Howdy, Memphis. It’s Wednesday, Nov. 20, and Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert’s ouster case is back in court today. Circuit Court Judge Felicia Corbin-Johnson will hear oral arguments on Halbert’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

It’s also the first day of early voting in the Collierville runoff between Chad Lindsay and Nick Robbins for a Board of Mayor and Aldermen seat.

Rhodes College will host a morning panel on Latin American immigration into the U.S. And Downtown’s Center City Development Corp. will consider a grant for a new cafe and wellness studio on Monroe Avenue that would offer juices, fruit bowls and yoga classes. Tonight, the Memphis Grizzlies play a home game against the Philadelphia 76ers. 

THE NEED TO KNOW

“I respect [judges’] right to make those decisions but just as that’s part of the system, part of the system is our ability to appeal that decision,” said Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Mulroy to appeal release of suspects: Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy said he plans to appeal two decisions by county Criminal Court Judge Bill Anderson to release shooting suspects without bond. In one case, a man who shot at police during a nearly 12-hour standoff earlier this month was let out of jail on his own recognizance. And in the other case, three suspects were released after being charged in the shooting of a FedEx World Hub employee in late October. Mulroy announced those plans at a Bartlett town hall Tuesday evening. He also touted crime stats that show property and violent crime are way down this year.

State Sen. Katrina Robinson of Memphis was expelled from the Senate on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. (Ian Round/ The Daily Memphian file)

Down to the wire: Former state Sen. Katrina Robinson, who was convicted in 2021 for wire fraud, was resentenced this week after federal prosecutors appealed a decision to throw out a handful of her fraud counts. Robinson’s new sentence doesn’t come with prison time, but she is facing a hefty fine. The charges stemmed from Robinson defrauding the government for scholarship money at the for-profit nursing school that she ran.

Teen charged in Central High shooting: A 16-year-old boy is facing an attempted murder charge following the shooting of a Central High School student on Monday. The Memphis Police Department didn’t name the teen who was arrested Monday near Bellevue Middle School after the shooting. The wounded student was found in Central’s parking lot and was transported to Regional One Health in critical condition. 

QUOTED

“It’s the toughest stretch of the year — maybe the toughest of my coaching [career] here at Memphis.”

— Memphis Tigers Coach Penny Hardaway
The Tigers basketball team is about to play four games in seven days, starting with a matchup against San Francisco on Thursday and continuing with back-to-back-to-back games at next week’s Maui Invitational. The caliber of teams they’ll face is one concern, but that’s compounded by a long road trip and a number of injured players.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane handled the ball against Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun in the Emirates NBA Cup basketball game on Tuesday, Nov. 19. (Brandon Dill/AP)

Grizz fall to Nuggz: You win some, you lose some, and the Memphis Grizzlies lost one last night. After beating the Nikola Jokic-less Nuggets on Sunday, Denver bounced back to beat the Grizzlies, 122-110, on Tuesday. That means the Grizzlies are likely eliminated from the NBA Cup tourney that just started. Grizzlies stars Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. both blamed themselves for the turnover-heavy loss. And to make matters worse, Vince Williams Jr., who just recently returned from injury, left during the second quarter with what appeared to be a severe ankle injury. After the game, Scotty Pippen Jr. said his team is just as confused as the rest of us as to why these injuries keep happening. (Could it be because the Grizzlies are made of glass?) In more news of basketball losses, the Memphis Tigers women’s team fell to Southeastern Louisiana on Tuesday night, too.

Church of the Holy Communion is receiving a semi-load of sweet potatoes. (Courtesy Cindy McMillion)

Church needs tater toters: Want a free arm workout? If you’ve got a few hours to spare on Saturday, Nov. 23, the Church of the Holy Communion needs some help bagging 40,000 pounds — a whole semi-truck load — of sweet potatoes. That’s a heck of a lot of candied yams, folks. The taters are being sorted into 10-pound bags, which will go to dozens of local nonprofits that help feed the hungry. 

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo at the red carpet premiere of “Wicked: Part One.” (James Warren/Famous/Star Max)

Glicked is coming: Get ready for the new Barbenheimer. This weekend brings the openings of “Gladiator II” and “Wicked,” which are expected to rake in millions in box-office sales across the country, much like the 2023 summer set of blockbusters “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” did. In Memphis Movies This Week, our own Chris Herrington talks a little about Elphaba, Maximus and company. But he also points out that these massive Hollywood hits will be in theaters for quite some time, so he has a few suggestions for things to watch this weekend instead. 

Want fries with that road plan? The Arlington Planning Commission, which welcomed two new commissioners on Monday, endorsed a plan for a new McDonald’s on Airline Road. But there was some concern about how the corporately owned new location would impact Arlington’s other McDonald’s, which is run by a local franchisee. The commission also approved a future road plan that covers the area south of Interstate 40, where the 287-acre Donelson Farms mixed-use development will be located.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

GloRilla’s new song “Whatchu Kno Bout Me” is everywhere these days. It starts with her declaring she’s from Memphis, followed by a couple of catchy sounds that can best be described as “eugh eughs.” Indie musician Som Som created his own mix with a whole bunch more “eughs.” 

And on that note, I’m off to listen to Glo’s new album on a morning run. See y’all tomorrow!

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