The Early Word: Some guilty verdicts in Nichols trial, and port strike is over
Rock on, Memphis. It’s Friday, Oct. 4, and Mempho Music Festival kicks off three days of music tonight at Radians Amphitheater. You’ll find lots of Americana and EDM, a little bit of hip-hop, and some 1990s nostalgia on the line-up. If punk, rock and thrash metal is more your thing, the Hi-Tone also has three days of music for its 25th anniversary weekend.
Spend your Saturday in Crosstown with the V&E Artwalk, where you can buy goods from local makers, and then lean into spooky season at Crosstown Theater, where “The Addams Family” and “Nightmare on Elm Street” will screen in a Frightober double feature.
On Sunday, at the Memphis Grizzlies’ annual open practice, you can get a glimpse at most of the team on the court together for the first time since injury-palooza started last season. For other weekend plans, consult our To-Do List.
Former Memphis police officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith were found guilty Thursday on some of the federal charges they faced in the 2023 death of Tyre Nichols. After a nearly four-week trial, the jury determined all three were guilty of obstruction of justice for witness tampering, and Haley was found guilty of deprivation of rights resulting in bodily injury. They’ll be sentenced in January, and they’re facing a state trial at some point. “This was a long process and justice for Tyre,” said Rodney Wells, Nichols’ stepfather.
About 45,000 striking dockworkers at East and Gulf coast ports are resuming work after their union reached a wage deal on Thursday with the U.S. Maritime Alliance. It’s a temporary end to the strike, which could resume in January if contract negotiations don’t pan out.
Plus, Zinnie’s reopens (and smells better), JJJ may be OK and we tell you why you don’t need to hoard toilet paper.
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Bianca Phillips
Bianca Phillips is a Northeast Arkansas native and longtime Memphian who’s worked in local journalism and PR for more than 20 years. In her days as a reporter, she covered everything from local government and crime to LGBTQ issues and the arts. She’s the author of “Cookin Crunk: Eatin’ Vegan in the Dirty South,” a cookbook of vegan Southern recipes.
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