Cynthia Abrams

3 weeks ago | wpln.org | Cynthia Abrams

Nashville’s Metro Council is one step closer to finalizing the city budget. After Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell released his spending proposal earlier this month, the responsibility fell to the council to begin drafting an alternative. Specifically, that task goes to Councilmember Delishia Porterfield, the council’s budget chair (although other members may also propose alternatives). Before moving forward, the council heard from residents about items they would like to see prioritized.

3 weeks ago | wpln.org | Cynthia Abrams

A new report is calling on Metro to make a number of quick changes to improve the safety of city streets for pedestrians and cyclists. Local advocacy nonprofit Walk Bike Nashville released their “State of Our Streets” report Tuesday. It details wins and failures of city government. The “win” is the 1.5-mile bike lane on 12th Avenue South, which the report lauds for the “high-level of coordination across Metro departments” to get it made.

1 month ago | wpln.org | Cynthia Abrams

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to pay out millions in grants that were frozen earlier this year. Nashville was one of six cities — along with 13 nonprofits — that signed onto a legal challenge led by the Southern Environmental Law Center and the Public Rights Project. The challenge sought to continue various programs that rely on federal funding.

1 month ago | wpln.org | Cynthia Abrams

After years of unflattering scores on a national ranking of park systems ranking among the nation’s worst park systems, Nashville is slowly moving its way up the list. In the latest survey by the Trust For Public Land, Nashville ranked 74 out of the 100 most populous cities in the United States — moving four spots higher than last year. According to the Trust, park acreage and public investment are to thank for the improvement. Nashville raised how much it spends on parks to $116 per capita.

1 month ago | wpln.org | Cynthia Abrams

One day before commencement, the Nashville high schooler who set out to ride every city bus route before graduation completed his quest. When Reagan Harkins was a sophomore, he crafted what he called his “bus-ket list.” It’s a checklist with all WeGo bus routes, and a goal to try every one of them. Read: An audacious quest: Nashville teen tries to ride every city bus route before graduation“It’s been a fun project to explore the city just beyond my world view,” Harkins said.