Rise and grind, Memphis. It’s Friday, Dec. 15, and the Memphis Grizzlies will get another go at Dillon Brooks and the Houston Rockets tonight at home, following Wednesday’s loss. It’ll be Brooks’ first time playing in Memphis as a Rocket, and Chris Herrington says boos are in order — but not for the reason you might think. Also happening at the game: Memphis-born fashion designer Prep Curry’s limited-edition Grizzlies fashion line drops.

On Saturday, the City of Memphis will officially open the newly renovated Gaisman Community Center in Berclair, and Memphis Parks is hosting a “Pancakes with Santa” breakfast at the Hickory Hill Aquatic Center (yes, the indoor pool will be open!). In the afternoon, the Memphis Tigers will play Clemson at FedExForum in their first home game in nearly a month, and Jayden Hardaway says “it’s gonna be special.” And in the evening Memphis Roller Derby hosts its annual “Ho Ho Ho Burlesque Show” at the Hi-Tone.

Two movies that may or may not be actual Christmas films — “Die Hard” and “Batman Returns” — will screen on Sunday at Black Lodge in a free holiday-action double feature.

One last thing before the news: The Daily Memphian has a little surprise coming just in time for the holidays. Check it out.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Protesters walked from the legislative plaza to the Tennessee State Capitol. (Ian Round/The Daily Memphian file)

Tennesseans on abortion, guns: The majority of Tennessee residents support gun reform and some abortion access — but not the General Assembly. A statewide Vanderbilt poll found that 80% of voters were “somewhat or very supportive” of a background check requirement for purchases from gun shows, and other gun reform measures also drew a majority of support. As for abortion access, more than three-quarters of voters “across all political identities” support the procedure in cases of rape or incest and in cases where the fetus cannot survive outside the womb. But when it comes to support for state lawmakers, well, turns out there’s been a steep drop since 2020.

Memphis Mayor-elect Paul Young said he would keep Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis as Memphis Police Department chief. (Gerald Herbert/AP file)

Chief Davis may be here to stay: Memphis Mayor-elect Paul Young revealed on Thursday that he will retain Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis as head of the Memphis Police Department, pending Memphis City Council approval. “I feel confident that she can and will be able to lead us into a better space with regards to public safety,” Young said. He touted Davis’ plans for addressing repeat offenders, using data to target those most likely to commit violent crimes and other approaches as reasons to stick with Davis as the top cop.

General Sessions Court Clerk Joe Brown will face four challengers in the March Democratic primary for the position. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Who’s running for court clerk? Five Democrats and one Republican filed qualifying petitions to run in the Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk primary on March 5. Incumbent Court Clerk Joe Brown (the former Memphis City Council member, not the TV judge) is running again, and former Shelby County Commissioner Tami Sawyer threw her hat in the ring. See the full list of Democratic candidates here. Lisa Arnold, a former employee of the clerk’s office, is the only candidate in the Republican primary. Also on the March 5 ballot: state primaries in the U.S. presidential race.

TVA Allen Plant manager Michael Cashon led a tour on Thursday, Dec. 14. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Ice queens: The Tennessee Valley Authority is ready for winter, you guys. Whew. After last winter’s first-ever rolling blackouts in the region (on Christmas Eve, no less), the TVA invested $123 million to enhance its reliability ahead of this coming winter. On Thursday, the media was invited to the Allen Integrated Combined Cycle and Combustion Turbine Plant for a little show and tell of those updates, which included insulating exposed pipes and enclosing equipment open to the outside air. 

Exterior rendering of Memphis One-Stop Center (Courtesy LRK)

Got skills? A $15 million job-skills training center is set to open on Jackson Avenue next year. The Greater Memphis Chamber announced plans for the Memphis One-Stop Center at its annual Chairman’s Luncheon on Thursday. The center will house workforce training programs, the American Job Center, the Goodwill Excel Center (an adult high school) and a drop-in daycare headed by the YMCA. And it will offer credentialing for logistics, manufacturing, construction and technology jobs.

MEET MEMPHIS

J.D. Frizzell is head of the K-12 fine arts programs at Briarcrest Christian School. (Courtesy Briarcrest)

J.D. Frizzell, director of fine arts programs at Briarcrest Christian School, is in the top 10 for The Recording Academy and Grammy Museum’s teacher of the year award. He was selected from more than 2,000 nominations. Frizzell, on staff at Briarcrest for 15 years, leads the private school’s arts division, and he’s the head of the high school vocal program. He also co-founded the nonprofit A Capella Education Association, which hosts its convention in Orlando, Florida. His students have gone on to successful music careers in their own right: “We have a number who are in Nashville, pursuing recording careers. And we have some that are in very, very well-known groups, Billboard Chart artists,” he said.

THE NICE TO KNOW

The Houston Rockets' Dillon Brooks will be back in Memphis for the first time tonight. (David J. Phillip/AP file)

Boos for Brooks: Former Memphis Grizzly Dillon Brooks will be back at FedExForum tonight for the first time since he became a Houston Rocket. And boos are in order — but with peace and love. The Daily Memphian’s Chris Herrington said we should boo Brooks “not out of anger, spite or regret” but “out of appreciation.” He is a proud villain after all. Brooks’ return comes as his new team, with a 12-9 record, is the Western Conference’s biggest surprise, and his old team, the Grizzlies, is the second worst team in the West. So, um yea, things aren’t great. But Brooks deserves his “applause,” and Herrington shares what he thinks would go in a Brooks return highlight video, should the Grizzlies decide to make one.

Gimme Sugar Bakery has opened at 2200 N. Germantown Parkway. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Pour some sugar on me: Gimme Sugar Bakery, which has been operating out of owner Kydavia Hassell’s home for eight years, has expanded into a brick-and-mortar location in Cordova. The sweets shop sells cupcakes, cookies and more, and Hassell makes free cakes for children with chronic and terminal illnesses. Learn more about that and a new craft brewery tour in Memphis Food Files. In a bit of a twist, this week’s $10 Deal features a brick-and-mortar restaurant that expanded its reach with a food truck. Pyramid Restaurant on Hacks Cross Road recently launched its Shawarma Hub truck, and it has lots of items under $10, including shawarma sandwiches and falafel. There’s just one catch: The truck is already closed for repairs, so maybe just stick with the restaurant for now.

Collierville’s Design Review Commission approved plans for Chick-fil-A on Thursday. (STRF/STAR MAX/IPx/AP file)

Hot topics: Collierville is moving ahead with plans for the suburb’s sixth fire station, which will be built near Collierville High School. The town has grown by about 21,000 residents since the last fire station was built. The $7.6 million fire station will feature drive-thru bays, so firefighters won’t have to back in their trucks, as well as 10 bedrooms, five bathrooms and a fitness center. In other Collierville news, plans for a new Chick-fil-A are moving along. The town’s Design Review Commission approved plans for a new location on Poplar Avenue Thursday, and now it’s moving on to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. If and when it’s finally built, you won’t see those trademark bright red umbrellas on the patio.

University of Memphis center Jacob Likes has been the heart and soul of the Memphis offensive line for multiple seasons. (Wes Hale/Special to The Daily Memphian file)

Likes it or hate it: Memphis Tigers starting center Jacob Likes announced on Thursday that he’s declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft. That’s another hit for the Tigers offensive line next season. Starting right guard Davion Carter and starting left tackle Maklyan Pounders have already announced their plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal. But it seems Likes isn’t done with the Tigers just yet; his announcement came with the message, “See y’all on the 29th.”

From the Mississippi to the Persian Gulf: Four Mississippi River mayors — not including Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland — from the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative spent last week in Dubai at the United Nations’ annual climate change conference. There, they unveiled new projects to make the lower Mississippi River (that’s our stretch) more resilient, such as expanding floodplains and restoring marshes. The group also announced a new insurance pilot program that would provide payouts to cities and municipalities after disasters.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Given the way things have been going this season, @brittneymemphis is probably right about this.

Here’s hoping Coach Taylor Jenkins has good reason to go out for a celebratory meal and some bubbly after tonight’s Memphis Grizzlies game against the Houston Rockets. Go Grizz, boo Brooks!

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