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Hanging in there, Memphis? It’s Monday, Jan. 26, and the streets are slick, so be careful if you’re driving today. Though much of the ice missed us, the bitter cold means the ice we got is staying for a while. Schools, parks and a bunch of other stuff will be closed today.
The Memphis Grizzlies’ planned Sunday game at FedExForum was postponed due to weather, but they’re playing in Houston tonight. If you were hoping to see Ja Morant play though, you’re out of luck.
For more on what’s ahead (or what’s not ahead; who even knows anymore?), check out This Week in Memphis. Just know it’s possible some events in there may be canceled or postponed.
THE NEED TO KNOW
 Cars traveled on I-240 during winter conditions on Saturday, Jan. 24. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
Flake news: Memphis prepared for the worst weather and got, well, something. The city was blanketed with snow late Friday night and into Saturday, and there wasn’t as much freezing rain as expected. So, chances are, your power will stay on, and you can enjoy your milk sandwiches with your lights on. (Whew.) That said, it’s going to be frigid for days, and driving will be dicey. Check out our winter storm blog for updates on the conditions. The bitter cold is is especially dangerous for the city’s homeless population. When we first heard about the coming snow early last week, our phone apps were predicting something crazy, like 24 inches. We obviously didn’t come near that, but Memphis once did — back in 1892. Jody Callahan has that history lesson.
 Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem spoke during a news conference at Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters on Saturday, Jan. 24, in Washington. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)
Noem brings up Memphis: On Saturday morning, a U.S. Border Patrol agent fatally shot 37-year-old Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. The Trump administration claimed he had a gun, but none of the footage from bystander videos shows a weapon. In an attempt to defend the killing, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem contrasted Memphis Mayor Paul Young with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who has actively fought ICE’s presence in his city. Young has previously said he “didn’t have a choice” as to whether federal agents were deployed to Memphis.
 Tennessee lawmakers were inspired by Texas education leaders, who removed Houston’s superintendent and overhauled class curriculum. (Larry McCormack/Chalkbeat)
Texas-style takeover? State lawmakers pushing for a takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools point to a similar overhaul of Houston’s public schools as a model for what they’d like to see here. In 2023, Texas’ top education leader replaced the Houston Independent School District’s superintendent and board members, and on paper, the results look good: Over the past two years, that district’s reading and math scores have improved. But the change has been controversial, and opponents — including students — say things feel militaristic. Even the libraries were turned into disciplinary centers.
QUOTED
 Westy’s owner Jake Schorr wants to sell his Pinch District restaurant. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)
“We did good work here [at Westy’s]. That matters.”
— Jake Schorr, owner of Westy’s
Schorr recently announced plans to sell his Pinch District restaurant. He’s hoping someone will buy it and keep his staff employed. If that doesn’t work out, he’ll shutter the business, marking the end of Schorr’s Downtown nightlife legacy that dates back to the late 1970s.
THE NICE TO KNOW
 Vuthy “Tee” Srey prepared a sushi roll at Maru Handroll Bar in East Memphis. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
This is how they roll: There’s a new sushi spot in town, but the focus isn’t on traditional, sliced rolls. Maru Handroll Bar, which is now open in East Memphis, offers cone-shaped handrolls. Much of the ingredients are sourced from Japan, but you’ll also find Arkansas-made sake on the menu. As for the concept, co-owner Jackie Lee said it came to her husband in a dream.
 Courtesy Justin Fox Burks
Soup season: If there’s one good thing about winter, it’s soup. And given our current situation, you probably need a cozy bowl of soup more than ever. If you didn’t stock up on groceries before the storm, it’s likely you’ve still got most of the ingredients for Jennifer Chandler’s creamy tomato soup, which relies on canned tomatoes. (Hint: You can always sub regular milk or plant milk for the heavy cream in a pinch.) Now, here’s a fancier recipe that you might want to wait and make after the ice melts: Erling Jensen’s snapper en papillote (aka fish cooked in paper).
 Memphis guard Quante Berry during Saturday’s game against Wichita State. (Courtesy Memphis Athletics)
When it snows, it pours: Memphis may have won out on the weather with far less ice than forecasted, but our basketball teams still lost all weekend. The Memphis Tigers collapsed Saturday in their 74-59 loss to Wichita State in a game marked by turnovers and fouls. Coach Penny Hardaway thinks the season can still be saved, but columnist John Martin isn’t so sure. The Grizzlies didn’t fare much better with its 133-127 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans Friday. The Grizz let a 13-point lead slip away, and turnovers were a big part of their problem, too.
 “I never expected to be in the portal,” said former Michigan State and new Memphis Tigers defensive lineman Stone Chaney. (Courtesy Memphis Athletics)
Peek inside the portal: Like it or not, the NCAA transfer portal is a major part of college sports these days. And unless you live and breathe sports, it’s a bit of a mystery. I like to envision the portal as a black hole (with lots of swirly, psychedelic colors on the inside) that sucks players in and spits them out at a new school. But it’s not nearly that cool. New Memphis Tigers defensive lineman Stone Chaney recently navigated the portal, so he pulled back the curtain on the process and explained why having an agent is crucial.
THIS WEEK’S WEATHER
It’s gonna be colder than a brass toilet seat on the shady side of an iceberg, y’all.
Break out those long johns, and be safe on the streets if you’re getting out.
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