Greetings, Nashville. We have returned to spend this glorious Monday morning together.

• Today's weather: Sunny and hot with a high pushing close to triple digits.

In case you missed it: Mayor Freddie O'Connell celebrated the approval of a $3.8 billion city budget last week. The budget comes with an average 26% property tax increase for homeowners.

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Tennessee could lose $11.4 million and 114 jobs tied to NASA science projects if President Trump's proposed budget is passed as is, according to a recent analysis.

Why it matters: NASA depends on Tennessee for research and contract work that fuels space exploration and a deeper understanding of our own planet. But cuts proposed in the Trump budget would cut back on that work significantly.

The big picture: Trump's proposed NASA science cuts fit into a broader pattern of pulling resources away from scientific endeavors and data collection, especially involving climate change.

Threat level: The space agency's scientific work would bear the brunt of the cuts and would be slashed nearly in half by the Trump budget.

• That includes missions like space telescopes, robotic probes and satellites that gather data about Earth's changing climate.

By the numbers: Tennessee received more than $24 million from NASA's science work on average annually across fiscal 2022-2024, per data from The Planetary Society, a pro-space nonprofit. The agency's scientific work in Tennessee enables 274 jobs.

• One agency estimate released last year suggested a larger web of nearly 1,000 Tennessee jobs were supported by the full scope of NASA's work.

Zoom in: Vanderbilt University, the University of Tennessee and Tennessee Technological University are three of the biggest draws for NASA grant funding.

• Vanderbilt helps develop electronic systems that withstand the rigors of space. The University of Tennessee contributes research related to geology and the surface of Mars.
• A coalition of universities based out of Oak Ridge helps educate new leaders in space science.

Yes, but: Cuts in Trump's budget proposal would slash funding for that scientific work. They would also "devastate the scientific talent pipeline" coming through Tennessee, according to The Planetary Society.

Between the lines: Trump's proposal suggests he believes NASA should be focused on human spaceflight rather than a broader scientific mission.

What's next: Congress, not the president, sets NASA's budget. Ongoing negotiations between lawmakers will ultimately shape the fate of that work.

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Vanderbilt University Medical Center announced last week that up to 650 people would be laid off as the institution scrambles to respond to the Trump administration's steep cuts to medical research.

Zoom in: Layoffs will hit up to 650 employees "primarily in research, administrative and other support areas," per a VUMC statement. That total includes employees who were already laid off earlier this year as well as a new round of reductions that began Friday.

What they're saying: "While this is extremely difficult, the staffing loss represents less than 2% of VUMC's total workforce," the VUMC statement read.

The big picture: The Trump administration is pursuing massive cuts to National Institutes of Health research grants and to the Department of Health and Human Services. The budget bill pending in Congress proposes deep cuts to Medicaid, which provides health insurance to 83 million low-income adults and their children.

• VUMC president and CEO Jeff Balser previously warned that federal cuts would lead to layoffs and hobbled research projects.

Flashback: In March, VUMC announced plans to slash its budget by $250 million because of the Trump administration's spending cuts. At the time, Balser said more cuts and layoffs could be needed as the scope of the funding fallout became clear.

• VUMC's latest statement said operating costs would be cut by $300 million.

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Fred Smith, the founder of FedEx and one of Tennessee's most consequential civic leaders, has died at age 80. (AP)

A federal judge based in Nashville ruled on Sunday that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported earlier this year, should be released from criminal custody while awaiting trial on federal charges. However, Abrego Garcia is likely to remain in the custody of immigration officials. (New York Times)

Nashville police revealed newly discovered details from their cold case investigation into Civil Rights-era bombings. (WPLN)

Music-related businesses continue to grow in Nashville. (Tennessean)

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In Huntsville, a city employee is tasked with growing and developing the local music ecosystem full-time.

What he's saying: During an interview with Axios Huntsville, music officer Matt Mandrella said he wanted to join Music City as a place known for its deep well of musical talent.

• "We're not trying to be the same as Austin or Nashville, but we're trying to be in that same conversation about uniquely awesome North American music cities that people should put roots down or travel in," Mandrella said.

The intrigue: A recent survey of Nashville's music community suggested that the city hire an advocate for musicians and the music scene.

• That comes amid fears that the rising cost of living here could push musicians toward more affordable options like Huntsville.

Read the full interview

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