The Early Word
The Early Word: MSCS takeover is dead for now, and some want xAI dead, too
The Zoo wants more money, the Grizzlies lost again and “Sunday supper” comes to Cooper-Young.
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 987 articles by Bianca Phillips :
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April 2025
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Spiked drink probe ends, and JJJ needs to slay today
Lawmakers pause an anti-immigrant education bill, state Constitutional amendments will go to voters and the Overton Park Shell drops its summer line-up.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Grizz get caught in a storm; Liberty concert mystery solved
Five people were shot in the Medical District, the MPD is being sued over an arrest and we’ve got tips on what to order at Felicia Suzanne’s.
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The To-Do ListThe To-Do List: Shell Daze, Time Warp and Mary J. Blige for real this time
This week, Peabody rooftop parties return, Africa in April is back and Saddle Creek opens another art show.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: CBU students forced to leave; Haggerty may leave Tigers
MSCS may tear down old buildings, the state budget slashes Memphis programs and Ja Morant is a maybe tonight.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: ICE targets U of M students; would a Grizz loss be good?
Baron Von Opperbean gets big bucks, a school takeover compromise is coming and a Midtown bar owner brings “fun times” to Millington.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: High stakes for the Grizz and new steak at Barksdale’s
A property-tax hike may be the “only option” for a new jail, a Wolfchase hotel could be yours and something new is brewing in Germantown.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: xAI may get lower tax bill; Houston High is stuck in the ’90s
Charges were dropped for a codefendant in a Rhodes student’s killing, the AG’s office goes after a Memphis charity and all the Grizzlies have to do is win.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Bronze lions, a tiger and what’s next for the Grizzly bears
Houston High needs a lot of money, the Tigers get a family reunion and a long-vacant hotel is coming down.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: A ‘most horrific’ neglect case and a tight spot for Grizz
A missing boy is found dead, an anti-immigrant education bill moves ahead and soul food is coming back to Ms. Girlee’s.
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The To-Do ListThe To-Do List: Porchfest, knight fights and the function of conjunctions
This week, Lucero plays a free show for Huey’s birthday, a death-row inmate performs from an Ohio prison and you can play musical chairs at Hattiloo.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Jennifer Chandler says bye, and Felicia Suzanne says hi
Six people were shot at an anti-gun violence meeting, MSCS is losing funds it needs for school repairs and xAI may be breaking the law.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: No new property tax, but hotel tax is up and Wells is out
Local measles case was a false alarm, the Hilton hotel is up for sale and we remember inventor/businessman Dan Oppenheimer.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Why Midtown is anti-Memphis 3.0; plus, a pollen primer
The flood waters have parted, pedestrian deaths are on the rise and xAI wants to go nuclear.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Campus School is full, and the Grizzlies can’t afford to slip up
A man pleads guilty in the death of a Rhodes student, a whooping cough case is confirmed and suburban trails are still underwater.
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The To-Do List The To-Do List: Hot Foot Honeys, drag time travel and a bad tattoo contest
This week, Martin Luther King Jr. is honored, a fashion legend is celebrated and a mid-century home transforms into a vintage pop-up shop.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Bad weather ain’t over yet, and Iisalo is just getting started
Panel floats ways to prevent another Ford Jr. situation, a Broad Avenue gift shop closes and an Overton Square bakery changes hands.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Michelin stars align, and 201 Poplar is a taxing problem
We look into the MSCS interim super’s contract; plus, a state school takeover bill moves ahead and the AAC tourney considers Memphis.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: xAI may have colossal impact, but another Grizz loss may not
FedEx lays off 200-plus near Nashville, new Frayser High breaks ground and SmokeSlam’s gone country.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Richmond plans to revamp MSCS, and a Guru goes to jail
County takes public comment over xAI’s permit, rural DeSoto residents finally have good internet and the Grizzlies keep losing.
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March 2025
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The To-Do List The To-Do List: Bar birthdays, a Bartlett bayou bash and Black Violin
This week, visual art and dance are on display at the U of M, MIM brings barbecue to Collierville (in March) and Sir Meatball has a dog party.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Three firings and a Shelby Farms buffalo origin story
The city spends big on contracts, the Showboats are off to a slow start and we look at why it takes so long to open a restaurant.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Measles is here, and the Malco Drive-in can be yours
Trump could let xAI off the hook for air pollution, the state takeover bill could snare other school districts and JoJo’s has a latte more space.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Are you safe from measles? Plus, school takeover news
Young says he doesn’t want to raise taxes, police search for a Downtown shooting suspect and a Midtown outdoor bar is closed for good.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Dolly Parton owns Pancho’s; river parks may get a refresh
The animal shelter will stay closed indefinitely, the City Council wants to clean up the Wolf River Bottoms and the Grizzlies wake up from a long hibernation.
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