The Early Word: FedEx makes up with Amazon, but can we forgive Coach Cal?
Hello. It’s Thursday, May 15, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will be in Memphis today to begin their investigation into what may have caused Clayborn Temple to burn down in late April.
There’s a different kind of smoke in the air today though as the scent of barbecue wafts from Downtown to Midtown. SmokeSlam BBQ Festival kicks off in Tom Lee Park today, and Memphis in May’s World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is entering its second day at Liberty Park. Also, a new library is opening in Frayser today.
Your Amazon packages may soon be delivered by FedEx couriers. The Memphis-based shipping giant has kissed and made up with Amazon after publicly severing ties six years ago. The renewed ties mean FedEx and several other carriers, including the U.S. Post Office, will deliver some select Amazon orders, including those obnoxiously heavy bags of dog food that you dread hauling into your house once a month.
Coach Cal may be coming back. The Memphis Tigers and the Arkansas Razorbacks plan to schedule an exhibition game prior to the 2025-26 college basketball season. And according to this poll, Memphis fans — who have historically hated John Calipari — aren’t mad about it. And neither is Geoff Calkins. He says 16 years should be long enough for us to drop a grudge.
Plus, the ATF is looking into Clayborn Temple fire, the Malco Summer Drive-in is driving off and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is still smokin’.
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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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