How’s it going, Memphis metro? It’s Tuesday, Dec. 9, and Lakeland leaders will meet tonight over a proposed expansion of the TIF (tax-increment financing) district that was originally approved to help the Lake District development, which went into bankruptcy in 2023. 

THE NEED TO KNOW

Colored stars labeled with both English and Spanish words lined a wall in an English as a Second Language classroom. (Noah McLane/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Hope the kids have Duolingo: If Tennessee’s board of education chair gets his way, the state’s world-language requirement for high-school students would be cut in half. Currently, students are required two language credits, but board chair Bob Eby says he wants to free up space so students can take a fourth elective. He also cited AI changing the job market as a reason to cut back on required language classes. But opponents of the change, including some notable Memphians, say it doesn’t make much sense in our global economy. 

Dwayne Spencer, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis, said the $3 million should pay for up to 120 home improvement projects. (Brandon Dill/The Daily Memphian file)

Bring the house up: Memphis senior citizens may be eligible for federal funds to fix up their aging homes. On Monday, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development presented $3 million in funding for long-standing repair needs and to make fixes for those who need special, accessible features in their homes. The grants will be awarded by Local Initiatives Support Corp. and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis on a first-come, first-served basis.

Germantown leaders have discussed the city’s debt limit several times, as Germantown Municipal School District seeks to make Houston comparable to other suburban districts’ high schools. (The Daily Memphian file)

Houston, we have a problem: Those pushing for a renovation of Germantown’s Houston High School, which hasn’t been updated since the late 1990s, will have to wait a little longer. On Monday, the Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen delayed a possible change in its debt policy, which would raise the city’s debt limit to $100 million, to help pay for Houston High’s $100 million master plan.

MEET MEMPHIS

The Tennessee Department of Education’s Principal of the Year Deanna Jones, right, stood with awards next to Collierville Superintendent Russell Dyer. (Submitted)

Deanna Jones, the principal of Bailey Station Elementary School, is the best in the state — at least, according to the Tennessee Department of Education. Jones received the state’s Principal of the Year award last Friday night, and she says she’s “still on cloud nine, and I don’t know when I’ll come down.” Jones has worked in education for more than 30 years, having taught in Germantown before taking a job as assistant principal at Collierville’s Sycamore Elementary in 2004. She was named principal of Bailey Station in 2020 and said the pandemic “taught me so much.” 

THE NICE TO KNOW

Cam Spencer, Jaylen Wells and Zach Edey showed their jerseys during the Memphis Grizzlies’ 2024 NBA draft picks press conference. (Benjamin Naylor/The Daily Memphian file)

The new Grizz core? For the last few seasons, Ja, Jaren and Des (RIP) were the Memphis Grizzlies’ stars. But this season, a new class of core players is emerging: Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer. Since Edey got back in the game post-injury, the team has turned their bad luck around, and it seems to be mostly due to these three second-year players, all signed in the 2024 rookie season. Some NBA analysts consider the 2024 draft the worst ever, but our own Chris Herrington explains why it was so good for the Grizzlies.

Former Southern Mississippi football coach Charles Huff is now the 26th Memphis Tigers football coach in program history. (Rogelio V. Solis/AP file)

Huff brings over his staff: New Memphis Tigers football coach Charles Huff, who was made official on Monday, is bringing some former staffers from Southern Miss with him. Southern Miss defensive coordinator Jason Semore and defensive backs coach Dominique Bowman are joining the Tigers coaching staff, and the latter has deep Memphis roots.

The art from finalists in the Latte Artist Showdown. The winner was Olivia Blair, right. (Greg Campbell/Special to The Daily Memphian)

The best latte artist in Memphis Sunday … wasn’t from Memphis. Grind City Coffee’s Latte Art Throwdown crowned Olivia Blair of Little Rock’s Fidel & Co. roasters as its latte art champ on Sunday. The contest pitted 28 brave baristas in 14 head-to-head latte art throwdowns, and the top three winners were all from other cities.

The Liquor Store’s Winter’s Ruin is a whiskey-based cocktail with chai simple syrup, lemon and egg white. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Season’s eatings: Tis the season for feasting. You may still be digesting that massive Thanksgiving meal, but it’s almost time for another big ole family dinner. Don’t let Christmas be a boring repeat of the turkey and sides though. If you’re looking for fresh inspo to mix things up this year, our Holidays in Memphis recipe guide is the place to go. Inside, you’ll find recipes for The Lobbyist’s famous Corn Mash, a hot honey goat cheese dip from Feast & Graze and Char’s not-so secret-ingredient pecan pie. 

THIS WEEK’S WEATHER

Our friends at MemphisWeather.net posted their five-day forecast after our deadline Monday, so here you go. It’ll be cold, but at least it shouldn’t rain on our weekend holiday parades.

Have a great Tuesday!

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