Hola, Memphis! It’s Cinco de Mayo, Taco Tuesday and perhaps, most importantly, Election Day in Shelby County. So, go vote before you start eating your tacos and drinking your margaritas.

Today is also the start of a Tennessee General Assembly special session on redistricting that could make Memphis more red. And depending on how you feel about that, you might want more than one margarita.

THE NEED TO KNOW

FedEx is in the process of spinning off its freight company as it prepares to go public on June 1. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

FedEx’s Amazon problem: Stock for Memphis-based shipping giant FedEx plummeted nearly 10% on Monday, after Amazon announced it was expanding its logistics network. The new Amazon Supply Chain Services allows companies to manage freight and parcel shipping, both on and off the Amazon store, putting the multinational tech and retail company in direct competition with FedEx. 

The Shelby County Commission, seen here in 2025, voted to fund a lawsuit by the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board against a state takeover. (Brad Vest/The Daily Memphian file)

County to back MSCS suit: Shelby County will use reserve funds to pay for Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ legal fight against a state takeover of the district. MSCS can’t pay for the suit on its own, due to a new law that bars school systems from using public funds to take the state to court. The jury may still be out on whether this still counts as using public funds though. In other news, the commission voted to fast-track filling the vacant state House District 93 seat that was held by Rep. G.A. Hardaway, who died last week. If you’re interested, your deadline is today.

“Is this a Memphian that will fill this role?” Greater Memphis Chamber interim leader Duncan Williams said. “I don’t know the answer to that question, but it has to be someone who understands our community.” (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Who will lead the Chamber? The Greater Memphis Chamber is about to start looking for a new leader, after its former President and CEO Ted Townsend stepped down last week. Chamber Chairman Duncan Williams, who is serving as its interim leader, outlined that process and said there’s a goal to find a new leader by the end of the year. As for Townsend, Williams would only say the resignation was a “decision for his own personal life.” But Williams did spend some time defending the Chamber’s backing of Elon Musk’s controversial xAI.

Rep. Torrey Harris (D-Memphis) is being investigated over his 2024 fundraising campaign for Kamala Harris. (Martin B. Cherry/Nashville Banner)

Following the money: Memphis Democratic state Rep. Torrey Harris is under investigation for running a potentially fraudulent fundraising campaign for former vice president Kamala Harris. Rep. Harris was the treasurer for the Win Tennessee political-action committee, which claimed to be raising money to support Kamala Harris’ bid for U.S. president in 2024. The state rep claimed the money would be used for trips to battleground states, ads and organizing calls, but delinquent financial reports showed only a portion of the funds raised were used. 

MEET MEMPHIS

Rachel Heck reacted during the final day of the Curtis Cup amateur golf match against Great Britain and Ireland, Sunday, June 12, 2022, in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. (Chris Szagola/AP file)

Memphis-born golfer Rachel Heck could have made pro golf her life. The former St. Agnes Academy student tied for 33rd as a teen at the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open and won an NCAA individual championship as a freshman in 2021, among other accolades. But an illness early in her career taught her there was more to life than golf. So, Heck passed on pursuing the LPGA Tour, joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve, and now she’s a professional artist.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Pitmaster Al Frugoni will lead the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest’s new live-fire competition. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

This is gonna be lit: The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is playing with fire. For the first time, the barbecue contest — scheduled for May 13-16 — will include a live-fire category, featuring barbecue influencer Al Frugoni. Live-fire cooking, which involves cooking food over an open flame, has grown increasingly trendy among pitmasters. The contest will start with 20 teams from seven countries.

The Ghost River taproom on Beale Street had an outdoor beer garden. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Ghosting Beale: Pour one out for Ghost River Brewing Co.’s Beale Street taproom. The brewery announced Monday that it will close its entertainment district taproom to focus energy on its expanded South Main taproom. The original South Main location opened a second taproom with a covered patio, full bar and a full-service kitchen a couple years ago. 

BYU forward AJ Dybantsa may be the No. 1 NBA Draft prospect. (Tony Gutierrez/AP file)

Waiting in the wings: The Memphis Grizzlies have three draft picks this summer, and they’re going to need another wing. Sure, they’ve got Cedric Coward, Jaylen Wells and GG Jackson II, but more is better when it comes to wings. And Jackson is entering the final season of his Grizzlies contract. So, who should they pick? The Daily Memphian’s Chris Herrington takes a look at some prospects.

Shoo-ins: Over in Arlington, three school-board candidates aren’t sweating over Election Day. Scott Benjamin, Jonathan Dunn and Dale Viox are all incumbents running unopposed for the Arlington Community Schools board. Benjamin says he’ll at least swing by the polls for a bit, but he “won’t spend a lot of time out there.” 

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Did y’all see T-Pain dancing at Riverbeat Music Festival? Not only did he lead the crowd in a singalong of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” he also showed us all that he can really cut a rug. That man’s got some moves!

Go vote, and enjoy your margs and tacos!

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