Happy Friday! It’s June 12, and starting today, you can see the Mississippi River in a whole new way. The Memphis Flyway, a 218-foot-long observation deck that goes out over the water, opens today in Tom Lee Park.

Speaking of the muddy Mississippi, there’s a Wiseacre beer river cruise tonight — with vinyl records spun by Zac Ives of Goner Records. On Saturday, Goner and several other dealers will be selling records at Soul & Spirits. And later that night, Southern-rock-meets-country band Alabama will kick off the Live at the Garden series. Expect mountain music like grandma and grandpa used to play.

For more weekend fun, let The To-Do List be your guide.

THE NEED TO KNOW

The “E” in Elvis Presley is missing at the Memphis Visitor Center on Elvis Presley Boulevard. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Long road to hoe: Yes, I know the phrase is actually “row.” But in the case of Elvis Presley Boulevard, it’s “road.” The roadwork around Graceland broke ground in 2012; last week, officials said it might not be done until 2031. And in the meantime, the street has been a hot mess. Our own Geoff Calkins and state Sen. Raumesh Akbari took a little trip down Elvis Presley this week, and Calkins said it makes “Poplar Avenue look like the Champs-Élysées.” The Tennessee Department of Transportation said this week that it’s really going to try and speed things up, which should make drivers happy — but maybe not the tire shops.

The Memphis Redbirds reacted on Thursday to the Memphis City Council’s pushback on paying $5 million for updates to AutoZone Park. (Wes Hale/The Daily Memphian file)

Redbirds strike back: The Memphis Redbirds are “disappointed” in the Memphis City Council. And they had a lot to say Thursday about why. Earlier this week, several council members balked at a request for $5 million to make safety updates and MLB-required changes at AutoZone Park. Council budget chair Chase Carlisle even went so far as to question if the Redbirds were the best tenant for ballpark. And he claimed people are more interested in playing pickleball than watching baseball. (Um, OK, 2021.) The Redbirds responded by saying “the cost of inaction” is measured in “a declining vision for Downtown Memphis.” Carlisle snapped back with his own response but admitted he does want the Redbirds to stay Downtown. 

Last August, a jury acquitted Hernandez Govan on charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in connection with the 2021 killing of Young Dolph. (George Walker IV/AP file)

Hernandez Govan back in jail: The man accused — and then acquitted — for masterminding rapper Young Dolph’s murder was arrested again Thursday on unrelated charges. Govan was charged with harassment and stalking after he allegedly told a woman he’d shoot up her home and post explicit content of her on social media.

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris featured the call for the new Treadwell school prominently in his May 13 budget presentation. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

New school politics: Highland Heights may not be getting a new school after all. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris included a line item for a new $12 million Treadwell K-8 school in his budget. But on Wednesday, Shelby County commissioners questioned whether to build the school or give the money to Memphis-Shelby County Schools for maintenance at several existing schools. The money for a new Treadwell school comes from a pot that was originally intended for a new Cordova high, but that project was stalled.

An aerial view from January shows Elon Musk’s AI power plant at 2875 Stanton Road in Southaven. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Hitting the gas: SpaceX is being sued over its natural-gas turbines in Southaven, so what does the AI company do? It doubles down. SpaceX (then called xAI) was granted a permit in March to build 41 permanent turbines to power its Colossus II data center. Then, the NAACP sued SpaceX in April over the unpermitted, temporary turbines it had been running in the meantime. A hearing has been scheduled in that case, and new court documents claim SpaceX has since added even more turbines. 

QUOTED

The Marshall Trade Center will be the first speculative, industrial building of this size in the area in years. (Courtesy Hillwood Investment Properties)

“Reading the market tea leaves, we feel like the time’s now.”

— Andy Cates, Colliers International, principal chair
The time is now to build a massive industrial complex with no buyer or tenant even lined up, apparently. Colliers is handling the leasing of the coming-soon, 185-acre Marshall Trade Center in Byhalia, Mississippi. It’s the first speculative building of its size constructed here in three years, and it will be large enough to hold 50 Boeing 737 planes.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Pretty Lights performed during the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival on Thursday, June 13, 2024. (Amy Harris/Invision/AP file)

Widespread weekend: Widespread Panic Festival — I mean, Mempho Music Fest — dropped its lineup Thursday. And you guessed it: Widespread is playing two nights — again. The jam band is headlining Saturday and Sunday, just like they did last year and in 2021 and 2022. That’s good news for Widespread fans, who apparently never get tired of 15-minute guitar solos. But there’s good news for EDM fans, too: Pretty Lights (one of my favorite DJs) is headlining on Friday. The lineup also features Gary Clark Jr., De La Soul, Ziggy Marley and Fishbone. See the full lineup here.

Animal-control officer Jenn Delph held a surrendered puppy at Memphis Animal Services on Feb. 6, 2025. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

How to hire an animal-control officer: Last week, Memphis Animal Services officer Isaiah Bethany was charged with animal cruelty after police found 17 abused or severely neglected dogs at his home. And that begs the question: How did he get hired in the first place? The City of Memphis wouldn’t talk to us about MAS hiring practices, but several suburban animal-shelter directors and human-resources personnel talked about what qualities they look for in an officer — and how bad hires can “slip through the cracks.”

Zach Edey (left) and Cedric Coward are considered “building blocks,” Chris Herrington says, and are unlikely to be traded by the Memphis Grizzlies this season. (The Daily Memphian file)

Who will be voted off the island? With 14 of 15 roster spots currently filled, the Memphis Grizzlies don’t have much roster flexibility. And with three picks coming from this month’s NBA Draft, someone is gonna need to go. But whom? The Daily Memphian’s Chris Herrington tells us who has immunity (spolier: Zach Edey is probably fine) and who could be on the chopping block. (Please don’t take Santi.)

City Silo’s new SEC burrito has chicken sausage. (Sophia Surrett/The Daily Memphian)

Has the meats: Vegan hotspot City Silo Table + Pantry has added more meat to its menu. Actually, City Silo has long offered chicken and eggs, but its new breakfast burrito has sausage. Well, make that chicken sausage. The SEC burrito — which sounds like it belongs on your football party snack menu — comes with chicken sausage, egg, cheese and roasted pineapple salsa. And it’s a deal that’ll run you less than $15.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Mempho Music Festival is really bringing two very different crowds together by booking Pretty Lights and Widespread Panic as headliners. (IYKYK)

Drink some beer and enjoy some records this weekend! Maybe catch up on your Pretty Lights. 

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