Are you ready for the busiest weekend of the year so far, Memphis? Because this might be it. It’s Friday, April 19, and we’re in for an action-packed three days of food festivals (crawfish and hot wings), culture (Africa in April), live music (Porchfest, Shell Daze), ballet (from Ballet Memphis and Collage Dance) and art openings (at the Dixon and the Metal Museum). You can find all the details in The To-Do List. 

And let’s not forget about sports: The Memphis Tigers football team will play their annual spring game on Saturday at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, and the Memphis Showboats will play the St. Louis Battlehawks in an away game.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Audio reveals that a prosecutor with the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office did not “strongly oppose” lowering the bond for a now-deceased suspect involved in a shootout with police. (The Daily Memphian file)

Recording sheds light on Lobley’s release: Jaylon Lobley, who was killed last week in a police shootout that also left a Memphis police officer dead, was released on prior gun charges in early March. During a bail hearing on those charges, a prosecutor with the Shelby County District Attorney’s office told Shelby County Judicial Commissioner Chris Ingram that there was no need to reduce Lobley’s $10,000 bail but that if Ingram lowered it, he “wouldn’t be upset.” That was revealed in an audio recording of the hearing, and that conflicts with DA Steve Mulroy’s initial comments in which he claimed his office strongly opposed a lowered bond or release of Lobley on his own recognizance, which is what ultimately happened.

The process of handing over operations of the Youth Justice and Education Center to the Shelby County Juvenile Court will not be completed this year, according to Judge Tarik Sugarmon.(Brad Vest/The Daily Memphian file)

Judge wants more time for juvie takeover: Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. wants the Shelby County Juvenile Court to take over operations of the county’s new juvenile detention center by the end of the year. But Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon said he’ll need more time for a number of reasons, including time required to recruit staff. Bonner’s decision to turn over management of the Youth Justice and Education Center came after advocacy groups raised concerns over detainees’ lack of visitation, education and outdoor recreation at the center. 

A Tennessee Department of Transportation open house at Central Station on Thursday, April 18, drew several dozen people. (Bill Dries/The Daily Memphian)

New ‘Old Bridge’: Memphis residents got a first look at what a replacement for the 75-year-old Memphis-Arkansas bridge (aka the “Old Bridge”) would look like on Thursday during a Tennessee Department of Transportation meeting at Central Station. The proposed bridge would stand just south of where the existing bridge is now. And construction could begin by 2026 if federal grant funds for the estimated $1 billion project are approved soon. If driving on the I-55 bridge’s narrow lanes freaks you out, here’s some good news.

“Budgets are moral documents. They articulate the priorities of the people in power to the people we represent, and this budget does not have any regard to ensure one out of eight kids are no longer hungry,” said State Rep. Justin Pearson. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

On the budget: The General Assembly approved a nearly $53 billion spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year on Thursday. That includes a massive $2 billion tax break and refund for businesses but little new tax relief for most Tennessee families. State Rep. Justin J. Pearson, D-Memphis, criticized the budget and described the modest grants to address mental health, rural health care and community resources as “cute.” Lawmakers still haven’t decided whether to advance Gov. Bill Lee’s statewide expansion of private school vouchers, which allow families to use public money to pay for private schools, but any hope of its passage is dwindling.

MEET MEMPHIS

Michele Ehrhart

FedEx communications veteran Michele Ehrhart is the new senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer at the University of Memphis. Ehrhart worked in corporate communications at FedEx for 22 years, where she handled crisis communication, brand identity and other related tasks. “Having been with a Fortune 500 company for the past two decades, Michele brings a wealth of experience to this vital role at our university,” said U of M President Bill Hardgrave.

THE NICE TO KNOW

A few of the selections at Zio Matto Gelato in the South Main Arts District. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

We all scream for gelato: Zio Matto Gelato has been around in local farmers markets, restaurants and grocery stores since 2020, but the local gelato brand opened a permanent shop in Central Station Hotel on Thursday. It’s run by two local filmmakers, Matteo Servente and Ryan Watt, the former of whom traveled to his native Torino, Italy, to study under a gelato maestro. In other food news, 901 Hot Pot & Korean BBQ is opening its second location, and Crave Sweets Bake Shop is considering a third. And in this week’s $10 Deal, food writer Joshua Carlucci pays a visit to a longtime Midtown diner where he says “it’s impossible not to feel good about yourself” after you order their short stack and country ham.

Kendric Davis played against Houston in an NCAA game on March 5, 2023, in Memphis. (Karen Pulfer Focht/AP file)

Props to Kendric Davis: Former Memphis Tiger Kendric Davis, the star point guard on the 2022-23 team, was named to the NBA G League All-Rookie Team on Thursday. Davis has been playing for the Santa Cruz Warriors, the G League affiliate of the Golden State Warriors, since last October.

Principle Toyota wants to relocate to Collierville north of Winchester and west of Houston Levee, behind the Kroger at Gallina Centro. (The Daily Memphian file)

Green light for Collierville dealership: Collierville’s Planning Commission changed its tune and recommended rezoning for Principle Toyota car dealership. The dealership’s plan is to move to the western part of the suburb. The commission had denied that request back in February, but the dealership appealed to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and made a few changes to its plan. Principle Toyota is currently located behind Kroger at Gallina Centro, but it wants to move to an area north of Winchester and west of Houston Levee. 

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled on Thursday in favor of new DNA testing in the West Memphis Three case. Damien Echols, one of the three originally convicted in the 1993 death of three eight-year-old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, made the request for additional DNA testing that wasn’t available in 2007, the last time DNA was tested in the case. Echols, Jessie Misskelley Jr. and Jason Baldwin were found guilty in 1994, but they were freed in 2011 after taking an Alford plea.

Alright, try not to have too much this weekend. Kidding! Have all the fun. 

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