Morning, Memphis. It’s Monday, Sept. 23, and the long-awaited trial for the suspects accused of killing Memphis rapper Young Dolph is scheduled to begin today. Dolph’s murder was way back in 2021, so here’s a refresher on the shooting, the suspects and a few theories as to why he was killed.

The Shelby County Commission returns to a nearly $16 million list of “emergency” repairs for the Shelby County Jail at its meeting today. The Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen will be dissolving some old commissions that are no longer active. Among them: The Animal Control Commission, which hasn’t held a meeting in 24 years. Over at the Collierville BMA, aldermen will consider senior housing in the Bailey Station-Winchester area.

It’s also the date of a grim anniversary in Collierville: Three years ago today, a shooter opened fire at the Kroger on New Byhalia Road, killing one woman and injuring dozens more. For a look at the days ahead, check out This Week in Memphis.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Memphis Mayor Paul Young could ask the state to fund security cameras around FedExForum. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Gun reform and the Grizzlies: Memphis Mayor Paul Young plans to ask the Tennessee General Assembly for help funding security enhancements, like cameras, around FedExForum. That’s part of a plan to renovate the arena and ink a new long-term deal with the Memphis Grizzlies. But there could be a catch: House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally have threatened to withhold sales tax funding from Memphis if the gun-reform referendum stays on the ballot, and those ballot questions are now a done deal. While withholding sales tax could be difficult, they could deny other funding requests, and our own Geoff Calkins worries that could mean saying no to money that would keep the Grizzlies in town.

How to get kids to go to school: Students are considered chronically absent if they miss about 18 school days in a year. And that’s long been an issue for local schools. The chronic absenteeism rate for Memphis-Shelby County Schools in the 2023-2024 school year was nearly 30%. So, what can be done to get butts in seats? Over the past year, a cohort of local charter schools has been testing a few things, like free haircut days and free Barbies for kids, among other strategies. And it seems to be working.

Craig Unger, the Redbirds’ president and general manager, said he had discussed the future of the city-owned AutoZone Park with Memphis Mayor Paul Young. (The Daily Memphian file)

Big catch for AutoZone Park: The Memphis Redbirds’ taxpayer-owned ballpark could be getting a much-needed refresh soon. The City of Memphis is readying $16 million in bonds to subsidize a two-part project that includes renovations at AutoZone Park and parking for the 100 N. Main redevelopment. Downtown’s Center City Revenue Finance Corp. is issuing the bonds and then loaning the proceeds to the City of Memphis. The city had previously planned to renovate AutoZone Park with state stadium funding, but that money ultimately went to FedExForum and Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. 

QUOTED

“Honestly, I’m Italian, and I had a hard time believing Dino was. He was too calm to be Italian.”

— June LaPorta, former colleague of Dino Grisanti
Chef and Immaculate Conception Cathedral School English teacher Dino Grisanti died on Thursday after a battle with cancer. Grisanti closed his Farm and Fig restaurant in January after his diagnosis. LaPorta worked with Grisanti at Immaculate Conception and recalled his calm demeanor and love for his students.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Dr. Carol Loree Champion is the daughter of Dr. Charles Champion, the first Black pharmacist at John Gaston Hospital, now known as Regional One Health. (Ziggy Mack/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Like a champ: Champion’s Pharmacy and Herb Store, which has operated in South Memphis for decades, has expanded with a new Downtown location. Founder Dr. Charles Champion died in 2023 at age 92, and now his daughter Dr. Carol Loree Champion runs the shop, which is best-known for the elder Champion’s handcrafted herbal formulas. The new place on Monroe Avenue was made possible by Downtown Memphis Commission’s Open On Main program. And Champion’s growth isn’t stopping there.

The Overland’s elk rack is served on a bed of Irish cheddar grits and smoked corn puree. (Chris Herrington/The Daily Memphian)

‘Yellowstone’ meets Memphis: Want to know what dinner would taste like on the Dutton family ranch? Now you can eat like the homesteaders on “Yellowstone” at The Overland in Germantown. The new restaurant on the top floor of the TownPlace Suites features a Montana-inspired menu with dishes you probably won’t find anywhere else around these parts. Think elk and bison ribeye. The Daily Memphian’s resident foodie Chris Herrington never thought Memphis was missing Montana until he tried The Overland’s elk rack, which he describes as “lean, tender, flavorful and not at all gamey.” Here’s a rundown of all the dishes he tried.

“We want people to forget about their troubles for a moment and think about which prizes to get,” said Lei Wang, one of the owners of Mini Claw arcade at Wolfchase Galleria. (Ziggy Mack/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Saving the mall: Let’s be honest. When was the last time you went to the mall? In the age of the internet, it’s so much easier to order what you need without having to put on pants. So malls are having to get creative to stay alive. Take, for example, the new Mini Claw shop in Wolfchase Galleria. It’s filled with those toy-stuffed claw machines that look so easy, yet often leave your prize just out of grasp and you $20 poorer. That’s one example of experiential retail, a broad swath of entertainment spaces, like ax-throwing, escape rooms, etc. that malls across the country are adopting. The Daily Memphian’s Jane Roberts looks at the trend and hints at a “dirty soda” shop that could be coming soon. 

Memphis Tigers quarterback Seth Henigan ran with the ball as the Tigers played the Navy Midshipmen on Saturday, Sept. 21, in Annapolis, Maryland. (Courtesy Memphis Athletics)

Midshipmen drown Tigers: The Memphis Tigers fell to the Navy Midshipmen, 56-44, on Saturday. The loss likely felt more disappointing since it followed one of Coach Ryan Silverfield’s biggest wins over Florida State last week. The Midshipmen took the lead in the second quarter and never gave it back. A Tigers 36-yard touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown gave fans some hope in the fourth, but it just wasn’t enough. And to make matters worse, the loss led to Memphis being dropped from the Coaches Poll. What does the loss mean for playoff chances and conference realignment? According to columnist John Martin, the outlook is not so good.

The Memphis Grizzlies have hired Tuomas Iisalo from Europe’s Paris Basketball to diagnose the team’s halfcourt woes. (Gregorio Marrero/AP file)

Put ’em in, Coach: Memphis Grizzlies Coach Taylor Jenkins has made some big changes to his coaching staff for the upcoming season. Among them: He elevated player development expert Anthony Carter to the front of the bench and added skills coach Noah LaRoche, among other promotions and additions. Grizzlies star Jaren Jackson Jr. recently hinted at how the new coaches are already bringing value: “We have a new way of playing. It’s going to be nice.” The Daily Memphian’s Drew Hill offers some thoughts on what that could mean. In other Grizz news, the team’s most iconic jersey is making a comeback.

THIS WEEK’S WEATHER

Autumn arrived on Sunday with very summery weather, but actual fall temps (and showers) are moving in this week. Dig out those jackets for the chilly nights.

Happy fall, y’all. And have an excellent Monday.

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