Good morning, Memphis, and happy birthday to Elvis! It’s Wednesday, Jan. 8, and The King would have turned 90 today. Graceland is celebrating this morning with a birthday proclamation on the mansion’s lawn, followed by cake and coffee for all at Vernon’s Smokehouse. There’s also a new “90 for 90” exhibition opening today with, yep, 90 artifacts from Presley’s life.

The Shelby County Commission will consider a “no confidence” vote on the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board today. That’s in response to the board’s ongoing efforts to terminate Superintendent Marie Feagins. And tonight, the Memphis Tigers women’s team will play UAB in an away game. 

THE NEED TO KNOW

Wing Guru owes Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant thousands for using his name, image and likeness without paying for it. (Brandon Dill/AP file)

Not their wing man: Memphis-based restaurant Wing Guru has been using Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant’s image to sell chicken. And now they owe him more than $365,000. Wing Guru had a deal with Morant to use his name, image and likeness for restaurant ads, but just months after the contract was signed, the restaurant abruptly stopped paying Morant. An independent arbitrator ruled last July that the restaurant owes Morant money for breaching the deal, and now Morant’s lawyers are asking a Shelby County Chancellor to affirm that ruling and for the restaurant to pay up.

Todd Mastry, Landers Center executive director, has been fired. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Landers Center director fired: Todd Mastry, Landers Center executive director since 2011, might need to update his LinkedIn soon. The DeSoto County Convention and Visitors Bureau board voted on Monday to fire Mastry, but board chair Amy Lovorn couldn’t say why “since this is a personnel matter.” It seems the termination may have been in the works since earlier this fall. During his time at the top, Mastry brought the Mid-South Fair to the Landers Center and oversaw the start of the arena’s expansion.

“There are a number of things I think we can still do to respond to the citizens’ desire to help alleviate the chronic problem we have with gun violence,” Memphis City Council Attorney Allen Wade said. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Trigger laws clear first vote: The Memphis City Council took the first step on Tuesday toward an ordinance that could change gun laws in the city. The so-called “trigger law” (seriously, that’s what it’s called) would allow the three gun-reform referendums approved by voters in November, which includes a ban on assault rifles, to go into effect if state law ever changes. But let’s be real; that’s a big “if,” so Memphis City Council attorney Allen Wade suggested some things the city can do now to go after people who own guns illegally. In other City Council news, controversial gates for public streets in Chickasaw Gardens were delayed for the ninth time. And also at council, Memphis Light, Gas and Water CEO Doug McGowen assured members that xAI’s massive planned expansion is still a long way from connecting to the power grid.

A for-sale sign has been placed in the Cooper-Young recovery house’s front yard. The asking price is $429,000. (Submitted)

CY sober owners sue: The owners of a proposed Cooper-Young recovery home have filed a lawsuit against Memphis and Shelby County. A Vision For You Recovery wanted to open a home for up to eight people in recovery from drugs and alcohol on Nelson Avenue in Cooper-Young, but neighbors have fought against the plan over parking and crime concerns. The city said the zoning code prohibits such homes in the neighborhood, but A Vision for You’s lawsuit claims that’s a violation of both the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. A Vision for You seemingly opened the home briefly without permission last fall, but that’s not mentioned in the lawsuit. A for-sale sign has since been placed in the home’s yard. 

QUOTED

RowVaughn Wells, (middle) mother of Tyre Nichols, attended a vigil on the two-year anniversary of his beating on Tuesday, Jan. 7. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

“This year has been unbearable. I had to listen to a cop tell people that they stopped my son for nothing, that he was not a threat.”

— RowVaughn Wells, Tyre Nichols’ mother
Wells and about 50 others marched on a cold Tuesday night from Ross Road to Castlegate Lane, where Nichols was beaten by Memphis police officers two years ago. Wells reflected on the recent trial of police officers convicted in Nichols’ death, and several others spoke about the city’s refusal to enter into a consent decree over the Department of Justice’s findings of discrimination by the Memphis Police Department.

THE NICE TO KNOW

“We are changing the hours to continue Lafayette’s legacy. We are doing it to keep the party going on,” said Matt Williams, director of operations for LNT Investments. (The Daily Memphian file)

Party still going at Lafayette’s: Lafayette’s Music Room is not closing, despite rumors on social media. But the Overton Square music club is changing its hours. Lafayette’s will now only be open four days a week, which its parent company says is an attempt to “keep the party going on.” Lafayette’s, an influential music venue in the early 1970s, reopened in 2014, nearly 40 years after it closed. 

“The things I’m most proud of are putting in the systems to make sure that Parks has the attention and the structure it needs in order to be able to thrive,” Memphis Parks Director Nick Walker said. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Parks director leaving Memphis: Memphis Parks Director Nick Walker has accepted a new job as parks director for Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and he’ll be leaving his Memphis job at the end of the month. Walker took over the parks department in 2019, when he was named interim director. The job became permanent in 2020, and during his time here, he oversaw a $75 million update of city parks. But Walker isn’t completely done with us; he has plans to pop in later this year. 

Elvis Presley would have turned 90 today. (Walter Lindlar/AP file)

30-hit wonder: On Elvis Presley’s 90th birthday, it seems as good a time as any to reflect back on the music that made Memphis famous. If you’re looking for the Elvis essentials, our own Chris Herrington has just the thing: 2002’s “30 #1 Hits,” which spans 21 years of Presley’s career. As the title implies, you’ll find all the hits: “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Love Me Tender” and “All Shook Up.” Herrington does the album better justice in his latest installment of his “The Essential Memphis Library” series. And in other entertainment news, Herrington has some artsy film suggestions for the weekend if “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” isn’t your thing. 

Injured Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant stood in the bench area during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, Dec. 29, in Oklahoma City. (Nate Billings/AP file)

Reply hazy, try again: From the perspective of someone who follows the Memphis Grizzlies but spends zero time looking at the actual stats, it would seem the outlook for a playoff run is pretty good. The Grizzlies are ranked way up in the West, and they’ve been knocking out some impressive wins (like that Golden State clobbering a few weeks back). But our own Chris Herrington is a numbers guy, and he’s here to rain on our parade a little. In this week’s Grizzlies column, he explains how a close inspection of the Grizzlies’ performance against other Western Conference teams in the playoff race “is just a little concerning.”

Arlington Town Hall on Airline Road may double in size. (Benjamin Naylor/The Daily Memphian file)

Temporary Town Hall? Arlington has a long-term plan to build a new Town Hall off Milton Wilson Road, but they’re about 88 acres shy of the land needed for those plans. So, the new plan — for now — is to add on to the existing Town Hall, which is currently too small to bring on needed staff. On Monday, the suburb’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the design phase for the addition, which would double the size of the Town Hall on Airline Road. In other Arlington BMA news, residents could soon have better access to the Loosahatchie River, thanks to a donation from the Shelby County Land Bank. 

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Snow is coming! The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch from Thursday evening through late Friday night, and we could get between four and six inches of snow. So, MLGW, y’all best be ready.

Thank ya very much, Memphis! See you tomorrow.

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