced out" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/08/23/covenant-school-parents-ousted-special-session-nashville" data-vars-content-id="261506d5-4ed6-4fd9-bbfa-17f3b23ed7de" data-vars-headline="Debate over signs in the statehouse heads to court" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/08/23/covenant-school-parents-ousted-special-session-nashville" target="_self">were forced out</a> of a legislative meeting Tuesday because they were holding signs advocating for gun control.

Senate, House at odds over special session

There has been sparring between the chambers.

The Senate and House are taking different approaches to the special session.State of play: The Senate has only advanced four bills total, significantly limiting the session&#x27;s scope.

Illustration of the Tennessee State Capitol building with lines radiating from it.

Tennessee lawmakers begin special session responding to Covenant shooting

The special session will allow lawmakers to fast-track legislation related to juvenile justice, school safety plans and mental health care.

Politics

Lawmakers are returning to Nashville on Monday to begin the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="special session" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/08/09/tennessee-special-session-on-public-safety-gun-reform" data-vars-content-id="7360d67e-0cdb-4667-8290-8f21a518723c" data-vars-headline="Tennessee lawmakers begin special session responding to Covenant shooting" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/08/09/tennessee-special-session-on-public-safety-gun-reform" target="_self">special session</a> responding to The Covenant School shooting.Why it matters: The special session allows lawmakers to fast-track legislation related to juvenile justice, school safety plans and mental health care, among other things.

U.S. Rep. Green opens office in Nashville

There's an open house ceremony planned for Friday afternoon

U.S. Rep. Mark Green is opening a new office in downtown Nashville with an open house ceremony planned for Friday afternoon.Why it matters: After redistricting, Nashville went from a single Democratic representative in the House to three Republicans.

Politics 🇺🇸