Gavel, Out

The 114th General Assembly wrapped things up and put a bow on it just in time for the Casada/Cothren trial (first day dispatch from that below). After the House and the Senate tied up a few loose ends during yesterday’s final sessions, Governor Lee commended the legislature for passing his “Tennessee Innovates” Agenda in a press release.

“We’ve passed strategic legislative and budget measures to improve infrastructure, invest in education, strengthen our workforce, and solidify Tennessee’s position as a leader in next-generation nuclear energy,” said the governor. “I thank the General Assembly for its partnership and continued commitment to responsible fiscal stewardship and innovation to improve the lives of the people we serve.” 

Mirroring Lee’s long-fought victory with the passage of his school choice voucher program, the General Assembly also made good on the governor’s Farmland Preservation Act—a proposal that failed during last year’s session. The release also noted that 14 new Tennessee State Parks have been funded under Lee’s leadership and applauded the “$1 billion allocated to the Tennessee Department of Transportation to address the state’s infrastructure needs in rural and urban communities” and the significant investment in nuclear energy.

During the last day of session, some fur flew between Tennessee Democrats and Republicans over the passage of the "Dismantling DEI Departments Act." The bill “prohibits a department, agency, or other unit of state government or political subdivision of the state from maintaining or authorizing an office or department that promotes or requires discriminatory preferences to increase diversity, equity, or inclusion,” explained Senator Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville) from the Senate floor.

When asked how this would affect Metro’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion last week, Mayor O’Connell said that, if the bill passed, Metro Legal would analyse how to comply with state law. He also mentioned that, in the matter of DEI requirements coming down from the federal level, Metro is “being very careful not to preemptively adjust to things.” Instead of making “proactive changes,” Nashville will determine whether to adhere to DEI-specific criteria if and when Metro has an interest in participating in federal programs that require it to do so.

Stay tuned for our overview of the best and worst of the 114th General Assembly over the next few days. MEGAN PODSIEDLIK

🖋️ Edited by Megan Podsiedlik.

📆 Day 1: Casada/Cothren Trial Jury selection is underway for the federal trial involving former Tennessee Speaker of the House Glen Casada and his former Chief of Staff Cade Cothren. It’s been over two years since a grand jury indicted the pair for federal counts stemming from an alleged shell company scheme, including conspiracy, fraud, bribery, and money laundering. According to reports from the first day of proceedings, U.S. District Court Judge Eli Richardson, who is presiding, expects a speedy trial.

It was also revealed that Casada rejected a plea deal offered by federal prosecutors. Each man could face up to 20 years in jail if convicted. Opening arguments are set to begin today after final jury selection, and around 20 former and current Tennessee lawmakers may testify during the trial.

🗺️ Federal Funding Tap Runs Dry Catholic Charities of Tennessee depended on about $18 million in federal refugee‑services grants last year, roughly $8 million of which passed straight through to refugees as direct aid. Washington’s abrupt freeze on that money has already forced the Nashville agency to lay off 27 staff and left it holding roughly $500,000 in unreimbursed costs, only half of which has been covered by emergency private donations.

"What we’re hearing, even as recently as last Friday from the feds, is that there’s going to be something going forward, and it’s very likely there’s going to be some funding coming to the Tennessee Office for Refugees," Nashville Diocese spokesman Rick Musacchio told the Nashville Banner. "So, the Nashville part of the chain is, at least at this point, not ending its services."

U.S. bishops say similar cuts will strip roughly $200 million a year from Catholic refugee programs nationwide—far more than the Church can replace with private donations.​

🇨🇦 Canadian Tourists Nashville’s tourism leaders are on alert after anecdotal reports that Canadians, who account for roughly half of all international visitors to Music City, are reconsidering trips amid the tariffs the Trump administration has placed on the country. Ultra‑low‑cost carrier Flair Airlines pulled its only Toronto–Nashville service this spring, a move state officials have linked to tariff‑driven demand shifts. The U.S. Travel Association has warned that a 10 percent drop in Canadian travel could siphon off billions in spending, but it remains unclear whether tariffs are the main culprit or simply a convenient narrative.

Whatever the case, in the month since media outlets raised concerns about how tariffs would affect Nashville’s Golden Calf, data from BNA shows the number of enplaned and deplaned passengers year-over-year for the month of March remains stable, slightly increasing. It will be worth checking back in a month.

DEVELOPMENT

🏒 Bridgestone Arena site slated for $650M upgrade. Executives have released early plans to expand the arena by about 175,000 square feet, construct two adjoining towers, and enhance the fan experience at 501 Broadway by 2030. (Tennessean)

• TomKats Hospitality signs 20-year lease extension downtown (NBJ)
• Jeni’s set for Peabody Union (Post)

✹ BAR TO AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE OF THE DAY

Right next to the Red Phone Booth on Rosa Parks, there's a newish bar that I advise you to stay away from as one would a colony of lepers. Probably don't need to say this, but the content mill demands information. (More Info)

THINGS TO DO

View our calendar for the week here and our weekly film rundown here.

📅 Visit our On The Radar list to find upcoming events around Nashville.

🎧 On Spotify: Pamphleteer's Picks, a playlist of our favorite bands in town this week.

👨🏻‍🌾 Check out our Nashville farmer's market guide.

TONIGHT

🎸 Dead Boys @ Riverside Revival, 7p, $32.50, Info

🎸 Mary J. Blige @ Bridgestone Arena, 7p, $70, Info

🎙️ Tom Jones @ Ryman Auditorium, 7:30p, $59+, Info

🪕 Bluegrass Night @ The American Legion Post 82, 7p, Free, Info

📰 Check out the full newsletter archive here.

The future is now

🔮 Who will make it out of the 21st-century · Mayor O’Connell ready to take on LPRs · Pitfalls of Potholes · This week in streaming · Much more!

The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer

Slash and Burn

💸 Grover Norquist stays on message · Reappraisals · O’Connell unphased · Biden’s Gone · Repeat tourist offender of day · Much more!

The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer

Do we need more parties?

🌊 Tourism on the rocks around nation · Importing employees and property tax rates · New state budget · Cui bono Super Bowl · Criminals at large · Film Rundown · Much more!

The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer

Missing Megaphone

🎼 What ails the symphony · Blackburn hits VUMC · No tariff impact · Repeat illegal of the day · New Soderbergh movie · Much more!

The PamphleteerThe Pamphleteer

Today's newsletter is brought to you by Megan Podsiedlik (Nashville), Jerod Hollyfield (Crowd Corner), Camelia Brennan (Local Noise), and Davis Hunt (everything else).