Good day, Shelby County! It’s Thursday, Oct. 24, and we’re hosting our annual Developing Memphis seminar this afternoon. If you’re going, you’ll hear about Memphis International Airport’s modernization plans, what’s going on with the Black Chamber of Memphis and an update on Downtown and Midtown’s commercial real estate market.

If you’re up late tonight, tune into the Food Network to see Good Fortune Co. owner Arturo Leighton in a bit of a supermarket sweep. He was a contestant on “Guy’s Grocery Games” with Guy Fieri, and the show debuted last night. But it’ll re-air tonight and a couple more times in the coming days. 

THE NEED TO KNOW

Representatives of A Vision For You Recovery announced plans in July to operate a recovery home for up to 11 people at 1925 Nelson Ave. (Courtesy Shawn Hobbs)

Sober home opens without city’s OK: Residents started moving into a proposed (and controversial) sober recovery home in the Cooper-Young neighborhood this week, despite the fact that the City of Memphis said such a home violates zoning rules. Nashville-based A Vision for You said they were simply tired of waiting on the city’s approval. They announced plans in July to operate a recovery home for up to 11 people on Nelson Avenue, and neighbors protested about the traffic and potential crime it could bring. After the city turned down the plan, A Vision for You’s attorney claimed the home was permitted under the Fair Housing Amendments Act. Code enforcement officials issued a citation to the property on Wednesday.

“All I can remember is gunshots,” Brandon Avant-Jones said about growing up in LeMoyne Gardens. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

‘Warrior weapons’: Longtime friends Brandon C. Avant-Jones and Rob Brown both grew up around a culture of violence, guns and gangs. And both men ended up in prison after high school. They’re out now, and both have complicated feelings around guns — “warrior weapons,” as Avant-Jones calls them. But unlike most Memphians, they can’t vote for more gun-control on the Nov. 5 ballot since their convictions left them with felony records. But in our last “Point of Impact” story on gun violence, the two men share stories of growing up around guns and how they’re trying to make their voices heard even if they can’t do so at the ballot box. 

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, flanked by Republican legislative leaders, spoke with reporters after the 2024 General Assembly adjourned on April 25 in Nashville. (Courtesy State of Tennessee)

It’s baaa-aack: Gov. Bill Lee’s universal school voucher proposal is making a comeback months before the 114th Tennessee General Assembly even convenes. State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson said this week that he plans to file voucher legislation on the morning of Nov. 6, the day after Election Day, making it the first bill filed for the next legislative session. The proposal, which would expand publicly funded private-school vouchers statewide, stalled during the 2024 General Assembly over disagreements about testing and funding.

DeMarcus Suggs 

Meet the new arts czar: The arts are finally getting some government love. Memphis Mayor Paul Young has created a new office for arts and culture, and its first leader is DeMarcus Suggs. Technically, Suggs is the Director of Creative and Cultural Economy, a fancy title for a person whose office is intended to unite the city’s many arts groups, dance groups, filmmakers, music associations and the like. He’ll also serve as a central point person in city government when an outside organization wants to come in and put on a big event, as was the case last year when a music fest chose Atlanta over Memphis because the city didn’t have a government arts contact. 

QUOTED

GloRilla sat courtside during a Dec. 21, 2023, game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Indiana Pacers. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

“Sometimes I think I’m going to wake up, and this is not going to happen no more … it still doesn’t feel real sometimes.”

— Memphis rapper GloRilla
GloRilla’s new debut studio album, “Glorious,” features cameos by Megan Thee Stallion, Latto, Sexyy Red, T-Pain and several others, and it’s already earning high praise. She came to fame with the release of 2023’s “F.N.F. (Let’s Go),” which was nominated for a Grammy Award. Critics predicted GloRilla’s career would fizzle after that hit, but she overcame self-doubt with the help of her mentor Yo Gotti.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama led the Memphis Grizzlies with 27 points in the season-opening win over Utah on Wednesday, Oct. 23, in Salt Lake City. (Rob Gray/AP)

Santi Claus comes early: The Memphis Grizzlies 126-124 season-opening victory was a little taste of Christmas at Halloween time, and Santi Aldama was our own Jack Skellington. Aldama scored a team-high 27 points, made five 3-pointers and secured a game-winning offensive rebound in crunch time, and after the game, his teammates showered him with praise. The opener also marked the official return of Ja Morant, who with his 22 points, 10 assists and five rebounds, reminded his team that they can always call 12. “Ringer is on, too,” said Morant.

Maciel’s Taqueria opened on Wednesday with a taco-forward menu. (Joshua Carlucci/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Something to taco about: Maciel’s Taqueria, the third location of the locally owned Maciel’s chain, opened yesterday on Summer Avenue. And you may notice the name is minus the “Tacos and Tortas.” That’s because this new spot has a menu that reads like a “Forrest Gump” monologue — but with “tacos” in place of “shrimp.” If you really want a torta or burrito, they have those, too. But food writer Joshua Carlucci recommends you get the tacos, which are offered with “an amalgamation of meat options.” Here are the tacos he loved the most.

Coach Penny Hardaway put an end to the Tyreek Smith drama, and according to columnist John Martin, “this might as well count as his first win of the season.” (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Don’t want drama, don’t want none: Earlier this week, Memphis Tigers forward Tyreek Smith’s mentor took to X to complain that Smith hadn’t been paid any of the name, image, likeness money he’d been promised since arriving to campus in June. By Tuesday, he was back at practice, and things seem to have been worked out. Sports columnist John Martin didn’t mince words when he said “this is insane.” But he admits the NIL era is the new world of college sports, like it or not, and Coach Penny Hardaway seems to be shutting down the drama and adapting nicely. In other Tigers news, we’ve got a look at linebacker Chandler Martin and his path to becoming the face of the football team’s defense.

Full-time mayor: Has your boss ever asked you to write out a full list of everything you do every day, only to be super impressed that you actually do all of that stuff? Well, that happened to Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo earlier this year. The city’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen asked Palazzolo for a list of his tasks and responsibilities, and just like your boss, they were super impressed. So much so that they’re working on a possible referendum that would let Germantown voters decide if mayor should be a full-time job. But the BMA has shifted from its plan to vote on the change as an ordinance. Instead, they’re opting for a charter change via referendum, which could be a lengthy process that goes all the way to the Tennessee General Assembly before the question goes to voters.

MicroPort Orthopedics is selling off land surrounding its facility at 5677 Airline Road. (The Daily Memphian file)

Lay of the land: MicroPort Orthopedics, which makes parts used in knee and hip replacements, is downsizing its Arlington facility. And that means a lot of land around MicroPort is getting sold and rezoned. Earlier this week, the Arlington Planning Commission unanimously passed a rezoning of 26 acres once earmarked for MicroPort’s growth along Airline Road and Memphis-Arlington Road. The parcels had been zoned for light industrial use since 2020, but the change would open the land up to retail and other commercial uses.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

“Ja can do some things on that court.” Those were the words of former President Barack Obama on “The Young Man and The Three” podcast, during which he said he was excited about the Memphis Grizzlies’ season after “those guys got banged up so bad” last year. Watch the clip here. 

You and us both, Obama! Here’s hoping for a parade inside our city, yeah. 

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