It’s peanut butter jelly time, Memphis! That’s because today — Tuesday, April 2 — is National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day. So, whether you’re packing your kid’s lunch or your own, you can’t go wrong with a humble PB&J. For a real treat, add a smidge of sriracha, and thank me later.

Or, you could skip the lunch prep and head to Smokey’s Smurfhouse, where they’re serving a stepped-up twist on the classic.

THE NEED TO KNOW

FedEx Corp.‘s contract with the United States Postal Service is ending, and rival transportation giant United Parcel Service is taking over. (The Daily Memphian file)

FedEx out, UPS in: The United States Postal Service is switching from Memphis-based FedEx Corp. to rival United Parcel Service to handle the majority of its domestic air cargo. According to the announcement, which came on Monday, April 1 (no joke), FedEx’s contract will end on Sept. 29. FedEx has been USPS’ primary air-cargo provider for more than 20 years, but the company says eliminating costs associated with postal service delivery will improve profitability. FedEx’s pilots’ union doesn’t support the decision.

If Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Melissa Boyd resigns, a vote on her removal may still happen anyway. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Judge Boyd to resign: Embattled Shelby County Judge Melissa Boyd plans to resign from her post, effective May 31, according to a letter obtained by The Daily Memphian. The letter, written by Boyd’s attorney, comes just days ahead of a planned April 4 vote by state lawmakers to possibly remove her from the bench. But the vote could move forward, regardless. Boyd is currently in jail after failing two drug tests and violating the conditions of her bond. She’s charged with allegedly harassing her former campaign manager.

Developer Yehuda Netanel, seen here in the Lake District, did not appeal Judge Jennie D. Latta’s decision in his Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Calling all developers: Think you could do a better job with The Lake District mixed-use project than current developer Yehuda Netanel? Your chance is coming soon. The property’s foreclosure sale will likely happen by the end of the month, after a bankruptcy judge denied Netanel’s last-ditch reorganization plan in February. The Lake District has suffered financial troubles for some time, and late last year, Netanel claimed $3 million in unfunded construction loan obligations.

MEET MEMPHIS

Former gang member Jarmond Johnson celebrated his climb on Mount Kenya. (Courtesy Memphis Rox)

Jarmond Johnson joined the Crips at age 12, and he eventually became the busiest drug dealer at Hamilton High School. He was in jail for robbery when he first learned about Memphis Rox. “I didn’t know what climbing was. The only rocks I knew about were the pictures on beer cans or the rocks being sold on the corner,” he said. The Soulsville climbing gym transformed Johnson’s life, and he recently returned from a trip to Africa, where he and a team from Memphis Rox summited Mount Kenya. The climb was filmed for a three-part Hulu series that should run this fall. When he’s not climbing rock walls or mountains, Johnson now works to pull kids out of gangs. 

THE NICE TO KNOW

A Whataburger is planned for Union Avenue in Midtown. (Eric Gay/AP file)

What’s coming to the old Crump Station? Maybe a Whataburger. That’s what. The San Antonio, Texas-based burger chain has been eyeing the former Crump Station police precinct on Union Avenue for a while, but a previous permit didn’t allow for a drive-thru. The chain recently submitted a modification for that permit to request the drive-thru. 

Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol played in a game against the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 28, 2019, in Memphis. (Brandon Dill/AP file)

What might have been for Marc Gasol: The No. 33 jersey worn by Memphis Grizzlies legend Marc Gasol will be retired on Saturday. He was traded to the Toronto Raptors in 2019, after more than a decade with the Grizzlies. But Gasol was briefly traded back in 2021, and though he never saw the court with the Grizz again, fans have long wondered if that would have been possible. Turns out, that’s at least slightly more than fan fiction. Gasol shared that story with our own Chris Herrington, and he dished on why he had “Grit and Grind forever” engraved on his Raptors championship ring. In other Grizz news, the team defeated the Detroit Pistons, 110-108, on Monday night in a game that delivered Brandon Clarke floaters and one of Jaren Jackson Jr.’s highest scores.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools new Superintendent Marie Feagins sat in on a class while touring Melrose High School on Monday, April 1. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

First day of school: New Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins spent her first day on the job touring Melrose High School in Orange Mound. Feagins replaces Interim Superintendent Toni Williams, and throughout the month, she’ll be visiting a total of 20 schools and a number of local institutions and organizations.

Kiara Bruce (left) preps food during a Cook Well, Be Well class at Crosstown Concourse. (Ziggy Mack/Special to The Daily Memphian)

How to boil water (and other kitchen stuff): If you don’t know a saute from a souffle, no worries. There are several cooking classes around the city that cover kitchen basics, but Church Health’s free, four-week Cook Well, Be Well program, which teaches knife skills and Mediterranean diet recipes, may be one of the best for newbies. At least that was the case for Cheryl StevensManning, who took the class after her husband, the primary cook in the family, died following complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

Local dignitaries gathered on Monday, April 1, for the groundbreaking of Collierville’s new Firehouse 6, which will be located across from Collierville High School on East Shelby Drive. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Protector of the Dragons: No, this isn’t a story about a “Game of Thrones” redux. That’s the nickname given to Collierville’s soon-to-be newest and biggest firehouse. The Dragons are Collierville High’s mascot, and the two-story fire station will be across the street from the school. The town held a ceremonial groundbreaking on Monday afternoon for the new building, which will be the first station in the suburb equipped with those cool poles you see firefighters slide down in the movies. It’ll also have the first “baby drawer” in the Greater Memphis area, so new mothers can anonymously surrender their babies.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Several local businesses and well-known Memphians got in on April Fools’ Day fun on Monday. We’ve got a round-up of funny and outlandish local jokes, including a fake Daily Memphian headline on Reddit. My personal fave were these coleslaw popsicles from Mempops.

I mean, I’d eat that. But this joke margarita from Magnolia & May would get a hard pass from me.

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