Wake up, Memphis. It’s Monday, July 29, the first day of school for new University of Memphis athletic director Ed Scott. Scott’s got a big job ahead of him that includes raising even more money for stadium renovations and getting more butts in seats for Tigers games. 

For a look at what else is coming up, check out This Week in Memphis.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Nickson General Contractors led construction on the renovation of the Cossitt Library in 2020, a project the Memphis River Parks Patnership managed. (The Daily Memphian file)

Red flags: Nickson General Contractors is trying to recover nearly $400,000 that it says Memphis River Parks Partnership paid to a scammer, rather than the construction company. Nickson led construction on the renovation of the Cossitt Library in 2020, and after paying Nickson five payments for its work, MRPP then mistakenly paid the sixth payment to a scammer that had hacked into Nickson’s email. Nickson alleges MRPP should have noticed red flags with the emails based on their strange wording, and MRPP says Nickson should have known it’d been hacked. The dispute is set for a September court hearing.

A rendering of the planned Frayser high school, which would be built to educate the students who are now attending MLK Prep or Trezevant High School. (Courtesy Memphis-Shelby County Schools)

School money: Projected construction costs for new high schools in Frayser and Cordova have risen to more than double what Shelby County had planned to pay. The county raised its wheel tax last year to generate money for both of the new schools and a rebuild of Regional One Health, but there’s still a gap, and additional state funding seems unlikely. Yet that hasn’t stopped the two proposed Memphis-Shelby County Schools from moving through the permitting process. MSCS Superintendent Marie Feagins said the school system will be taking a “deeper look at our funds” to determine how to proceed.

Dominick White (middle) spoke during at End HIV Community Advisory Committee meeting on Wednesday, July 10, at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

HIV on the rise: In most parts of the country, HIV infection rates are declining. But rates have increased 36% in Shelby County since 2018, with a large percentage of new cases in people ages 15 to 19. In the first of a two-part series, The Daily Memphian’s Aisling Mäki looks at how organizations like Shelby County Health Department and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital are working to combat the problem. And in part two, she looks at what’s contributing to the rise in HIV rates among young people, specifically Black teens and young adults aged 13 to 24. It’s a complex issue that includes cultural stigma, limited sex-ed in schools and even dating apps.

MEET MEMPHIS

“If we’ve talked 15 minutes, we’ve become friends,” said Memphis International Airport officer Craig Elliott. “If you’re back in this airport, I’m Cuz Craig.” (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Officer Craig Elliott may carry a gun and a set of handcuffs in his work as a security officer at Memphis International Airport. But he also carries a smile and a friendly demeanor that’s earned him the nickname Cuz Craig. Elliott, a retired U.S. Army major, has built a reputation around the airport as a friendly guy who will go out of his way to chat it up with passengers and help anyone in need. He was recently honored by the airport authority’s board of commissioners.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Scott, left, and Rebekah Tashie, owners of City Silo Table + Pantry, reviewed the blueprints for the renovations of the former McAlister’s Deli on Mendenhall Road. (Sophia Surrett/The Daily Memphian)

Gonna need a bigger silo: City Silo Table + Pantry is closing its original Sanderlin Centre location this fall and reopening in the old McAlister’s Deli on Mendenhall Road. The new space will be larger with more parking and a patio, something that’s been missing from the current spot. With the move will also come a new menu. In other new-eats news, our own Chris Herrington paid a visit to The Smash & Grab Burger Lab, a fashion-inspired food truck that combines caramelized smashburgers with fashion and hip-hop. (And if that seems like a odd pairing, just read the story.) And if you’re hungry today, head to Blue Honey Bistro in Germantown, where food writer Jennifer Chandler offers suggestions on a mushroom-forward app and a dessert that’s “worth every calorie.”

The Daily Memphian sports team voted for their favorite local athletes of the past century, but they left out some big names. (Credit: Kelsey Bowen)

Memphis sports GOATs: Or, well, maybe not “greatest of all time,” but greatest in recent memory. The Daily Memphian sports staff ranked who they consider to be the Top 25 Memphis athletes since 2000. And we began revealing those players, from lowest-ranked to highest, this past weekend. But as our sports columnist Geoff Calkins points out, you’re probably going to be “ticked off” when you see who we left out: record-setting quarterbacks, multiple Olympians, one of the most popular Grizzlies of all time. Anywho, here are the athletes they ranked No. 21-25 (including a recent Daytona 500 winner) and No. 16-20 (spoiler alert: The Grindfather is in here). Stay tuned for more of the best athletes this week.

A tiger statue on the the University of Memphis campus was the site of a recent cash drop. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Free money: If you follow the @we.love.memphis account on Instagram, you’ve probably seen their recent cash drop videos. If not, here’s the gist: In each video, a hand is shown tucking $50 bills in public places around town, and it’s up to followers to figure out where to grab the free funds. The game was the idea of the account’s founder, Conner McLeod, and it’s just his fun way of giving back. He’s since started a second account dedicated to the cash drops, and now local businesses are getting on board.

Ja Morant, holding his daughter Kaari, was inducted into the Murray State University Class of 2024 Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, July 27. (Courtesy Dave Winder/Murray State University Athletics)

Ja’ll of Fame: Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant received accolades on Saturday night as he was inducted into the Murray State Class of 2024 Athletics Hall of Fame. Morant, who played college basketball for Murray State before going pro, attended the ceremony and thanked the crowd for sticking by him, even as he went through an NBA suspension for his second gun-toting viral video last year. 

THIS WEEK’S WEATHER

Remember last week when it was in the 70s and 80s? Yeah, cherish the memories, because those days are over. Summer is back with a vengeance this week.

Water those plants, because nature ain’t going to do it for you this week. See you tomorrow!

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