In Local News . . .

One of my favorite bands, Slack, was recently mentioned prominently in the Tennessean's popular "Brad About You" column. Slack, as reported by Scrambies last month, is cutting an album with Foo Fighters producer Nick Raskulinecz.

At Monday's local blogger luncheon with State Senator Rosalind Kurita, several bloggers, including Bill Hobbs, pressed the senator to call on the resignation of Ward Crutchfield and Kathryn Bowers, two of Kurita's Democratic colleagues in the Tennessee Senate. Both Crutchfield and Ward were indicted in the Operation Tennessee Waltz case. (Republican Chris Newton, also indicted, pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday, but has yet to resign his seat.) Kurita said, "My instinct is to say 'yes' [Crutchfield and Bowers should resign]." But, she added, they have to "look into their own hearts," because only they know whether they are truly guilty.

According to today's City Paper, many Nashville clergy are upset that Mayor Purcell has forced them to choose between a regressive sales tax hike and inadequate funding for schools. Liz Garrigan has a related editorial in this week's Nashville Scene.