Happy Friday, Memphis! Today is Feb. 25, and it looks like we have a cold (but dry) weekend ahead. Just hang tight — we’re back in the 60s next week!

The Downtown Memphis Commission meets today, and if you’re looking for something fun to do this evening, the Band CAMINO is at the Orpheum Theatre. Make sure all your kids’ creepy dolls are safely packed away this Saturday, because “Child’s Play” and “Bride of Chucky” are screening at the Time Warp Drive-in. Although I grew up in the ’80s, I was terrified of horror films as a kid and missed all the Chucky movies. All the cool kids had My Buddy and Kid Sister dolls, but that was a solid nope for me.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Memphis-based FedEx Corp. announced on Thursday that they’re suspending operations in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of the country. (Greg Campbell/AP file)

From Memphis to Ukraine: Memphis-based FedEx Corp. announced on Thursday that they’re suspending operations in Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of the country. “We are closely monitoring the situation and implementing contingency plans to minimize impact,” FedEx posted in a statement on its website. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Memphis was in Vienna Thursday for a parliamentary session of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Cohen tweeted that he was offended by Russian claims that the invasion was necessary to “de-nazify” the Ukraine government.

State lawmakers have given final passage to a ban on residency requirements for Memphis police and firefighters. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)

No residency required: Want to be a Memphis cop or firefighter? It may soon not matter where you live since state lawmakers have passed a ban on police and fire residency requirements that only applies in Memphis. Differences in the House and Senate versions of the bill will have to be reconciled before it goes to Gov. Bill Lee for a signature. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown) and Rep. Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby). By the way, Cosby, Tennessee, is a nearly seven-hour drive from Memphis, yet this bill only applies here. Some Memphis Democrats in the House have questioned why a representative from the Smoky Mountains was involved in a Memphis issue, and some Memphians are questioning Kelsey’s actions, as well. Though Mayor Jim Strickland and the Memphis Police Department supported the bill, some Memphis City Council members argued that local police officers should reflect the city.

Here’s to you, Ms. Robinson: Former State Sen. Katrina Robinson’s sentencing hearing has been moved to March 18 (it was originally set for March 3) after her legal team objected to a pre-sentence report. Federal prosecutors had asked the court to sentence Robinson to 30 months, and her attorneys are asking the court for a variance that would give her probation instead of prison time. Robinson was found guilty of federal wire fraud on Sept. 30 of last year. On Feb. 2, in a partisan vote, Republican lawmakers expelled Robinson from her District 33 seat. On Wednesday, the Shelby County Commission set a date of Feb. 28 for citizens to apply for Robinson’s vacant seat (and they also set a deadline to apply for a vacant school board seat).

On Thursday, the Tennessee Supreme Court heard arguments on Gov. Bill Lee’s school voucher bill. Lee also introduced a new education funding bill on Thursday. (Troy Stolt/Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP file)

School choice in court: The Tennessee Supreme Court heard arguments for a second time on the legality of Gov. Bill Lee’s school voucher bill on Thursday. The Education Savings Account (ESA) Act bill would allow Shelby County and Nashville parents to send their kids to private schools on tax dollars. The Tennessee Department of Education appealed a lower court’s ruling that the bill violates the state constitution, and the case went to the state Supreme Court last June. But Justice Cornelia Clark died before a ruling was reached, and Lee’s replacement for Clark, Justice Sarah Campbell, recused herself from the case last week. In other Lee/education news, the governor and Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn introduced a new funding formula for education on Thursday, which they say adds more direct funding to public school districts.

The Shelby County Health Department launched a new online portal for at-home rapid test results. (David Dermer, AP file)

Testing, testing: In an effort to better collect at-home COVID-19 testing data, the Shelby County Health Department has launched an online submission portal where residents can upload rapid test results. Those without internet access can report at-home test results to the health department’s COVID-19 hotline at 901-222-MASK. 

QUOTED

“I’m wanting to get to a point where [women are] heard the first time we say something. That’s why I continue to spread my knowledge on social or speak up when I’m the only female or the only Black woman in the room.”

— Designer Carmeon Hamilton, owner of Nubi Interiors and star of HGTV’s “Reno my Rental”
Hamilton will join Hampline Brewing principal Martha Hample and Women’s Business Center South executive director Vonesha Mitchell on a panel at The Daily Memphian’s Women in Business seminar on March 3 at the Memphis Botanic Garden.

THE NICE TO KNOW

University of Memphis forward DeAndre Williams goes up for a lay up during a Feb. 24, 2022 game against Temple at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)

Tigers take Temple: The Memphis Tigers are on a roll! While last night’s match against the Temple Owls had Tiger fans worried during the first half, they still won by a comfortable margin — 78-64. In the past six Tigers’ games, freshman center Jalen Duren has emerged as the team’s best player. Since Duren returned to the line-up on Feb. 5, the Tigers have won five of six games. In this must-win game, Coach Penny Hardaway took a risk by sending Lester Quinones, DeAndre Williams and Landers Nolley II, who were all sitting on the bench with two fouls, back into the game — and it’s a move The Daily Memphian’s Geoff Calkins wholeheartedly approved. 

At MATA’s Thursday meeting, the board unanimously approved a resolution to authorize a letter of intent between MATA and Moment AI, a Virginia-based business that develops technology for the autonomous vehicle industry. In this image, MATA supervisor Odell Jones exits a bus parked in Poplar Plaza. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)

Self-driving buses? No word on whether or not self-driving buses will ever be a thing in Memphis, but the Memphis Area Transit Authority has taken a first step toward exploring autonomous vehicles. At MATA’s Thursday meeting, the board unanimously approved a resolution to authorize a letter of intent between MATA and Moment AI, a Virginia-based, minority-owned business that develops technology for the autonomous vehicle industry. “Our goal is to develop vehicles that think and react like humans,” said Moment AI founder and CEO Megan Gray. In some future world, where self-driving buses are a thing, you have to wonder if driving in the right lane on Poplar will be any less nerve-racking.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels, right, fouls Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson, Jr., on Feb.. 24 in Minneapolis. (Bruce Kluckhohn/AP photo)

You lose some: There is no joy without suffering, right? And the Memphis Grizzlies suffered a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves last night in a close game, 119-114. Point guard Ja Morant fell while turning the ball over at one point and grabbed his left hip, an injury that appeared to plague him for the rest of the game. “It was just a bad step,” Morant said. “I had some pain in my hip. I went to the back and got looked at and some stretching. ... I’m all good, man, you just have to save me from myself.”

Upstairs at the Supper Club on 2nd, located at 85 S. Second St. in Downtown Memphis. The 100-seat restaurant and bar is expected to open in early spring 2022. (Neil Strebig/The Daily Memphian)

Swanky supper club: A new downtown restaurant from Memphis radio icon Devin Steel and the WKND Hang Suite team is set to open this spring, and it sounds pretty posh. Supper Club 2nd (or SCO2 for short), located at 85 S. Second St., is co-owned by Adrian “A.G.” Granderson, Joe Johnson, Robert Higgins and Devin Butler (better known as Devin Steel). The 100-person space features green and gold velvet couches, gold lighting fixtures and projectors that rotate images of pop icons like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Frank Sinatra. Craft cocktails will be served from two bars, and the food menu will be curated by Daris Leatherwood, former personal chef for Lil Wayne.

Livia Overton holds up a Ube Taiyaki desert in front of a mural at Good Fortune Co. on South Main Street Feb. 23, 2022. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)

Everybody loves ramen: The Daily Memphian’s Chris Herrington paid a visit to my very favorite ramen shop — Good Fortune Co. on South Main. He spoke with co-owners Arturo Leighton and Sarah Cai, who talked about the shop’s handmade noodles. “We weren’t planning to make noodles from scratch. But one day I made them, and we tasted them and were blown away by the difference in flavor and quality and freshness,” said Cai. Herrington previewed the menu, which is intentionally small and includes a very cute fish-shaped cake topped with soft serve for dessert. He also listed the things you won’t find at Good Fortune: reservations or takeout. And not that you want my recommendation, but try the Tan Tan ramen bowl with plant-based soboro.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

You can adopt a homeless dog or cat for free today at Memphis Animal Services, thanks to the Memphis Tigers. MAS is offering free adoptions for anyone wearing Tigers gear following a win.

Stay warm this weekend! And steer clear of life-like dolls. See you on Monday!

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