Nashville remains on edge in the aftermath of the Antioch High School shooting last month.

Why it matters: School safety is dominating conversations at kitchen tables and in the mayor's office following the city's second school shooting in less than two years.

• The concern comes hand-in-hand with an unnerving rash of copycat threats that officials are scrambling to address.

State of play: A 16-year-old girl died in the Jan. 22 shooting in Antioch. Police said the shooter, also a student, killed himself on the scene.

By the numbers: There have been at least 11 arrests for threats of violence against schools or school leaders since the Antioch shooting, according to police reports. A strict state law makes it a crime to make such threats.

• Three 12-year-olds are among those arrested for making threats in separate incidents.

Zoom in: In one incident, police say a 12-year-old middle school student made threats against Antioch High and Hillsboro High in an Instagram story.

• Police say a Hunters Lane student admitted to telling another student he would "shoot up the school" the next day.

What she's saying: Juvenile Court Judge Sheila Calloway told WKRN she doesn't think those kinds of threats were prevalent "until the Antioch incident."

• "For me, the most concerning part is these youth just don't understand the gravity and the severity of what they're doing," Calloway told the TV station.
• "They don't understand how it emotionally affects everybody in our community. The school shootings have been a constant and they've been growing, and they are unnerving."

Between the lines: Calloway urged parents to watch their children's online behavior, especially on social media, to ensure they weren't crossing the line.

The bottom line: "Making threats of mass violence by any means is not a joke," Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell said at his press briefing last week.

• "Our Metro Nashville Police Department, the FBI and other law enforcement are constantly monitoring for threats of mass violence of any kind. Those responsible, once identified, will be prosecuted or otherwise held accountable."

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Voucher expansion is imminent, President Trump committed to abolishing the U.S. Department of Education and charter schools continue to expand in Nashville.

• Nashville school board chair Freda Player works at the intersection of drastic changes to education policy.

Against that backdrop, Axios interviewed Player about the biggest issues facing Metro Nashville Public Schools and her goal of making sure the school board is not "must-see TV."

• Before being elected to the school board in 2020, Player worked as a political strategist for the Service Employees International Union, then-Mayor David Briley's administration and the Tennessee Democratic Party.

Read the full interview, which discusses state education funding and Player's thoughts on school safety

Gun thefts in Nashville during the first weeks of 2025 are already on track to outpace last year's total.

Why it matters: Stolen guns have been used in high-profile crimes around the city. They are often linked to youth crimes.

By the numbers: Police tell Axios 142 guns were stolen in Nashville this January, compared to 99 thefts in January 2024.

• If thefts continued at that rate, they would eclipse the 2024 total and represent a step backward after two years of progress.

Zoom out: Gun thefts hit a high-water mark in 2022 and declined in 2023 and 2024.

State of play: Police have worked for years to chip away at gun thefts, especially the high numbers of thefts from cars.

• Police urge residents to lock their cars and remove guns and other valuables.

Between the lines: The Antioch High School shooting drew renewed attention to guns in Nashville.

• Police said the pistol used by the 17-year-old shooter had been purchased in Arizona in 2022. The gun was not reported stolen and it remains unclear how it made its way to the shooter.

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💰 The group hoping to buy the East Bank scrapyard is seeking to raise $350 million. (Nashville Business Journal, subscription)

The fate of 2,000 immigrants is in limbo after President Trump halted resettlement and support efforts. (Tennessee Lookout)

🏥 Leaders at Nashville General Hospital and Meharry Medical are feuding over the safety net hospital's operations. (Tennessean)

It's the month of love, and it will bring a lot of live music to love in Nashville.

• We're looking forward to three shows in particular.

🕺 Feb. 13: Finneas at the Ryman Auditorium

• Billie Eilish's brother and creative partner is playing a solo show featuring music from his debut EP "Blood Harmony."
• "Almost every song was written and recorded in a hotel room or a tour bus or on an airplane or in a dressing room while I was on tour with my sister," he said in a statement. "We'd walk off stage and I'd run straight into my dressing room and throw my headphones on and get back to work."

🎻 Feb. 13-15: "West Side Story" with a live orchestra at Schermerhorn Symphony Center

• The Nashville Symphony will play along with screenings of the classic 1961 movie musical.
• 💭 Adam's thought bubble: Every song from Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim is a winner. If you can't make it to see this version, check out the criminally underrated remake by Steven Spielberg.

Feb. 27: Kacey Musgraves at The Pinnacle

• This will be the inaugural show at the new 4,500-seat venue in the Nashville Yards development.

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