I hope your Wednesday is off to a great start! It’s July 13, and Memphis-Shelby County Schools board members will hold a specially called meeting today to address allegations of district policy violations by superintendent Joris Ray.

Also today, the Shelby County Commission meets in a special session to vote on the purchase of a set of Ford F-150 Lightning electric vehicles.

WYXR will host its final Stereo Sessions event tonight at the Memphis Listening Lab inside Crosstown Concourse. The Bar-Kays drummer Willie Hall will guide a listening session of John Gary Williams’ 1973 self-titled LP.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Reginald Eggerson is one of disbarred lawyer Bret Thompson’s recent victims. Thompson is under indictment for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars while posing as an attorney. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Politicians paid disbarred attorney: Bretran Thompson, a former elected member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, is under indictment for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars while posing as an attorney. Thompson was a licensed attorney at one time, but he was disbarred in 1996 for stealing client funds. He’s since been convicted over and over again for stealing money from “clients” who have hired him for services he can’t legally perform. An investigation by the Institute for Public Service Reporting found that Thompson received more than $110,000 since 2012 from the campaign coffers of a range of local candidates.

Memphis City Councilman JB Smiley Jr. (middle) sponsored the “Reproductive Autonomy Is Necessary Act,” which was approved by the council on Tuesday. The act blocks funding to enforce the state’s abortion law. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

City council actions: The Memphis City Council approved a resolution on Tuesday to block additional funding to enforce the state’s law banning abortion. The resolution, which was sponsored by council member JB Smiley, prevents Memphis Police from assisting in investigations that involve gathering medical information about women and their doctors. In other council news, members delayed a vote to have the city backstop 100% of debt payments for the Grand Hyatt hotel, the third hotel at the One Beale development, until this Thursday. They did, however, approve an expansion of the Memphis Blues manufactured home development, which is planned near a flood plain in Frayser. The council is also one step closer to hiring an energy consultant to inform its vote on Memphis Light, Gas and Water’s future with its electric supplier, the Tennessee Valley Authority.

Pro-choice protesters participated in a Planned Parenthood march on Saturday May 14, 2022. (Lucy Garrett/The Daily Memphian file)

Democrats propose abortion protections: Tennessee Democrats announced plans on Tuesday to propose abortion protections in cases of rape, incest and human trafficking, among other proposals. Sen. Heidi Campbell (D-Nashville) called the new proposals a “longshot” considering that Tennessee is a state with a Republican supermajority emboldened by the reversal of Roe v. Wade. But she is hoping for incremental change through “very specific bills to undo the most egregious sections of the state ban.”

MEET MEMPHIS

Judy Jenkins trains with Ginger Acuff at the Memphis Police boxing gym. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)

Since 2006, an exercise program called Rock Steady has been helping Parkinson’s patients build their strength through no-contact boxing. A Rock Steady group meets regularly at the Memphis Police Department’s boxing gym to practice their jabs and upper cuts while getting in the high-intensity interval training that’s been shown to help improve Parkinson’s symptoms. “It helps us with hand-eye coordination and balance. It’s made a world of difference for me. I’ve been diagnosed five years, and I’m still doing fine,” said Frank Navarra.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s NBC comedy “Young Rock,” a coming-of-age story inspired by his challenging childhood and youth, will film its third season in Memphis. (Frank Masi/Courtesy NBC)

This rocks: The third season of “Young Rock,” an NBC comedy series inspired by the life of former pro wrestler and actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, will be shot in Memphis this fall. “This is only the fourth network primetime scripted series ever to base here,” said Linn Sitler, executive director of the Memphis & Shelby County Film and Television Commission. I mean, Ja Morant did tell The Rock to “pull up,” so it looks like he’s answering the call. 

Nick Barbian, owner of Big River Market, says “I think we’re on the verge of a something big. It’s a great place for food lovers and for young people, a golden age for food here. It’s like a mix of Austin and a solid Midwestern town.” (Jennifer Biggs/The Daily Memphian)

Big River soft opening: The South Main Arts District has a new upscale, corner-market convenience store (but “one with good beer and fancy chips,” says The Daily Memphian’s Jennifer Biggs). Big River Market at 516 Tennessee St. softly opened on Monday and will be open from noon to 7 p.m. all week. The 2,000-square-foot shop offers food, beer, wine, grab-and-go meals and a coffee bar. But about that coffee bar: The barista doesn’t start until next week.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant during action against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday, April 26, 2022. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Morant matters: Memphis Grizzlies star point guard Ja Morant recently agreed to a five-year max contract extension that will keep him in Memphis until at least 2028. And that matters because Morant makes for great basketball. But it also matters because the Grizzlies lease with the city and county expires after the 2029 season, and before that time, critical negotiations will decide the team’s future in the Bluff City. The Daily Memphian’s Geoff Calkins says “Morant’s continuing brilliance” will help supercharge those conversations and “secure the Grizzlies' place in Memphis for decades to come.”

Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama (shown during play against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, July 5) led all scorers with 31 points on Tuesday, July 12, against the Brooklyn Nets. (Jeff Swinger/Associated Press)

Hot Grizz summer: The Memphis Grizzlies, led by forward Santi Aldama, beat the Brooklyn Nets, 120-84, in Tuesday’s summer league game that was “the most Memphis-y that Memphis has looked since the players took the court together for the first time a week ago,” writes The Daily Memphian’s Drew Hill. Aldama scored 31 points, making it his second consecutive summer league game with 20-plus points. Draft pick David Roddy gave an impressive showing as well, and the Grizzlies key players Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Dillon Brooks were all there to cheer the summer team on.

Shahkoka Lake in Maywood (Toni Lepaska/Special to the Daily Memphian)

Big dam problem: The Olive Branch Board of Aldermen recently voted to apply for a Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality grant to get Shahkoka Lake off the state’s high hazard list. Maywood’s largest lake is kept inside its perimeters by a dam built in 1934. The state of Mississippi has been asking Olive Branch to widen the spillway and bring the dam up to standards. If that doesn’t happen, the state could demand the lake be permanently drained. However, the grant that aldermen voted to apply for may not be applicable for the project. 

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

When I was a kid growing up in northeast Arkansas, my family would often make trips to visit Memphis. And every time we’d pass the President’s Island sign, I’d beg my parents to take me there. I imagined something like Mount Rushmore — but on an island. I don’t recall seeing signs for Mud Island back then, but I’m sure this is what I would have imagined. 

Keep dreaming, Memphis! See you tomorrow.

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