Howdy, Memphis. It’s Wednesday, April 30, and the Shelby County Commission education committee will take up a resolution to establish an advisory board for the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board. That’s a separate plan from what state lawmakers were trying to do with their failed (for now) school takeover bills.

THE NEED TO KNOW

A single fire hose continued to douse hot spots at Clayborn Temple on Tuesday, April 29, the day after the landmark church was destroyed by fire. (Bill Dries/The Daily Memphian)

Clayborn fire probe underway: The Memphis Fire Department is conducting a “thorough and detailed” investigation into the cause of Monday morning’s Clayborn Temple fire. The two-alarm fire caused a total loss to the historic temple, which had been under restoration. The nonprofit behind that revamp has promised to rebuild, but it’s unclear for now if the remaining stone tower and brick walls can be saved. When another Downtown church burned down in 2006, plans to save the remaining parts of the building didn’t work out. 

About two weeks ago, the Trump administration ordered almost 5,000 holders of student visas to leave the country or face deportation. (From left to right: Karen Pulfer Focht/Special to The Daily Memphian; Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Students get their visas back: All of the current and former students from the University of Memphis and Christian Brothers University who were told to leave the country earlier this month have had their visa reinstated — for now. The Trump administration had ordered almost 5,000 holders of student visas to leave the country or face deportation. Lawsuits followed, and that policy has been at least temporarily reversed. One local immigration attorney said the immigrant community remains “on edge” and that her firm is planning its own lawsuit. 

Alleged mass shooter to be evaluated: Enoc Martinez, who is facing five counts of attempted first-degree murder over a weekend mass shooting, has been ordered to undergo a mental evaluation. The shooting paralleled the citywide mass shooting on Sept. 7, 2022, during which Ezekiel Kelly allegedly killed three people and wounded three others. Martinez’ alleged rampage began around noon on Saturday, after an argument with his sister. From there, he drove around and shot at a number of people, leaving three wounded.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools board member Towanna Murphy has apologized for threatening to have a woman deported. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Towanna Murphy not censured: Memphis-Shelby County Schools board member Towanna Murphy threatened to have a woman deported in a message exchange posted online earlier this month, but she avoided a public censure over the comments on Tuesday. The MSCS board could have taken that step but opted not to. Board Chair Joyce Dorse Coleman had some stern words for Murphy though, who has also issued an apology. In other school board news, members approved $2,000 bonuses from the state for teachers. 

Judge James Jones Jr., (left) is presiding over the trial of former Memphis Police officers Justin Smith, Tadarrius Bean and Demetrius Haley. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

‘Maximum force’ was MPD policy: Desmond Mills Jr., one of the five ex-Memphis police officers charged in Tyre Nichols’ death, testified on Tuesday, the second day of the state trial for Mills’ former colleagues Tadarrius Bean, Justin Smith and Demetrius Haley. Mills, who struck Nichols with a baton, has taken a plea deal for a shorter sentence. On Tuesday, he said Nichols’ 2023 arrest was “done by the book,” and he also said the Memphis Police Department’s policy was to use “maximum force” when striking with a baton. See our full coverage from each day of the trial here.

QUOTED

Property owners near Quail Ridge Golf Course are disgusted with the property’s diminished appearance in recent months. (Michael Waddell/Special to The Daily Memphian file)

“A bunch of us who live by the [former Quail Ridge Golf Course] are concerned with it looking like crap.”

— Richard Coleman, Bartlett resident
Coleman and others who live near the former course are concerned with overgrown grass and lack of maintenance on the property. Quail Ridge was Bartlett’s only golf course before it closed in November, and some are holding out hope for a new golf course on the site. But lately, some clues have shed light on the possibility that may not happen.

THE NICE TO KNOW

The old Bed Bath & Beyond in White Station Plaza will be a liquor store. (Dima Amro/The Daily Memphian)

Bed, bath and booze: The store in White Station Plaza that once sold salt-rock diffusers and foot baths will soon sell stuff that’ll really help you relax. The old Bed Bath & Beyond on S. White Station Road will reopen soon as a liquor store called The Station. And it’ll be situated near Mosa Asian Bistro and Gold’s Gym, so you can grab takeout and sake after your workout and make a night out of it. Read more in Inked, plus news of a new-to-Memphis urgent care for pets. 

The 2025 Ostrander Theatre Awards are scheduled for Aug. 24, at the Orpheum Theatre. (Courtesy Don Perry file)

Show will go on: The annual Ostrander Theatre Awards almost didn’t happen this year, after the organization faced a budget shortfall caused by the ticketing platform it used in 2024. But a fundraising event, set for June at Theatre Memphis, has saved the day. The 2025 award show is now set for Aug. 25 at the Orpheum Theatre.

Raising Cane’s Southaven location will open on June 10. (Brandon LaGrone/The Daily Memphian)

Cane you believe it? You may need to drive to Southaven to get your chicken tendies for a while. Raising Cane’s, the chicken chain with a cult following, is opening its first area location on Goodman Road this June. It’s one of three planned Memphis metro locations, but the Cordova and Hickory Hill spots won’t be ready by the summer.

“The Thunderbolts are a motley crew of ostensibly secondary hero/villain tweener characters established in previous films,” Chris Herrington writes. (Courtesy Marvel Studios)

Underdogs to the rescue: Everyone loves a good underdog story, and this weekend, you can see one on the big screen as Marvel’s “Thunderbolts*” opens. (The asterisk is there because this film stars the secondary heroes who played smaller roles in other Marvel films.) The Daily Memphian’s Chris Herrington plans to watch it, and he’s got more on the film in his Memphis Movies This Week column. Plus, he’s got a look at what else is opening, including the 1880s-era Western that made headlines when the cinematographer was shot and killed on set. 

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Earlier this week, we learned that Oak Court Mall will be demolished. So, what does that mean for China Master, the place that handed out all those free chicken samples?

Go show some love to your favorite Oak Court businesses, folks. And see you on Thursday!

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