Let the good times roll, Memphis! It’s Fat Tuesday, and if you got the baby in last year’s king cake, today is your last chance to bring a cake to the office before the Mardi Gras season ends. Don’t let your colleagues down.

Speaking of rolls, the Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team is on one, so here’s hoping the winning streak continues as they go up against UTSA tonight. While the men’s team has won the last three games, the Tigers women have lost just as many, so let’s wish them luck for tonight’s match-up with Florida Atlantic. 

THE NEED TO KNOW

Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. (middle) was indicted last week for one count of alleged bribery and six counts of alleged tax fraud. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Ford Jr. gave even more grants: Shelby County Commission meeting minutes show that Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. may have directed more grant funds to the same nonprofits involved in the alleged kickback scheme he was indicted over Friday. The indictment alleged that Ford steered nearly $630,000 in county grant funds to three nonprofits and then funneled about $264,700 to himself. He’s facing one count of alleged kickbacks and bribery and six counts of attempted tax evasion for that. But the minutes show Ford and county commissioners approved an additional $85,000 to the same nonprofits. Since the commission’s policy won’t allow it to remove Ford from the board while the legal process plays out, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris thinks the commission should at least prevent Ford from proposing grants.

Shelby County Commission Chair Michael Whaley is proposing two ethics-related ordinances that will be discussed in Wednesday, March 5, committee sessions. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Speaking of ethics … Just days after Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr.’s federal indictment (see above), the commission is set to discuss two key changes to its ethics policies. During Wednesday’s Shelby County Commission committee sessions, Chair Michael Whaley plans to propose a county charter amendment that would crack down on conflicts of interest by elected officials. If passed by the commission, that would ultimately be decided as a ballot referendum by voters next year. Whaley is also proposing a second ballot question that would allow school board members to be recalled by voters.

From the crime files: Memphis gynecologist Dr. Sanjeev Kumar was arrested last week for allegedly performing unnecessary procedures with re-used medical devices. He’s facing charges for enticing four people to travel interstate to engage in illegal sexual activity, as well as adulteration of medical devices, misbranding of medical devices and health care fraud. In other public safety news, a former member of Tennessee’s Inmate Disciplinary Oversight Board, which grants and denies sentence credits for inmate behavior, was arrested Monday on rape charges. And down in Mississippi, DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton provided updates Monday on two high-profile cases involving a former alderman convicted of unemployment fraud and an ex-Southaven police officer who pleaded guilty to his role in a car theft ring.

The bill authorizing teachers to withhold a student’s cellphone during class passed in the state House on Monday. (Bruna Prado/AP file)

No phones in class: The state House of Representatives passed a bill on Monday authorizing teachers to prohibit cell phone use during class time. There are a few exceptions though, including emergency situations. Next up, it’ll go to the Senate, but there’s no scheduled vote yet. The bill’s approval comes just days after an 11-year-old girl at Memphis’ Hamilton K-8 elementary school stabbed a 10-year-old girl in the back after arguing over a phone.

MEET MEMPHIS

Jerold Teachey has retired as choir director at Germantown Presbyterian Church. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Jerold Teachey, now 84, has been singing since he was in the children’s choir at church. But his focus turned to football and baseball in high school — that is, until a girl he liked steered him into the choir. With a name like Teachey though, he was clearly destined for a job in education. He taught at colleges for years, while also leading church choirs on the side until he landed a job as choir director at Germantown Presbyterian Church. Last month, he retired from that role after three decades, but he’s sticking around the church — for the music.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Houston’s Restaurant closed its Memphis location on Dec. 5, 2024. (Jennifer Chandler/The Daily Memphian file)

Thank you, next: The vacant Houston’s restaurant in the shadow of Clark Tower could see new life soon. According to information filed with Develop 901, the proposed tenant is the Spell Restaurant Group LLC, which also owns Brookhaven Pub & Grill and Babalu. And in other new mgmt. news, Harbor Town’s Cordelia’s Market is changing hands. Developer Henry Turley sold it to a married couple who are also longtime employees at the market. The new owners say the store will continue selling products from local vendors, as well as prepackaged meals, wine and beer, meats, coffee and the like. But they’re planning to expand the indoor dining space and menu options.

Memphis Grizzlies center Jaren Jackson Jr. hurt his ankle in a game against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, March 3. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Boo to this deja vu: It’s happened again. The Memphis Grizzlies lost its third straight home game on a shot inside the final five seconds on Monday night. In this one, the Atlanta Hawks’ Caris LeVert made a layup as time expired, which meant the Hawks beat the Grizz, 132-130. And to make matters worse, Jaren Jackson Jr. left Monday’s game in the first quarter with an ankle injury. (Somebody wake me up when this bad luck ends.) In better sports news, the Memphis Tigers’ star is still rising in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. And our Daily Memphian sports team got some gold stars last week in the Associated Press Sports Editors journalism contest. 

Cast members of Theatre Memphis’ production of “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” performed during the 40th Ostranders Awards at the Orpheum in 2024. (Brad Vest/The Daily Memphian file)

The show might not go on: The Ostrander Awards, Memphis' annual theater award show, might not happen this summer, due to the Ostrander organization’s outstanding debt. Ostrander Executive Director Elizabeth Perkins sent an email to supporters on Monday that said it still needed $4,400 to cover last year’s expenses, or the 2025 ceremony would not happen. The Ostrander Awards have been going on for 40 years, but the troubles began during the pandemic and continued after it became an independent nonprofit in 2021.

Tef Poe (left) with Marco Pavé

Memphis to St. Louis: Memphis rapper Marco Pavé (Tauheed Rahim) has teamed up with St. Louis rapper Tef Poe (Kareem Jackson) on a new EP called “Nothing’s Easy.” The two followed one another’s musical careers from afar for a couple years before they finally met in person in 2019, when they were both chosen to be U.S. cultural ambassadors. The Daily Memphian’s Elle Perry talked to both men about the new album and the Memphis-St. Louis connection.

All paid off: You know that feeling when you’ve finally paid off a cell phone — or better yet, a car — and suddenly, you’ve got extra funds burning a hole in your pocket? Collierville Schools has that feeling right now. For the last 11 years, the school system has paid Memphis-Shelby County Schools as part of a lawsuit settlement after the six suburbs formed their districts. But it just made the last of those payments (early, mind you), and that means $500,000 in extra funds.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Spring is coming in like a lion with some possible severe weather today. So, batten down the hatches. (This X post went out on Monday, so by “tomorrow,” the Memphis Office of Emergency Management means “today.)

Laissez les bon temps!

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