State lawmakers introduced a plan this week to crack down on illegal vape sales to kids.

Why it matters: Tennessee is chock full of vape shops, but the industry is loosely regulated.

• Anti-addiction groups and health advocacy organizations say vaping is a gateway to harder drug use and substance abuse.

Friction point: Under the current law, a retailer can be fined if state regulators catch them selling to kids.

• But if the store doesn't pay the fine, there's little the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission can do.

Driving the news: State Sen. Shane Reeves and state Rep. Charlie Baum, both Republicans, are pushing legislation to close the enforcement loophole.

• Reeves and Baum propose requiring retailers that sell tobacco and vape products to get a state license.
• Shops that sell to kids would face fines. A repeat offender could have its license revoked.

The big picture: There are already 41 states that require a similar license.

By the numbers: Tennessee has at least 13,000 tobacco sellers and vape shops, according to an estimate by advocacy groups that back the bill.

What he's saying: "The youth vaping crisis in Tennessee has been going on for too long, and this bill is the natural next step for our state to address it head-on," Reeves said in a statement.

• "This bill creates real accountability, gives the state better oversight, and puts the focus where it belongs, protecting Tennessee's youth."

Zoom out: The proposal has the support of the Prevention Alliance of Tennessee, which is a coalition of advocacy groups seeking to combat substance abuse and addiction.

• Health groups, like the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association, the SmokeFree Tennessee Coalition and the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, are also in support.

Threat level: Research released last year suggested kids who vape have the same level of nicotine exposure as their peers who smoke cigarettes.

• Those findings cut against arguments that vaping and e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes and can help smokers quit.

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Cheekwood Estate & Gardens will reopen next month after an ice storm that caused devastating damage to the property's trees and plants.

Why it matters: The reopening follows weeks of recovery work at the botanical garden. Leaders promise to greet returning visitors with 250,000 blooms.

Zoom in: This year's celebration of Cheekwood in Bloom will mark the nation's 250th birthday with a dazzling display of red, white and blue.

• A sea of red and white tulips will be accented by purple-blue violas and hyacinths. A surge of daffodils will add to the color.

What they're saying: "Spring is a time of renewal, especially meaningful this year for Nashville — and there's no better place to enjoy the season and the hope it brings than at Cheekwood in Bloom," Cheekwood president and CEO Jane MacLeod said in a statement.

If you go: Cheekwood in Bloom takes place March 7-April 12. Tickets are available to buy online.

• On select weekends, student musicians from Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music will perform live jazz.

🐘 Tennessee Republicans could be heading into their toughest election cycle since 2018, with as many as 16 competitive General Assembly seats, according to an analysis of voting data. (Tennessee Lookout)

🎓 The University of Tennessee system said that if lawmakers advance a proposal to end to faculty tenure, it could keep colleges from recruiting and retaining the best professors. (Tennessean)

H.G. Hill Realty is walking away from its planned mixed-use development in Germantown. (Nashville Business Journal, subscription)

Merus, a Cincinnati-based real estate firm, purchased the Rivergate Mall property for $33 million.

Why it matters: The sale paves the way for Merus' ambitious $450 million mixed-use redevelopment.

Zoom in: Merus plans to include housing, retail and hospitality space as part of its mall redevelopment.

Flashback: Mayor Freddie O'Connell's administration committed up to $42 million in tax incentives for the project.

• Merus plans to include a WeGo hub and affordable senior housing.

What's next: Construction is expected to begin in late 2026 or early 2027, according to a press release.