Are you ready for game night, Memphis? It’s Friday, April 28, and the Memphis Grizzlies are in Los Angeles to play the Lakers in game six of the playoffs, but the game won’t tip off until 9:30 p.m.

The Grizzlies have been here before, clawing their way back with a game six on the road, and it didn’t end well last year. But The Daily Memphian’s Chris Herrington reminds us that the team’s star trio is healthier this time around. Though speaking of health, guard Luke Kennard is questionable for tonight after hurting his shoulder in game five. 

On Saturday, the Alcy-Ball neighborhood will get the MEMFix treatment with live music, an art installation, a bike and hot rod show and much more. Hampline Brewing will celebrate two years in business with live music, beer and free Gus’s chicken. And the “world’s biggest bounce house” is at Shelby Farms Park.

On Sunday, we could (fingers crossed!) get a game seven between the Grizzlies and the Lakers at FedExForum. If you ask Desmond Bane, game seven is happening, so let’s believe him. For more weekend fun, check out The To-Do List.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. (left) and president of the NAACP Memphis Branch Van Turner (right) are the focus of litigation regarding a residency requirement to run for mayor of Memphis. (From left to right: Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file; Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file).

Mayoral residency 101: This year’s Memphis mayoral election has been overshadowed by a debate over the city’s residency requirement for candidates, and two would-be mayoral hopefuls — Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. and local NAACP president Van Turner — have filed a lawsuit over the matter. The city’s charter says candidates must live in the city for five years to qualify, but Memphis City Council attorney Allan Wade says a 1996 charter amendment did away with that rule. As that was playing out in court, the city council approved a referendum that would bring the residency question to voters but only for future elections, not the current mayoral race. Still confused? The Daily Memphian’s Bill Dries and Samuel Hardiman answer all your burning mayoral residency questions in this explainer.

Marie Feagins

Take-backsies: A former finalist for the Memphis-Shelby County Schools superintendent position is asking to be reconsidered after withdrawing her name. Marie Feagins, who currently works for the Detroit Public Schools Community District, withdrew her name after the three finalists were revealed on April 15, and the process stalled almost immediately. The superintendent search firm has asked the MSCS board to reconsider Feagins, but the board is waiting until an upcoming retreat to decide what’s next for the search.

Advocates gathered on Feb. 14 for a rally at the Tennessee state capitol complex in Nashville to oppose a series of bills that targeted the LGBTQ community. (Jonathan Mattise/AP file)

DOJ sues state over trans youth care ban: The U.S. Department of Justice has sued the State of Tennessee over its new law banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The DOJ argues that the law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment in part because it “denies necessary medical care to youth based solely on who they are.” Under the law, transgender youth are denied treatment for gender dysphoria, but the same treatment is still available for cisgender minors who are experiencing early puberty.

Possible South Memphis serial abductor arrested: On Thursday, the Memphis Police Department announced an arrest in a number of abductions and sexual assaults in South Memphis, but they’re not providing any details about the suspect. The arrest was made at 5:15 p.m. in coordination with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office after the suspect was positively identified by two juvenile victims. A day earlier, the MPD announced a South Memphis serial abductor was on the loose.

QUOTED

Jack Parnell, Memphis radio personality from the 1960s and ’70s died Wednesday. Rob Grayson (left), Jack Parnell (center) and George Klein attended the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in 2014. (Courtesy Rob Grayson)

“It’s like if God needed somebody to voice announcements, he would hire Jack Parnell. I can close my eyes, and I can hear him and see him.”

— Memphis DJ Ron Olson
Olson and others remembered legendary WHBQ DJ Jack Parnell, who died on Wednesday at the age of 84. Parnell hosted the morning show at WHBQ from 1958 to 1971 and helped build the station to record ratings before branching off to found his own voiceover business. He was the father of actor (and former “Saturday Night Live” star) Chris Parnell.

THE NICE TO KNOW

The new Restaurant Iris in the former Grove Grill space in East Memphis isn’t what you’d expect, according to Jennifer Biggs. (Ziggy Mack/Special to The Daily Memphian file)

New Iris is not old Iris: Restaurant Iris has reopened in its much larger, new space at Laurelwood, and The Daily Memphian’s Jennifer Biggs stopped in for a review — and stayed quite a bit longer than she intended. Biggs said the new Iris is quite the departure from the old space in Overton Square: “Iris 2008 and Iris 2023 are just not the same thing, maybe not even kissin’ cousins,” she says. Biggs describes how the new Iris is different, highlights her favorite dishes and offers a hot tip to ensure you can get a seat.

Terry Blue, who came to Memphis in 2015 from the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, will become the airport’s new president and CEO next year. (Submitted)

Arrivals and departures: Longtime Memphis International Airport executive Terry Blue will take over as the airport’s new president and CEO when current CEO Scott Brockman retires this December. Blue currently serves as the airport’s COO and executive vice president of operations.

Kendric Davis celebrated a three-pointer during a March 10 Memphis Tigers game against UCF. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Tigers are going places: Former Memphis Tigers basketball star Kendric Davis has received the inaugural CBS Sports Transfer Player of the Year award, just six weeks after his collegiate career came to a close. And in Tigers football news, former Memphis safety Quindell Johnson is the only Tiger expected to be taken in the 2023 NFL Draft, which started Thursday and runs through Saturday.

Fried catfish tacos at Booya’s come with a basket of chips, and you can sample plenty of salsas from the salsa bar. (Jennifer Biggs/The Daily Memphian)

Taco trip: For some people who live in the Memphis city limits, a trip to Collierville probably feels like trip to Nashville. But the suburb’s Booya’s fast-casual burrito joint is worth the drive, if you ask our own Jennifer Biggs. She recently made the 42-mile round-trip trek from her home in East Memphis to try Booya’s fish tacos, and though she ordered the wrong ones, she was still pleased and is already making plans for how to get more tacos. Bonus: You can get one taco with cheese dip and guacamole for less than $10, which means you’ll have plenty of funds left for gas.

Blighted properties such as this one in North Memphis pose a severe fire hazard in addition to being unsightly. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Blight fight: New guidance on tackling blight and illegal dumping won approval from the Memphis City Council earlier this week. A city-led group has met monthly since last summer to develop new ideas for handling used tires, improving solid waste collection and making Environmental Court more accessible. Although the guidance won the council’s initial support, many of the ideas will require funding proposals and additional approvals.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Clearly, this person has never been to Memphis. Have you driven down Vance Avenue near the old Foote Homes lately? Geez.

Do your best to avoid those potholes today. And if you’re making the drive out to Collierville for tacos, order a veggie one for me, please. Also, go Grizz!

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