Bottoms up, Memphis. It’s Wednesday, July 24 — National Tequila Day. You could always go out and enjoy a nice margarita, but since it’s a weeknight, here’s the recipe for Babalu’s signature Baba Rita that you can make at home. Somebody pass the salt, please.

THE NEED TO KNOW

All eight of Tom Intrator’s properties being sued by the Downtown Memphis Commission received payment-in-lieu-of-taxes incentives that were later terminated due to missing deadlines. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

DMC goes after Intrator: The Downtown Memphis Commission has filed lawsuits against eight properties owned by developer Tom Intrator, including the old T.J. Mulligan’s and Cafe Francisco spots in the Pinch District. Those Pinch properties were involved in Intrator’s $1 billion-plus plan to revive the district, a project that hasn’t seen progress since it was proposed in 2019. The old Royal Furniture on South Main Street, where Intrator planned to develop his Dream Hotel, is also among the properties being sued. 

“We have individuals who are submitting requests ... but have been paid and compensated for time not worked,” said Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Over it: Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins claims the district has lost $1 million to overtime abuse, and she’s trying to put a stop to it. At a non-voting school board meeting on Tuesday, Feagins said some employees were receiving payments they didn’t earn, and she proposed a new policy that would require advance approval. The MSCS board will consider the new policy next week. Also on the board agenda for next week: A charter application for Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter’s planned all-girls school, which would be modeled after the Grizzlies Prep boys’ school Downtown. 

Moth Moth Moth led a crowd in chants on Sept. 30, 2023, following cancellation of a drag show at the Museum of Science and History. (Lucy Garrett/The Daily Memphian file)

Drag-out fight: Friend’s of George’s, the local theater group that filed a suit against Tennessee’s law banning drag where minors may be present, plans to appeal a recent ruling by a federal court to dismiss that suit. Last week, the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled FOG didn’t have standing to sue because the group’s performances were not “harmful to minors.” The ruling came after a June 2023 decision that determined the law was unconstitutional. FOG’s attorney admits its plan to appeal could be “a long shot” since they’re seeking a type of appeal that’s rarely granted. 

“The voters are going to vote this down,” Memphis City Council member Chase Carlisle said before the item to give non-Memphians seats on the MLGW board was withdrawn. “Memphians are basically going to tell the county to go pound sand. Straight politics.” (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Suburban voice gets muffled: Suburban Memphis Light, Gas and Water customers won’t get a voice on the utility’s board, after Memphis City Council member Dr. Jeff Warren withdrew his ballot referendum to add two suburban voting members. Warren pulled the referendum on Tuesday night, when it was scheduled for its second reading, due to council opposition. In other council news, members learned of MLGW’s plan to provide the area with backup power using Tesla battery backs. (Probably a better use than powering those ugly Cybertrucks.) And the Memphis Police Department told the council they’re struggling with a car shortage. Memphis Police Interim Chief C.J. Davis has some ideas on how to fix it, but they’re going to cost money.

QUOTED

This rendering shows the view of the proposed Liberty Park mixed-use development. (Courtesy LRK)

“We would like to be known as the Chick-fil-A of entertainment.”

— Scott Emley, CEO of High 5 Entertainment
A Memphis City Council committee approved a 30-year lease on Tuesday for High 5 Entertainment — a laser tag, bowling and axe-throwing facility — at Liberty Park. Additionally, the committee approved a planned hotel and apartments at Liberty Park, for a combined $113 million in private investment at the city-owned park.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Memphis Grizzlies forward GG Jackson reacted during a summer league game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, July 10, in Salt Lake City. (Rick Bowmer/AP file)

What happens in Vegas … hopefully won’t stay in Vegas. At least, let’s hope that’s not the case with the Memphis Grizzlies summer league successes in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. Sure, the Grizzlies fell in the championship game, but overall, the summer team played very well. The Daily Memphian’s Chris Herrington takes a look at how the rookies and a few of the regular-season roster guys, like GG Jackson and Scotty Pippen Jr., performed. In other summer league news, we’ve got a look at how nine former Memphis Tigers played for their respective NBA teams.

Memphis Tiger quarterback Seth Henigan threw the ball during a spring game at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on April 20. (Wes Hale/The Daily Memphian file)

Game changers? The Memphis Tigers football team was voted as the preseason fave to win the American Athletic Conference for the first time in league history. The votes for the Tigers, who are are coming off a 10-3 season and returning with experienced quarterback Seth Henigan, came during AAC Media Days in Texas. Later, when asked about the first-place finish, Coach Ryan Silverfield said we might as well “use it as toilet paper” because predictions don’t guarantee success. Speaking of Henigan and toilet paper, he’s got a hot tip on how keep your goals top of mind, and it’s all about the bathroom. 

Pats on the back: The Daily Memphian’s journalists recently took home nine 2024 Tennessee Press Association awards, including first-place honors for graphics and local features. Aisling Maki and Keely Brewer won first place for their series on life expectancy discrepancies by ZIP code. Other first-place awards went to Kelsey Bowen, Bill Dries, Drew Hill, Natalie Pilgrim, Elle Perry and Ben Wheeler for their use of data journalism in a variety of stories, including our Memphis Grizzlies injury graphic that we lovingly nicknamed N. Jerry (get it “in-jury”?). See a full list of Daily Memphian awards here.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

It’s sunflower season, and if you haven’t seen the massive field of golden blooms in Ducks Unlimited Park on the Arkansas side of Big River Crossing, you’re missing out. 

Go take your #summervibes pics this afternoon, and then celebrate with a margarita.

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