Are you ready to shop ’til you drop? Today is Friday, July 26, the start of Tennessee tax-free weekend, which mostly applies to clothing and school supplies. See here for a list of what is and isn’t included. Also, the 2024 Olympics kick off in Paris today (France, not Tennessee), but we won’t see any action from local athletes until next week.

Early voting ahead of the Aug. 1 election ends on Saturday. And two big milestones will be celebrated: Activists from the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee will reflect on the 60th anniversary of Mississippi Freedom Summer at the National Civil Rights Museum, and Backbeat Tours is hosting a special tour and Elvis tribute-artist show for the 70th anniversary of Presley’s first live rock show.

On Sunday, singer-songwriter Mark Edgar Stuart celebrates his fifth album release with an afternoon show at Hernando’s Hide-A-Way. And the Memphis Botanic Garden hosts an art auction where all of the artists are anonymous. For more weekend ideas, check out The To-Do List.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Jeff Crane spoke during a press conference as the University of Memphis began phase two of the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium renovation project on July 22. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Jeff Crane, out: Memphis Tigers deputy athletic director Jeff Crane, who has been filling in as the interim director, is leaving for “a similar role at South Carolina,” according to a source close to the situation. Crane is returning to his roots: He previously worked as the executive associate athletic director at South Carolina. Meanwhile, former Virginia deputy AD Ed Scott starts his new job as the Tigers athletic director on Monday. 

Construction continued on July 2, on the future home of the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art Downtown. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

State of the Art Museum: Friends for Our Riverfront, the group trying to stop construction of the new Memphis Brooks Museum of Art Downtown, is seeking an appeals court ruling to reverse a June decision in which they claim Chancellor Melanie Taylor Jefferson made a mistake. In that June ruling, the group claims Taylor Jefferson did not distinguish between a temporary injunction and a temporary restraining order when she denied the plaintiffs’ request for an injunction sought nine months earlier. FfOR claims the area where the new museum — to be rebranded as the Memphis Art Museum — is going isn’t in line with the intended use of a “public promenade” set aside by the city’s founders.

La’Dameyon Redmon Jr., joined by mother Debbie Redmon and sister Lekesha Jones, lamented the death of his father, James Redmon, outside a courtroom on Thursday. (Julia Baker/The Daily Memphian)

Security guard waives bond hearing: Richard Lewis, the Main Event security guard charged with fatally shooting fellow guard James Redmon, waived his bond hearing on Thursday. That means he’ll continue to be held in jail without bond. Redmon’s 23-year-old son, La’Dameyon Redmon Jr., attended the hearing and described his dad as a “superhero” who was “very humble, hard-working, loving and caring.” The two guards, who argued over metal detectors before the shooting, had worked together for several years.

Developer Chance Carlisle (left) and investor Tyrone Burroughs (not pictured) have announced a local investment fund to raise $100 million in capital for high-profile projects. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

On the money: Anyone with a minimum of $250,000 can be part of future Downtown development, thanks to a new investment fund to raise $100 million in capital for high-profile projects. Developer Chance Carlisle and investor Tyrone Burroughs announced the River City Momentum Fund on Thursday. The fund can be used for acquiring distressed properties, investing in projects close to the finish line and helping developers who are struggling to secure capital. (Carlisle addresses whether he’ll use some of the money for his stalled Grand Hyatt hotel Downtown). Don’t have a spare $250,000? You and me both, but smaller investment options may be coming later.

QUOTED

Matt Mahoney (far left) led the way during a groundbreaking ceremony for Tunnels to Towers’ overhaul of a old hotel into an apartment complex. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

“We want to make sure homeless and veteran are not in the same sentence again.”

— Matt Mahoney, executive vice president of Tunnels to Towers
The old WoodSpring Suites hotel on Riverdale Bend Road will soon become 105 apartments for veterans. New York-based charitable organization Tunnels to Towers broke ground on the $7 million redevelopment Thursday. Once complete, the complex will not only offer affordable housing but also employment counseling, mental health services and financial literacy for veterans.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Comeback Coffee owners Amy (left) and Hayes McPherson have launched a line of sparkling water made from Memphis tap water. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Tap into the market: Have you ever thought, “Man, Memphis water is so good. Someone could make bank if they just canned this stuff”? Well, Comeback Coffee’s owners thought so, too, so they did it. Comeback has released a line of sparkling waters made with straight-up Memphis tap water (i.e. liquid gold). And it’s already being sold outside of Memphis, so those poor souls living elsewhere will finally realize just how bad they have it with their second-rate tap water. 

Marlon (left) and Helen Hammond located their new restaurant, The Gourmet Gallery next to an art gallery. (Benjamin Naylor/The Daily Memphian file)

The art of food: You might want to show up at The Gourmet Gallery, a new South Main Arts District eatery, on a busy night. It’s located next door to Urevbu Contemporary, and when there’s a wait for a table, guests are given a free mimosa to enjoy while perusing the art gallery. (Trolley night dinner meetup, anyone?) You’ll learn more about that in Food Files, plus details on a new cookie shop in Millington and a second Ben & Jerry’s scoop shop coming to a local hotel. Speaking of scoops, The Daily Memphian’s Jennifer Chandler sat down with the owner of Sugar Ghost Ice Cream and Bubble Tea to talk all things ice cream on the Sound Bites podcast. And in more food news, this week’s $10 Deal focuses on a University of Memphis-area deli guaranteed to satisfy adventurous and picky eaters alike. 

University of Memphis quarterback Seth Henigan during practice on Thursday, April 4. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Henigan stays to win again: After three seasons with the Memphis Tigers football team, you’d think quarterback Seth Henigan would just be a shoo-in for the upcoming season. But after last season’s 10-3 record, the big schools came calling. And Coach Ryan Silverfield worried he might be losing his star player. The Daily Memphian’s Frank Bonner II talked to Henigan and Silverfield about why the Tigers’ career passing leader opted to stay.

The Elvis Presley Memorial Trauma Center team at Regional One Health. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Push to start: Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis can now start the transfer of gunshot victims to trauma care with the push of a button. The new Rapid Call Button program will speed up the transfer of critically injured patients to Regional One Health’s trauma center via Hospital Wing helicopters. Saint Francis isn’t equipped to care for all gunshot wounds, and before, transferring a patient could mean multiple phone calls, potentially slowing down care for patients whose lives were on the line. 

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

The 2024 Olympic Games start in Paris today, but what about the Memphis Olympics? Choose901 offers up a few ways that you can unleash your inner elite athlete right here in the Bluff City.

I’m off to practice running up that hill, and I’ll see you — gold medal in hand — on Monday morning.

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