Optimism in Nashville cratered in a new Vanderbilt University poll released today, with a majority of respondents saying the city is on the wrong track.

Why it matters: Music City's mood has soured in the aftermath of the devastating ice storm that left nearly half the city without power at its peak.

• Approval for city leaders sank in the following weeks, according to the poll results.

By the numbers: 56% of Nashvillians think the city is on the wrong track, while only 44% think it is headed in the right direction.

• That's a stark reversal from last year's poll, which found a growing majority with a sunny view on Nashville's outlook.

The big picture: Affordability, traffic and unwieldy population growth were top concerns among residents, according to the poll.

State of play: Mayor Freddie O'Connell's approval rating fell to 54%, a 13-point drop from last year's results.

Between the lines: O'Connell's approval fell most sharply among Republican respondents, slipping to only 25%. That drop came after a year when Republican leaders loudly criticized the mayor for his opposition to President Trump's immigration crackdown.

• O'Connell has 71% approval among Democrats and 54% approval among independents.

Zoom in: For the first time ever in the Vanderbilt Poll, the Metro Council had a negative approval rating. Disapproval rose to 50%, while council approval dropped to 48%.

• The Vanderbilt Poll asked residents about the Nashville Electric Service for the first time this year. Only 39% approved of the utility's performance, while 61% disapproved.

Reality check: The survey started less than a month after Winter Storm Fern, and 76% of respondents said they were affected by the storm.

• The pollsters said they believed some of the pessimism reflected in these results would soften as the city moves on from the storm.

Flashback: The topline results from this poll were largely consistent with results from a February survey conducted about two weeks after the ice storm by the Republican consulting firm Baker Group Strategies.

How it works: The latest Vanderbilt Poll was conducted Feb. 20-March 14 and included 1,048 Nashville residents. The margin of error is +/- 4.05 percentage points.

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Police are investigating death threats and harassment against Nashville Electric Service employees.

The big picture: The threats follow the devastating ice storm that hobbled the NES grid and left thousands of people without power for a week or more.

Flashback: NES reported a rash of car break-ins at an employee parking lot during the height of the storm response, when criticism of the utility was particularly loud.

Zoom in: During an NES board meeting yesterday, CEO Teresa Broyles-Aplin said the cases involved "credible death threats" against management.

• "We're seeking swift resolution and intend to pursue prosecution for any threats made to NES employees."

What they're saying: The Nashville police department "is aware of 11 instances of threatening, harassing or doxing behavior directed at NES and/or its employees," spokesperson Don Aaron told Axios in a statement.

• The security threat team in the department's Specialized Investigations Division is handling the investigations. No one has been charged.

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🧳 Nashville's 37228 ZIP code, which covers parts of Bordeaux and the Metro Center area, is the hottest in the nation in move-ins per capita, according to new data. (Tennessean)

Nashville journalist Estefany Rodríguez spoke about her "terrifying" experience spending 16 days in federal detention. (Nashville Banner)

🌎 The state legislature is moving to shield fossil fuel companies from climate lawsuits. (WPLN)

In a mild political upset, a Republican-backed state bill to ban the display of LGBTQ+ Pride flags in government buildings died in a Senate committee earlier this week.

Why it matters: Critics say the proposal, from state Rep. Gino Bulso and Sen. Joey Hensley, would have infringed on First Amendment rights and triggered free speech lawsuits.

What he's saying: In an impassioned speech (by state and local government committee standards), state Sen. Jeff Yarbro, a Nashville Democrat, appealed to his colleague's small government sensibilities in asking Republicans to vote no.

• "Whether you go to Pride or celebrate Pride, you should support people's ability to have freedom, to follow the American way of life as they see fit," Yarbro argued. "This just goes too far."
• Republican Sen. Page Walley said he voted no because he opposed "clawing back local government's ability to make decisions." Three other Republicans present at the committee hearing did not vote.

The other side: Bulso told the Nashville Scene he wanted to protect children.

• "Anytime you're dealing with efforts to indoctrinate children at school and get them to adopt a particular political point of view, I consider that a serious matter."

Go deeper: Read the Scene's story

Pilgrimage Music and Cultural Festival will not take place this year, organizers announced yesterday.

What they're not saying: The announcement from the Franklin-based festival did not give a reason for skipping a year.

What's next: Organizers said they would be back in 2027 with "new surprises."

• "This move will allow us to bring you the best festival experience," the statement read.