Tony Gonzalez

These people used to walk around with white hoods at night.

Now they're walking around with white hoods in the daytime.

Standing outside a recently closed elementary school in San Antonio, Republican Congressman Tony Gonzalez says every school district in America should have a space to train for emergencies.

Gonzalez secured $4.2 million each for both Uvalde and Northeast ISD in San Antonio.

The San Antonio School District is using the money to convert the closed school into a space where police and other staff can practice scenarios like responding to a school shooting.

I'm Camille Phillips in San Antonio.

When SNAP benefits were delayed by the shutdown, Nashville's public transportation agency, WeGo Transit, tried to lessen the financial strain.

SNAP recipients are among those who qualify for a free bus fare program, and the city set up more enrollment tables outside its agencies, libraries, and bus stations.

Riders like mother of two Antoinette Hatton says the pass will save her about $60 a month.

Enrollment was slow at first, but sign-ups have now topped 6,000.

For NPR News, I'm Tony Gonzalez in Nashville.

Vanderbilt went out with a bang, scoring more points against Tennessee than it has against its in-state rival in more than a century.

Their season has been full of superlatives.

Vanderbilt had never won 10 games in a season or beaten as many highly ranked opponents.

The Commodores briefly reached the AP Top 10 for the first time in a generation.

It's unclear if that'll be enough to break through in a crowded playoff picture.

Either way, the university is committing to head coach Clark Lee.

He's a Nashville native and Vanderbilt grad who agreed to a six-year contract extension.

For NPR News, I'm Tony Gonzalez in Nashville.

There's no exact formula to becoming an Opry member, but in 1956, a so-called young country singer made the cut.