Happy Friday, Memphis! It’s June 27, and we’re still a full week away from the Fourth of July, but don’t tell that to the folks in Arlington. They’re starting Independence Day early with a fireworks show tonight. 

On a more serious note, today is National HIV Testing Day, and you can get checked out for free at the Shelby County Health Department HQ.

It’s a big weekend for music fans. Tonight, Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan are sharing a stage at the Outlaw Music Festival at the Memphis Botanic Garden. And Filipino American R&B duo Mak Ro is at the Overton Park Shell. On Saturday, Memphis metalcore band Sleep Theory plays Minglewood Hall, and David Ryan Harris — longtime guitarist for John Mayer — has a Sunday show at Crosstown Arts. 

See even more goings-on in The To Do List.

THE NEED TO KNOW

U.S. District Judge Mark Norris has now recused himself from two cases related to the death of Tyré Nichols. (The Daily Memphian file)

Judge not: U.S. District Judge Mark Norris has removed himself from yet another case related to the death of Tyré Nichols. On Thursday, Norris removed himself from presiding over the Nichols family’s civil-rights lawsuit against the City of Memphis. That move came on the same day that the city tried to access sealed documents in the federal, criminal case over Nichols’ death. Norris had been the judge over that one, too, before stepping down from it earlier this month for unknown reasons. Documents about Norris’ federal recusal are among the many the city seeks.

The Memphis Grizzlies picked West Virginia’s Javon Small in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft. (Charlie Riedel/AP file)

Rookie moves: The Memphis Grizzlies used pick No. 48 in round two of the NBA Draft Thursday for West Virginia senior guard Javon Small. Small, who is apparently really good at free throws, addresses the need for another ball handler to play alongside Ja Morant and Scotty Pippen Jr. They also selected Tennessee guard Jahmai Mashack. That deal came with some complicated draft math with the Golden State Warriors that also gave the Grizzlies draft rights to a player from a German pro league. All of this action came after Wednesday’s round one, where the Grizzlies picked wing Cedic Coward at pick No. 11. — a move that seemingly put Coward’s college coach on the wrong side of basketball history. 

The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority Board approved a resolution Thursday to name the airport after Fred Smith. (Photo by Annie Leibovitz)

Flying into Fred Smith: Memphis International Airport could get a new name. Jack Sammons, Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority Board member, presented a resolution to the authority Thursday to rename the airport after FedEx founder Fred Smith, who died last weekend. Sammons said he’d been wanting to name the airport after the FedEx founder for decades, but that Smith said “naming buildings is for dead people.” Now that the ball is rolling, the next step falls to the Federal Aviation Administration.

MEET MEMPHIS

“The other day, a nice young man who was selling cigarettes helped me cross the street. I didn’t know him, and he didn’t know me. In Memphis, I see daily kindness all the time,” said Sister Trudy Foster. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

The very last nun from the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, a religious order that began its work in Memphis in 1884, has left. On Monday, that nun, Sister Trudy Foster, moved from Crosstown to a retirement convent in Kentucky. Foster touched a lot of lives as a teacher and principal of St. Anne’s on Highland, Our Lady of Sorrows and Holy Rosary. And our own Geoff Calkins gives her a nice send-off with some words of wisdom from the nun herself — including a story about the time she stopped a knife fight.

THE NICE TO KNOW

University of Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway talked with forward Dain Dainja during practice at the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on March 20. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Dainja denied: The chances that we’ll see Memphis Tigers forward Dain Dainja back on the court next season are growing thinner. The NCAA has denied his waiver request for an additional season of eligibility. The 2024-25 season was Dainja’s fifth year in college, but he only played three full seasons of basketball due to an injury, so he believes he’s due another year. The next step? Dainja could take the NCAA to court.

Kinfolk owner Cole Jeanes surveyed construction of his restaurant on Thursday, August 29, 2024, as renovations continued after a water leak. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Breaking the mold: Breakfast and brunch spot Kinfolk is closing until further notice, as it deals with a mold problem. The Harbor Town restaurant was flooded last summer, thanks to a water leak from the apartment upstairs, and now they’re dealing with “elevated mold levels” in a few areas. Read more on that — and another popular eatery that’s temporarily closing — in Food Files. And in other food news, writer Erica Horton has a $15 Deal sandwich that comes with a secret “sweet, savory, peppery” sauce with ingredients that are even a mystery to the wait staff. 

“(This) accreditation will allow pilots to get their (commercial) license at 1,250 hours instead of the (normal) 1,500,” said Southwest Tennessee student Darrell DeGraffenreid. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Full throttle: Southwest Tennessee Community College’s aviation program is really taking off. On Thursday, SWTCC announced that it was approved for the Federal Aviation Administration’s Part 141 designation. That means student pilots can get their licenses faster because they’ll receive training in school instead of while accumulating hours in a cockpit. SWTCC is the only school in the state to earn that designation, and the school’s president said it’ll be especially useful in Memphis’ job market.

Memphis Mayor Paul Young, left, and EDGE President and CEO Joann Massey unveiled the new “Entrepreneurship City: Where Grit Meets Growth” program on Thursday. (Dima Amro/The Daily Memphian)

Young’s got your back: Small business owners often have to look in all kinds of places to find info on grants, loans and other resources. But a new program, from Memphis Mayor Paul Young and the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County, should put everything all in one place. Young said the program, called “Entrepreneurship City,” could find “the next big idea.” “You got an idea? We want you to know that we have your back,” he said.

GOT GAME?

It’ll be a while before you can watch another Memphis Tigers basketball game. But how about this week’s Jigsaw puzzle of a Coach Penny Hardway pic instead? That’s a Tigers game, right?

Memphis Tigers basketball coach Penny Hardaway spoke at Owners Box Sports Grill in Lakeland on June 17. (Benjamin Naylor/The Daily Memphian)

The Greater Memphis Chamber says we’re all living in the “Digital Delta,” so you might as well get used to the new lingo. Here’s your Word Search for practice. 

In this week’s 5x5, “the most important Memphian of all time” is a clue. (Hint: No, it’s not Elvis or Cybill Shepherd.)

Now go enjoy the weekend! Well, maybe finish your work first.

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