Morning, Memphis, and welcome to the first Early Word of 2025. It’s Friday, Jan. 3, and if you’re hoping to get one of the two vacant seats on the Collierville Board of Mayor and Aldermen, today is the deadline for resumes. 

Tonight, the Memphis Grizzlies will play the Sacramento Kings in an away game, and on Saturday, they’ll play the Golden State Warriors (also away). Star Ja Morant is still out with an injury, but the old Desmond Bane seems to be back, according to our Grizz wiz Chris Herrington.

In more basketball news, the Memphis Tigers women’s team plays North Texas at home on Saturday, and the men’s team plays North Texas at home on Sunday. That men’s game, by the way, will be their first AAC home game after a great start to conference play on the road Thursday.

Arts and culture events are light this time of year, but at least you can finally go to that Bone Thugs-n-Harmony show that was canceled in November. It’s at Minglewood Hall on Saturday. For a few more ideas, check out The To-Do List.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Judge Bill Anderson will retire later this winter. (Aarron Fleming/The Daily Memphian file)

Anderson’s bailing out: Shelby County General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Bill Anderson, who has come under fire for some of his bail decisions, will retire on March 1. Anderson wasn’t up for reelection until 2030, but he said he had been planning to retire this year since his wife is also retiring. Anderson’s decisions to release suspects without bail, including a man who shot at police during a 12-hour standoff, drew criticism from both Republican lawmakers and Democratic Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy. Though Anderson said his retirement was planned, he admitted local politics played a role in the timing.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins narrowly survived an ouster attempt on Dec. 17. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Feagins’ response is coming: Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins is expected to issue a written response Monday to school board members’ claims that she’s been dishonest with the board and mishandled finances on three occasions. Feagins called the claims “meritless” at the special school board meeting on Dec. 17 where board members voted to delay a planned termination vote, and it’s not clear yet how her written response will differ from that. Her attorney, Alan Crone, said board members have not provided any evidence yet to back up their claims. 

Germantown school board hopefuls shared their thoughts on updates for Houston High. (The Daily Memphian file)

Up next for Germantown school board: Seven finalists will be considered for the open Germantown Municipal School District board seat. That seat was vacated by Dr. Daniel Chatham after he decided to pull his kids from public school. Germantown’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen will appoint the new member, who will serve out the final two years of Chatham’s term, on Jan. 27. Our own Abigail Warren offers a look at each board hopeful and how they feel about planned school updates at Houston High.

QUOTED

“[Don Nix] was innovative. He played baritone so raw … Of all the people in the [Mar-Keys], Don gave 100% all the time.”

— Steve Cropper of Booker T. and the MGs
Legendary Memphis musician and producer Don Nix, a former member of the Mar-Keys and session player for Stax Records, died on New Year’s Eve at age 83. Nix, who was best-known for the song “Going Down,” played sax for Mar-Keys, which also featured Cropper. His friends remembered him for his musical talent and his sense of humor.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Memphis guard Tyrese Hunter drove to the basket over Florida Atlantic guards Ken Evans Jr. and Niccolo Moretti on Thursday, Jan. 2, in Boca Raton, Florida. (Marta Lavandier/AP)

Off to a good great start: The Memphis Tigers kicked off their American Athletic Conference schedule with a big win on Thursday, besting Florida Atlantic by 28 points. The 90-62 win came after a combined 39 points, 12 rebounds and six assists from the star guard duo of PJ Haggerty and Tyrese Hunter. But those weren’t the only stars of the night: Our own Parth Upadhyaya says there’s one other Tiger who elevated the group from good to great. This match-up against FAU was supposed to be the Tigers’ hardest test of the season and yet they finished with the largest margin of victory in a regular-season AAC game since 2022. So, here’s hoping that’s a sign of what’s to come in the next 17 AAC games.

Primas Bakery & Boutique’s Watermelon Cutie Cake. The bakery is open, despite what a local news report said. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Muggin closed, Primas open: Muggin Coffeehouse has closed — temporarily. Dixon-White Restaurant Group took over operations at Muggin Coffeehouse in August, and the company plans to reopen the Uptown shop soon with a new brand. But you know what’s not closed, despite what one local TV news station said? Artisan dessert shop Primas Bakery + Boutique. In this week’s $10 Deal, food writer Joshua Carlucci suggests a “bowl of ramen fit for melting away winter woes and holiday hangovers” at the new Nagoya House Hibachi & Ramen. (I personally recommend the build-your-own bowl with shoyu broth, teriyaki tofu and udon noodles.) And for even more food recs, several Daily Memphian staffers dished on their fave Memphis menu items on Sound Bites. 

A home in Bartlett where a food truck is parked in the front yard. It will no longer be in compliance with a new RV parking ordinance if it passes a third reading in February. (Submitted)

Where you can park it: Bartlett is trying to crack down on RV parking in residential areas to protect property values. The ordinance, which won an initial approval on first reading, would prohibit residents from parking their RVs, trailers, boats and even food trucks in their front yards. Backyard and side yard parking would be allowed but might require some extra steps from residents.

This principal is your pal: Rivercrest Elementary Principal Sharonda Rose was selected by the state as the 2024-25 Grand West Division winner for Principal of the Year. The Bartlett City Schools employee was named the 2023-24 Principal of the Year for the district early last year, and then her info was submitted for the state contest. The application required two 750-word essays, which just goes to show that even principals still have to do homework.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

The National Civil Rights Museum is honoring three athletes for Sports Legacy Awards: 1968 Olympic Track & Field gold medalist Tommie Smith, six-time NBA All-Star Amar’e Stoudmire and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller. 

The Memphis Grizzlies are partnering with the museum on a series of conversations on the intersection of race and sports with each winner. The first of those conversations, a talk with Miller, went live on Thursday. Watch it here.

Enjoy your first weekend of the year! 

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