Holocaust survivor’s son, liberator’s grandson to share Day of Remembrance
Holocaust commemoration stirs memories of survivor Elie Wiesel and “Rabbi of Buchenwald.”
David Waters
Investigative reporter
David Waters is Distinguished Journalist in Residence and assistant director of the Institute for Public Service Reporting at the University of Memphis.
There are 125 articles by David Waters :
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May 2022
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Metro
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July 2022
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Education Changes in specs exclude key HVAC vendors from MSCS contracts
The district revised HVAC guidelines and its list of preferred vendors before bidding federally funded jobs.
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Education ‘Fast and furious:’ In rush to spend, fewer bidders likely cost MSCS millions
In trying to quickly spend $172 million, the school district made decisions that limited competition for contracts, favored certain vendors and helped push overall costs up as much as 40%.
Related story:
Changes in specs excluded key HVAC vendors from MSCS contracts -
Update
Public SafetyCommunity mourns Rev. Autura Eason-Williams after carjacking death
“She loved her family, her friends, her church and her community fiercely,” said Rev. Birgitte French, senior pastor of Colonial Park United Methodist Church. “She told the truth, but always in love. This is a devastating loss for all of us.”
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Opinion Waters: Rev. Eason-Williams’ hope and struggle is ours as well
Slain Methodist minister’s faith and fear compelled her to build “community of shalom” amid culture of violence.
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August 2022
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Education One day, one test: New third-grade retention law goes into effect
A new state law is raising the pressure on local public and charter schools. Third graders who “flunk” next spring’s TNReady reading test — and generally two-thirds of them in Tennessee do — are eligible to be retained in third grade next year.
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Education One day, one test: Learning from the Mississippi Miracle
Tennessee joins 36 states with laws that can result in underperforming elementary students being held back, but the results in other states have been mixed.
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Education One day, one test: Here’s why some children struggle to read
Critics worry Tennessee’s new retention policy fails to address most of the reasons children struggle to read, leaving tens of thousands of third graders at risk of being held back this year.
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Education One day, one test: How the new retention law overlooks children with learning disabilities
Many third-grade students who fail their reading tests have learning disabilities, but Tennessee’s new retention law fails to address that reality, putting thousands of kids at risk of being held back.
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Education One day, one test: Keeping score isn’t as easy as 1, 2, 3
Even as Tennessee moves forward with a law that could hold back tens of thousands of third graders, there is widespread misunderstanding about what it even means to read at “grade level.”
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September 2022
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Shelby County New laws, funding cuts raise concerns teen births will rise
Federal and state funds for local prevention efforts, including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education in schools, began drying up before the pandemic.
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October 2022
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Metro For city’s teenage peace corps, the future is now
BRIDGES, best known for its Bridge Builders program in local schools, marks its 100th year by expanding its membership and mission.
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City of Memphis Saving Memphis one teen mom at a time
A young mother, a community educator and a new social development firm work to unpack and defy grim teen birth statistics, build healthy families and ‘redesign’ the community.
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Education Former KIPP principal backs first-gen college students
A new app, called backrs, started a year ago to connect under-resourced students to scholarships, internships, business connections and information — as well as a seed investment and monthly contributions.
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Update
SportsFrom Memphis to Qatar: Neighborhood soccer program scores big again
Three Memphis girls are playing for Team USA in the 2022 Street Child World Cup.
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EducationMSCS manager fired for personal gains made on school construction contracts
A senior facilities manager for Memphis-Shelby County Schools was fired in late July for “gross misconduct” in connection with construction contracts awarded to a school district vendor.
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November 2022
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Update
Spirit of MemphisAutura’s connections: Slain minister inspires help for traumatized women
“When Dr. Autura died, whoever knew her and had a covenant relationship with her, something died in them. We want to show what can be born out of trauma. That death and trauma aren’t the end of the story.”
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City of Memphis Famous Indian guru to teach meditative breathing in Memphis
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a world famous Indian yoga guru, has taught his SKY meditative breathing practice to millions of devotees around the world.
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Metro Dresden Tornado: Survivor grateful for ‘God’s Pit Crew,’ new home
Gallimore was worried that night about her her 21-year-old granddaughter, who was at Gallimore’s house in Dresden, a small town about 120 miles northeast of Memphis near the Kentucky state line.
Related story:
Dresden Tornado: A year later, devastated town strives, struggling to recover
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Metro Dresden Tornado: A year later, devastated town strives, struggling to recover
On Dec. 10, 2021, a severe EF-3 tornado blew Dresden apart. Today, the Tennessee town is still putting its parts back together.
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December 2022
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Education Memphis-Shelby County Schools hires firm to conduct audit of COVID relief spending
An examination, conducted by the Institute for Public Service Reporting at the University of Memphis, found the district likely had overspent millions of federal dollars on HVAC upgrades that benefited one company in particular.
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January 2023
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Midtown Sonia’s gift: Retiring minister stands with living and dying
Sonia Walker is retiring as associate pastor of First Congregational Church.
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Metro Local course fosters ‘dementia-friendly’ congregations
“With an aging membership in churches and the broader society, the need for compassionate care for those who have dementia is rapidly increasing.”
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February 2023
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Metro Local faith leaders offer their colleagues ‘A Time to Mourn’
The women who formed a grief group last summer are organizing “A Time to Mourn” — a special service of grief and lament at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 17 in the Church Health Community Room in Crosstown Concourse.
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Health Care Health Department will assess community violence, mental health care, other ‘unmet’ needs
The evaluation is part of the Shelby County Health Department’s effort to gain national accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board.
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