Covenant School parents are urging lawmakers to rally around a series of bills as the special session on public safety heads toward a second week.

State of play: Lawmakers remain divided on the path forward.

• More than 100 pieces of legislation have been filed. The Senate set almost all of them aside, approving only four bills.
• Meanwhile, the House has spent hours debating and voting on additional bills that will languish without Senate buy-in.

What they're saying: "To see the House and Senate at an impasse is frustrating and upsetting, especially when there are so many good bills on the table," Covenant parent and nonprofit co-founder Melissa Alexander said during a news conference.

• The coalition of parents wants the Senate to reconsider some tabled bills, including one that seeks to improve mental health offerings in schools and another that would require schools to develop new response plans for fire alarms activated during a shooting.

What's next: The Senate and House have adjourned until Monday. The two chambers must agree to end the session, and it's possible senators will reconsider some bills in order to reach an agreement.

Of note: Both Republican-controlled chambers remain staunchly against gun restrictions. Conservative lawmakers have scuttled multiple variations of Gov. Bill Lee's proposal to keep dangerous people away from guns.

The big picture: Sarah Shoop Neumann said she and other Covenant parents would "keep showing up" at the statehouse to push for more progress.

• "It is obvious that the measures that have progressed in this session are not enough. The House has passed rules stifling debate and limiting the rights of parents and other concerned Tennesseans to express themselves."
• "The Senate stonewalled real progress as gun industry lobbyists watched from the gallery while we fought to have a seat."

Mary Joyce spoke to the trauma motivating the Covenant parents to continue their fight for policy changes. Her daughter was 9 years old during the shooting.

• "She's lost 50% hearing in her left ear because that was the side closest to the door where she was being shot at," Joyce said.
• "You can't see it, but these kids are really struggling, and it's hard for them to talk about it," said Joyce. "They look like normal kids, and to everyone else, you've moved on."

"To us, we're in the thick of it," Joyce said. "We're still in the trenches of this trauma."

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The state is challenging a court ruling that allows the public to have protest signs in the Tennessee House of Representatives.

• Earlier this week, a judge blocked a new House rule barring such signs. The state argues the court overstepped. (Tennessee Lookout)

⚕️ Belmont University is more than doubling its debt in order to fund a new medical school. (Nashville Post)

⚾ Chicago White Sox ownership is pondering moving the team from the city's South Side when its lease expires in six years. In addition to the Chicago suburbs, Nashville has been reported as a relocation possibility. (Tennessean)

🚧 Metro has selected four finalists to serve as developer of the city-owned East Bank property around the Titans stadium. (Nashville Business Journal, subscription)

Sift through racks of vintage T-shirts with a hard lemonade in hand at Garage Sale Vintage, a new shop and bar in the Highland Yards development in East Nashville.

The big picture: The trendy new shopping center continues to add restaurants and retailers like Garage Sale, which celebrated its grand opening Aug. 11, Axios' Emma Way reports following a trip to Nashville.

• Otaku Ramen opened its third Nashville location at Highland Yards on Aug. 12.
• You can also find Flora + Fauna Cafe, Kisser, Holiday Salon & Bathhouse, Golden Pony and more.

What to expect: Similar to Garage Sale's downtown location, you'll find racks on racks of vintage coats, sweaters, tops, pants and more.

• Most items cost $25+.
• There's also a selection of non-vintage items like stickers, socks and vinyl records.

Drinks: This space is ripe for a bachelorette party. Bar options include:

• Margaritas in a variety of flavors, starting at $12 for one drink or $36+ for a pitcher of four servings
• House-infused shots for $10 or a shotski of four shots for $28
• Jello shots
• Hard lemonades for $12

Location: 747 Douglas Ave.

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The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum officially opened its Patty Loveless exhibit this week.

• The star, who is part of the latest class of hall of fame inductees, stopped by to take a look.

If you go: The exhibit includes Loveless' stage wear, setlists, instruments, photographs, videos and advertising pamphlets from over the years.

• Special programming is planned for this weekend.
• The exhibit will remain open through October 2024.

💭 Adam's thought bubble: Patty Loveless sang some of the most indelible country hits of the 1990s, but the deep cuts from the later part of her catalog are just as praiseworthy.

• Before you head to her exhibit, check out her masterful bluegrass album "Mountain Soul" or her post-2000 singles "The Last Thing On My Mind" and "On Your Way Home."

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