Gov. Bill Lee proposed a $1 million grant toward an ambitious fundraising campaign to launch an ALS research center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

• The fundraising effort, a partnership between VUMC and the LiveLikeLou Foundation, will have $3.4 million toward its new $5 million goal after the proposed state funds are included.

Why it matters: A new research center would place VUMC at the vanguard of the global effort to treat and cure the mysterious and deadly disease.

Zoom in: Grassroots activists, primarily people diagnosed with ALS and their family members, spearheaded the fundraising drive for the nonprofit LiveLikeLou.

• "We are so grateful that Gov. Lee has made ending ALS a priority for Tennessee," Nashville ALS advocate Evan Campa, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2018, tells Axios. "The team that has come together in support of an ALS research center at VUMC is absolutely incredible and a perfect example of how we're going to end ALS — together."
• "The support from the state means everything to me and my family."

Context: Congress passed a law last year to cut regulatory red tape and jumpstart ALS research with $100 million in annual funding for the next several years.

• The $1 million proposed by Lee as part of his amended budget has to be approved by the legislature.

What they're saying: A spokesperson for Lee acknowledged the "great deal of pain" ALS causes for families across Tennessee in explaining why the administration committed the funding.

• "While we know government is not the answer to our greatest challenges, thoughtful public-private partnerships can make a huge difference, and the governor is proud to propose support for an organization at the forefront of this fight," spokesperson Casey Black tells Axios.

What's next: Thanks to the fundraising success, which includes $600,000 in private donations through the foundation, VUMC has already begun recruiting a translational scientist to serve as the new tenure-track director of ALS research.

• VUMC also has institutional commitments for the research center with laboratory space and support staff. The university will be able to leverage its existing capabilities in imaging, genomics and drug discovery.

Two state government mainstays are teaming up to lead a new nonprofit focused on improving Tennessee adoption policies.

• The Adoption Project will push for changes that would make Tennessee "the most adoption-friendly state in the country," according to an announcement.

Driving the news: Jeremy Harrell and Jennifer Donnals, both of whom have deep ties to state government, will steer the project.

• Harrell, the CEO, worked on former Gov. Bill Haslam's gubernatorial campaigns and served in his administration.
• Donnals, the COO, served as Haslam's former spokesperson and the former chief of staff for the Department of Children's Services under Gov. Lee.

Between the lines: Harrell and Donnals are both adoptive parents. They tell Axios the cause represents a fusion of their personal passion and professional experience.

• "My whole career has led up to this," Donnals says. "Using my skills and my experience to try to help others is really rewarding."
• "This was, in a lot of ways, a leap of faith for our family," says Harrell, adding that the early response from state leaders had been encouraging.

The bottom line: A goal of the new organization, Harrell says, will be to target those "pieces of the policy that are too cumbersome" while keeping necessary "guardrails" in place.

• For example, Harrell says, Tennessee law required him and his wife Michelle to care for their adopted child in their home for six months before the adoption could be finalized. Harrell says they paid thousands in out-of-pocket medical costs because their insurance required finalization for coverage.

State of play: Haslam and his wife Crissy will serve on committees that guide the organization's work. Members of Lee's administration are also working with the group.

What's next: Harrell says The Adoption Project's goal is to push specific legislative changes starting in 2023.

🏥 The Metro Council agenda for its meeting tonight includes legislation to approve the agreement with VUMC for a health care facility at the Hickory Hollow Mall site.

• Mayor John Cooper announced a $44 million deal with Vanderbilt last month. The budget and finance committee voted yesterday to defer the legislation by one meeting.

Another notable item on the council agenda is a resolution to censure Councilmember Jonathan Hall for his campaign finance infractions, which were referred to the Metro Board of Ethical Conduct.

⚖️ Weeks before the state plans to resume executions after a pandemic pause, the legal fight to reconsider death row inmate Oscar Franklin Smith's case is brewing. (Tennessean)

🎸 Russian sanctions are squeezing the supply of critical components of quality guitar amplifiers. (WPLN)

🚗 Tennessee's average cost of gas fell below $4 per gallon, according to AAA. (WSMV)

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The Nashville Sounds begin their season tonight with the first of a six-game homestand at First Horizon Park.

• To celebrate Opening Day, the Sounds are hosting a free block party with live music, activities for kids and food trucks.

Be smart: The Sounds are the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, who are expected to be among the National League's top teams this season.

• Brewers manager Craig Counsell recently mentioned infielder Brice Turang as a prospect likely to contribute to the big league club this year, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Southpaw Ethan Small leads the list of pitching prospects on the Opening Day roster.

If you go: The Sounds' have a clear bag policy for items brought into the ballpark this season.

• First Horizon will be cashless and feature digital tickets.

Full schedule, including promotions.