SUMMARY: A new Tennessee law effective July 1 criminalizes impersonating rideshare or taxi drivers as a Class B misdemeanor, escalating to a Class E felony if committed alongside other felonies. The law follows a March 30, 2025, Broadway incident where victim Dakota Blunt and an accomplice posed as a rideshare, robbed a man at gunpoint, stole his identity, and fraudulently charged $18,000. Blunt faces multiple felony charges. Sponsored by Rep. Elaine Davis, the law aims to deter such crimes by emphasizing rideshare companies’ safety investments. Blunt remains jailed on a $235,000 bond while the law seeks to enhance community protection.

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SUMMARY: Protests took place outside a federal courthouse ahead of Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s hearing. Garcia, accused of human smuggling, is currently jailed in Nashville. Supporters gathered, criticizing the government’s handling of his deportation and calling for his release. Garcia was deported to El Salvador in March after a 2022 traffic stop in Putnam County, where he was suspected of smuggling but not charged. Federal prosecutors later charged him in June, alleging nearly a decade of facilitating undocumented migration. Today, a Homeland Security agent is expected to testify. Even if released, officials plan to detain and possibly deport Garcia again. His wife is suing, claiming his deportation was unlawful.

Protests held ahead of Kilmar Abrego Garcia hearing

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SUMMARY: Nashville’s Main Library, closed since mid-June due to a neighboring parking garage fire, is set to reopen by July 29, excluding its damaged auditorium and conference center. The fire, which destroyed two parking floors and several cars, caused minor smoke and soot damage inside the library, with 99% of materials salvageable through cleaning. The library remains structurally sound, but repairs and limited access to the single freight elevator—located in the damaged area—complicate restoration efforts. Parking remains a concern as the garage closure is indefinite, raising fears that reduced accessibility may impact library patronage despite recent increases in borrowing across the system.

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