Load up those backpacks with No. 2 pencils (and orange and purple folders, apparently). It’s Monday, Aug. 4, and Memphis-Shelby County Schools students are back in class. 

All of the suburban districts start back later this week. See those dates and what else is coming up This Week in Memphis.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Memphis-Shelby County Schools Interim Superintendent Roderick Richmond has a temporary contract that goes through the end of July 2026. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

5 things about MSCS: As Memphis-Shelby County Schools students return to class today, the district is facing a lot of potential change. For one, state lawmakers could still vote on takeover legislation when they reconvene in January, and a state forensic audit is looming, too. Interim Superintendent Roderick Richmond is expected to deliver a plan to close and consolidate schools, and he’s already implementing changes to academic programs at Memphis’ lowest-performing schools. And all of this is going on amid possible changes to MSCS school board elections and the potential for a superintendent search. The Daily Memphian’s Laura Testino dives into all of these issues.

“XAI and Southaven, Mississippi, a great partnership now and into the future!” wrote Darren Musselwhite in a blog post. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Musselwhite hearts xAI: Southaven Mayor Darren Musselwhite gushed about Elon Musk’s xAI in a blog post last week. He was commenting on the fact that xAI just bought the former Duke Energy plant in Southaven with plans to use it to power its Whitehaven data center, which is just across the state border. Musselwhite said he’s not concerned about the impact of potential xAI pollution on his city. Read more on what he said in this week’s Political Round-up, plus news of former Memphis mayoral candidate Van Turner’s missing campaign finance forms.

Josh Spickler with Just City released a list of “three simple, very specific demands” of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office last week. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Get out of jail free: Criminal-justice reform nonprofit Just City plans to bail out around 30 people from the Shelby County Jail. Those selected for the bailouts have “minor, nonviolent” charges and bail set at or below $4,000. Just City announced its “rapid bailout action” plan on Friday, days after the death of jail inmate Rockez McDaniel. “Rockez McDaniel should still be alive. There is absolutely no reason this had to happen,” said Just City’s bail-fund coordinator. Along with the announcement, Just City also released a list of demands for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office to improve the jail.

QUOTED

The Overton Park Shell is still standing because of efforts by Save Our Shell, a group that included John Larkin. Larkin died last week. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

“[John Larkin] ate, slept and breathed the [Overton Park] Shell.”

— Pam McGaha, friend of John Larkin
Larkin, the man who placed a crucial role in saving the Overton Park Shell from demolition, died Friday at age 75 after a lengthy illness. Larkin was part of the Save Our Shell group that formed in the 1980s in response to a plan to tear down the historic stage and put in a parking lot. Larkin was so dedicated that he became the Shell’s caretaker, security guard, carpenter, event booker and more.

THE NICE TO KNOW

The Poplar viaduct, constructed in 1928, is one of the oldest active viaducts in Memphis. (Courtesy Josh Whitehead, digitized by John T. Dulaney)

Why we have the Poplar viaduct: Drivers these days probably don’t even notice the railroad tracks under Poplar Avenue near Scott Street. That’s thanks to the Poplar Avenue viaduct, which was built in the late 1920s to bypass the dangerous tracks and spur eastward development. In this week’s Ask the Memphian, Jody Callahan delivers a history lesson on how the viaduct got there, who paid for it and what the word “viaduct” even means.

Scottie Scheffler laughed with his caddy, Ted Scott, at the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind on Aug. 18, 2024. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Almost par-tee time: Memphis’ biggest golf event is back, and you can thank FedEx founder Fred Smith for that. The FedEx St. Jude Championship, which Smith saved from going belly up years ago, starts Wednesday with a practice round, and the competition kicks off Thursday. The top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings will be there, including the world’s No. 1 golfer (and last year’s FedEx Cup winner) Scottie Scheffler. Just here for the food? Putter on over to one of the many vendors selling everything from tacos to wings to barbecue. Here’s your complete guide to the FESJC.

Memphis Mojo Cafe, located at 7124 U.S. Highway 64, has closed after 13 years in Bartlett. (Michael Waddell/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Not losing Mojo: Memphis Mojo Cafe in Bartlett has closed, but the owners aren’t giving up. They made the decision to close the location on U.S. 64, because of an ongoing dispute with the landlord over broken air conditioning. But they plan to keep slinging burgers and sammies from a food truck as they look for a new spot. And no worries, Bartlettonians: Mojo plans to stay nearby.

“If the SEC calls us tomorrow, you have a better chance to get into the [College Football Playoff]. But you have to handle your business, and you’ve got to grow,” said Memphis Tigers football Coach Ryan Silverfield.  (Benjamin Naylor/The Daily Memphian file)

Hot topics in college sports: It’s almost Memphis Tigers football season, so our own Tim Buckley figured it was high time to tackle some big issues in college sports. He dropped the first two editions in a four-part series over the weekend. Part one looks at whether the Tigers will have College Football Playoff access. Coach Ryan Silverfield certainly thinks so. And in part two, Buckley looks at why American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti thinks the transfer portal is “a threat to the game.”

THIS WEEK’S WEATHER

It certainly won’t feel like back-to-school weather this week.

Good luck getting the kiddos off to class! 

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