Holiday baking season has arrived, Memphis. It’s Thursday, Dec. 4, and you might want to whip up some sugar cookies before tonight’s premiere of “Next Level Baker” on Fox 13. The new baking competition show from celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey features Memphis baker Chloe Sexton of Chloe’s Giant Cookies.

But first, pop out of the office a little early today for our Daily Memphian Commercial Real Estate forecast seminar at 3 p.m. Three local experts will discuss industrial, retail and office market trends, and Memphis Mayor Paul Young will talk economic development.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris (left) says someone other than County Sheriff Floyd Bonner should run the jail. (The Daily Memphian files)

Step aside, sheriff? Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris says the sheriff’s office should not be running the county jail. That’s after 12 inmates have died in county custody so far this year, with four in the last month. Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner blamed the deaths on long-standing health problems linked with poverty, but Harris thinks a new approach would help. The county recently took over the county’s juvenile detention center, and improvements were made there. But Harris isn’t ruling out the idea of a private prison company taking over the county jail.

Guitarist, songwriter and record producer Steve Cropper died on Wednesday, Dec. 3. (Mark Humphrey/AP file)

Rest in peace: Stax Records star Steve Cropper, one of the founding members of Booker T. and the MGs and a legendary guitarist in his own right, died Wednesday at age 84. A member of multiple music halls of fame, Cropper helped shape the Memphis sound through his guitar work, production and songwriting. In other news of local deaths, James Wallace, the Metal Museum’s founder, died Sunday at age 79. Friends remembered Wallace as a “unique individual” who was “a little bit cowboy, a little bit visionary.”

Nothing to see here: The Memphis Police Department just got the kind of audit every business dreams of. At the request of two Republican state lawmakers who doubted violent crime was actually as low as the MPD’s stats said it was, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation audited those stats — and found nothing wrong. Now, state Sen. Brent Taylor, one of the two who requested the audit, is saying he trusts the numbers.

Five contenders for Shelby County mayor in the May 2026 Democratic primary met in a forum Wednesday, Dec. 3, at LeMoyne-Owen College. (Bill Dries/The Daily Memphian)

Meet your mayoral candidates: Hopefuls for Shelby County mayor shared their plans — and threw some shade — Wednesday night in a county mayoral forum on the LeMoyne-Owen College campus. Former Memphis City Council member and candidate Harold Collins said Shelby County Assessor Melvin Burgess’ office wasn’t communicating well with citizens. Then Burgess, also a candidate for mayor, blamed Collins for old Whitehaven potholes. Meanwhile, candidates Heidi Kuhn (currently criminal court clerk) and City Council member JB Smiley took jabs at current County Mayor Lee Harris.

Trooper-involved shooting: A Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper shot his gun early Wednesday morning as he approached a wrecked car, following a car chase. The car wrecked after fleeing a traffic stop, and when the trooper got close to the car, he “perceived a threat.” Now the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is looking into what happened. 

MEET MEMPHIS

College students Jace Yerty (right) and Beau Elkington (left) launched Limestone Land Investments. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Native Memphians Jace Yerty and Beau Elkington want to flip a house in every state, and they’ve started right here at home. The two college students — Yerty at California Polytechnic State University and Elkington at Middle Tennessee State University — bought their first house on Northaven Drive earlier this year for $69,000. After renovating and selling at a profit, the two moved on to Cooper-Young to flip a circa-1894 house on Blythe Street. Next up: Oxford, Mississippi.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Memphis Tigers guard Quante Berry led Memphis with 17 points against the New Orleans Privateers at FedExForum on Dec. 3. (Wes Hale/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Tigers find their flow: The Memphis Tigers sailed to a 86-70 victory over the New Orleans Privateers on Wednesday night, which marks the first time this season the team has really jumped on a weaker opponent from the start. When New Orleans landed a first-half 3-pointer to tie the game, the Tigers answered with three 3-pointers and they never missed more than three shots in a row. The Tigers were short a few players though, including forward Aaron Bradshaw — and here’s why. In other Tigers news, the football team that just lost their coach may also lose one of their quarterbacks. Arrington Maiden announced plans Wednesday to enter the transfer portal. But some new players were gained for the 2026 class on signing day.

Collierville residents want out: Two households on Quinn Road in Collierville are asking for their property to be deannexed. Mitchell and Cheryl Hart and Brian and Shelly Willmarth own a total of 55 acres of property that was annexed into the suburb about six years ago. They’ve been waiting on Collierville water service ever since, and it sounds like it’s not coming any time soon.

Mr. Rusty’s Real Taste of Chicago served Chicago-style fare. (Ellen Chamberlain/The Daily Memphian)

Chicago leaves Memphis: Mr. Rusty’s Real Taste of Chicago in Whitehaven has left the building. The restaurant served authentic Chicago cuisine, including the Windy City’s famous sport pepper-sporting hot dogs, for 25 years until owner Marlon Becton (aka Mr. Rusty) closed up shop the day before Thanksgiving. But no worries, Chicago dog lovers: You can still get Mr. Rusty’s food down in Horn Lake. (For a true taste of Chicago, order your dog to go, and enjoy it at home with a shot of Malort. IYKYK.)

Soul & Spirits is owned by Ryan Allen and Blair Perry. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Swing & Spirits: Playgrounds for kids and dogs are coming to Soul & Spirits Brewery in Uptown. On Wednesday, a Downtown Memphis Commission board approved the brewery’s plans for a new dog park, a play area for human kids and a much-needed shaded patio. The board approved some exterior updates for Catherine & Mary’s, which is currently undergoing a cozy makeover. Also approved: Renovation plans for the vacant warehouse next to the Green Beetle and plans for the old Peanut Shoppe building.

The United States Postal Service has leased an industrial building at 4155 E. Holmes Road. (Ziggy Mack/The Daily Memphian file)

In the mail: The United States Postal Service is planning a new 920,000-square-foot mail sorting facility in Southeast Memphis. USPS has signed the lease on a space on East Holmes Road, which has been in the works for more than a year. 

DeSoto County vape shop owners are overhauling their inventory and clearing shelves over a new Mississippi law. (Steve Helber/AP file)

Up in smoke: If you’re shopping for vape juice in Mississippi, you might have to say goodbye to flavors like Watermelon Ice or Blueberry Burst. A new law bans vape shop owners from selling disposable vapes and many flavored liquids not listed in a new strict state directory for cigarettes and vape products. One store owner said the new ban hit his business hard, but he has hope it’ll benefit mom-and-pop shops, who are competing with gas stations and big tobacco outlets, in the long run.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT 

OK, ESPN is just hatin’ now, ain’t it?

Shake them haters off, and have a great day!

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