Pucker up, buttercups. It’s Tuesday, Aug. 29, National Lemon Juice Day. And we’ve got plenty of recipes to get more lemon juice into your life on our website. If your herb garden is overflowing with basil, as mine is now, you could make this homemade basil pesto using half a fresh lemon. Or satisfy your sweet tooth with Seessel’s Lemon Butter Pie. Technically, that recipe calls for RealLemon instead of fresh juice, but who’s counting?

I haven’t eaten breakfast yet, so enough about food. Let’s dig into the news.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Supporters of gun reform protested in the Tennessee Capitol rotunda after House Speaker Cameron Sexton ordered them out of the gallery and silenced Rep. Justin Jones. (Ian Round/The Daily Memphian)

Democrats walk out: House minority leader Karen Camper led a walkout of Democrats during the state legislature’s special session on Monday, after Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton cut off Democratic Rep. Justin Jones’ ability to speak and ordered state troopers to clear members of the public from the gallery. Republicans continued the session without the Democrats and passed several bills. Among them a juvenile blended-sentencing bill that could cost upwards of $11 million per year. Meanwhile, the state Senate met for about a half hour on Monday and passed no new legislation.

Karen Camper says her position as House minority leader would assist her if she were elected mayor of Memphis. (Ian Round/The Daily Memphian)

Speaking of Karen Camper ... The Daily Memphian is bringing you in-depth looks at each of the top contenders in the Memphis mayoral race. Today, our state government reporter Ian Round profiles mayoral candidate and state House Rep. Camper. As the Democratic minority leader, Camper tries to maintain the across-the-aisle relationships necessary to accomplish anything in Nashville. (Though it seems like maybe that’s not going so well these days.) The Army veteran emphasizes her relationships with the state’s Republican leadership, saying she is in a “unique position” to bring more state resources to Memphis. But her campaign hasn’t been without challenges; Camper is trailing in both fundraising and in the polls.

Commissioner Britney Thornton (right) urged commissioners to “open our minds” about the reform ordinances that would end all specialized task forces for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Police reform ordinances get initial approval: On Monday, the Shelby County Commission approved a set of reform ordinances for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office on the first of three votes, but the measures are likely to be amended before the final vote. The ordinances recommend that the SCSO end all specialized units and participation in joint task forces, ban pretextual traffic stops and begin compiling data on use of force, traffic stops and more. They mirror similar ordinances passed by the Memphis City Council in the wake of Tyre Nichols’ death. Commissioner Henri Brooks abstained from voting and said some of the provisions would “put me in jeopardy.” In other news, the commission also approved an “opioid abatement” plan with funds from an estimated $20 million the county will get from lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors.

RowVaughn Wells, center, the mother of Tyre Nichols, is represented by attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci. (Brandon Dill/AP file)

City files replies to Nichols lawsuit: In two court filings last week, the City of Memphis claimed that attorneys for Tyre Nichols’ family haven’t shown that the city or Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis encouraged unconstitutional acts leading to Tyre Nichols’ death. In their $550 million lawsuit filed against the city, the Nichols’ family attorneys allege that the city’s hiring of Davis was essential in the creation of the SCORPION unit, which was responsible for Nichols’ traffic stop and eventual death this past January. The city has filed a motion to dismiss the suit.

Miguel Andrade, who is charged in the killing of Rev. Autura Eason-Williams, has been indicted in a separate carjacking case that occurred the same day of the pastor’s death. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Andrade faces new carjacking charge: Miguel Andrade, the 16-year-old charged in the killing of Rev. Autura Eason-Williams, has been indicted in a separate carjacking case that allegedly occurred on the same day of the pastor’s death. Andrade was already facing a first-degree murder charge in the July 18, 2022, carjacking that resulted in Eason-Williams’ death. In a court appearance on Monday, Judge Paula Skahan informed Andrade of the new carjacking charge.

QUOTED

Richie Fletcher (left) reflects on his wife Eliza as the one-year anniversary of her death nears. (Courtesy Richie Fletcher)

“[Eliza] would be the first to forgive. That’s who she was. ... I have this feeling that something positive has to happen from this.”

— Richie Fletcher, Eliza Fletcher’s husband
As we approach the one-year anniversary of Eliza Fletcher’s abduction and killing, Richie Fletcher opened up to our own Geoff Calkins about how he hopes his wife is remembered. He also shares details from the morning she went missing and an update on how he and his family have fared over the past year.

THE NICE TO KNOW

University of Memphis President Bill Hardgrave (left) ran through the campus fountain with students Ansley Ecker (middle) and Steven Ross on Monday, Aug. 28, to mark the first day of classes. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Conference realignment dreaming: On Monday, University of Memphis President Bill Hardgrave laid out several issues that the university needs to work on if it wants to make the jump to a top-tier athletic conference. Among those: an aging football stadium. Hardgrave and U of M Athletic Director Laird Veatch emphasized the need to move funding along for planned improvements at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. And our own Geoff Calkins doesn’t doubt that Memphis needs to get the financing lined up, stat. But Calkins warns that football stadium improvements need to be part of a larger plan that ensures the Memphis Grizzlies get the money they need for FedExForum. The Daily Memphian’s Tim Buckley said Hardgrave gets an “A for effort” for at least trying to keep the conference realignment conversation going. Even college football expert Tony Barnhart, who spoke at the Memphis Touchdown Club on Monday, weighed in on Memphis’ never-ending Power 5 discussions. In U of M news that’s not about sports, Hardgrave joined student leaders in a run through the campus fountain Monday to kick off a new school year.

Court monitor makes big bucks: Retired Shelby County Judge James Robert “Bobby” Carter Jr. will make $200 an hour working up to 10 hours per week in his new role as a court monitor. Carter was contracted by the City of Memphis to perform a study on various court systems within Memphis. The local courts are facing a post-pandemic backlog: Last year, 35 trials were conducted in Shelby County; compare that with 96 trials in 2019 and 162 in 2015. Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland hired Carter to examine how judges are trying cases, among other metrics.

Team USA forward Jaren Jackson Jr. blocked a shot over Greece forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo (43) during a FIBA World Cup game in Manila, Philippines, on Monday, Aug. 28. (Michael Conroy/AP)

Shot killa in Manila: Jaren Jackson Jr. showed the world why he was the Defensive Player of the Year in Team USA’s 109-81 victory over Greece in their second game in the FIBA World Cup on Monday. Jackson blocked two shots, including a transition dunk attempt by Thanasis Antetokounmpo that went clean off the backboard.

Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite said it was “imperative” the city expand its police budget. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Funding the police? Southaven officials are considering a budget increase for the upcoming fiscal year that would fund 10 additional Southaven police officers and a little more than $6 million for street resurfacing. Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite said it was “imperative” the city expand its police budget to fund the city’s new “Operation: Close the Door” initiative, which stations police officers at Southaven’s borders in an effort to curb crime from Memphis.

No need for speed: Collierville will test out a new way to force drivers to slow down as part of a new pilot program. On Monday, the town’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the purchase of rubber “speed cushions,” which are less jarring and less costly than speed bumps. The cushions will be installed on a couple of roads near elementary schools where speeding has been a concern from residents.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

There’s an ongoing meme where Memphians share images of places that are clearly not Memphis with captions claiming the photos were taken in the Bluff City. A recent X (aka Twitter) thread from Growl Towel Central was filled with several such gems.

Alright, when life gives you lemons today, you know what to do! Make pesto.

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