Good morning, Memphis, and welcome to the tail end of your workweek. Today is Friday, April 23, and the Orpheum is kicking off its spring Candlelight Concerts series tonight, with a performance by Memphis musician Nick Black. 

There’s also a Downtown Memphis Commission board meeting today (with its new president), the Grizz are playing the Trail Blazers tonight (there), and the wienermobile (yes, that wienermobile) will be out and about this weekend, as well.

THE NEED TO KNOW

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen talks to national guard members stationed at the Pipkin Building earlier this month. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)

The clock starts ... now: The federal government is expected to pull out of local vaccination efforts beginning May 17. The feds’ original engagement was for six weeks but there was a chance that, if demand was high enough, FEMA and DoD staff would continue their work here for an additional two weeks. But that seems doubtful. The city’s leases for several mass vaccination sites are also ending with the beginning of summer so, essentially, the countdown has started and the next four weeks will be “critical” to getting as many people vaccinated as possible. (Of course, you will still be able to get a COVID-19 vaccination after May 17; it just may not be as convenient.)

Giant gets bigger: Amazon confirmed yesterday that it is building two new Memphis-area facilities and, with those additions, the online retail giant will employ more than 5,000 Memphians. One of those facilities, located in Frayser/Raleigh, will be a last-mile fulfillment center and should help local customers receive their deliveries quicker. The other, located in Mississippi, will handle larger online purchases, such as mattresses or kayaks.

Older brothers Dedric Lawson (left) and K.J. Lawson (second from left) once played for the University of Memphis. Now younger brothers Chandler Lawson (second from right) and Johnathan Lawson have committed to the Tigers. (Daily Memphian files)

Lawsons lost and found: If this were the movies, here’s how we’d reboot a franchise. The younger two sons — Chandler and Johnathan Lawson — of a renowned local basketball family have committed to the Memphis Tigers. To really understand this story, you may have to go back to where it all went wrong for family patriarch Keelon Lawson, big brothers K.J. and Dedric Lawson and the University of Memphis. Geoff Calkins dove into it again yesterday, talking about what Coach Penny Hardaway did, before he was even the coach, to make it right, while Steven Johnson looked at K.J.’s unlikely role in convincing his siblings that Memphis was their best option. K.J., who is now married and playing basketball professionally overseas, told them, “Memphis is home, this is the place to be. Perfect situation, perfect coaching staff and where the team is headed. Here at Memphis, you have all the resources you would have at a Power Five (school).”

MEET MEMPHIS

Aaron Branch smiles while serving customers earlier this month in front of the MAPCO station at Danny Thomas Blvd. and Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Ave. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

When the pandemic began, 32-year-old Aaron Branch was the area operations manager for a valet service. In high school, he had always been the guy who sold chips and drinks, so he quickly pivoted and fulfilled a lifelong dream of opening up a hot dog cart. These days, he can be found “cooking a steady stream of smash burgers, Nathan’s hot dogs and smoked sausages for a growing clientele” at the corner of Danny Thomas Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. 

THE NICE TO KNOW

Sugar Grits recently opened Downtown. (Peggy Burch/The Daily Memphian)

Kiss my grits: A new restaurant Downtown takes a breakfast staple to the next level, featuring “Signature Grit Bowls” with yellow grits, blue or red popcorn grits or rice grits and topped with all manners of deliciousness. The Daily Memphian’s Peggy Burch recently checked out Sugar Grits, which offers both savory dishes as well as desserts such as a “Bonanza Foster” with bananas, rum and brown sugar on blue popcorn grits. The menu also includes a variety of biscuits, eggs all ways, burgers, sandwiches, salads and soups. 

A bad cut: Here’s a Martyrs Park mystery. Someone illegally cut down a 200-yard stretch of trees along the Mississippi River bank last month, leaving only the tallest and most mature trees near the top of the steep slope intact. And unlike a similar incident closer to Tom Lee Park, there is no suspect in this case.

The Harbor Town residence dubbed “Civitas” was designed by Archimania. (Tom Bailey/Daily Memphian) 

Earth Day honor: A Harbor Town house is the world’s first building to earn zero-energy and zero-carbon certifications from the International Living Future Institute, an organization that has verified just 118 U.S. projects in its 15-year history. The home was designed by local architecture firm Archimania for one of its principals and, with its solar panels, produces more energy than it consumes.

WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

This whole interaction is so on-brand. 

And that’s where we’re going to stop for the week. Thanks for joining us for the news, and we’ll see you back here Monday, bright and early. 

Have a great weekend! 

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