Welcome to the prelude to the weekend. It’s Thursday, Nov. 21, and the Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team kicks off a seven-day, four-game stretch tonight as they play San Francisco. Coach Penny Hardaway said this upcoming run may be the toughest he’s faced in his coaching career in Memphis.

Speaking of stretches, if you’re looking way ahead on your calendar, go on and plan to be at our annual Daily Memphian Commercial Real Estate Seminar on Thursday, Dec. 5. It’ll feature keynote speaker Richard Shadyac, president and CEO of ALSAC, and a panel of CRE experts — Michael Donahoe, Elliot Embry and Jonathan Aur. Tickets are on sale now.

THE NEED TO KNOW

The second ouster attempt of Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert has failed. (Benjamin Naylor/The Daily Memphian file)

Halbert is here to stay: Well, at least for now. On Wednesday, Circuit Court Judge Felicia Corbin-Johnson dismissed the second ouster petition against Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert. Corbin-Johnson named two reasons for her ruling: the county’s decision to hire outside private counsel to lead the ouster and the choice of a deputy county attorney to make that decision instead of the county attorney. Shelby County Attorney Marlinee Iverson had passed the matter off, citing a conflict of interest.

A crowd gathered on Beale Street for 901 Day on Sept. 1. (Brad Vest/The Daily Memphian file)

‘Hamburger tax’ for Downtown: You may eventually pay a tiny bit more for food and other items sold Downtown. Memphis Mayor Paul Young say he plans to ask state lawmakers to approve an additional sales tax of 0.5% on some Downtown purchases. The money would go toward the district’s security and beautification, as well as assistance for Downtown’s homeless population. This kind of tax is often called a “hamburger tax” — but it’s not just for hamburgers, FYI, in case you think barbecue sandwiches will save you money. 

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins cautioned the school board that county funding may not be enough to completely fund the a new Frayser high school. (Courtesy Angel Ortez/Memphis-Shelby County Schools Communications)

Bad day in Cordova is a good day for Frayser: Last week, Memphis City Council members rejected Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ plan to build a new Cordova high school near Shelby Farms. And that was something of a “death blow” for the Cordova plan, according to Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris. But it was good news for a planned new Frayser high school, which is now likely to be built first. MSCS is considering moving $11 million toward the Frayser build, a move district officials say is necessary to keep the project on track. But MSCS Superintendent Marie Feagins said the district may still need to launch a capital campaign to cover the full cost of the high school. 

Zimmerman is back in MS: Inmate Joshua Zimmerman, who escaped the DeSoto County Courthouse in June and was on the lam for nearly two months, is back in Mississippi. He was apprehended in August following a stand-off with a Chicago SWAT team that lasted more than 12 hours, but he was finally extradited back on Wednesday — though he’s currently in the Rankin County Detention Center, rather than in DeSoto County.

QUOTED

“Our customers have been ticketed trying to come to our restaurant, and our employees … have struggled coming to work.”

— JoElle Thompson, co-owner of Four Way Soul Food RestaurantConstruction on a traffic-calming project on Walker Avenue is causing headaches for residents and business owners in the South City neighborhood, and that was a big focus during Memphis Mayor Paul Young’s One Memphis forum in the area Tuesday night. Residents also had concerns about blight and crime.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins called a play on Wednesday, Nov. 20, in the victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. (Brandon Dill/AP)

Hammer, nail, coffin for Jenkins: Memphis Grizzlies Coach Taylor Jenkins just became the winningest coach in franchise history, following the team’s 117-111 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night. The Grizzlies’ 13th head coach now has 215 career victories under his belt. Our own Drew Hill takes a look at Jenkins’ long path to victory. Of course, part of that path was last night’s win, where the Grizzlies set a season-high of 19 3-pointers, and both Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane scored more than 20 points each. 

Clusters of ladybugs flocked to Memphis and the Mid-South seeking warmer temperatures. (The Journal of New Ulm/AP file)

Bugged out: If you noticed swarms of ladybugs on your windows (or even inside your house) earlier this week, you weren’t alone. The cute red beetles come out in platoons to seek warmth as the temps begin to change, but if you missed them, oh well. They’re gone now that the temperature dropped about 20 degrees between Tuesday and Wednesday. If it were me, I’d be down to let the ladybugs share my space, but if you’re more of the “fly away home” type when it comes to bugs, a couple local experts have some tips on getting them out of your house.

This rendering shows plans for the Mid-South Paralyzed Veterans of America’s new community center at 526 Beale St. (Credit: Self + Tucker Architects)

Vets, tea and turkey legs: Mid-South Paralyzed Veterans of America are planning a community center on Beale Street for people living with spinal cord injuries. Downtown’s Center City Development Corp. awarded the organization a $40,000 grant to transform a former legal office and add basketball and pickleball courts, a hand-cycling track and other activity spaces. The CCDC also approved a grant for a new cafe on Monroe Avenue that will offer teas, juices, healthy foods and yoga classes. And they gave a grant to a restaurateur who plans to fix up the old Northside Grill in Klondike and sell turkey legs, brisket and more.

Jennie Robbins, CEO of Church Health, spoke during the grand opening of a new eye clinic on the third floor at Crosstown Concourse. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Better to see you with: Nonprofit medical provider Church Health unveiled a new eye clinic on the third floor of Crosstown Concourse on Wednesday. Church Health previously ran a small eye clinic with four exam rooms on the building’s second floor. But the new one — built in an area that had housed unused office space — is three times larger with 12 exam rooms. The clinic is intended to expand access to eye care for uninsured Memphians. 

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT 

Memphis soul icon Al Green has recorded a cover of R.E.M.’s 1992 hit “Everybody Hurts,” and it’s infused with a lot more hope than the very depressing (but beautiful) original. 

When you’re feeling down today, just take a listen and let the Soul Doctor heal you. 

.....