The Early Word
The Early Word: Jail is full of mildew, and Morant splits with Miller
Lawmakers accuse MSCS of destroying records, county property taxes may go up and Gonerfest has a new home.
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.
There are 1002 articles by Bianca Phillips :
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June 2025
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The To-Do List The To-Do List: Black Pride, dog yoga and what to do for Bonnaroo FOMO
This week, Juneteenth gets started early, the BoDeans are at the Shell and the Memphis Social Bicycle Club races — in drag.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: MSCS OKs small raises, and Primas is whisking away
A new jail might have a new address, the Grizzlies need to find their center and less is more in Bartlett.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: ‘Big, beautiful’ budget brawl hits home; Cane’s been raised
City Council passes budget, the Music Hall of Fame announces a new class and Overton Park golfers had 99 problems — but a hole wasn’t one.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Texting is the new speeding, and a kid sings for St. Jude
Historically Black medical school comes to Memphis, city worker raises may be lowered and Germantown throws Houston High a bone.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: You could have a Crosstown office; Zeanah has a new job
Man’s body was recovered from the Wolf, the West Tennessee forensic center’s future is uncertain and Jerrod Smith is not throwing away his shot.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Trump tariffs worry FedEx founder, and Max’s maxes out
Nichols suit will go on despite DOJ dismissal, MSCS forensic audit is coming and tight tops don’t sell chicken wings these days.
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The To-Do List The To-Do List: Pride is on Beale, and ‘weird music’ is at Crosstown
This week, Juneteenth kicks off early, Just City gives us a reason to laugh and you can sip booze in a bookshop for a good cause.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Old Temple Israel will go, and so will Tigers basketball exec
Germantown church will expand, U of M will cost more and The Daily Memphian gets a new restaurant reporter.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Midtown church goes big, and ninjas are coming to Wolfchase
Collierville won’t stop the party, FedEx pilots are “fed up,” and one man made a difference at Barksdale.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: A $30M county mistake? Plus, a party foul in the ’burbs
The city has hired a Sherton hotel consultant, and it wants to shield DOJ records from the Tyré Nichols lawsuit. Plus, we’ve got a look at what to eat at the Germantown horse show.
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May 2025
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The To-Do List The To-Do List: Slowdown Cinema, dragon boats and Cooper-Young cats
This week, watch a ghost movie at Elmwood, meet Chris Parnell at Comic Con and eat all the pasta at Memphis Italian Festival.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Rape-kit suit ends, and so do some Grind City beer sales
Retired judge will focus on thinning the jail population, the Central High Jazz Band gets their own day and Bahama Mamas aren’t coming back.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: MSCS won’t deny immigrants; hurricanes are coming
More affordable homes are on the way, Tigers track stars are heading to Florida and you could be Incredible Pizza’s landlord.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Jes Shea loves her new skin, and PJ Haggerty has a new home
Burying power lines would cost billions, private-school vouchers are big in Memphis and a Midtown fan store is spinning its last rotation.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: University hotel closes, and fire follows Clayborn leader
City Council wants to slash MATA funding, Riverside Drive is going on a diet and we’ve got the tea, er, juice on a new shop at Crosstown.
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The To-Do List The To-Do List: Garden secrets, water lanterns and Miranda Lambert
This week, read in the Ravine with Cafe Noir, and try vegan dishes paired with music at Alex Wong’s Permission Party.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Clayborn fire was intentional; DOJ drops MPD probe
Patel calls Memphis the ‘homicide capital,’ cops bring the Thunder in crime crackdown and the new Regional One is a few steps closer.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: City Council OKs raises, wants Downtown bathrooms
FedEx Freight has its first leader, St. Jude is tearing down buildings and some Bartlett residents say a developer is putting profits over kids.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Liquor stores fight in the east, and Google’s heading west
MSCS wants more security, Ford says the budget fix is in and the Hard Times Deli guys are at it again.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: xAI’s water plant is coming; Pontotoc gets back to its roots
An old drive-in gets a new life, Fawn serves upscale comfort food and there’s more to the Memphis Grizzlies’ name than you might think.
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The To-Do ListThe To-Do List: SmokeSlam, Cosmic Carnival and Bill & Ted’s last adventure
This week, Ruby Bridges is here for her namesake reading festival and GWAR brings shock rock (and lots of fake blood) to Minglewood.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: FedEx makes up with Amazon, but can we forgive Coach Cal?
ATF is looking into Clayborn fire, Summer Drive-in is driving off and the WCBCC is still smokin’.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: State dismantled DEI; city wants sanctions in Nichols case
Ford’s trial date is coming soon, but TJ Shorts may not be coming to the Memphis Grizzlies.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Youth Villages case dropped; GPAC head steps down
MSCS sues over a hacking incident, Bartlett’s Union Depot may get bigger and the NBA Draft Lottery wasn’t great for the Grizzlies.
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