Metro
What makes a good animal-control officer?
How do cities and shelters keep bad actors away from those jobs? Screenings, background checks and even scouring a candidate’s social media help, but they aren’t perfect.
Jody Callahan
Jody Callahan graduated with degrees in journalism and economics from what is now known as the University of Memphis. He has covered news in Memphis for more than 25 years.
There are 642 articles by Jody Callahan :
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June 2026
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Public Safety MPD officer killed in off-duty crash
Memphis police officer Daniel Adams killed in single-vehicle accident, officials say
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Arts & CultureAt 6 games and counting, Adam Remsen is Memphis’ newest ‘Jeopardy!’ champion
To prepare for his run on the show, Adam Remsen studied his knowledge weak spots (opera, 19th century presidents, European monarchs and world rivers) and focused on the most important part of the game: the buzzer.
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GermantownOld Germantown Depot Museum offers a journey down tracks of time
Germantown Depot Museum offers a glimpse of the city’s past, when trains regularly stopped at the depot to pick up passengers and cargo.
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Ask the MemphianAsk the Memphian: What exactly is a grand jury, and how do they work?
What exactly is a grand jury, and how do they work? In this week’s installment of “Ask the Memphian,” we talked to attorneys, prosecutors and jurors to answer those questions.
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Public SafetyMemphis Zoo one of 40 across the country hit with bomb threats
Hoaxers are calling zoos and aquariums nationwide, claiming to have planted bombs, likely just for “fun,” officials said.
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Arts & Culture Everything old is new again: Memphis thrifters dig the vintage vibe
Two separate Downtown events dedicated to second-hand items, from clothing to jewelry to old beer steins, attracted devoted shoppers Saturday afternoon.
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Neighborhoods Get ready for a rash of hot days
The heat index is likely to climb as high as 107 this week. So take the kids to a splash pad to cool off, stay hydrated and check on your elderly friends and neighbors as temperatures soar.
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BusinessArdent’s legal fight is a broken record
Those involved in the legal drama surrounding Ardent Studios have been involved in past lawsuits that echo some of the current claims, documents show.
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July 2026
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Arts & CultureLocal’s ‘Jeopardy!’ run comes to an end — for now
After 12 straight wins and more than $300,000 earned, Adam Remsen’s time on “Jeopardy!” came to an end — for now — in his 13th game. But there’s more “Jeopardy!” in his future.
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Neighborhoods It’s going to be brutally hot this weekend, and that could be dangerous
With the heat index possibly reaching 110 this weekend, officials suggest taking precautions.
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Public SafetyA Criminal Court judge keeps missing work, slowing the court system and frustrating victims’ families
When a judge is absent for nearly 40% of the days he’s due to be on the bench, the ripples can affect the entire criminal justice system, including defendants who may have to spend longer in jail than they should have.
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Public Safety National Guard members shoot, kill suspect in Downtown Memphis
Memphis Safe Task Force members killed 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson in Downtown Memphis early Sunday morning, marking at least the third death associated with the Task Force.
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MetroAsk the Memphian: What was Memphis like 250 years ago?
In 1776, as this fledgling country was battling for its independence, it would have been eerily quiet in Memphis.
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Public Safety DEA agent shoots, kills person in East Memphis hotel
This marks at least the fourth fatality associated with the Task Force during its time in the city.
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Health Care East Memphis gynecologist sentenced to 20 years for fraud
Sanjeev Kumar, 45, a gynecological oncologist and founder of the Memphis-based Poplar Avenue Clinic, was arrested in February 2025.
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MidtownMidtown residents say this tenant is disrupting the peace. Now they’re making noise.
Revving engines, blaring music, “flooring the gas.” Neighbors say the tenant renting a home on their Midtown street is repeatedly committing code violations and a potential safety concern. But, they say, little has been done to solve the problem.
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Public SafetyTBI names man killed by federal agents at East Memphis hotel
Alfonso Ivy, 47, had a lengthy arrest history in Shelby County on drugs and weapons charges, and had been out of prison for about 16 months after serving nine years behind bars.
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Public Safety Father files wrongful-death lawsuit in Ole Miss player’s killing
The father of Corey Adams, a freshman Ole Miss football player shot and killed at a Cordova party in 2025, has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit seeking at least $1 million plus punitive damages in his son’s murder.
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Sports From Graceland to Beale to heave a 16-pound ball
For the fifth year in a row, the second day of the Ed Murphey Classic, Memphis’ premier track-and-field event, was held on Beale Street, where shot putters and pole vaulters put on a show for visitors.
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Spirit of MemphisThe art of pool checkers, or how to avoid being labeled a ‘ham’
What is pool checkers? Well, it’s a lot like straight checkers but, according to those who love the game, it’s a lot more challenging. Let the trash-taking commence.
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Public Safety Mother of Ole Miss football player also files wrongful-death lawsuit
The mother of Corey Adams, who was shot and killed at a Cordova party last year, has filed a lawsuit in her son’s death. The filing comes days after his father filed a separate suit.
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Performing ArtsDon’t call wrestling fake: ‘Everything we do in there hurts’
You can call it a choreographed, you can call it a performance, you can call it entertainment. But don’t ever call wrestling “fake” unless you want to rile up folks like The Bite-Sized Brawler or Hucklebuck Jenkins.
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BusinessThe battle for The Station isn’t quite over, despite the liquor store being open for months
The battle over The Station, a high-end liquor store that opened in East Memphis on Feb. 17, continues as opponents head to the City Council on Tuesday in another attempt to shut it down.
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Public Safety No charges filed against DEA officer in first Task Force shooting
Darrin Pigram, 41, who was shot and killed on May 13, was being sought on a warrant for charges of aggravated assault, aggravated burglary and a weapons violation.
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