Hi, there. Are you ready to press play on this day? Today is March 10, and when you abbreviate the date as MAR10, it looks like Mario — as in the overalled star of the classic Super Mario Bros game. So Crosstown Concourse is nerding out tonight with a free video game-themed party.

Spring break starts this weekend, the Memphis International Airport is bracing for its busiest week since 2008, with a peak of 9,000 people projected to pass through the airport today. If you’re flying this weekend, well, good luck (and since 2008 is back, here’s a little ditty for your in-flight playlist).

Later tonight, the No. 2-seed Memphis Tigers will play the No. 7-seed University of Central Florida in the AAC Tournament.

On Saturday, you can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day a little early with the annual Silky Sullivan parade on Beale Street. That should end just in time for 901FC’s season kickoff against Loudon United. And later that night, the Dallas Mavericks will be in Memphis to play the Grizzlies.

Daylight savings time begins this Sunday (yay!). I don’t think I need to remind you to set your clocks forward since technology takes care of this now, but there’s always that one annoying microwave clock, right? 

THE NEED TO KNOW

Speaker of the Tennessee Senate Randy McNally and Speaker of the Tennessee House Cameron Sexton completed a ceremonial signing of the controversial “truth in sentencing” bill at the Hall of Mayors in Memphis City Hall on June 23, 2022. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

State lawmakers on juvenile justice: In the latest article in our “Minor Offenders, Major Offenses” series, The Daily Memphian’s Ian Round takes a look at how Tennessee lawmakers plan to target juvenile justice this session. Several bills would build on last year’s mandatory-minimum “truth in sentencing” law to treat juveniles as adults in more circumstances. Many of the proposals reflect a tough-on-crime approach, but one bill would keep youth in the juvenile justice system past the age of 19.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Dillon Brooks (left) said of Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (right): “I don’t like Draymond at all.” (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Grizz give hope, Brooks gets revenge: In a week when most every Memphis Grizzlies headline has been bad, the team gave us a good one last night with a much-needed 131-110 win over the Golden State Warriors. It was supposed to be a star match-up between Ja Morant and the Warriors’ Stephen Curry, but instead we got a revenge game between Dillon Brooks and the Warriors Draymond Green, who talked a lot of trash about Brooks on his podcast this week. The Grizzlies scored 48 points alone in the first quarter, and Brooks nailed some beautiful baskets. Earlier in the day, we learned that Steven Adams will be out for at least another month (boo!). And before the game, Coach Taylor Jenkins addressed Morant’s recent breaking point. The Daily Memphian’s Geoff Calkins talked to a few fans at the game who are pulling for our star point guard.

GloRilla performed at the 65th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 5, in Los Angeles. Three people have died due to a stampede at her weekend concert in Rochester, New York. (Chris Pizzello/AP file)

GloRilla stampede claims third victim: A third person has died after being injured in a stampede at a GloRilla concert in Rochester, New York, last Sunday night. After the Memphis rapper’s concert ended, police say false fears of a shooting caused the crowd to surge. 

Sterilization Services of Tennessee located in South Memphis has been under scrutiny since last fall when the Environmental Protection Agency said living near the facility could increase residents’ lifetime cancer risk by up to 2,000 in a million. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

County may address cancer-causing pollution: The Shelby County Commission is expected to vote soon on a non-binding resolution calling on Sterilization Services of Tennessee in South Memphis to voluntarily halt its fugitive ethylene oxide emissions. The Memphis City Council passed a similar resolution in January. Last fall, the Environmental Protection Agency said the company’s EtO emissions could increase lifetime cancer risk by up to 2,000 in a million for people who live near the facility.

MEET MEMPHIS

Jenean Houston works in the warehouse of Lumalier, a designer of systems that disable viruses, molds and bacteria by zapping their DNA with ultraviolet light. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Memphis-based Lumalier designs systems that disable viruses, molds and bacteria by zapping their DNA with ultraviolet light. And since the pandemic, sales have skyrocketed. Before COVID, Lumalier’s customers were mainly hospitals, where sterile conditions have always been important. But during the pandemic and still today, the company’s client base has expanded to include big box stores, manufacturing plants and restaurants that may be investing in air quality for the first time. 

THE NICE TO KNOW

Oak Grove Centre tried to use white paint, but the color wasn’t approved by Collierville. The suburb’s Design Review Commission reviewed the paint color Thursday. (Abigail Warren/The Daily Memphian)

Paint the town brown (but not white): White may seem like a nice, neutral paint color — unless you’re in Collierville. When Oak Grove Centre on New Byhalia Road attempted to paint its buildings an off-white alabaster, the town came calling. According to a 2006 Collierville ordinance, some earth tones are allowed, but white is not. The business owners took it up with the town’s Design Review Commission on Thursday, and they were told white was a no-go. “This [review] is very intense for a paint color,” said Dana Jones, Oak Grove Centre’s commercial property manager.

Construction for the first phase of The Oliver started in September 2021. Contingent on amended PILOT approval, the second phase is expected to begin construction in July. (Courtesy Carlisle LLC)

Widening the Net: The developer transforming Downtown’s former Nylon Net building into a multifamily housing development called The Oliver wants to expand the project to include 63 additional units. Carlisle LLC is asking the Center City Revenue Finance Corp. for an extension of its payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) deal for that second phase of the project. The first phase, already under construction, will include 210 multifamily, residential units and a 262-car parking garage.

Conscious Potatoes + Chickpeas, with coconut rice and jama jama, was Jennifer Biggs’ favorite dish at Evelyn & Olive. (Jennifer Biggs/The Daily Memphian)

Jamaica me hungry: Saturday is the last day for Memphis Black Restaurant Week, so you’ve still got time to get out and support a restaurant or two. The Daily Memphian’s Jennifer Biggs stopped into participating eatery Evelyn & Olive this week, and she found a few $10 deals (or darn close to under $10). Her favorite dish at this Jamaican-Southern fusion restaurant also happens to be my fave: the Conscious Curry Potato + Chickpeas, a creamy, vegan stew with a curried, coconut milk base. It’ll run you $10.15, but as Biggs says “we’re not going to quibble over 15 cents.” While she was there, she learned of a hot, off-menu tip for Friday and Saturday nights.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

If you’re looking for a new fur baby, now would a great time to stop by Memphis Animal Services. Adoption fees are waived through Sunday.

And with that, it’s game over for The Early Word today. We’ll resume play again on Monday.

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