Good morning, Memphis! It’s Giving Tuesday, Dec. 3, so here’s your reminder that The Daily Memphian is a nonprofit. Your donation helps us continue dishing out high-quality local journalism, researched and written by reporters right here in Memphis. So, if you’re feeling generous, here’s where to donate.

Also today, the Memphis City Council will vote on funding for a new Memphis Police Department Downtown Command Center. And the Memphis Grizzlies, fresh off six straight wins, will play the Dallas Mavericks. 

THE NEED TO KNOW

KIPP Memphis Collegiate High teacher Sarah Kerst welcomed students to the first day of virtual school from her empty classroom on Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Virtual reality: Memphis-Shelby County Schools has a teacher shortage, and they’re looking to fix that with virtual teachers through a company the district has relied on for five years. That’s not a popular strategy in the wake of pandemic remote learning. But “having somebody is better than no one,” according to MSCS Superintendent Marie Feagins. Before the fall semester began, the district was nearly 480 teachers short, and MSCS posted a bid for 100 virtual teachers. Proximity Learning won the contract again, but the MSCS board is just now considering that contract’s approval. And some are questioning why the approval is coming so late into the semester.

The Memphis City Council will consider a resolution to hire outside counsel for a lawsuit against Hyundai Motor Co. (AP file)

City could sue Hyundai: The Memphis City Council will consider a resolution today to hire a local law firm for a lawsuit against Hyundai Motor Co., which makes Kias and Hyundais. The suit claims “defects in the vehicles” have contributed to a “dramatic increase in car thefts locally,” which have cost the city money for police resources. It also claims Hyundai knows about the theft problems and could do something to make the cars harder to steal. But the lawsuits don’t stop there: The city may also sue RealPage, a property-management software company, over an algorithm that landlords use to set rents.

Demetrius Haley, who was convicted in October of civil rights violations related to Tyre Nichols’ death, has been held in federal custody pending his sentencing on Jan. 22. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Ex-cop in Nichols case appeals bond denial: Former Memphis police officer Demetrius Haley is appealing his bond denial following his October conviction for civil rights violations related to Tyre Nichols’ death. Haley was tried alongside former officers Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith, but he was the only one convicted on all four counts. Bean and Smith were convicted on a single count of obstruction of justice and remain free pending their January sentencing.

QUOTED

“There’s no sugarcoating it. We have a real violence crisis that we’ve had for over a decade.”

— Steve Mulroy, Shelby County District Attorney General
Mulroy addressed the city’s violence problem at an annual holiday event honoring local lives lost to homicide. But he offered some hope around the fact that violent crime stats are currently seeing double-digit decreases.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Arrow Creative is closing its space at 653 Philadelphia St. in Cooper-Young. (Ziggy Mack/The Daily Memphian file)

Arrow points to Brooks: Arts nonprofit Arrow Creative will close its Cooper-Young storefront and artist studios after its Holiday Bazaar market closes on Dec. 22. And the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art will absorb its adult art classes, summer camp and retail offerings. Arrow co-founder Abby Phillips said in an email Monday that the organization has faced “many unexpected obstacles” and that “moving Arrow forward in a different direction is best for the artists we serve and the artistic community in Memphis.” 

Memphis guard PJ Haggerty, left, shot against Michigan State guard Jaden Akins during the Maui Invitational on Tuesday, Nov. 26, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Lindsey Wasson/AP)

Tigers, ranked: For the first time since late January of last season, the Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team is ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. That came after an impressive showing at the Maui Invitational, where the Tigers beat UConn and Michigan State. Coach Penny Hardaway said part of the team’s recent success can be attributed to some growing up that he had to do after last season’s team fell apart. While we’re on rankings, the football team is also ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 — for the first time since 2020. The regular football season ended on Thanksgiving with a big win over Tulane, and now the speculation begins over where they’ll play a post-season bowl game.

Could the improved play of Brandon Clarke, left, and Marcus Smart, right, be the reason the Grizzlies have a six-game winning streak? (Brandon Dill/AP file)

Smart moves: The Memphis Grizzlies are on a six-game winning streak, and that’s definitely got a lot to do with the return of Ja Morant and his pairing with co-stars Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. But two Grizzlies’ sidekicks — Marcus Smart and Brandon Clarke — deserve some credit, too. The veterans came into the season expected to be a starting wing and sixth man, respectively, but each got off to a poor start. But now their roles seem to be swapped, and that’s a strategy that’s working, according to one of our Grizzlies analysts, Chris Herrington. 

Dr. Daniel Chatham was elected to the Germantown Board of Education in 2022, and he’s resigning at the end of the year. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Calling wannabe school board members: The Germantown Municipal School District’s board is about to be short one member when Dr. Daniel Chatham resigns at the end of the year. He’s stepping down after enrolling his kids in a Christian private school, and it’s up to the suburb’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen to appoint a replacement. Applications are expected to go live on the Germantown website today. Here’s how the process will work.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Fun fact: It’s the first time since 2019 that both the Tigers basketball and football teams have been ranked at the same time. And the Grizzlies’ six-game winning streak is the cherry on top. Our own Geoff Calkins reminds us to stop and “smell the victories.”

Have a great day! And if you’re so inclined, here’s that link again to donate to The Daily Memphian on Giving Tuesday. Thank you!

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