Dig in, Memphis! It’s Thursday, Feb. 6 — National Chopsticks Day. If you were looking for an excuse to order lo mein takeout for dinner, this is it. But why wait until tonight to use chopsticks? You could make Korean jeon (savory fritters) for breakfast and have ramen for lunch. 

While you’re shoveling food into your mouth all day, you might want to check our website for updates on any Memphis Grizzlies trade moves. The NBA trade deadline is at 2 p.m. today, and our own Chris Herrington says there’s a chance Jake LaRavia, John Konchar, Luke Kennard or even Marcus Smart could go. Here’s a look at his most recent trade rumor round-up.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Fans reacted as Dru Hill performed at Beale Street Music Festival in Tom Lee Park on Sunday, May 7, 2023. (Ziggy Mack/The Daily Memphian fil)

Memphis in Nay: For the second year in a row, the Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival isn’t happening. MIM announced on Wednesday that the fest, which went on “pause” in 2024, would be paused again in 2025. But if you’re still holding out hope to see random acts like Jimmy Eat World, Snoop Dogg, Nickelback, Phoebe Bridgers and Boyz II Men all in the same weekend, never fear. The fest best-known for mixing up throwback artists with current hitmakers should be back in 2026 — just not in Tom Lee Park. (Note: That is not a real line-up, but would anyone be surprised to see all those names play Music Fest in one weekend?)

Dow McVean

Peer Power seeks distance from Feagins suit: Former Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins alleged in a lawsuit that the status of Peer Power Foundation’s tutoring contract with the district was central to the MSCS board’s plot to fire her. Feagins’ suit claimed board members had been secretly planning to fire her for months. And it traced that plan back to an incident where Peer Power board member Dow McVean, angered that the foundation’s contract had not been renewed, yelled at Feagins in a parking lot. On Wednesday, McVean released a public letter apologizing for his outburst and denying at least one claim in the suit. Peer Power’s contract with MSCS was never renewed, but its tutoring work has continued in charter schools.

“Those who are responsible for funding the school system … should take whatever means necessary to ensure that the funding ... is going to be appropriated appropriately for education,” Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. said. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

County Commission to vote on MSCS audit: When the Shelby County Commission meets on Monday, they’ll vote on a “forensic financial audit” of Memphis-Shelby County Schools. Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. is sponsoring the resolution in response to the MSCS board’s January firing of Superintendent Marie Feagins. If passed, it would be paid for by $50,000 from the commission’s contingency fund. The commission, MSCS’ only local funder, provided $427 million to the district this year, but the commission has no line-item control over how that money is spent.

State tries to deny education access: Tennessee’s Republican lawmakers filed a bill this week that would allow public schools to deny access to students based on their immigration status. If passed, it would challenge a more than 40-year-old precedent which ensures all children access to a free public education, regardless of citizenship status. The state’s Democratic lawmakers have responded with vehement disapproval, and the director of one local immigrant-rights group called it an “outright assault against the United States Constitution.”

QUOTED

“If you want to come to Springfest and show out, we’re going to show out. We’re going to bust your tail.”

— Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite
Last year, Southaven’s annual Springfest carnival was shut down early after fighting broke out, and festival attendees started fleeing. Musselwhite said Wednesday that the city is beefing up security measures for a safer event this April.

THE NICE TO KNOW

University of Memphis guard PJ Haggerty (right) looked to drive by Tulsa University defender Isaiah Barnes (left) on Tuesday, Feb. 5. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Triple threat Tigers: The Memphis Tigers were nailing the 3s Wednesday night in their 83-71 win over Tulsa. The Tigers looked a little sleepy at first, but they woke up with six 3-pointers in a little more than a five-minute span in the second half, thanks to PJ Haggerty, Tyrese Hunter and Colby Rogers. For some fans, a win by 12 points is a good night, but not for The Daily Memphian’s Tim Buckley. He points to the 19-point lead that closed to 12 before the game’s end and says the Tigers will “have to do more than just win” if they want to go for a title. 

The price of eggs has gone up due to the nationwide bird-flu epidemic. (Robert F. Bukaty/AP file)

Sunny side down: The national bird-flu epidemic may already have egg prices eggs-hausting your budget. And if you eat at Waffle House (though good luck finding one in Memphis proper), you’re about to really feel it since the chain is adding a 50-cent surcharge per egg. The Daily Memphian’s Jennifer Chandler talked to a grocery store owner and a restaurateur about the egg-flation, and here’s a hot budget tip: Skip Waffle House, and eat at Sunrise Memphis instead. (Also, as a vegan, might I suggest tofu scramble? Or even cheaper, oatmeal?) In other food news, if you’re waiting for Memphis to get an In-N-Out, you might be waiting a while. 

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (middle) was fouled by Toronto’s Gradey Dick (right) as Ja’Kobe Walter (14) defended on Wednesday, Feb. 5, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Whoomp, there it is: The Memphis Grizzlies tag team of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. was back again (check it to wreck it, let’s begin?) in Wednesday night’s 138-107 victory over the Toronto Raptors. For the fourth time this season — and the second this week — the stars both scored 25-plus points. The game started out slow with a double-digit hole in the first quarter, but things quickly picked up, and Morant even showed out with a one-handed, 60-foot pass to Jaylen Wells, who went for the layup. Back to JJJ though: The last installment of Drew Hill’s series on Jaren Jackson Jr.’s summer vlog is up, and we’re taking a little trip to Japan, where fashion is literally tucked around every corner.

Bertram Williams (left) rehearsed with Hattiloo Theatre founder and CEO Ekundayo Bandele for the play “Black Odyssey” on Jan. 23. (Ziggy Mack/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Show must go on: Actor Bertram Williams Jr., best known for playing Woddy on Starz’ “P-Valley,” has stepped down from his lead role in Hattiloo Theatre’s “Black Odyssey.” Williams didn’t give an explanation as to why he was quitting the show, which runs through Feb. 16. But Hattiloo founder and CEO Ekundayo Bandele has stepped up to fill Williams’ shoes, though not literally; those, it turns out, do not fit. In other theater news, here’s our guide to February stage productions. And on a similar note, here’s our February concert guide. And a final arts plug: Giant trolls have invaded Memphis Botanic Garden, thanks to Danish artist Thomas Dambo, and they’re here to help us save the Earth. 

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Someone please give the City of Bartlett’s social media person a raise. Seriously. 

I’m off to eat something with chopsticks! See you soon.

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