Historic Annesdale Mansion damaged in blaze, but owner says he will rebuild
The historic Annesdale Mansion catches fire in a two-alarm blaze, but owner Bill Townsend said he will restore the home and continue hosting charitable events there.
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 566 articles by Jody Callahan :
-
January 2026
-
Neighborhoods -
winter weather
MetroStill slipping and sliding: Memphis braces for one more Arctic weekend
The frozen precipitation on the ground in Memphis isn’t going anywhere for the next few days, at least.
Related content:
Latest updates: Crews make progress on streets, but some business, schools are staying closed
Intrepid fun-seekers enjoy thrills of ‘Mount Bartlett’
Situation in South grows more dire as ice, frigid temperatures, outages persist
-
winter weather
Transportation & LogisticsUpdate: Airport is open, but call before you go
Memphis International Airport is set to be open Sunday, Jan. 25, but passengers are strongly urged to contact airlines to make sure flights haven’t been canceled or delayed.
-
Premium
MetroLocal Jeopardy champ back for show’s Tournament of Champions
Her show airs Wednesday, Jan. 28, at 7:30 p.m. on WREG-TV.
-
Premium
East MemphisState board to hear liquor application for The Station Thursday
The Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission will review The Station’s application for a liquor license Thursday. That board’s staff has recommended conditional approval.
-
Premium
Spirit of MemphisAfter disaster struck, Kirk Whalum stepped in for an astronaut
Kirk Whalum was stunned to receive a call from Cheryl McNair, the widow of astronaut Ron McNair who was killed in the Challenger disaster. The favor she asked of him still affects him today.
-
Winter Weather
Metro‘Survival’ is the only goal for some Memphians as temperatures plummet
As the thermometer dips to single digits, the winter storm that’s relished by sledders and the Memphis Zoo polar bears threatens lives of unhoused Memphians.
Related stories:
Trump grants state request for emergency declaration
Winter storm’s effects benign so far, but freezing rain still on its way
-
Premium
Ask the MemphianAsk the Memphian: What is the record snowfall in Memphis?
The biggest snowstorm to ever hit Memphis walloped the city more than a century ago, but the city as it was in 1892 handled the storm well.
Related content:
MLGW not expecting significant outages as Memphis dodges ice
‘Much more difficult today than yesterday,’ and cold temps not expected to let up this week
-
winter weather
MetroSnow has coat of sleet on top, which can make travel treacherous
The snow coating hides as much as an inch of icy sleet, so travel outside — walking or driving — is discouraged, the National Weather Service says.
-
winter weather
MetroSorry, snow fans: Winter storm to mostly bring sleet
When the storm hits late Friday, expect lots of sleet, perhaps an “unprecedented amount,” but not so much snow or ice, according to the National Weather Service.
-
State Government Collierville funeral home drops Brent Taylor’s name
Collierville funeral home plans to remove Brent Taylor’s name from the facility, saying that recent comments from Taylor “do not reflect the values, mission or beliefs of our current leadership.”
-
Winter weather
MetroYour phone’s wrong: Expect sleet and snow, not an apocalypse
Memphis probably won’t get 2 feet of snow this weekend. But meteorologists agree it’s too soon to be sure what we are getting.
-
Premium
BusinessBuster’s Liquor co-owner, others appeal to City Council over approval granted to The Station
Buster’s Liquor co-owner Josh Hammond and the owners of two other nearby liquor stories filed an appeal to the Memphis City Council seeking to negate the Alcohol Commission ruling that granted approval to The Station.
-
Premium
Ask the MemphianAsk the Memphian: What twists of fate led to the founding of the Dixon Gallery & Gardens?
Through improbable twists of fate and the generosity and foresight of Hugo and Margaret Dixon, the Dixon Gallery & Gardens has become a jewel in the city’s cultural landscape.
-
Spirit of Memphis MLK Day of Service inspires cold hands, warm hearts
Chilly weather didn’t deter workers around the city, including an altruistic team at T.O. Fuller Park, which also holds a place in civil rights history.
-
Metro Former VP Kamala Harris doesn’t mince words about Trump at Memphis book-tour stop
Former Vice President Kamala Harris torched President Donald Trump at the Orpheum Theatre, calling his administration “callous, corrupt and incompetent.”
-
Premium
EducationOnce weighing whether to leave, new CBU president tasked with saving school that shaped his life
Ron Brandon seriously considered leaving CBU, which he wasn’t sure would survive its troubles. But he stayed because of his devotion to his alma mater, and now he has plans to ensure that CBU survives and even thrives.
-
Premium
MetroBaby orangutan Ru, and others like her, may just be the key to the survival of the species
There are fewer than 120,000 orangutans left in the wild, and zoo breeding programs like the one at Memphis Zoo could be key to the species’ continued existence.
-
Premium
Ask the MemphianAsk the Memphian: What happened to the Memphian who owned the most valuable coin in history?
The rarest and most valuable coin in history — the 1933 Double Eagle — was once owned by a coin collector in Memphis, until confiscated by the federal government.
-
Premium
Visual ArtsAspiring blacksmiths, welders and more get ‘taste’ of metal arts
The National Ornamental Metal Museum’s “Taster” classes are meant to do just what the name implies: give folks a taste of different styles of the metal arts with the hope that they fall in love with it.
-
East Memphis East Memphis liquor store gets local Alcohol Commission approval
Before Ethan Edwards can fully open his new store, which is only selling non-alcoholic materials now, he must also get approval from the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
-
Premium
EducationChristian Brothers University names insider to guide post-probation turnaround
CBU names Ronald Brandon, currently the school’s executive vice president and chief operating officer for administration and finance, as its next president.
-
Premium
Spirit of MemphisIt’s alive! Everyone thought this insect was extinct, but 2 Memphis scientists discovered the truth.
As far as anyone knew, the greater chestnut weevil was long gone, a victim of the same blight that has killed an estimated 4 billion chestnut trees in the U.S. in less than a century.
-
Premium
MetroVenezuelans in Memphis feel euphoria now that ‘nightmare’ is over — but dreams for future uneasy
Venezuelans in Memphis cheered the removal of their home country’s president but express fear and uncertainty about what comes next for the beleaguered South American nation.
-
Premium
Public SafetyShelby County traffic fatalities are way down, and MPD credits outside manpower for the decline
The number of traffic fatalities in Shelby County dropped by almost a third in 2025, and MPD credits its officers as well as the extra help provided by state and federal officers.
-