Raise a glass, Memphis. It’s Wednesday, Feb. 18 — National Drink Wine Day — and, well, don’t mind if I do. But probably best to wait until after work, right?

It’s also the first day of Lent, and if that’s something you observe, here’s our round-up of Fish Fridays.

THE NEED TO KNOW

“Please protect the air and water I have to breathe and drink,” said the daughter of Natalie Culbreath (left) at the public hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 17. (Wes Hale/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Resistance against xAI: Hundreds packed a Southaven public meeting Tuesday to oppose an xAI air-emissions permit. There are 41 turbines running at an old power plant in Southaven to power a data center just across the state line in Memphis. And they’re currently operating without a permit. Residents at the meeting raised concerns over air quality, noise and overall health impact. “Maybe it’s better to have less tax dollars and less pollution potential,” one resident said. Meanwhile in Memphis, investment strategist David Waddell gushed over AI Tuesday at the Greater Memphis Chamber’s “State of the Economy” address, where he said robots unlock “an unlimited amount of prosperity, so as long as they don’t kill us.” (Um ...)

The Station General Manager Nick Scott checked out a customer at The Station in East Memphis. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

20K bottles of booze on the wall: The Station is finally selling booze — conveniently just in time for National Drink Wine Day. A coalition of three liquor stores tried to prevent The Station from selling alcohol over its proximity to a church and school, but in the end, owner Ethan Edwards got his liquor license from the state at the end of January. Reporter Jody Callahan stopped in Tuesday and saw enough shelves for a “full grocery store” stocked with more than 20,000 different types of liquor, wine and beer. 

Schools tracking immigration status? A bill that would require schools to track students’ immigration status moved ahead in the state House Tuesday. Right now, such tracking is illegal since it violates Plyler v. Doe, a 1982 Supreme Court decision that says it’s unconstitutional to deny children a public education based on their immigration status. But the bill is designed as a “trigger law” that would take effect if the Plyler precedent is overturned. 

QUOTED

In this Feb. 14, 2018, photo, Jesse Jackson stood on the motel balcony where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis in 1968. (Mark Humphrey/AP file)

“He challenged me to view leadership not as a title, but as a lifelong commitment to ensuring no community is left behind.”

— Shelby County Commissioner Mickell Lowery
Lowery was talking about Civil Rights icon Jesse Jackson, who died Tuesday at age 84. Jackson was among Martin Luther King Jr.’s inner circle and came to Memphis on behalf of striking sanitation workers. He continued to be a presence in the Mid-South throughout his life. On Tuesday, local politicians shared their remembrances. 

THE NICE TO KNOW

Washington Wizards' Michael Jordan kept his eye on the ball as Memphis Grizzlies' Shane Battier slipped past him on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2002, at The Pyramid arena. (Nikki Boertman/AP file)

Grizzlies OG: We’ve made it to the top 10 in our weekly look at the Top 25 Memphis Grizzlies players, and today’s pick — No. 9 — was officially the first Memphis Grizzly ever. Yes, that’s Shane Battier, who as the sixth pick in the 2001 draft, became the first player for the team as it made the move from Vancouver to Memphis. Battier never saw a playoff win in his initial five-season run, but after he was traded back in 2011, he contributed to seven playoff wins in 27 days.

Actor Robert Duvall died this week at age 95. (AP file)

Accidental memorial: As you’ve surely heard, actor Robert Duvall died this week at age 95. At the time, one of his best-known works, “The Godfather,” was already scheduled to play in the Pink Palace’s new “Watch What You Eat” film screening series. So now that event — scheduled for Thursday — takes on even deeper meaning. Read more on Duvall in Memphis Movies This Week, plus a look at a major documentary by a Memphis filmmaker and a chance to see a bit of Memphis in a new Tyler Perry film.

“The Sound of Music” is at the Orpheum Theatre through Feb. 22. (Jeremy Daniel/The Orpheum)

Classics on stage: Memphis is alive with the sound of musicals. Not only is the 1959 Broadway classic, “The Sound of Music,” on the Orpheum stage this week, but several other very well-known shows are on local stages this month. Think Shakespeare tragedy, the music of ABBA and more. Read more in our February theater rundown.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Memphis Grizzlies rookie Cedric Coward had to sit out for the NBA Rising Stars Game due to knee soreness. He was supposed to play alongside teammates Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer, but at least he had a good sense of humor about it with this caption. 

Have an awesome day!

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