Democracy is in the air on this Friday, July 12, because early voting for the August ballot starts today. If you’re not sure where to vote or how, we’ve got you covered with our Ballot Basics guide. And we’ve got even more election info below.

Tonight, 1990s alt-rockers the Goo Goo Dolls play Live at the Garden. And on Saturday, Memphis Made Brewing officially says goodbye to Midtown with a music- and comedy-filled farewell party. On Saturday evening, the Ed Murphey Classic brings three Olympians to Beale Street for the annual pole-vaulting competition. And the Memphis Grizzlies’ summer team kicks off Las Vegas Summer League with a contest against the Sacramento Kings.

Sunday is Bastille Day, and it’s also opening day for three new exhibitions at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens: a show of modern Southern artwork, an exhibition inspired by Wilson, Arkansas, and an interactive homage to paper. For more weekend fun, check out The To-Do List.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Mary Claire Borys will serve as the new interim head of Memphis Animal Services. (Courtesy City of Memphis)

New interim head at MAS: Mary Claire Borys has been appointed to lead Memphis Animal Services on an interim basis while the city investigates full-time director Ty Coleman. That investigation was sparked after a dog named Lulu died in late June after being left in an outside kennel on a very hot day. Borys was previously the strategic initiatives administrator for the city’s Division of Housing and Community Development, but she’s also an animal lover with three dogs and seven cats at home. Borys said her first focus will be improving MAS staffing levels. 

The Walk mixed-use development is planned for this vacant land on Union Avenue. (Patrick Lantrip/ Daily Memphian)

The Walk walks on: It’s been a while since we’ve heard about The Walk, the mixed-use development planned for 29 acres between AutoZone Park and FedExForum (where the old Lit store used to be). The project received a 30-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) in August 2020, and then things went quiet. As of now, ground hasn’t been broken, and funding has not been secured. But the project has new owners, and they’re moving ahead with $741 million in apartments, retail, hotel rooms and office space.

Loranzo West, right, said his ex-wife Anitra West, left, was killed over “one person’s lack of self-control.” (Courtesy Loranzo West)

Police search for Church’s Chicken killer: Anitra West, an employee at Church’s Texas Chicken in Orange Mound, was shot and killed on Monday night, following an argument with a woman in the drive-thru, who has since been identified as Monica Williams. The Memphis Police Department announced a first-degree murder warrant against Williams, who remained at large as of Thursday afternoon. Rev. Reggie Tucker of Orange Mound Outreach Ministries blamed Tennessee’s lax gun laws for West’s death.

Tres Wittum of Nashville, left, is challenging incumbent Marsha Blackburn for the U.S. Senate seat. (The Daily Memphian files)

Marsha, Marsha, Marsha: When you go to the polls today (or any time during the early-voting period), you’ll be asked to vote in one of two primaries for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn. She’s seeking another six-year term, and she’s got a very vocal primary opponent in Tres Wittum of Nashville, a self-described “Millenial statesman” who has accused Blackburn of aiding “the opposition” after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. On the Democratic primary side, there’s a four-way contest featuring two high-profile names: Rep. Gloria Johnson of Knoxville (best-known as part of the Tennessee Three) and environmental activist Marquita Bradshaw of Memphis. 

MEET MEMPHIS

Maia McCoy

Former Whitehaven High track-and-field standout Maia McCoy’s 2024 Olympic dreams were shattered this week when the Liberian Olympic committee chose someone else for a spot on their team. McCoy had been competing for Liberia — and was doing quite well — for the last year or so. But her experience there left much to be desired. “It was pretty chaotic,” McCoy said. “The stadium we were supposed to compete [in], they didn’t have it ready.” While her performance didn’t land her a spot in the Paris games, McCoy says she has a new appreciation for her sport and for “the different realities of people across the world.”

THE NICE TO KNOW

Good Groceries Market & Cafe is located at 585 S. Cooper St. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Good news: The Good Groceries Mobile Diner food truck now has a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the old Muddy’s Grindhouse space on Cooper Street. The new space, called Good Groceries Market & Cafe, serves the food truck favorites, including the salmon burger and crispy tofu sandwich. But it also doubles as a market where you can buy fresh flowers and local art. In other food news, chocolatier Phillip Ashley Rix has created an Olympic-inspired box of chocolates offering a taste of all 50 states. (And yes, Tennessee tastes like barbecue.)

This Downtown alley is now officially named Stereo Alley. (Laura Testino/The Daily Memphian)

Up Memphis’ alley: The alley between Court Square and Madison Avenue Downtown is now called Stereo Alley. In the 1960s, radio station KLYX played music in the alley to attract tourists, and it was informally dubbed Stereo Alley. But until Thursday, when the Shelby County Land Use Control Board approved the official name change, it was known as Park Lane and Bates Alley. The name change is part of a larger effort to activate the alley ahead of the Sterick Building’s redevelopment. In other renamings, a section of Front Street between Poplar Avenue and Beale Street will be renamed in honor of retired Judge Bernice Donald, the first Black female judge in Tennessee, this October.

A gas station is proposed for this Westwood lot at 4471 S. Third St. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Out of gas? The Shelby County Land Use Control Board board hit the brakes on a controversial gas station planned for Westwood. The project was proposed for a lot on South Third Street that’s currently home to a car wash, but residents have publicly opposed the project. One LUCB member worried the station would bring “people hanging out, shootings, killings.” But the no vote doesn’t necessarily mean the gas station plan is dead. And owner Musleh Hefdhallah said, if approved, he would make it a “family business” that doesn’t sell beer or lottery tickets. 

Mande Dibi’s brisket stands up to most around town. (Joshua Carlucci/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Mande Dibi has the meats: Newish West African barbecue-fusion restaurant Mande Dibi serves a variety of grilled meats — lamb and chicken to beef and oxtail — which food writer Joshua Carlucci describes using words like “fatty,” “succulent” and “impossibly tender.” If that sounds appealing, he would recommend you try the brisket, one of this week’s $10 Deals. (As for me, I’m going for the West African-style collard greens with habanero.) 

GOT GAME?

Kids enjoyed water slides at Overton Park on the Overton Park Greensward on July 6. (Benjamin Naylor/The Daily Memphian)

Maybe you’re ready to make a splash at a weekend pool party. It’ll certainly be hot enough. But first, try your hand at this week’s Jigsaw, which features an image from Overton Park’s recent waterside party.

This week’s Word Search is dedicated to Zambodian and former Memphis mayoral candidate Prince Mongo. Yes, Spirits, that means you’ll be searching for words like “rubber chicken,” “loincloth” and “googles.”

As for this week’s 5x5 Crossword, “half” is half of the clue, inspired by a popular seafood story this week.

Get out there and vote! And then have a great weekend.

.....