Good morning! It’s Tuesday, March 11, and if you’re all mixed up and don’t know what to do, it’s probably just because it’s 311 Day. Start your morning with a little 1990s reggae-rock, and bet on yourself now, star. ’Cause that’s your best bet. By the way, 311 is coming to the Graceland Soundstage this May if you want more.

In newsier news, the Bartlett Board of Mayor and Aldermen will consider a permit for a small residential development near Nesbit Park (aka Stanky Creek).

THE NEED TO KNOW

Jessica Alexander worked with second graders at Frayser Elementary School in 2013. The school was then part of the state-run Achievement School District. (The Daily Memphian file)

State could abolish ASD: A newly filed legislative proposal from Republican state lawmakers would scrap the state’s Achievement School District, which allows the state to take over low-performing schools. In its place would be a new series of interventions for all of the schools on the state’s priority list, about half of which are in Memphis. In the worst cases, those changes could include the state mandating a school be closed. In other education news, protesters gathered in Berclair on Monday to voice opposition to a proposed state bill that would require school districts to charge thousands of dollars in tuition to families of undocumented immigrant students. 

Alexis Luttrell’s Christmas display featured a human skeleton and a dog skeleton. (Courtesy Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression)

Bones about it: The City of Germantown has dismissed a code-ordinance violation against resident Alexis Luttrell for decorating her skeletons beyond Halloween. Luttrell brought some presidential election flair and Christmas cheer to the human and dog skeleton in her front yard, and when the city cited her, she had quite the bone to pick. Luttrell filed a lawsuit alleging Germantown had violated her First Amendment rights. The city is now considering a change to its holiday-decorating ordinance, and Luttrell said she’s just “glad that [the charge is] dead and buried — and my skeletons aren’t.” 

Priscilla Presley (second from left) expressed support for the Rock ’n‘ Soul Museum at a press conference on Monday, March 10, in Nashville. (Benjamin Smith/The Daily Memphian)

Rock on? Priscilla Presley was in Nashville on Monday lobbying state lawmakers to provide funding to help the Memphis Rock ’n‘ Soul Museum move from FedExForum to the old Hard Rock Cafe space on Beale Street. The Smithsonian-curated Rock ’n‘ Soul Museum announced its plan to move to Beale last year, and it’s so far raised $5 million. The new space would include a recording studio and free rehearsal space for Memphis musicians. While she was there, the state also honored Presley with a Colonel Aide de Camp award —the highest award given to a Tennessee civilian — for preserving and promoting Elvis Presley’s legacy.

MEET MEMPHIS

Mike Keeney is the new chairman of the Greater Memphis Chamber Chairman’s Circle. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Lawyer Mike Keeney has been involved with the Greater Memphis Chamber’s Chairman’s Circle since its inception in 2013, and now he’s the newly appointed chair. The circle is made up of top-level executives who work together to spur economic growth, develop the local workforce and improve the business climate. So, what does Keeney hope to see during his time at the top? “We have to work towards being an attractive city to people, to be where people want to live, where people want to work and where people want to relocate businesses. That’s what I want our focus to be,” he said.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Memphis Grizzlies guard Cam Spencer (right) trash-talked Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant on March 10. (Nikki Boertman/AP)

Take that, Kevin Durant: The Memphis Grizzlies got a 120-118 win over the Phoenix Suns on Monday night, and Suns star Kevin Durant got an earful. The trash talk came from Grizz rookie Cam Spencer, who said words to Durant that he couldn’t repeat to the media after the game. Those words got Spencer a technical foul and a $2,000 fine, but no worries because the senior Grizzlies players were taking bets in the locker room over who would cover the fine for Spencer. In just his 13th NBA game, the two-way guard came off the bench and drilled four 3-pointers that pulled Memphis out of a sluggish start, so yeah, he deserves a little help from the guys with bigger contracts.

Comeback Coffee’s owners Hayes and Amy McPherson said they’re “excited to dig in further on our canned beverage and roasting side of Comeback.” (Sophia Surrett/The Daily Memphian file)

Not coming back: If you want one last cup of joe at Comeback Coffee, you’d better go soon, because you won’t get a chance to come back. The Pinch District coffee shop will close on April 11. But fans of Comeback’s locally roasted coffee and canned coffee sodas shouldn’t fret. Those will still be available elsewhere.

Melissa Bamford led a workout at Grit Group Fitness on Poplar Avenue. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Grit and grind: There’s a new gym opening soon across from East High School, but don’t expect to hear the instructors there talk about “burning calories or bikini season.” Grit Group Fitness owner and longtime local fitness instructor Melissa Bamford says she’s hoping to shift the conversation around fitness to be more holistic and inclusive. Bamford’s gym will offer a range of Les Mills choreographed classes but with more of a boutique studio experience than you’d find in large gyms that offer Les Mills, like say the YMCA or the Kroc Center. (Full disclosure: Bamford is a close friend of mine, and I can assure you her classes are a blast. Hi, Melissa!)

Allegiant Air will pause its flights from Memphis to Los Angeles starting May 12. (The Daily Memphian file)

Lacks a flight to LAX: It’s about to be a tad harder to get from Memphis to Los Angeles. Allegiant Air will pause its flights from MEM to LAX, starting May 12, as the airline closes its base at Los Angeles International Airport. But don’t fret if you need to head to the Hollywood Hills soon; there are still nonstop flights out of Memphis to L.A. In brighter travel news, Spirit Airlines is launching a nonstop flight from Memphis to Detroit.

Memphis coach Penny Hardaway tried to get his team’s attention during a March 7, game against South Florida. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Sweet 16: No, not that Sweet 16. We’re not there yet (fingers crossed). But the Memphis Tigers finished their regular season at No. 16 on the Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Tigers were No. 16 last week, too, so they didn’t move up after their two most recent wins and an American Athletic Conference regular-season championship. But still, this is the highest AP ranking Memphis has had in March since way, way back in the Coach Cal days.

Peace pipe: The Town of Collierville will give Germantown a small bit of its water pipe in part of an annexation deal. Both Collierville and Germantown’s Boards of Mayor and Aldermen agreed to the deal that gives Germantown a 450-foot area of “no man’s land” between the two suburbs. The land is technically part of unincorporated Shelby County, but it’s home to part of Collierville’s waterline. As part of the agreement, Germantown will make sure it keeps the two water systems separate.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Wool you believe it? Only in Bartlett! Hope they at least got some sheep thrills on their big day out.

Okay, let’s end this now, before I deliver any more baaa-aaad puns. 

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