What is up, Memphis? Today is Wednesday, Jan. 18, and there’s a lot going on. The Shelby County Commission will hold its committee meetings today, and among other items, they’ll discuss an ordinance that would change how non-profits access county land bank properties.

The Memphis Light, Gas and Water board meets today. So does the Center City Development Corp., and they’ll be considering an exterior improvement grant for South Main’s Klein Fitness. Over at the Downtown Mobility Authority, board members will hear an update on how the 100 North Main redevelopment is going. 

Beginning today, non-profits can apply for grants to have their digital messages produced professionally, through a partnership between Kudzukian Innovative Media Content and Momentum Nonprofit Partners. And finally, the Memphis Grizzlies will play the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight, and let’s hope their winning streak persists. See, I told you there was a lot going on today.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Rodney Wells, stepfather of Tyre Nichols, spoke during a memorial service for his son on Tuesday, January 17. Nichols died on Saturday Jan. 10, three days after being injured during an incident with Memphis Police officers. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

‘Skate in peace,’ Tyre: Family, friends and coworkers — some wearing T-shirts that read “Skate in peace” — attended a memorial for Tyre Nichols at M.J. Edwards Funeral Home on Tuesday. Nichols, a 29-year-old skateboarder and FedEx employee, died on Saturday Jan. 10, three days after being injured during an incident with Memphis Police officers. “[He was] always like a free spirit. He was just always true to himself,” said Nichols’ sister Keyana Dixon. (You can see Nichols’ skateboarding videos here.) Also on Tuesday, the City of Memphis pledged to release body camera footage of Nichols’ encounter with police once the Memphis Police Department’s internal investigation is completed later this week.

Four members of Germantown’s Harvest Church, pictured here, died in a plane crash in Texas on Tuesday. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Four dead in plane crash: Four members of Germantown’s Harvest Church died in a plane crash in South Texas on Tuesday morning. Those killed included the church’s executive pastor Bill Garner, Steve Tucker, Tyler Patterson and Tyler Springer. Another member, lead pastor Kennon Vaughan, survived the crash and was hospitalized in stable condition. 

Second arrest in Barshay Wilson slaying: A second suspect, Cassius Bryant, has been arrested for first-degree murder and other charges in connection with the death of University of Memphis nursing student Barshay Wilson. Bryant’s codefendant, Vincent Patterson, told police that the two shot Wilson, took his marijuana and set fire to a Camaro belonging to Bryant after dumping Wilson’s body near a water treatment plant in Arlington.

MEET MEMPHIS

Good Flippin' Pancakes co-owners and sisters Connell and Brinkley Erb. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Local plant-based pancake company Good Flippin’ Pancakes is expanding to grocery stores around Memphis. Co-owner Brinkley Erb created the ready-to-eat pancakes after being diagnosed with egg and dairy allergies. She launched her pancake company last year alongside her sister, Connell Erb, and her stepfather, Tom Sikes. The pancakes are now available in six locally owned grocery stores, as well as the Memphis Kitchen Co-Op, where the pancakes are made.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Themetria Cunningham, a night cook at the Clarion Hotel in Downtown Nashville, had a close relationship with state Rep. Barbara Cooper, who died in October 2022. (Ian Round/The Daily Memphian)

Reserved for Barbara Cooper: When the Tennessee General Assembly began its annual legislative session last week, it was missing longtime state Rep. Barbara Cooper. She died in October at age 93. But even though Cooper is gone, a cook at the Clarion Hotel in Nashville, where Cooper always stayed during the legislative session, set a table in her memory this week. Themetria Cunningham had prepared the state representative’s daily meals for years, and she’d often help Cooper, who walked with a cane, get into her ride to the statehouse. “For a certain amount of time I wasn’t working, I was trying to tend to Miss Cooper,” she said.

On Oct. 11, the Center City Revenue Finance Corp. approved a 30-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) and tourism surcharge for a two-part, $226 million renovation and expansion for Sheraton Memphis. (Courtesy DW Design Strategy)

PILOT policy changes: Downtown’s Center City Revenue Finance Corp. will vote soon on possible changes to its payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) policy. One of those changes would include capping most PILOTs at 10-year terms; 15- and 20-year PILOTs would still be available, but developers would have to meet extra criteria. The new rules would also exclude self-storage facilities and would add new requirements for affordable housing projects. (You can see a full list of proposed changes here.) The board will vote on changes next month.

A “for sale” sign sits in an empty lot of the Whittmore subdivision in Collierville. Memphis home sales took a dive in 2022. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Home sales down: The Memphis housing market took a dip in 2022, with home sales down 11% over last year. Memphis Area Association of Realtors President Bill Stewart said inflation and rising mortgage rates affected the market. But things are looking up for the industrial real estate market, and The Daily Memphian’s Neil Strebig has more on that in his Inked column. He also answers a reader’s burning question about ongoing construction at the One Beale site.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Consequence of Sound named Memphis rapper GloRilla to its list of “15 Rising Artists to Watch in 2023” on Tuesday. Writes Eddie Fu: “The Memphis breakout’s infectious energy will be put on display during her first headlining tour, and she still hasn’t released a full-length album yet.”

Should we call this a “Glo up”? It’s nice to read some good news today! 

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