I don’t know much about nuclear energy, admittedly, but I’d like to see much, much more information and lengthy community discussion before these plans to transport and process nuclear waste in Tennessee go any further. This project is going to have to go in someone’s back yard, but I want to hear more before I know whether it’s time for a NIMBY campaign. Since a railroad runs a few hundred feet above and behind my back door, the back yard in question might very literally be mine.

The State Senate passed a bill to make English the “main language” for driver’s license testing, according to this Associated Press story. The story also notes that proponents and opponents agree that the bill would “make little difference in how the state issues licenses.” The article goes on to note that this appears to be a long-resolved concern:

Lawmakers in 1984 established English as the “official and legal language of Tennessee.” Under that law, all government publications and communications were required to be available in English.

This bill and the Metro Council’s bill seem to me to be pointless initiatives that are only fostering negative impressions of our city and our state as unwelcoming communities. Let’s devote our time and resources toward addressing the challenges and shortcomings we face together instead of generating divisive pieces of legislation that serve largely as distractions, not solutions.

The Tennessean reported this morning on Gaylord Entertainment’s plans to develop a to-be-determined entertainment venue on 100 acres in Donelson. The Metro Council approved the rezoning request on the second of three required readings last night. Support is ample from nearby residents even though the company isn’t exactly sure what it will do with the site yet. So far, it is doing things the right way, as the paper notes:

Company executives said they are being sensitive to neighbors’ concerns, have invested more than $1 billion in Donelson and will be required by Metro to do more extensive traffic studies and site plans before they can build anything.

“I can assure you that our intent is to develop a comprehensive development plan that will minimize the effect of new traffic on the surrounding residential areas and on our Donelson businesses,” said Bennett Westbrook, Gaylord’s senior vice president for development, design and construction.

The Metro Planning Commission approved the request last month but said Gaylord should create buffers to protect against noise and traffic.

It sounds like Gaylord is being responsible and straightforward. I hope the company will continue to be open and flexible as its plans for the site become clearer in the future. If the council is going to approve their request without all of the details, Gaylord should remain willing to adjust to address future concerns if the eventual venue decision creates new concerns and headaches.