Teachers protest reopening of schools, where to vote Aug. 6 and more: News from Nashville

Amanda Kail, Metropolitan Nashville Education Association president, stands outside the Governor's Residence on July 27 as teachers participate in a mock funeral procession. (Dylan Skye Aycock/Community Impact Newspaper)

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By CI Staff Compilation | 8:07 AM Jul 28, 2020 CDT | Updated 8:07 AM Jul 28, 2020 CDT

Read the latest news from the Nashville area.

Southwest Nashville

‘Dead students can't learn, dead teachers can't teach’: local, state educators call for safe reopening policies statewide at July 27 protest

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Tennessee, Nashville educators are advocating for schools across the state to begin the academic year in a virtual environment.

Local and state educators, parents and community members participated in a demonstration July 27 protesting the reopening of schools.

GUIDE: Full list of candidates, where to vote in Southwest Nashville for Aug. 6 election

Tennessee will hold its state and federal primary elections Aug. 6, during which registered voters will also cast their ballots for local county and school board representatives.

Davidson County coronavirus cases rise by 300 in 24 hours

Cases of coronavirus in Davidson County have risen to 18,136 as of July 27, according to the latest update from the Tennessee Department of Health.

This marks an increase of 300 new cases reported in the county since the department’s last update July 26.

Only half of absentee ballots in Metro Nashville sent in as Aug. 6 election day nears

Officials with the Davidson County Election Commission are calling for registered voters who requested an absentee ballot to return their completed forms ahead of election day, Aug. 6.

According to the commission, nearly 30,000 absentee ballots were requested; however, only half of them have been returned with votes filled in.

Ballots must be received by mail by the time polls close Aug. 6.

Franklin-Brentwood

Williamson County coronavirus cases rise by over 40 in 24 hours

Cases of coronavirus in Williamson County have risen to 2,943 as of July 27, according to the latest update from the Tennessee Department of Health.

This marks an increase of 47 new cases reported in the county since the department’s last update July 26.

GUIDE: Full list of candidates, where to vote in Williamson County for Aug. 6 election

Tennessee will hold its state and federal primary elections Aug. 6, during which registered voters will also cast their ballots for local county and school board representatives.

Wendy Sturges, Dylan Aycock and Alex Hosey contributed to this report.

By CI Staff Compilation

MOST RECENT

A number of parents and community members have called for more parental involvement and district training regarding racism in schools. (Community Impact staff)

Parents, teachers call for more training to address racism in Williamson County Schools

During the WCS Board of Education meeting Jan. 19, a number of community members spoke about a lack of training and resources to address racial tension at schools, as well as a need for the district to more directly address incidents.

Williamson County active COVID-19 cases drop more than 20% in past week

Active cases have been consistently above 2,000 in recent weeks.

Williamson County Schools, state address effects of COVID-19 on learning loss

According to preliminary data from assessments given to students in the fall, Williamson County Schools officials calculated that some students have lost as much as 9% proficiency in reading and math as a result of school closure last spring. This number is lower than the 50%-65% decreases estimated by the Tennessee Department of Education officials in September; however, local officials said, there is still catching up to do.

The shop is expected to hold open house events Feb. 5-6 to celebrate its opening. (Courtesy Pexels)

New boutique Valentine House now open in Westhaven in Franklin

The shop is expected to have open house events Feb. 5-6 to celebrate its opening.

Perry's Steakhouse & Grille will open Feb. 18 in Franklin. (Courtesy Perry's Steakhouse & Grille)

Perry's Steakhouse & Grille will open Franklin location Feb. 18

Perry's offers Prime-aged steaks, seafood and its signature entree, Perry's Famous Pork Chop, a in-house-butchered pork chop measuring seven fingers high, which is carved tableside.

Mother and daughter Melanie Johnson and Nikki Reeves took over ownership of the space in December from the previous owners, another mother-daughter team who had run the shop since its opening in 2016. (Photos by Wendy Sturges/Community Impact Newspaper)

Mother-daughter duo takes over Westhaven space at Sanctuary South

Located in the heart of Front Street, Sanctuary South has become a mainstay of the Westhaven community—it is within walking distance of the neighborhood’s residential streets. Now, as new owners take control, the shop is undergoing some changes while staying true to its roots.