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Anti-racing group releases debut ad in support of petition drive

The political battle over what to do with the fairgrounds racetrack is revving up.

Politics

Organizers seeking to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ban auto racing at the Nashville fairgrounds" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/06/16/anti-racing-measure-may-reach-voters-but-likely-not-until-2027" data-vars-content-id="8397e3de-3ace-4473-b5b4-0bcb9e5ac46d" data-vars-headline="Anti-racing group releases debut ad in support of petition drive" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/06/16/anti-racing-measure-may-reach-voters-but-likely-not-until-2027" target="_self">ban auto racing at the Nashville fairgrounds</a> released their debut ad, which will run on television and radio and on social media.Why it matters: The political battle over what to do with the fairgrounds racetrack is revving up.

Family says error at St. Thomas Midtown paralyzed patient

St. Thomas confirmed an "event" at the hospital had affected four patients.

News

A Middle Tennessee woman&#x27;s family said a medical mixup last week at St. Thomas Midtown left her paralyzed following a routine knee replacement surgery.<ul><li>In a statement responding to reports about the matter, Ascension St. Thomas confirmed to Axios that an &quot;event&quot; at the hospital had affected four patients. The statement did not disclose the nature or cause of the event.</li></ul>

Fewer Tennessee kindergarteners got vaccines in 2025-26, per CDC

The share of Tennessee kindergartners with any vaccine exemption reached 4.8%.

Education

More kindergarten students in Tennessee skipped vaccines during the 2025–2026 school year, according to exemption figures Centers for Disease Control and Prevention <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reported" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cdc.gov/schoolvaxview/data/index.html" data-vars-content-id="58b320b8-b3f2-4a47-8a57-52742d7c4b57" data-vars-headline="Fewer Tennessee kindergarteners got vaccines in 2025-26, per CDC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cdc.gov/schoolvaxview/data/index.html" target="_blank">reported</a> on Monday.Why it matters: Tennessee&#x27;s rate of vaccine exemptions saw its biggest annual increase in years as vaccine skepticism continues to grow.<ul><li>The change coincided with continued efforts by the Trump administration to make controversial <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="vaccine policy changes" data-vars-click-url="http://axios.com/2026/08/10/trump-order-split-up-mmr-vaccine" data-vars-content-id="58b320b8-b3f2-4a47-8a57-52742d7c4b57" data-vars-headline="Fewer Tennessee kindergarteners got vaccines in 2025-26, per CDC" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://axios.com/2026/08/10/trump-order-split-up-mmr-vaccine" target="_self">vaccine policy changes</a>.</li></ul>

Nashville vice mayor's race heats up with two candidates entering the race

Zulfat Suara and Kyonzté Toombs plan to run in 2027, while Angie Henderson weighs another campaign.

The 2027 vice mayor&#x27;s race is starting to take shape in Nashville with two top contenders announcing they intend to run for Metro government&#x27;s No. 2 job next year.Driving the news: Metro Councilmember Zulfat Suara confirms to Axios her intention to run.<ul><li>Suara is a term-limited, at-large council member, who represents all of Davidson County.</li><li>District 2 Metro Councilmember Kyonzté Toombs, who is also term-limited for her seat representing Bordeaux and portions of North Nashville, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="announced on social media" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/p/DcCFXv9mwvP/" data-vars-content-id="d29c7c34-cb0f-4d4b-91d6-57705d84e10b" data-vars-headline="Nashville vice mayor&#x27;s race heats up with two candidates entering the race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DcCFXv9mwvP/" target="_blank">announced on social media</a> over the weekend she is running for vice mayor as well.</li></ul>

Tenn. grant offers "lifeline" for family caregivers — but it's starting small

About 393,000 family caregivers in Tennessee take care of a relative with dementia.

Health

One Tennessee voter&#x27;s conversation with a lawmaker led to a new program supporting families facing Alzheimer&#x27;s disease or dementia.Why it matters: As Tennessee&#x27;s population <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="continues to age" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/07/01/tennessees-senior-population-growing" data-vars-content-id="1c9b2284-cd3e-4474-87d0-21ed89bbad12" data-vars-headline="Tenn. grant offers &quot;lifeline&quot; for family caregivers — but it&#x27;s starting small" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2025/07/01/tennessees-senior-population-growing" target="_self">continues to age</a>, more and more people are taking on caregiving work for their elderly family members. Often they&#x27;re also juggling jobs and child care.<ul><li>It can be grueling, and state officials say <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="government support will be necessary" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/01/24/tennessee-elder-care-home-care-workers" data-vars-content-id="1c9b2284-cd3e-4474-87d0-21ed89bbad12" data-vars-headline="Tenn. grant offers &quot;lifeline&quot; for family caregivers — but it&#x27;s starting small" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2023/01/24/tennessee-elder-care-home-care-workers" target="_self">government support will be necessary</a> to meet this growing challenge.</li></ul>

Mayoral aide Kristin Wilson resigns from top Metro post

Kristin Wilson, aide to the last two Nashville mayors, is resigning from her job.

Kristin Wilson, one of Metro government&#x27;s most consequential officials, is leaving Mayor Freddie O&#x27;Connell&#x27;s office.Why it matters: Wilson serves as the city&#x27;s chief of operations and performance, a behind-the-scenes role that is out of the public eye but at the center of the most pressing Metro issues.

Nashville joins lawsuit against Homeland Security over anti-terrorism funding

In a new lawsuit, Metro Nashville accuses the Trump administration of withholding anti-terrorism funding.

Nashville joined a coalition of cities and counties suing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for threatening to withhold federal funding for anti-terrorism and emergency responses.<ul><li>The cities and counties, including Columbus, Ohio, and Harris County, where Houston is located, say the Trump administration is withholding the money unless they implement certain election policies locally.</li></ul>Why it matters: It&#x27;s the latest battlefront in President Trump&#x27;s bid to advance his <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="proposed election reforms" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/17/trumps-warning-elections-4-takeaways" data-vars-content-id="f9e550f6-3cbc-42a1-846c-f53607f2daca" data-vars-headline="Nashville joins lawsuit against Homeland Security over anti-terrorism funding" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/17/trumps-warning-elections-4-takeaways" target="_self">proposed election reforms</a>.

Tennessee Republican issues warning for his own party

"We have people on my side that are doing everything they can to pull us further right."

A leading Tennessee Republican offered a warning to his party as he prepares to leave office.&quot;We have people on my side that are doing everything they can to pull us further right and further right,&quot; outgoing state Rep. Jeremy Faison said in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a new docuseries" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/08/05/mitch-landrieu-long-play-southern-politics" data-vars-content-id="81b75c2c-2659-460b-a69b-4a0cd50235e5" data-vars-headline="Tennessee Republican issues warning for his own party" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/08/05/mitch-landrieu-long-play-southern-politics" target="_self">a new docuseries</a> analyzing politics in the South.<ul><li>&quot;And I&#x27;m like, &#x27;That&#x27;s not where America&#x27;s at.&#x27;&quot;</li></ul>What he&#x27;s saying: &quot;If we&#x27;re not careful, our party is gonna continue to meddle with stuff that has nothing to do with anything — that is not what all of Tennessee cares about — and we&#x27;ll lose our super majority.&quot;

Tennessee leaders ponder special session to address honky-tonk owners' tax concerns

"The lights are going out on Broadway," country star John Rich warned.

Top state Republicans are considering a special legislative session to address rising property taxes amid outcry from downtown Nashville honky-tonk owners.Why it matters: Hospitality businesses in Nashville say they have been pushed to the brink and need the state government&#x27;s help.

DC Blox sues over Metro's data center moratorium

DC Blox sues Metro to nullify the city's moratorium on data centers.

Business

DC Blox sued Metro in federal court on Tuesday seeking to strike down the city&#x27;s moratorium on data centers.Why it matters: DC Blox argues the city hastily imposed the moratorium after news of the firm&#x27;s planned data center near the Nashville Zoo came to light.<ul><li>The moratorium violates the company&#x27;s constitutional &quot;equal-protection rights,&quot; according to the lawsuit.</li></ul>

Right-turn ban legislation tweaked to take a more targeted approach

New tweaks to right-turn ban proposal focus on downtown, school zones, transit corridors.

Right turns would be banned at red lights in downtown, in school zones and on busy transit corridors under <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="an amended plan" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/07/30/council-proposal-ban-right-turns-at-red-lights" data-vars-content-id="4a83bf8c-6250-4983-ae7e-4c62df7e0749" data-vars-headline="Right-turn ban legislation tweaked to take a more targeted approach" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/07/30/council-proposal-ban-right-turns-at-red-lights" target="_self">an amended plan</a> from Metro Councilmember Sandra Sepulveda.Why it matters: Sepulveda plans to tweak her legislation, which initially proposed a wider-reaching ban on right turns.

New plan would maintain local control over data centers

Sen. Heidi Campbell wants to guarantee locals keep control over data center policies.

State Sen. Heidi Campbell is preparing legislation to guarantee local governments keep the control to approve or reject <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new data centers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/07/22/nashville-data-center-rules-may-delay-but-not-stop-dc-blox-project" data-vars-content-id="0bd2b5c6-2ba9-4c21-bf0a-e69812598317" data-vars-headline="New plan would maintain local control over data centers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/07/22/nashville-data-center-rules-may-delay-but-not-stop-dc-blox-project" target="_self">new data centers</a>.Why it matters: The push for local control comes as new data center proposals are popping up all over Tennessee, including a controversial plan for one next to the Nashville Zoo.

Politics 🇺🇸

Tenn. grant offers "lifeline" for family caregivers — but it's starting small

Mayoral aide Kristin Wilson resigns from top Metro post

Nashville joins lawsuit against Homeland Security over anti-terrorism funding

Nashville vice mayor's race heats up with two candidates entering the race

Anti-racing group releases debut ad in support of petition drive