Welcome back to a short work week, Memphis! It’s Taco Tuesday, Sept. 2, and if you’re looking to celebrate, we’ve got a new guide to the best — and most affordable — tacos. They’re all priced under $15 and can be found everywhere from Summer Avenue taco trucks to a Midtown dive bar.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Processing and staffing are problems at the Shelby County Jail, also known as 201 Poplar, the Prison Policy Initiative report says. (The Daily Memphian file)

So maybe we don’t need a new jail? Whether or not the county should ditch 201 Poplar and build a new jail seems to depend on which study you choose to believe. Earlier this year, a study requested by Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner highlighted problems with the aging Downtown jail and suggested new locations. But a new study from nonprofit Prison Policy Initiative says not so fast. That report uses more conservative population growth numbers and suggests Shelby County could probably make do with its current jail for now. It says the real issue lies with poor management of the jail we’ve already got.

“It was not the first time we’d been pressured or told we were not doing our jobs or were doing a poor job,” said former Memphis Area Transit Authority board member Sandi Klink. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Most of MATA board quits: The Memphis Area Transit Authority has more drama than you can shake a bus pass at. Last Thursday, the day after the City of Memphis canceled a MATA meeting to announce the two finalists for the transit agency’s CEO, five of the nine MATA board members resigned. The volunteer board had spent months in a new CEO search process, and former board member Sandi Klink said she and others felt insulted and disrespected by the city.

Ricky Floyd, senior pastor of Pursuit of God Church, was killed outside Momma’s bar south of Downtown Memphis in the early morning of March 12. (Ziggy Mack/The Daily Memphian file)

New charge in pastor’s death: Samantha Marion’s charge for allegedly fatally shooting Frayser pastor Ricky Floyd has been upgraded to second-degree murder. Marion, who is accused of killing Floyd after an argument at Momma’s bar in March, was originally charged with voluntary manslaughter, but a grand jury returned the upgraded charge last week. 

DeAndre (pictured) and Vinessa Brown were once touted for their nonprofit’s reentry work and dedication to the Frayser community. (Ziggy Mack/The Daily Memphian file)

DeAndre Brown’s rise and fall: DeAndre Brown, the now-suspended director of the Shelby County Office of Re-Entry, is no stranger to the law. Brown was convicted in 2003 of bank fraud, assault, forgery and theft. But he vowed to turn his life around after prison and founded a nonprofit to help other ex-offenders re-enter society. He was later made director of the county office that does the same, and Gov. Bill Lee pardoned Brown in 2023. But last week, he and wife Vinessa Brown were arrested on felony theft and fraud charges for alleged misappropriation of public funds. Our own Bill Dries goes deep into Brown’s rise and fall from grace.

Is there a doctor in the house? New federal caps on student loans for med school could increasingly mean the answer is no. President Donald Trump’s so-called Big Beautiful Bill limits borrowing to $50,000 annually and $200,000 for a lifetime for students in medical fields. There’s already a nationwide doctor shortage, and some, including reps from a local med school, say the new loan rules mean that problem will only get worse.

QUOTED 

“The rest of the world says that Memphis is a terrible, dangerous place. It’s not. They don’t live here. But you and I are not preaching hard enough to everybody else,” said William Dunavant III (left), head of Dunavant Enterprises. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

“We are our worst enemy in Memphis because we don’t realize what we’ve got. We have to believe ... before the rest of the world is going to believe … in Memphis. ”

— William Dunavant III, head of Dunavant Enterprises
Dunavant believes in Memphis, and he wants you to, too. He’s delivered his pro-Memphis talk to more than 20,000 locals with the goal of squashing the negativity that’s all too common amongst Memphians. Our own Geoff Calkins talked to Dunavant about why he’s trying to “take our narrative back.”

THE NICE TO KNOW

Two giant heron lantern puppets designed by artist Chantelle Rytter were part of Tom Lee’s Mississippi River Gumption Revival Lantern Parade. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Happy belated 901 Day! Monday wasn’t just Labor Day in Memphis. It was the city’s annual civic-pride holiday, and Memphians showed up in droves to celebrate at parties on Beale Street and at the Ravine. Later in the evening, they lit up the night sky with lanterns and glowing animal-shaped puppets by artist Chantelle Rytter. Our own Dima Amro was everywhere yesterday. Ever wondered how 901 Day got started? The relatively new local holiday first launched in 2012, and you can — kind of — thank Justin Timberlake. 

We asked five notable Memphians how they start their days. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Rise and shine: I often get asked how I manage waking up around 4 a.m. every week day to put this column together. So, here are my hot tips: never hit snooze and drink a full glass of water before my coffee. But I say the real secret to successful early week days is living your best life on the weekends, staying up late and sleeping in. Because YOLO. Want more tips? Freelancer Christin Yates talked to some other morning people, including Memphis Mayor Paul Young and WREG’s Kontji Anthony, for their morning life hacks.

Memphis quarterback Brendon Lewis completed 22-of-28 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 81 yards. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Tigers off to a good start: The Memphis Tigers football team clobbered Chattanooga on Saturday with a 45-10 win. That was in large part thanks to new quarterback Brendon Lewis, who only messed up one little thing. It was worse news for running back Greg Desrosiers Jr. though. He scored the first touchdown but was taken out by a lower-body injury and didn’t return after the first quarter. 

“I don’t eat meat. I just don’t like it,” said Daishu McGriff of The Artists’ Table and Shroomlicious. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Vegan in the South: I gave up dairy and eggs in 2004, when the only vegan cheese tasted like plastic, and Memphis had one (very short-lived) plant-based cafe. (Shoutout to One Love in the old Cooper-Young food co-op!) My, how things have changed. Plant-based food is everywhere in Memphis, and our own Ellen Chamberlain talked to a few local restaurateurs about how they’re recreating classic Southern flavors with a meat-free twist. 

The exterior of 409 S. Main St. in Downtown Memphis. The building was once used as the headquarters of Lucky Heart Cosmetics. (Sophia Surrett/The Daily Memphian)

Just a fable: Another plan to revive the 115-year-old building at 409 S. Main St., which is probably best-remembered as the former Jay Etkin Gallery, has fallen through. The latest project was supposed to house a fine-dining restaurant (called Fable), an event space, offices, a roof deck and a speakeasy. The full plan never came to fruition, and an investor on that project calls that a “real shame.” Now the building is heading to auction, and one South Main business owner has ideas what will and won’t work in the space.

THIS WEEK’S WEATHER

It feels like it’s been 84 years since we’ve seen the rain. But maybe — just maybe — we will today. Or maybe not.

Now go enjoy some breakfast tacos!

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