Ahoy, Memphis! It’s Tuesday, Sept. 19, which happens t’ be International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Aye, it’s silly, but it’s fun. So pour a cup o' black brew ‘n let’s dig into the news, shall we?

The Memphis Redbirds split their six-game road series at International League-leading Norfolk, and now they’re back at home for the final series of the season, against Charlotte, beginning tonight.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Documents show the City of Memphis pitched the Memphis Grizzlies on a $492 million renovation of FedExForum and the University of Memphis on a $220 million renovation to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. (The Daily Memphian file)

Behind the scenes on stadium funding: Documents obtained by The Daily Memphian show the funding breakdown proposed by the City of Memphis for improvements at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium and FedExForum, but some of the funds don’t exist yet. In the city’s pitch for a $492 million renovation of FedExForum and a $220 million renovation of the stadium, millions in proposed taxpayer financing is contingent on taxes and tourism surcharges that would need approvals from the Memphis City Council, the Shelby County Commission and/or the Tennessee General Assembly. Since the state legislature doesn’t reconvene until January, the proposal raises questions about Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland’s ability to get the projects started before he leaves office. Yet, a letter obtained by The Daily Memphian shows Strickland is facing pressure from the University of Memphis’ legislative allies in Nashville to finish financing renovations for the football stadium. In related news, public records show U of M President Bill Hardgrave has been all up in Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark’s inbox about the Memphis Tigers’ bid to join the Power 5 league.

Submitted

Blackface caricature rattles U of M law school: A homemade trophy resembling a woman in blackface has caused outrage at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, and leaders there have emailed apologies to the school community. The trophy, created by law review staff using a football and a long black wig, was to be given to recognize excellence in editing, and it was on display for 10 days at the school’s law review office. It was removed after a member of the law school’s staff brought it to the attention of school leaders, and the school is now taking steps to repair the damage.

“There are some violent re-arrests but not as many as the public has perceived,” said Lead Judicial Commissioner John Marshall. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Re-arrests are down after bail reform: Contrary to popular belief, fewer defendants have been re-arrested for crimes after being released on bail since Shelby County’s new standing bail order launched in February. Judge Bill Anderson, criminal court judge, and Lead Judicial Commissioner John Marshall presented data to the Shelby County Commission on Monday that showed 11% of defendants were re-arrested after release from August 2022 to January 2023, before the new bail order. And 7% were re-arrested between Feb. 15 to July 31, after the order. “There are some violent re-arrests but not as many as the public has perceived,” said Marshall.

Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy announced the dismissal of cases related to the five former Memphis Police Department officers accused in Tyre Nichols’ death. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Cases dismissed: Last month, Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy announced that his office had dismissed at least 30 cases that had ties to the five former Memphis Police officers accused in Tyre Nichols’ death. Mulroy’s office reviewed about 100 cases, and the dismissals were decided based on whether the five officers — Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith — were deemed as necessary witnesses. The Daily Memphian’s Julia Baker offers a look at 20 of those dismissed cases, most of which were for street-level drug offenses, weapons violations and driving violations. 

MEET MEMPHIS

Maribeth Jeffreys

Maribeth Jeffreys used to think she’d be a kindergarten teacher forever. “But over time I started to feel some of my personal skills and talents could be better used in another role,” Jeffreys said. After nearly a decade of teaching kindergarten, Jeffreys is putting those talents to work as the new school director at Emmanuel United Methodist Kindergarten. Jeffreys, 31, took on that position in June, making her the youngest director in the Memphis preschool and kindergarten’s 53-year history.

THE NICE TO KNOW

This photo of Jesse Lindsey (left) and LaDonna Brown of the Chickasaw Dance Troupe ran with Bill Dries’ favorite story about the Chickasaw Nation’s Memphis origins. (Houston Cofield/The Daily Memphian file)

Our fave stories: As we celebrate five years in business this week, The Daily Memphian asked our longtime writers to share some of the favorite stories they’ve written. See top picks from Bill Dries, Elle Perry, Chris Herrington and others. In other Daily Memphian news, you might have noticed a couple of new bylines lately. Meet our fall 2023 interns: Both BJ Gibbs and Symone Maxwell are senior journalism majors at the University of Memphis.

Medtronic is seeking a 15-year tax incentive to invest more than $133 million to develop a new manufacturing facility in Memphis. (The Daily Memphian file)

Medtronic may invest millions: Medtronic, in a joint venture with CEVA Logistics, may invest more than $133 million to develop a new manufacturing and distribution facility in Memphis. The venture is seeking a 15-year jobs payment-in-lieu-of-taxes deal from the city and county EDGE board to build a 1,014,000-square-foot facility at 5300 Airways and create 265 new jobs. In other development news, Campbell Clinic plans to build a new, 30,000-square-foot building in Collierville, and it’s seeking a retention PILOT from the suburb. 

Community activist and former teacher Frank Johnson joined the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board as an appointee last October. (Courtesy Memphis-Shelby County Schools)

Road to recovery: Memphis-Shelby County Schools board member Frank Johnson is recovering from a stroke. Johnson will need therapy over the coming weeks to assist with mobility and speech, according to his pastor Rev. Earle Fisher. But Fisher said Johnson is “in good spirits.” Johnson, who was appointed to the board last fall, is the second MSCS board member to suffer a stroke in the past year. Board member Stephanie Love had a stroke in February and is back at board meetings, though she is still recovering. She offered some words of advice for Johnson on his recovery.

“This is just another chance for us to be in the spotlight, another national television game,” Memphis Tigers coach Ryan Silverfield said. (AP file)

Memphis vs. Missouri: This Saturday, the Memphis Tigers football team will face its first true test as it goes up against the University of Missouri in a nationally televised game at The Dome at America’s Center. The Tigers won the first two games against Bethune-Cookman and Arkansas State by a combined 93-17 margin. But Saturday brings the toughest match yet. Here’s hoping the 3-0 Tigers can be 4-0 when they face Boise State in two weeks in another televised game.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Memphis native and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Jason Isbell played a concert at the Memphis Botanic Gardens’ Radian Amphitheater over the weekend. And he got a nice surprise from the University of Memphis. Our own Chris Herrington caught the moment on video.

Congrats, Jason Isbell! And try t' work a wee pirate lingo into yer day. Need some help? Here’s a pirate translator. Now, fair winds t' ye, scallywags!

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