Brrrrr, Memphis. It’s Thursday, Dec. 5, and baby, it’s cold outside. It’ll be warmer inside the St. Jude Memphis Marathon expo, which opens today and runs through Friday at the Renasant Convention Center. If you’re running the race, stop by and see us at the expo. Yours truly will be at our booth from 5-6 p.m. tonight. You can also sign up for our special St. Jude Marathon newsletter with race results, photos and all of our event coverage.

It’ll also be warm inside our Daily Memphian Commercial Real Estate Seminar where three CRE brokers will be discussing hot topics (like tariffs!), and here’s hoping the Memphis Grizzlies are on fire tonight as they play the Sacramento Kings at FedExForum. But you might want to bundle up for tonight’s Millington Christmas Parade, which kicks off at 6 p.m. 

And while we’re on weather, our friends at MemphisWeather.net have some tips for the cold and a look ahead at the weekend.

THE NEED TO KNOW

The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that the Memphis Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the U.S. Constitution. (George Walker IV/AP file)

MPD discriminates, says DOJ: The U.S. Department of Justice’s 17-month investigation into the Memphis Police Department found that some Memphis cops treat Black residents and those with behavioral-health issues differently. The investigation was launched after the 2023 death of Tyre Nichols, and the DOJ report describes how routine police interactions sometimes end in use of force without just cause. It also found that Black residents are often treated more harshly than white residents and that police use demeaning language and needless force against children, including those with disabilities. But despite the findings, the city said in a letter to the DOJ that it will not enter into a consent decree, citing the cost to taxpayers and criticizing the DOJ’s rushed timeline for the investigation. 

XAI’s Brent Mayo spoke at the Greater Memphis Chamber’s annual luncheon at The Peabody Memphis on Dec. 4. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Supercomputer could get more super: Elon Musk’s xAI could invest tens of billions more into its Memphis-based supercomputer, with the data center growing from the current 200,000 Nvidia chips to one million chips. XAI executive Brent Mayo made that announcement during the Greater Memphis Chamber’s annual luncheon on Wednesday. He also said tech giants Nvidia, Super Micro Computer and Dell could soon invest in Memphis manufacturing facilities.  “[The tech companies are] already going to be here for us anyway,” Mayo said. “So, while they’re building ours, they can also be building others at the pace that we have.” The expansion of xAI comes with a big question: Where would it get its power? A new Memphis Light, Gas and Water substation is set to provide power for xAI’s first phase, but it would need another substation for additional power.

Memphis Animal Services will soon be looking for a new director to replace Ty Coleman, who was fired after a long suspension. (Benjamin Naylor/The Daily Memphian file)

What to look for in a new shelter director: Prospective Memphis Animal Services directors might want to read our own Jody Callahan’s story before updating their LinkedIn profiles. The city is expected to post a job for a new director within the week, following the firing of disgraced Director Ty Coleman. He was suspended over the summer after a dog died from being left outside in the heat. Callahan talked to local animal advocates and rescue groups about what they’d like to see in the next director. They didn’t agree on everything, but one thing is certain: The new leader needs a thick skin.

Inmate died from overdose: Jerome Mimes, 49, died at the Shelby County Jail back in July, and the official autopsy report revealed this week that Mimes died from a fentanyl overdose. Mimes was being held for the Germantown Police Department. He was at least the 51st inmate to die at the jail since 2019. 

A rendering shows the proposed new Crosstown Concourse venue. Signage is for representation purposes and is not final. (Courtesy archimania, via Downtown Memphis Commission)

First looks at Crosstown venue, Falls: Downtown’s Design Review Board approved designs for Crosstown Concourse’s proposed music venue and the redevelopment of Downtown’s Falls Building on Wednesday. Live Nation’s planned music venue will be built over a surface parking lot across from Crosstown’s garage, and it’ll have a stage, theater-style seating and bars on both levels. The Falls Building is being turned into an apartment complex, but the design will maintain the building’s historical elements, like its terracotta details and, of course, that sign where the “U” is a “V.”

QUOTED

“You can do all the [traffic] studies you want, but I drive through there a lot.”

— Bartlett Planning Commissioner Jack Young
The Bartlett Planning Commission sent an unfavorable recommendation to the city’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen this week over a proposed mosque on Broadway Road. Young said he’d oppose “any kind of facility,” including churches or community centers near an area that already sees heavy traffic. The Bartlett Muslim Society made updates after a traffic study on the area, but some commissioners still had concerns.

THE NICE TO KNOW

South Korea’s Kim Seo-yeong and Woo Sang-hyeok carried their country’s flag on a boat in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics. (Lee Jin-man/AP file)

Memphis in Martial? Just one day after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law — only to have it reversed hours later — the Greater Memphis Chamber and Memphis in May International Festival announced that South Korea would be the honored country for the 2025 MIM events. The timing was a little awkward, but the chamber cited the country’s recent investments in the Greater Memphis area for the choice. Does this mean K-pop is coming to MIM’s barbecue contest?

University of Memphis guard Tyrese Hunter scored 20 points against Louisiana Tech Wednesday, Dec. 4. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

‘The hangover from Hawaii’: The Memphis Tigers eked out an 81-71 win over Louisiana Tech on Wednesday, but it didn’t come as easily as it should have. Coach Penny Hardaway said his team was suffering from a bit of a Hawaii hangover after their impressive showing at the Maui Invitational last week. In Wednesday’s game, they were a step too slow on defense and lackadaisical on the offense. But a late rally by PJ Haggerty, Tyrese Hunter and Colby Rogers helped seal the deal. Speaking of games, the University of Memphis could combat low enrollment by offering potential applicants free Tigers tickets. The Daily Memphian’s Jane Roberts looks at student-enrollment strategies and recruitment challenges.

Memphis Tigers Coach Ryan Silverfield led his team onto the field during a game against North Texas Oct. 19. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Tigers go bowling: The Memphis Tigers will play West Virginia in the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 17, in Frisco, Texas. The Tigers’ selection marks the 11th-straight season that Memphis has earned a bowl bid, and it’ll be their first time playing the Mountaineers. Here’s how to watch. (If the Coffee Bowl doesn’t end with the winning coach getting a cold brew shower, I’m out.) In other football news, a handful of local high-school athletes are headed to big-deal college teams after Wednesday’s Signing Day. And the Tigers team has a likely new quarterback to replace senior Seth Henigan next season, plus 19 other new players. 

Nick’s Salt & Pepper Blend was developed by the late Nick Vergos and is the newest product to be launched by Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous. (Courtesy Charlie Vergos Rendezvous)

Salt and pepa’s here: The meat at The Rendezvous is seasoned with the late Nick Vergos’ special salt-and-pepper blend, which the restaurant has been making in-house for years. Our own Jennifer Chandler got an early sample of the spice mix from Vergos himself, and she loved it so much that her husband would meet Vergos in a back-alley Downtown to score baggies of it. But now you (and Chandler’s hubbie) can avoid those suspicious-looking deals, because Nick’s Salt & Pepper Blend is now bottled and sold. Read more about that and other restaurant news in Table Talk. 

Grizz make the grade: If the Memphis Grizzlies were given a grade at this point in the season, our own Chris Herrington would give them an A-minus. That’s not too shabby for a team that was literally falling apart — like physically — last season. In his quarterly Grizzlies Mailbag column, Herrington explains the grade and answers your burning Grizz questions, like “Are we 100% sure Bane isn’t hurt?” and “Where is Ja on Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey?” You know, stuff like that. Plus, as always, Herrington goes off the Grizz rails with some non-basketball questions, including his “Core 4” Christmas movies. 

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

The timing on the announcement of South Korea as Memphis in May International Festival’s 2025 honored country couldn’t have come at a worse time. And people have thoughts.

Maybe I’ll see you at the St. Jude expo later! And if not, I’ll definitely see you bright and early in the morning.

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