Happy Tiwesdæg! That’s Old English for Tuesday, which was named for Tiw, the Norse god of combat, law and order. Speaking of order, it’s July 26, and the Memphis City Council will meet today. They’re expected to expand their debate over the city’s One Beale incentives, as well as consider capital funding for Mud Island River Park renovations.

The Bartlett Board of Mayor and Aldermen also meets today, and they’ll take up a resolution to write-off bad checks issued to the city. Economic development board EDGE is looking to buy four parcels near the old Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. plant in North Memphis, and they’ll discuss that at their meeting today. 

And finally, it’s Church Health Giving Day, and a generous donor is matching all gifts made to the local health care not-for-profit today.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Ray (right) speaks as board member Michelle Robinson McKissack (left) listens during a special meeting on July 12. Ray was placed on paid administrated leave pending an investigation. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Joris Ray’s alleged affairs: Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Ray had a supervisory role over at least one of the women with whom he allegedly had an affair, according to MSCS personnel files obtained by The Daily Memphian. Other personnel files show that another MSCS employee named in Ray’s divorce filings served under his direct supervision when Ray led alternative programs in the district. Ray is currently on paid leave while the MSCS school board investigates whether any of his actions violated district policy.

Monkey on our backs: Monkeypox has arrived in Shelby County. The first case here was confirmed on Monday, marking the 18th case of the virus in Tennessee (I find this news to be terrifying, but hey, at least it’s rarely fatal).

Rev. Autura Eason-Williams, shown here teaching at Memphis Theological Seminary in 2017, was killed in a carjacking on Monday, July 18. A second juvenile suspect has been charged with murder in the case. (Courtesy Memphis Theological Seminary)

Second suspect in Eason-Williams’ death: Brayan Carrillo, another 15-year-old suspect in the carjacking and murder of Rev. Autura Eason-Williams, turned himself in to authorities late last week. Carrillo has been charged with first-degree murder, and the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office is seeking to transfer the case to adult court. Earlier last week, Miguel Andrade, also 15, was charged with first-degree murder, and the Shelby County District Attorney’s office also wants to have him tried as an adult.

Graceland officials were unable to make payments on Tourism Development Zone bonds, with some of those bonds hitting payment default. (AP file photo/Mark Humphrey)

No money honey: More than two years after the pandemic shutdown began, Graceland is feeling its financial aftermath. Graceland officials were unable to make payments on Tourism Development Zone bonds, with some of those bonds hitting payment default. Joel Weinshanker of Graceland Holdings LLC said “there wasn’t enough money flowing through to support some of the bonds” due to a COVID-19 shutdown and limitations on guests after reopening. But he said attendance numbers are beginning to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Dozens of Memphians wait in a long line outside of the Shelby County Clerk’s Poplar Avenue branch on April 1, 2022. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Skip the line: In an effort to address long lines at the Shelby County Clerk’s Office, which continues to be plagued with a license plate and tag backlog, the office is moving to a callback system beginning today. Once there are about 20 people in line, any additional people will sign up to get a phone call when it’s their turn to get back in line (sounds like a perfect excuse to grab a beer while you wait). “For the safety of all, we can no longer allow the lines to continue,” said Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert.

MEET MEMPHIS

Chassidy Jade Woods, who’s known professionally as Chassidy Jade, is hosting the first Crown Me Royal Film Fest, July 29-31. The event will showcase independent films, panels and workshops from Black and brown emerging filmmakers and artists. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Memphis-based filmmaker Chassidy Jade Woods, creator of independent production company Crown Me Royal Labs, has worked in the film industry for 12 years, working on commercials, promos and trailers. She’s released a short film, “The Brown Ballerina.” And this weekend, she’s launching a new, local event, the Crown Me Royal Film Festival, to showcase independent films, panels and workshops from Black and brown emerging filmmakers and artists.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Chef Meredith Clinton (left) and owner Jared Welch (right) will soon open the Lucky Cowboy, a pop-up speakeasy located in the basement of 409 S. Main. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Instagram-worthy: A new pop-up speakeasy is coming to the South Main Arts District, and you’ll need a password to get in — if it’s even open. Lucky Cowboy won’t have regular business hours; information on public events and open hours will only be available on Instagram. Speaking of Instagram, Lucky Cowboy’s space was originally intended as a selfie museum, but the speakeasy concept was added later. That said, you will still find Instagrammable art installations throughout the space. 

Tuyen Le has opened Tuyen’s Asian Bistro just down the street from where her family’s restaurant, Saigon Le, once stood. (Jennifer Biggs/The Daily Memphian)

Tale of two Tuyens: Tuyen’s Asian Bistro, the new Vietnamese restaurant from Tuyen Le of Saigon Le fame, is now open in the Crosstown neighborhood and serving most of your Saigon Le menu favorites. But just before opening day, Le’s cook quit. So she’s bringing her sister, also named Tuyen Le (but pronounced differently), back to Memphis from Vietnam to take over. Saigon Le fans may remember both sisters working in the front of the house, while their mom handled most of the cooking.

Pat Mitchell Worley (left) accepted a donation from the IRONMAN Foundation on behalf of the Stax Music Academy in October 2021. (The Daily Memphian file)

New Soulsville CEO: Stax Music Academy executive director (and Beale Street Caravan radio show host) Pat Mitchell Worley will take over as president and CEO of the Soulsville Foundation on Aug. 1. The foundation oversees the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, the music academy and a music-focused charter middle and high school.

Developer Six Land Co. LLC is planning a 105-unit apartment complex in the Edge District. The apartment units will be fully furnished. Rent will include both Wi-Fi and utilities. (Courtesy Six Land Company LLC)

Live on the Edge: More apartments may be coming to the Edge District. A Jonesboro-based developer plans to transform the former Holliday Flowers property site into University Lofts, a 105-unit apartment complex. “We felt so strongly about the Edge neighborhood, we absolutely had to take it. There has been a lot of effort to revitalize that area,” said Parker Sitton of Six Land Co. LLC.

Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (22) and Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) vie for a rebound on May 13. Jackson’s injury is one of the questions swirling around the team’s future. (Tony Avelar/AP photo file)

Your Grizz questions answered: With the NBA draft and summer league behind us, we’re in a bit of a Memphis Grizzlies lull. But The Daily Memphian’s Chris Herrington is keeping the conversation going with a mid-summer Grizzlies mailbag column. He answers your burning questions, like “Do we take a step back this season?” (his answer may surprise you), and is there “any chance [Kenneth Lofton] Jr. will be a rotation player?” (Herrington is a “charter member” of the “Kenneth Lofton Union of Believers”). 

New homes coming to Collierville: The Collierville Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to approve Hinton Preserve, a residential development with 84 homes, on Monday evening. Collierville’s Hinton Park is just south of the proposed housing, so the plan’s developer also wants to provide better access to that park for the new residents.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

As a child of the 1980s, I am loving the Little Miss viral meme trend. Choose901 got on the bandwagon with these Memphis-themed Little Miss memes. 

On that note, this is Little Miss Up Before the Sun to Deliver Your Memphis News, signing off. 

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