Let the weekend commence, Memphis! It’s Friday, July 8, and the national tour for Fox’s “The Masked Singer” is stopping at the Orpheum Theatre tonight. If you’re up late after the show, Pantà's new late-night menu launches at 10 p.m. 

On Saturday, the Legacy Impact Community Resource Center in Frayser will host a workshop to help teens become entrepreneurs, and artist Jamond Bullock’s new “Slice” mural will be unveiled at a pool party at Gooch Park. For more on the pool party and other weekend fun, check out our To-Do List.

On Saturday night, the Memphis Grizzlies will tip-off their NBA2K23 Summer League 2022 schedule against the Los Angeles Clippers. These games are a great opportunity to see the Grizzlies newbies shine.

And finally, it’s last call for free Mempho tickets: You could win two three-day passes, from The Daily Memphian, for Mempho Music Festival, which is planned for Sept. 30 through Oct. 2. Enter to win here before midnight on July 10, and we will contact one winner on July 11. 

THE NEED TO KNOW

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Ray (in a file photo) said Thursday, “I am confident that my private actions have not broken any rules of conduct nor violated any policies.” (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Ray denies violating policy: The Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education announced on Thursday that it will launch an external review following allegations of impropriety by MSCS Superintendent Joris Ray. On Wednesday, The Daily Memphian reported on divorce court filings in which Ray admitted to having affairs. The documents listed two women who may have worked for the school district. MSCS’ policy strongly discourages amorous relationships, and in some cases, that policy requires the parties to either terminate the relationship or resign. In response to news of the MSCS board investigation, Ray released a statement saying he is “confident that my private actions have not broken any rules of conduct nor violated any policies.”

A drone shot shows the cleanup area where more than 200,000 gallons of crude oil spilled from the Mid-Valley Pipeline in Henderson, Tennessee. It is the second-largest spill in state history. (Courtesy Protect Our Aquifer)

Memphis Sand Aquifer threatened: The second-largest oil spill in Tennessee history narrowly missed the Memphis Sand Aquifer’s recharge zone a few weeks ago. More than 200,000 gallons of crude oil spilled from the Mid-Valley Pipeline in Henderson, Tennessee (about 90 miles north of Memphis), on June 29, after a mower ruptured the pipeline. Though the spill happened a few weeks ago, it wasn’t made public until this week.

Mud Island River Park opened 40 years ago this past Fourth of July holiday weekend and still has most of the basic features it opened with, which haven’t all been well-maintained. (The Daily Memphian file)

New life for Mud Island River Park? Memphis River Parks Partnership has four months to come up with four future scenarios for the 40-year-old Mud Island River Park, which hasn’t been maintained well in years. The scenarios will not only look at future uses but how those projects could be funded. It isn’t the first time the city has looked into new uses for the park, and it didn’t go so well the last time around.

More plate problems: In light of the Shelby County license plate and tag renewal backlog, auto dealers are asking for the authority to issue drive-out tags that can be renewed for a period of five months instead of the current three months. Greater Memphis Auto Dealer Association president Kent Ritchey sent a letter to Gov. Bill Lee this week saying “the problem is beyond repair by the current office holder,” referring to clerk Wanda Halbert. Halbert said on Tuesday that her office is working through the backlog and plans to have all license plates and tags to vehicle owners by next week.

Jaqueline Davis fishes in the Wolf River Harbor underneath the A.W. Willis Bridge July 7, 2022. Davis has been coming to this spot for over a decade. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Safe to eat? Fish caught in a 31-mile stretch of the Mississippi River, including the part that runs through Memphis, fall under a “do not consume” advisory because of high levels of methylmercury and other contaminants. But Arkansas has no advisories for the same stretch of river. The Daily Memphian’s Keely Brewer looks into the contamination risk of eating Mississippi River-caught fish (no matter which side you’re on) and how that affects low-income fishers who rely on it as a food source. 

QUOTED

“Tennessee is not prepared to deal with the consequences of more unplanned pregnancies and births. … We must give people comprehensive health care coverage before they become parents.”

— state Sen. London Lamar (D-Memphis) 
Lamar spoke at a press conference organized by the Tennessee Justice Center on Thursday, calling for expanded health care coverage for pregnant women and young families in light of Tennessee’s new abortion ban.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Las Savell Jewelry, which opened in 1984, was one of the last places in Midtown with a jeweler on staff who could make repairs, replace watch batteries and estimate values. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Made Memphis a better place: Midtown’s Las Savell Jewelry will close on Aug. 31. The building at 61 S. McLean Blvd. is being sold, and owner Michael Lunati, who has run the shop since 2012, was asked to vacate. Las Savell Jewelry is best-known for its on-site jewelry repair services and tributes to residents who made Memphis a better place on its store sign.

The Collierville Schools Board of Education passed a resolution Thursday expressing its disappointment with Gov. Bill Lee. (AP Photo file/Mark Humphrey)

Supporting teachers: The Collierville Schools Board of Education adopted a resolution on Thursday to show its support for teachers, following Gov. Bill Lee’s lack of a satisfactory response after a college president belittled teachers at a recent event. Lee sat next to Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn at an event in Cool Springs, Tennessee, during which Arnn said “Education destroys generations of people,” among other things. Earlier this year, the governor invited Hillsdale, a Christian liberal arts college in Michigan, to open 50 charter schools in Tennessee.

Nick Toombs’ Pride display on Luther Road, which ignited a firestorm last year over what constitutes political speech in Bartlett, has been vandalized. His neighbor is ordering him a bigger rainbow. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Starting to look like a triple rainbow: An inflatable rainbow Pride month decoration in the front yard of magician Nick Toombs’ Bartlett home was vandalized on July 6. A man, shown exiting a landscaping truck and covering his face with a shirt, was caught on video slashing the rainbow with a knife. Toombs’ Pride decorations had been a source of controversy after the city asked him to remove last year’s smaller rainbow. After the recent vandalism, Toombs’ neighbor plans to order him an even bigger rainbow: “We’re working out the details as far as which size because I want to make sure that he gets the biggest one that will fit in his yard,” said Carol Livingston.

Memphis Grizzlies guard John Konchar (46) shoots in an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, in Memphis. (AP Photo file/Brandon Dill)

Gettin’ Jitty with it: Memphis Grizzlies shooting guard John Konchar (aka Jitty) has reportedly agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $19 million. Konchar has been with the Grizzlies since 2019, when he signed a two-way contract after going undrafted, and the new extension will keep him in Memphis through the 2026-27 season.

At Patrick’s on Park Avenue, a three-vegetable plate with cornbread is $8.55. (Jennifer Biggs/Daily Memphian)

Eat your vegetables: As a vegan, I may be biased here, but you don’t need meat to make a meal. Case in point: today’s $10 Deal of a veggie plate at Patrick’s. There, you’ll find a hearty veggie plate sans meat for just $8.55. They offer quite a few veggies to choose from, and you can pick three (plus cornbread or a roll). But The Daily Memphian’s Jennifer Biggs loves Patrick’s fried eggplant so much that she’d gladly order it for all three. She says it’s so good that even our own eggplant-hating Geoff Calkins would love it. I smell a challenge, Geoff!

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Anyone remember the last time it rained in Memphis? I certainly cannot. My dusty car looks like it’s been parked in a desert for months, and despite daily watering, my poor hostas are on their deathbed.

Don’t forget to water those plants this weekend! See you on Monday.

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