Lena Mazel

A tornado and an immigration sting. The start and end of a life in Nashville. • Tennessee Lookout Caught in an immigration sting, Felipe Mendez was ordered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to leave the U.S. or lose his children.

Felipe Mendez lost his wife & son when tornadoes swept through Nashville in '23

A May traffic stop landed him in ICE custody, where the single dad was given a choice: "self-deport" or lose his surviving 2 sons to state custody

Story by John Partipilo & @friedmanadam5.bsky.social
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NIMBYism and Nashville's affordable housing shortage - Nashville Banner Nashville residents clash with developer over new zoning for affordable housing. Concerns about traffic, green space, and property values arise are common.

With housing costs on the rise, and the city expected to again fall woefully short of building the number of units needed in the next decade, Nashville officials are pushing a series of localized and countywide zoning changes. In some cases, neighborhoods are pushing back.

Cracker Barrel should go all out, and release a fully vegan menu.

Tune in to @citycastnash.bsky.social today to hear me talk about some recent downtown news (BID merger, bench removal and more) and how it all might be connected...

So, you've sent me an inappropriate message If you're feeling embarrassed, all I ask is a small donation

I typically post about journalism stuff on here, but thought this may be funny/useful to other performers!! I do some freelance circus performance which has recently resulted in some weird DMs (a common experience, sadly). However, I have finally come across an immensely satisfying way to respond:

Street View: ‘Junk Fees’ and the Landlords Who Charge Them A local attorney is suing an apartment management company over fees he says violate the terms of his lease

The latest installment in our Street View column: A local attorney is suing an apartment management company over “junk fees” that he says violate the terms of his lease.

Some Nashville theme park news in this month's Street View 🎢

Thought of this thread yesterday as I wrote an email to Microsoft's editorial guidelines team, curious about their use of hyphens in Bing results and Microsoft Edge where I felt an em-dash was more appropriate 🤣

Better yet, I actually received a very satisfying response from their terminologist.

Rising bird flu costs drive backyard chicken interest - Nashville Banner As egg costs continue to rise, interest in backyard chickens increases in Tennessee. However, experts warn it's not a cost-effective solution.

As the cost of eggs goes up, so does the interest in backyard chickens. If this sounds like you, consider this fair warning. Experts advise raising chickens costs thousands and caution those interested to take extra steps to protect their flock from the bird flu.
nashvillebanner.com/2025/03/12/t...

Ken Stewart does meaningful and unique work in Nashville and at shipwreck sites around the world. It was an honor to speak with him for this year’s @nashvillescene.com People Issue.

Historic Zoning Bill Stirs Metro Council Debate City looks to counteract proposed state legislation that could impact local commissions

A bill that would put Metro’s Historic Zoning Commission and Historical Commission under the authority of the Planning Department has sparked debate among Metro councilmembers and the general public in recent weeks.

I honestly think it would be hilarious if there was one family on White Lotus that was having just the best time, like we get two miserable storylines and then occasionally cut to this family going “We saw three dolphins!”

Historic WSM transmitter building in Nashville for sale - Nashville Banner A historic Edgehill building, once home to WSM's first transmitter in Nashville, is for sale, sparking efforts to preserve its country music legacy.

The Grand Ole Opry is in the middle of a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of the country music institution, while a humble, mostly forgotten piece of its history is at risk of being torn down.

Street View: Making East End More Livable Some residents want to create denser multifamily housing in the East Nashville neighborhood

And here’s a story from late 2023 when MHZC worked with a neighborhood to make their overlay a bit more flexible:

www.nashvillescene.com/news/citylim...

Street View: What Are Historic Overlays Protecting? Housing advocates say overlays have negative consequences beyond just accidental violations

Here’s a link to some earlier coverage for more context:

www.nashvillescene.com/news/citylim...

Here’s the latest on the Metro Historic Zoning Commission audit, and potential legislation to move MHZC into the Planning Department. The bill from @emilyfor7.bsky.social will go before Metro Council tonight.

Street View: Vanderbilt, Its Expanding Campus and Neighborhood Parking The school reports a decrease in student and faculty drivers — but neighbors say overflow parking is still an issue

Vanderbilt reports a decrease in student and faculty drivers — but neighbors say overflow parking is still an issue. A new installment of Street View from @lmazel.bsky.social.

Street View: Renovation Woes Digging into a back-and-forth between two East Nashville homeowners and their builders

After a sunny two months covering a wildflower project and a promising housing coop, the Street View column is back to homeowner woes.

This month follows a renovation with allegations of multiple open gas lines and a potentially explosive shower 😬

www.nashvillescene.com/news/citylim...