Third and final defendant pleads guilty in Whitehaven pastor’s slaying
Eduard Rodriguez-Tabora, 23, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the July 18, 2022, carjacking and killing of Autura Eason-Williams in the driveway of her Whitehaven home.
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 253 articles by Jody Callahan :
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September 2024
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Public Safety -
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Spirit of MemphisTeen baker finds entrepreneurial success is sweet
Alannah Williams, 17, has moved her baking business from South Korea, to Germany, to Japan and now to Memphis.
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Spirit of Memphis Criminal Court Clerk’s Office clinic helps those with a record start over
“I’m a big believer in second chances. Just because you have a past doesn’t mean you can’t have a future,” Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk Heidi Kuhn said.
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Public Safety MSCS ends lockdown at several schools
Schools will dismiss at normal times, though after-school activities are canceled for Sept. 18, according to a social media post made by MSCS.
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Spirit of Memphis Tiger Bookstore founder dies
The Tiger Bookstore may look nothing like it did when it first opened 60 years ago, but it’s the legacy John Williams left behind all the same.
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Real EstatePoplar Plaza spins new development ‘angle’ at busy Highland corner
Finard Properties is renovating the former Spin Street site into six smaller spaces with an eye on attracting local businesses. That spot, which Finard executives refer to as “the angle,” has sat mostly empty since the music and memorabilia store closed in 2017.
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Midtown Cooper-Young festivalgoers come out rain or shine
For a typical Cooper-Young Festival, organizers anticipate crowds of 125,000 or more with more than 400 vendors. For the 35th annual event this year, the threat of rain and perhaps football depressed early attendance.
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South Memphis Crypto mining facility set for Southeast Memphis
California-based Merkle Standard is at least the second digital operation to locate in Memphis in recent months, following Elon Musk’s xAI.
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Food NewsBob’s Barksdale to be sold — but expected to reopen
The restaurant has been shut down since a June kitchen fire. Although the fire was mostly contained to the back wall of the building, it still caused quite a bit of damage.
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Business ‘Do everything you can’: City Silo owner has advice for entrepreneurs
The seminar also featured talks from Monique Williams, and mother and son Beverly and Ryan Robertson.
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Metro Delta Fair is where the fun — and food — is
On Labor Day, the fair attracted thousands of people for all kinds of reasons. Some just wanted the food — and there was a lot of it.
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EducationSome schools are pulling the plug on student phones
“One social media post can ... disturb a student’s whole day of learning,” said the head of a Memphis private school that bans cellphone use for younger students.
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August 2024
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City of Memphis MATA to eliminate routes and lay off about half of staff
Such steep cuts are necessary to balance the Memphis Area Transit Authority’s budget, officials said several times in Tuesday’s meeting, as the agency fights to find stable footing after years of financial difficulties.
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Food NewsFor Patio Porkers on Beale, rules about barbecue are sear-ious
Check out our updated story for the list of winners. For most folks, barbecue is a pretty simple endeavor. That doesn’t apply if you’re a hard-core griller or judge, though.
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Ford MegasiteAmid waning interest in EVs, Ford’s BlueOval City delay raises concerns
“Any delay at all just postpones the positive impact that we anticipate. It puts it at risk. All the people who might’ve been employed there are not going to be, at least not yet.”
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Education Whitehaven High secures funds for STEM lab
COVID, inflation and missing funding had some supporters doubting the project would ever be finished.
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EducationConfrontation puts new spotlight on MSCS-Peer Power contract
Memphis-Shelby County Schools and Peer Power Foundation’s long-standing contract, which has received renewed focus following an Aug. 8 confrontation between MSCS’ superintendent and the foundation’s board co-chair, remains unsigned.
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MidtownNew owners full steam ahead with Java Cabana renovations, reopening
“We ... didn’t want to see an outside developer come in, tear it down and just (build some) white brick condos,” one of the new owners said.
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Education MSCS head of security resigns
The new head of security for Memphis-Shelby County Schools abruptly resigned Saturday after an email sent Friday night from an MSCS board member questioned whether he had been accused of misappropriating funds at his previous job.
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BusinessCredits roll for Black Lodge, but owner is hoping for reboot
Movie lovers are hoping Black Lodge’s closing on North Cleveland Street won’t be the end for the video store. They may be in luck.
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EducationMSCS board raises security officer pay after dispute
Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins also addressed her recent proposal to have all overtime be approved by her or someone she designates, with no exceptions for emergencies.
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EducationSchool officers walk out on new boss, may do so again for football jamboree
MSCS security resource officers walked out of an introductory meeting with the district’s new safety director Monday morning, according to two MSCS board members. Another walkout could come at the upcoming football jamboree games.
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MetroBeekeepers abuzz over sweet hobby
There are 400 or so members of the Memphis Area Beekeepers Association who devote time to hundreds of thousands of honeybees that live across the city.
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Education Memphis students ‘hype’ for first day of school
Memphis-Shelby County Schools welcomed more than 100,000 students back to classrooms for the first day of the 2024-25 school year.
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Update
EducationAir-conditioning issues force early closure at 12 schools
At least 12 Memphis-Shelby County Schools closed early on the first day of classes Monday, Aug. 5. At least two schools, Sheffield High and Sherwood Middle, will dismiss early on Tuesday due to HVAC issues.
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