Last week’s news was punctuated by a war of words between basketball’s second-greatest player to ever play and the people of Memphis, Tennessee. LeBron James advocated for the Memphis Grizzlies to move to Nashville during an appearance on the popular YouTube golf channel “Bob Does Sports.” The comments sparked a firestorm of attention and drew a response from Memphis Mayor Paul Young, who asked the NBA superstar to come tour the city with him. Then, in a script so good it seemed to write itself, The Daily Memphian’s Drew Hill overheard how the Toronto Raptors spent a random Thursday in Memphis: They went to St. Jude.

The interim forensic audit report of Memphis-Shelby County Schools was delivered in Nashville last week, and The Daily Memphian’s Laura Testino was there to report on the anticipated release. Republican lawmakers previously touted the report’s “unprecedented” findings. In total, the interim report yielded 175 deficiencies, which include about $1.1 million in “disbursements consistent with waste or abuse,” Testino reported. The district’s annual budget is nearly $2 billion. Other areas auditors reviewed did not yield fraud, waste or abuse findings in the review so far.

Also, a Shelby County Board of Commissioners vote signaled the subtle progress local governments are making toward a long-term lease with the Memphis Grizzlies; the MSCS board solidified Superintendent Roderick Richmond’s job, at least for the time being, with an official contract; and with five months left in office, the Tennessee Supreme Court has denied Wanda Halbert’s appeal of the attempt to oust her from office.

— Metro editor Jane Donahoe

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The mayor reacts to the NBA superstar’s suggestion that the Memphis Grizzlies relocate to Nashville.

Calkins: Now LeBron James is trashing the city? What's a Memphian to think? By Geoff Calkins

Hill: Thanks, Raptors, for showing how you spend a random Thursday in Memphis By Drew Hill

MSCS audit yields findings 'consistent with waste and abuse' By Laura Testino

MSCS advances improvement plan, acknowledges ‘critical blind spots’ uncovered by state’s audit By Laura Testino

Calkins: Iranians in Memphis say 'It's torture to even explain.' By Geoff Calkins

How a tweak to Tennessee law signals Grizz lease momentum By Samuel Hardiman

MSCS makes Richmond official as audit results loom By Laura Testino

Tennessee bill would make drink spiking a felony and require test strips at bars By Noah McLane

As Shelby County preps for May and August votes, a TMZ video grabs attention By Bill Dries

Reaction to No Kings police response centers on city permit process By Bill Dries

FedEx loses out on $20M tax break following close House vote By Noah McLane

Halbert ouster attempt could be back in play By Bill Dries

Memphis rapper Pooh Shiesty arrested for robbery, kidnapping By Aarron Fleming

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