The Early Word: Sweat may be in hot seat; Barksdale brekky is almost back
Ready to rise and grind, Memphis? It’s Monday, Feb. 10, and if you stayed up past bedtime (as I did) to watch the both the Philadelphia Eagles and Kendrick Lamar declare “game over” during the Super Bowl, you may be yawning all day. But we’ve got this!
The Shelby County Commission will consider a forensic financial audit of Memphis-Shelby County Schools today. The move follows the commission’s no-confidence vote in the MSCS board related to the ouster of now-former Superintendent Marie Feagins.
Over in Collierville, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen will consider a zoning update for art galleries and studios. And the Germantown BMA will vote on the final plan for a new retail center in the Winchester Road corridor. Looking ahead? Check out This Week in Memphis.
A new ethics complaint filed against Memphis Fire Department Chief Gina Sweat alleges she’s “engaged in discriminatory practices regarding promotions and discipline.” The complaint, filed by a nonprofit group on behalf of several firefighters, alleges Sweat has “shown favoritism and created a culture of fear,” and it makes reference to a series of separate complaints by Black firefighters that claim the department’s promotional testing process favors younger, white employees with less experience.
Fans of Midtown diner Bob’s Barksdale can get their biscuits-and-gravy fix again soon. Bob’s burned down last June, and owner Beth Henry didn’t plan to reopen. But Ryan Glosson and Bryant and Heather Bain (of Bain’s Barbecue) stepped in to save the beloved Bob’s. They’ve been rebuilding the restaurant and expect to reopen next month. When that happens, diners will find that not much has changed. When that happens, diners will find that not much has changed, including the retro wood-paneled walls. But you might taste a difference in the biscuits.
Plus, the Memphis Animal Services interim head pushes for a new shelter, a DeSoto man sues over “false incarceration” and the Tigers get their revenge.
Topics
The Early Word Subscriber OnlyAre you enjoying your subscription?
Your subscription gives you unlimited access to all of The Daily Memphian’s news, written by nearly 40 local journalists and more than 20 regular freelancers. We work around the clock to cover the issues that impact your life and our community.
You can help us reach more Memphians.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, we provide free news access at K-12 schools, public libraries and many community organizations. We also reach tens of thousands of people through our podcasts, and through our radio and television partnerships – all completely free to everyone who cares about Memphis.
When you subscribe, you get full access to our news. But when you donate, you help us reach all Memphians.
Pay it forward. Make a fully tax-deductible donation to The Daily Memphian today.
Thank you for reading the local news. Thank you for investing in our community.
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.
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.