How are you holding up, Shelby County? I’m feeling a little stir-crazy from being iced-in at home. It’s Thursday, Feb. 2, and it looks like we’re in for more winter weather today. Memphis-Shelby County Schools and the suburban school districts have canceled classes yet again.

Does it feel like we’ve been here before? Oh wait, we have. It is Groundhog Day after all, so it makes sense. And bad news, friends: Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter morning. 

Later, the Memphis Grizzlies will play the Cleveland Cavaliers in a road game (thoughts and prayers). 

Mark your calendars for Friday, Feb. 17. That’s when we’ll have our next Friday readers lunch at Panta. And this feels like a good time to remind you to grab your tickets for The Daily Memphian’s Women in Business seminar, scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 16.

THE NEED TO KNOW

The casket of Tyre Nichols is loaded into the hearse after his funeral at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church on Feb. 1. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Tyre Nichols laid to rest, challenges remain: Despite icy conditions, thousands gathered for the funeral service of Tyre Nichols on Wednesday at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. Rev. Al Sharpton eulogized Nichols at the service, and guests included U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, the families of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and Spike Lee. The Daily Memphian’s Julia Baker was there. The Memphis Police Department and local authorities have garnered praise for their swift action against the officers involved in Nichols’ beating on Jan. 7, but some say the MPD hasn’t been transparent enough. The Daily Memphian’s Don Wade looks at the challenges that remain.

FedEx Corp. will lay off 10% of its officer and director teams. (Mark Humphrey/AP)

FedEx announces layoffs: Memphis-based FedEx Corp. announced on Wednesday that it will lay off 10% of its officer and director teams. FedEx’s earnings over the past two quarters fell below company expectations, and the shipping giant has enacted various cost-cutting initiatives. “Saying goodbye to longtime colleagues and friends whom we value and respect is extraordinarily difficult,” wrote CEO Raj Subramaniam in an internal memo.

Paul Young has raised a little over $347,400 since he formally kicked off his bid for Memphis mayor on Sept. 1, 2022. (The Daily Memphian file)

Mayor money: Memphis mayoral candidate and Downtown Memphis Commission President Paul Young has the most money in his mayoral campaign coffer so far. Young, along with Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner and businessman J.W. Gibson, are the only three of the nine mayoral candidates that have raised at least $300,000. The Daily Memphian’s Bill Dries breaks down the race’s first quarterly campaign finance report.

Violent crime down, car thefts up: Major violent crime — murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults — was down 5% in Memphis and Shelby County in 2022 compared with 2021, according to a new report. But major property crime — burglaries, vehicle thefts and other felony thefts — was up 29% over the prior year. That was largely due to a 113% increase in vehicle thefts in Memphis and a 108% increase in the county. The University of Memphis campus was no stranger to car thefts in 2022; the campus recorded its highest number of auto thefts in at least 20 years.

MEET MEMPHIS

Janice M. Holder, first female chief justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court, viewed her portrait at an unveiling event on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023, at Judge D’Army Bailey Courthouse. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Janice M. Holder, the first female chief justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court, was recently honored with a portrait by artist Frank Morris, to be hung on the walls of the Circuit Court Division II courtroom where she began her career as judge. Holder was appointed to the state Supreme Court in 1996, and she served there for 18 years. Since she retired in 2014, Holder has served as a mediator and arbitrator in state and federal courts. She’s also a scuba diver and a martial artist (she holds a black-belt in karate).

THE NICE TO KNOW

Memphis Grizzlies defender Danny Green (right) applies defensive pressure to Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (left) on Wednesday, Feb. 1. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

‘Dame Time’ too much for Grizz: The Memphis Grizzlies lost on Wednesday night, 122-112, to the Portland Trail Blazers. Or, more specifically, they lost to the Trail Blazers’ star Damien Lilliard, who alone scored 42 points. (Does this man ever miss a shot?) We got a glimpse at what guard Danny Green can offer the Grizzlies in his debut 10 minutes of play, and forward Santi Aldama (sporting a cool, new ‘stache) hit some impressive power slams. Grizzlies star Ja Morant almost hit a new career milestone of three straight triple-doubles. But none of that was enough. The NBA trade deadline is looming, and The Daily Memphian’s Geoff Calkins says the Grizzlies need help.

The University of Memphis Tigers football team announced the addition of 16 newcomers, 11 of them FBS transfers. (Patrick Lantrip /The Daily Memphian file)

Signing on: The Memphis Tigers football team added 16 new players to their roster on Wednesday, the first day of the NCAA’s February signing period. In other Tigers football news, former football defensive lineman Don Bramlett, who played for the Tigers in the 1980s and went on to the NFL, died on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Memphis 901 FC announced it has signed Brazilian midfielder Bruno Lapa to a multi-year contract. (Courtesy Memphis 901 FC)

More sports news: A new voice is coming to Memphis sports talk radio station 92.9 FM ESPN, which recently lost longtime host Gary Parrish to Grind City Media. Former Memphis Tigers offensive lineman Gabe Kuhn will host a new show that will run from 4 to 7 p.m. And Memphis 901 FC has signed Brazilian midfielder Bruno Lapa ahead of its 2023 season.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Speaking at Tyre Nichols’ funeral on Wednesday, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris called on Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Watch Harris’ full speech here. 

The funeral program for Tyre Nichols featured candid shots and family photos. Rest in peace, Tyre.

Stay strong, Memphis. The sun should be shining tomorrow!

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