Please silence your cell phones, Memphis; it’s movie night. Today is Thursday, Nov. 14, and the 27th annual Indie Memphis Film Festival is rolling into Crosstown Theater with “It Was All a Dream,” a “visual memoir” about the golden age of hip-hop.

The fest continues through Tuesday with films at Crosstown and Malco’s Studio on the Square and Paradiso theaters. The schedule is packed, so if you’re having trouble deciding what to watch, check out movie buff Chris Herrington’s viewers’ guide.

Speaking of rolling, Chef Karen Carrier’s long-closed Do sushi spot is making a one-night-only comeback at Bar DKDC. Get there early, and make it dinner-and-a-movie date night.

THE NEED TO KNOW

FedEx is laying off hundreds, including some employees in Collierville. (Gene J. Puskar/AP file)

FedEx lays off hundreds: Memphis-based FedEx has let go of as many as 300 IT and support-service workers in Collierville, Pittsburgh and Dallas. FedEx announced the layoffs at the close of the office day Wednesday but didn’t specify the number or type of jobs; those details were filled in by employees who did not have permission to speak publicly. The cuts are likely a result of the shipping giant’s merger of Express, Ground and FedEx Services divisions. 

The gun-control referendums, if ever allowed to be enforced, would institute a handgun permit requirement in the city, restrict where an assault rifle could be carried and allow for the city to enact a red flag law. (Benjamin Naylor/The Daily Memphian file)

Gun-rights groups sue Memphis: Gun Owners of America and the Tennessee Firearms Association have filed a lawsuit against the City of Memphis and Interim Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis over the city’s newly approved gun-reform measures. That’s despite the fact that those reforms, which were overwhelmingly approved by voters earlier this month, can’t take effect without changes in state law. The lawsuit says its plaintiff, Ty Timmermann, wants to buy more semiautomatic rifles and claims the gun reforms infringe on his rights. 

Amber Covington

Covington out: The Greater Memphis Workforce Development Board voted on Wednesday to remove its director, Amber Covington. They cited an investigation, but no allegations or findings were made public after the closed-door session. Covington’s attorney criticized the board for what she said was an unfair process. Covington had been on paid leave after refusing resignation requests from the board’s executive committee and Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris. The board, which oversees federal workforce-development money, will be temporarily led by Greater Memphis Chamber exec Sondra Howell as it searches for a new leader.

Is Bill Lee bribing teachers? Gov. Bill Lee is trying to win over public-school advocates with a $2,000 bonus for public-school teachers as part of his statewide private-school voucher plan. But some eligible educators are accusing Lee of attempting to bribe them with “hush money.” His proposal, which died last legislative session but is making a comeback soon, uses taxpayer funding to pay private-school tuition. And critics worry that it would create funding uncertainty for public schools.

QUOTED

Residents took pictures during the Buc-ee’s Gallaway groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 13. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

“This is like the Disneyland of Fayette County. The economic benefit from this will be untold.”

— Fayette County Mayor Rhea “Skip” Taylor
That “Disneyland” won’t have Space Mountain. But it will have 120 gas pumps, brisket and homemade fudge. Construction on Buc-ee’s Gallaway near exit 28 on Interstate 40 officially began Wednesday. The groundbreaking drew Buc-ee’s co-founder Arch “Beaver” Aplin, who had lots of nice things to say about Tennessee.

THE NICE TO KNOW

The Swankys at Carrefour at Kirby Woods in Germantown is closing as the site is being redeveloped. (Abigail Warren/The Daily Memphian file)

Maybe we’ll taco later? Just like you said goodbye to flour tortillas during your keto phase, Swankys Taco Shop is saying goodbye to Germantown. But maybe — just maybe — like those tortillas, it’ll be back one day. MEM Hospitality majority owner Matt Wilson said they’re closing the Carrefour at Kirby Woods location that’s been open for nearly 20 years because of ongoing construction as the center is redeveloped into The Standard Germantown. The East Memphis Swankys on Poplar Avenue is here to stay though, and Wilson said they’re not ruling out another Germantown spot in the future.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (right) battled Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James on Wednesday, Nov. 13. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

At least they put up a good fight: The Memphis Grizzlies fell to the Los Angeles Lakers, 128-123, on Wednesday night, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. The bears got off to a slow start, trailing by double digits for most of the first half, but they picked things up in the second, despite still being without injured stars Ja Morant and Desmond Bane. But Lakers legends LeBron James and Anthony Davis were just killing it with the 3s and rebounding. That said, Marcus Smart was back in the game, and he really helped stabilize the Grizzlies when they needed it most.

Sundance Film Festival winner, “A Real Pain,” was written and directed by actor Jesse Eisenberg (left), who co-stars with Kieran Culkin (right). (Courtesy Searchlight Pictures)

Your holiday watch list: If cheesy Christmas movies are your thing (and they are mine), save your Friday night to catch the local premiere of “Red One.” This “globe-trotting, action-packed mission to save Christmas” stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as the North Pole’s head of security and Chris Evans as a bounty hunter; both team up to rescue a kidnapped Santa Claus. If your film tastes are more high-end (well, aren’t you special?), our resident movie buff Chris Herrington says Sundance Film Festival winner “A Real Pain” is a “better bet.”

Elauna Eaton led the University of Memphis Tigers against Ball State with a career-high 20 points. (Benjamin Naylor/The Daily Memphian file)

Tigers women fall to Ball: The Memphis Tigers women’s basketball team lost their second game of the season to Ball State, 95-66, on Wednesday night. The Tigers just kept turning over the ball to, um, Ball, which went on a scoring burst in the third quarter. In men’s basketball news, Coach Penny Hardaway is keeping the door open for roster additions now that the team is down to just nine available scholarship players. We’ve also got a look at what to watch in tomorrow’s men’s basketball match-up with Ohio. And in other Tigers news, we’ve got a look at senior defensive back Greg Rubin, who will play his final home game with the football team this Saturday against UAB.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT 

Memphis X is sad to see 901 FC go. The soccer club is relocating to Santa Barbara, California, after playing six seasons here without a real soccer stadium. 

And now, following a statement from the Memphis Redbirds on the poor condition of AutoZone Park, some baseball fans — including our own Geoff Calkins — are getting worried, too. The St. Louis Cardinals and Redbirds have an agreement to play in AutoZone Park through the 2030 season, but after that is anyone’s guess if the park doesn’t get some serious love. 

For real though, the bathrooms at AutoZone Park look like something from a zombie-apocalypse film. Here’s hoping for a fix!

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