The Early Word
The Early Word: Local 110-year-old is full of life, but the Landers hotel isn’t
Millington puts the brakes on data centers, yoga pants are coming to Southaven and our food writer makes her own B-Dubs/Dunkin’ combo meal.
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 1428 articles by Bianca Phillips :
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October 2026
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Early voting opens, and Penny didn’t spend his own coin
MSCS faces a staffing crisis, the vacant Falls Building gets another chance and an inclusive baseball field is coming to Tobey Park.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Pat Neely’s new show and Geoff Calkins’ new pod
The data-center debate continues in Shelby County and North Mississippi, and we take a deep dive into a Memphis music murder mystery.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Grizz lease is ‘very close,’ and the bones come home
Memphis Immigration Court is “mega” busy, SpaceXAI causes traffic problems and we ask if the zoo could bring pandas back.
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The To-Do List Mempho is back, Jazz Fest is new and we say bye (sort of) to Oktoberfest
This week, there’s a theater fest for kids, Opera Memphis celebrates 70 years and Modest Mouse “floats on” over to Satellite Music Hall.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Midtown water guy and takeover board are back to work
City Council’s data-center debate will be continued, and a new restaurant serves elevated comfort food for when you’re hungry AF.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Midtown water guy was jailed, and Alchemy will transform
Your MLGW bill may go up, a robot works at Kroger and we remember Joel Hobson III.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: AI fight shuts down City Council, and Ford heads to prison
John Beifuss retires from the CA, the old Ikea may be another furniture store and we look at why your September MLGW bill was so high.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: The takeover break’s over, and Kroger has the local meats
Changes are coming to the Land Bank, a Memphis couple fills an empanada need and Cam Boozer does everything.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: A terrifying tick story and the mintiest place in Memphis
Most of the money for the new Regional One hasn’t been approved yet, the Task Force is mum on police-pursuit policies and you can time travel in Arlington.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Retro wine bar closes, while a new bar gets ‘gas station fancy’
A family opens up about a Task Force shooting, Blackburn wants the electric chair back and cops nab a truckload of kratom.
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The To-Do List Outdoor fests from Evergreen to V&E to Broad Ave; plus, a Tom Lee parade
This week, the Mid-South Fair opens in Southaven, and there’s a vegan fest at the Pink Palace.
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Arts & Culture Pumpkin to talk about: Your guide to gourds, haunted houses and more
This Holidays in Memphis guide covers where to pick pumpkins and all you need to know about corn mazes, haunted attractions, spooky movies and more Halloween fun.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Politics of the Task Force and a lawsuit from Blackburn
MSCS has a new board chair, Germantown grandkids get school perks and the Indie Memphis lineup has dropped.
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September 2026
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Mystery retailer buys Ikea, and Audubon’s clubhouse tees off
Abortion pill debate makes its way into FedEx’s boardroom, the Belmont owner buys up more space and we take a deep dive into crime numbers.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: County tax woes and a Task Force with no end in sight
Southaven residents are still waiting to hear from SpaceXAI over buyouts, the “Duck Dynasty” still reigns over the federal duck stamp contest and the Grizzlies are pretty darn healthy.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Land Bank CEO is fired; new eatery rolls into Brunswick
SpaceXAI tries to buy out its critics, the Lindsey Whiteside saga is almost over and a high-end honky-tonk is coming to the Highland Strip.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Locals sue SpaceXAI over noise; wings take over taco spot
A Hickory Hill club has been shut down, Lee Harris gets a street sign and Millington needs ideas for an old building.
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The To-Do List Gonerfest, Weird Al, Morgan Freeman, Project Pat and ‘9 to 5’ times four
If you have trouble finding something to do in Memphis these days, well, we don’t know what to say.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Historic church will be sold; the duck ‘World Cup’ is here
A judge denied a pause on ICE ridealongs, two Grizzlies helped the homeless and you can eat at Ronnie Grisanti’s on a budget.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Outlook not so good for CBU, but The Station’s fight is over
Selberg’s job could have been saved, the old Coletta’s may serve Mexican food and the Redbirds blow their first playoff game.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Liza’s soccer stadium kicks off; burger chain goes bankrupt
Carmeon Hamilton launches Wing Wars, Collierville’s got a new temporary town administrator and a Memphis poet beats Jack White.
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The To-Do List Hispanic Heritage celebrations, CY Fest and barbecuing for beginners
In this week’s To-Do List, folk star Valerie June comes home, parking spots become parks and Neo bends bullets at the Pink Palace.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Central Ave. hotel is back; The Container Store packs up
Former Kid University workers appear in court, protesters want ICE out of the airport and we share the chain restaurants we’d love to see.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: A hospital funding mystery and a ‘Knowledge Bowl’ pause
City Council may ask the Task Force to leave, 201 Poplar inmates sue over jail conditions and croissants are coming to Cooper-Young.
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