Cloud Nine Higher

First, I admit I was wrong about my prediction for the election held on the first day of this month of August 2019. I thought that David Briley would coast to a full term as Nashville mayor. After the debacle of Megan Barry, Metro Nashville voters seemed to gravitate toward stability and the same steady presence in the office of Mayor. But I am quick to add that Nashville voters have a collective mind of their own. Sometimes that mind is unpredictable. But it seems to take us in the right direction, almost as if we know what we need, what is around the corner, and the best man or woman for the job. This is a gift from God. And it is one of many reasons I am happy to call Nashville home. And I was here a long time before we ever heard about an IT city. In fact, though I did not grow up here, I was born here.  Megan Barry spoke of the "city that gets it". But she apparently did not get it. Finally, I saw press coverage of an interview where she admitted she was wro...

We already knew not to transmit or read text messages while driving. But as of July 1, 2019, Tennessee Code Annotated section 55-8-199 goes a step further in banning the use of a wireless telecommunications device while operating a motor vehicle on any road or highway in our great state. The bill passed both houses of the General Assembly on April 30, 2019, and Governor Bill Lee signed it into law on May 21 of this year. Here are some details from the Cloud Nine Higher publisher and attorney: Violating the new law is a Class C misdemeanor and may result in a fine of $50 for the first offense. The fine may increase to $100 if an accident results from the violation or if it is the offender's third or subsequent offense. If you violate this statute in a work zone where Department of Transportation employees or contract construction workers are present or in a marked school zone, the fine is $200. There is no "Bluetooth" exception to be found here. Many vehicles now...