News from the South - Tennessee News Feed
Downtown Nashville lands designation as an arboretum
SUMMARY: Downtown Nashville, with one of the city’s lowest tree canopy covers (7-8%), is now officially designated as an outdoor library for trees called the “Nashville Downtown Arboretum.” It features over 50 mapped tree species, including overcup oak and sweetbay magnolia, with some marked by QR codes for public education. Since 2020, 263 trees have been planted downtown, adding less than 1% to the canopy. The arboretum project, started by the city’s transportation department and Nashville Downtown Partnership in 2022, classifies downtown as a “level one” arboretum, requiring at least 30 tree species. Other arboretums exist nearby, such as Fannie Mae Dees Park and Vanderbilt University.
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News from the South - Tennessee News Feed
Metro Nashville edits immigration report to remove names
SUMMARY: Metro Nashville quietly edited a city report tracking 35 interactions between local and federal immigration officials to remove names, including ICE, Homeland Security agents, and a Metro Council member. This change follows criticism from Republican lawmakers amid fallout from Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s executive order mandating immigration encounter tracking. State Representatives Johnny Garrett and Andy Ogles argue the policy endangers federal officers, risks legal violations, and may breach state law. Republicans have called for state-level investigation alongside an ongoing federal inquiry. The Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees plan to assess if federal funding restrictions related to sanctuary city policies were violated.

A city report that originally named federal immigration officials has since been edited, removing all names.
News from the South - Tennessee News Feed
Foster family wins rookie parents of the year honor
SUMMARY: Britney and Becca Fous, recently honored as Rookie Foster Parents of the Year by Youth Villages in Knoxville, Tennessee, have swiftly embraced fostering after years of caring for animals with behavioral challenges. Since October, they have welcomed three children into their home, focusing especially on those with more difficult backgrounds. Inspired by their own challenging childhoods, the Fouses create a loving, stable environment, using compassion and consistency to help children heal from trauma. They emphasize building positive memories through family outings and photo albums to provide a safe foundation for growth. Their story highlights dedication to foster care during National Foster Care Month.

The Fousons were recently named ‘Rookie Parents of the Year’ at a local foster agency.
News from the South - Tennessee News Feed
Chattanooga school agrees to pay $100,000 after an 11-year-old was arrested under threats of mass violence law
SUMMARY: An autistic 11-year-old boy, Junior, was wrongfully reported and arrested for an alleged school shooting threat after a misunderstood conversation at a Chattanooga public charter school. The school initially allowed his return but later involved police, who handcuffed him at a family event. The family sued, resulting in a $100,000 settlement and the school agreeing to staff training on distinguishing valid threats from innocuous statements. Junior’s case, dismissed in juvenile court, highlights concerns over Tennessee’s strict laws criminalizing threats of mass violence, especially affecting children with disabilities. Advocates urge legislative changes to prevent wrongful arrests and protect vulnerable students.
The post Chattanooga school agrees to pay $100,000 after an 11-year-old was arrested under threats of mass violence law appeared first on wpln.org
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