Good morning, Memphis! It’s Tuesday, May 12, and the Memphis City Council will consider a lease for new senior housing at the old Melrose High building and multifamily townhomes next door. 

And Memphis Tigers coaches will kick off a series of fan meet-and-greets tonight with a Tigers on Tour stop in Lakeland.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Sen. Charlane Oliver, D-Nashville, held a banner and protested atop her desk on the Senate floor on May 7, in Nashville. (George Walker IV/AP)

Another redistricting lawsuit: The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Tennessee are joining the fight to try and halt the state’s new redistricting plan before the August election. The organizations filed a federal suit Monday in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee over the new map approved by lawmakers last week that splits Memphis into three districts and dilutes the Democratic vote. The suit follows two others filed over the map last week. Meanwhile, the Memphis City Council will consider a resolution today that says it’s “vehemently” opposed to the new U.S. House district lines.

Germantown’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously approved a new sanitation contract with Waste Pro on Monday. (Beth Sullivan/The Daily Memphian file)

Into the trash: Germantown residents will soon be throwing more money away — literally. The Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved a new sanitation contract with Waste Pro Monday that comes with a fee increase. Prices will rise significantly by the summer, and some residents are pretty mad about it. “I don’t know whose pockets y’all are picking, but I’m tired of you picking mine,” said resident Dare Estok.

And down the drain: In a similar vein, Lakeland residents may soon be flushing more money down the toilet. Sewer rates in the suburb are set to go up dramatically over the next three-plus years. The Lakeland Board of Commissioners approved the first reading for a 30% increase that’s intended to help the suburb avoid a deficit in the city’s utility’s fund. If you live in Lakeland, here’s what that could mean for your utility bill.

MEET MEMPHIS

Caroline Flynn will replace Albert Throckmorton as head of St. Mary’s Episcopal School. (Submitted)

Caroline Flynn is ready to be a Turkey. Flynn was chosen as the new head of St. Mary’s Episcopal, a private, all-girls school with a Turkey mascot. She’ll succeed the current school leader Albert Throckmorton, who is retiring in June 2027. Flynn is currently the principal of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga, and she’s got a private-school background in both her personal and professional life. As for the school’s nontraditional mascot, Flynn said she appreciates how it shows girls that they “should be unapologetically” themselves.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Bob and Tori Keskey own Ghost River Brewing on South Main Street. (Sophia Surrett/The Daily Memphian)

Why they’re ghosting: Ghost River Brewing Co. blamed declining business on Beale Street for its recent taproom closure. The brewing company opened its second location on Beale back in 2021, a few years before the expansion of its Main Street taproom. Business on Beale was good at first, but big, nearby developments fell through and customers eventually dropped off. Now, the owners are turning their attention to the original and somewhat newly expanded Main Street taproom, which they’ve got even bigger plans for.

Memphis football coach Charles Huff (right) used Michael Jackson’s career to illustrate what he’s trying to do with the Tigers. (Courtesy Epic Records and Greg Campbell/The Daily Memphian file) 

Be like Mike: Memphis Tigers football coach Charles Huff saw “Michael,” the new Michael Jackson biopic, for his birthday, and now he can’t stop making comparisons between Jackson and his football team. On 92.9 FM ESPN’s J&J Show radio show, Huff pointed out how Jackson was great even before he made “Off the Wall,” his 1979 breakthrough album. And he wants his Tigers team to be great like that well before they get to the Dec. 5 championship game.

Dorcas Young Griffin

New at MIFA: A familiar face is taking over the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association. Dorcas Young Griffin was tapped as the nonprofit’s new president and CEO. And if you recognize her features, it’s likely because she’s the sister of our Memphis mayor. Griffin replaces Sally Jones Heinz, who is leaving this summer after more than 15 years at MIFA. She currently works as the deputy chief administrative officer for Shelby County government. And she says she’s got a personal connection to MIFA, which has roots in the wake of Martin Luther King’s death.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Wow, this escalated quickly. Back in December, DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton launched new billboards that warned “Memphis criminals” to “turn back now” because “prison awaits you in DeSoto County.” His new billboards take things a big step further. Sheesh. 

Be careful out there!

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