Hay, Shelby County. And yes, I do mean “hay,” because it’s Tuesday, June 3, and the Germantown Charity Horse Show kicks off today and runs through Saturday. Riders and their horses will compete in walks, trots, jumps and other tricks, and you can watch all the action with a corndog in hand. 

Local author Robert Busby will sign copies of his new book, “Bodock: Stories,” which features short stories inspired by the 1994 ice storm, at Novel this evening.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Dr. Jeff Warren, Memphis City Council member, thinks a merger of Methodist University Hospital and Regional One Health Medical Center could save money. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Could Methodist be the new Regional One? Dr. Jeff Warren thinks so. The Memphis City Council member and physician has been giving tours of floor after floor of empty rooms at Methodist University Hospital in Midtown. He thinks Methodist could be used to replace the aging Regional One Health. But the Shelby County Commission has already spent nearly $30 million to acquire the Commercial Appeal building, where it plans to build a new Regional One. “They’ve made a $30 million mistake,” Warren said. Not everyone agrees. 

Party foul: Eight people were arrested over the weekend at a Collierville house party on various drug, alcohol and gun charges. The party drew the attention of neighbors, who claimed some cars were parked in their yards. Cops smelled weed when they showed up to shut down the party, and several people were arrested on pot charges. But two people were busted with harder drugs. (Moral to the story: Don’t park in other peoples’ yards.)

Last year, Memphis Mayor Paul Young’s administration announced plans to acquire the Downtown Sheraton. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

City hires Sheraton consultant: The City of Memphis has hired a hotel developer to offer advice on plans to redevelop the Downtown Sheraton. Last year, the city announced plans to acquire the aging Sheraton for $22 million, and it issued $30 million in debt to fund the deal. The consultant, Maryland-based Capstone Development, will get $4,000 a month from the city for its advice, even though the hotel deal has yet to close. And it’s not the only hotel project Capstone is working on in Memphis.

“The DOJ’s dismissal of the MPD investigation ... is further affirmation that [it’s not] relevant nor proportional to the needs of this case,” said Bruce McMullen, an attorney representing the City of Memphis. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

City using DOJ decision in Nichols suit: Last month, the Trump administration dropped the U.S. Department of Justice’s investigation into civil-right violations by the Memphis Police Department. And now the City of Memphis says it shouldn’t have to turn over documents and video from that investigation to lawyers for Tyré Nichols’ family and estate. Nichols’ family is suing the city over his death at the hands of MPD officers, and their attorneys and the city have sparred for months over those DOJ documents, which show a pattern of MPD discrimination against Black residents. In other Nichols case news, the five former MPD officers federally charged in his death will be sentenced later this month. 

Former Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins has levied new allegations against the school board over its vote to fire her in January. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Feagins’ new claims against MSCS board: Former Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins says the MSCS board breached her contract when they voted 6-3 to fire her in January. The new amendment to her lawsuit claims the board was contractually obligated to talk with her about their issues with her leadership. The new addition also makes claims against school board member Towanna Murphy, who allegedly suggested Feagins was involved in the theft of Murphy’s car. The original lawsuit, filed shortly after Feagins’ termination, claimed the MSCS board violated state open meetings law in a plot to fire her.

QUOTED

“If [the FBI’s] attention is on Memphis, now is a good time [to ask for money]. ”

— Mick Wright, Shelby County commissioner
Wright sponsored a resolution, approved by the Shelby County Commission on Monday, that asks for $10 billion of federal funding in response to FBI Director Kash Patel’s comments about Memphis being the “homicide capital.” The money would fund a new jail and cover other needs “that contribute to our homicide rate.” The commission also voted on a forensics center contract extension. 

THE NICE TO KNOW

The Pharmacy Coffeehouse is located at 5875 Stage Road in Bartlett. (Michael Waddell/The Daily Memphian)

From pills to percolators: The former Regel Pharmacy in Bartlett is now home to a new place to get your fix: The Pharmacy Coffeehouse. The owners of nearby Side Porch Steakhouse bought the old pharmacy, and they’ve just opened their new 1970s-inspired coffee shop there. Some drinks, like The Remedy espresso with coconut and bergamot, are nods to the building’s former life. And others, like one cornbread-inspired drink, are just fun.

More than just pennies: Memphis Tigers Coach Penny Hardaway has apparently still got it. On Sunday, one of his Orlando Magic uniforms and a warmup outfit from his 1993-94 rookie season sold at auction for more than $52,000.

Riders competed in compositions during the Germantown Charity Horse Show on Tuesday, June 4, 2024. (Benjamin Naylor/The Daily Memphian file)

What to eat at the horse show: The 76th Germantown Charity Horse Show kicks off today, and it’s not all about the horses. Longtime attendees say it’s about seeing “people you don’t see but maybe one time a year.” And it’s also about the food. The Daily Memphian’s Abigail Warren offers a look at this year’s food vendors, including one guy who is selling corn dogs — not Pronto Pups — with “a little something, something extra.”

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

If you missed the first-ever Cooper-Young Cat Walking Tour on Sunday, well, that’s a cat-astrophe. More than 300 people showed up to walk around in the heat and look at cats, most of whom were very unimpressed. Check out all of photographer Brandon Dill’s photos on the Cooper-Young Community Association’s Instagram page.

Well, that’s all for meow. Hope you’re feline fine all day!

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