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How’s it going, Memphis? It’s Friday, Aug. 29, and the fourth annual run in memory of Eliza Fletcher is wrapping up as of press time. The powerful event honors the slain runner’s memory while also reclaiming our right to feel safe as female runners and walkers. Shoutout to anyone who ran this morning. I’d have joined you if not for this pesky morning deadline.
Later today, the Delta Fair & Music Festival kicks off at the Agricenter. And Saturday night brings the start of Memphis Tigers football season with a home opener against Chattanooga.
On Sunday, there’s a free house DJ picnic at Overton Park, and Monday is Labor Day. But more importantly for us, it’s 901 Day, and there are ways to celebrate all over the city. For more things to do, The To-Do List has got you.
THE NEED TO KNOW
 Former Memphis police offices Demetrius Haley, Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith appeared in court on May 6, in Memphis. (George Walker IV/AP file)
New federal Nichols trial: Three of the five former Memphis police officers federally charged in Tyré Nichols’ death are getting a new federal trial. U.S. District Judge Mark Norris recused himself in June, just before their sentencings. Until now, the reason for his recusal has been a mystery. But the new judge on the case revealed that Norris made disparaging comments about the Memphis Police Department just days after the federal trial ended.
 DeAndre Brown (shown here) and his wife Vinessa Brown were arrested on 12 felony charges related to theft, money laundering and computer crimes. (Ziggy Mack/The Daily Memphian file)
Money matters: Shelby County Office of Reentry Director DeAndre Brown and his wife Vinessa Brown allegedly spent more than $625,000 in public money designated for their nonprofit on personal use. An investigation revealed the grant funds for Lifeline to Success, which helped former prisoners reenter society, were used to pay for a trip to Jamaica, meals, tickets and other items. The couple was arrested Wednesday on fraud and other charges. The investigation also uncovered more than $755,000 in “questionable disbursements.”
 Activist Damon Curry Morris (in the pink) spoke at a press conference outside Memphis City Hall on Nov. 22, 2023. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)
MSCS critic arrested: Damon Curry Morris, a local education activist, was arrested outside a Memphis-Shelby County Schools board meeting Tuesday. Morris was attending a rally about a state takeover of MSCS, and board member Stephanie Love reported that, in doing so, Morris was violating a restraining order she’d brought against him. In the past, Morris allegedly made threats to Love in a social media video.
 “I’m here because eventually this is going to affect us all,” Emily Emmons (center) said at a protest against the University of Memphis’ dismantling of DEI efforts. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
U of M’s anti-DEI moves spark protest: About 100 people gathered at the University of Memphis Thursday to denounce the college’s recent dismantling of its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The state mandated an end to DEI policies in state government and public universities. But some protesters said the U of M could have instead followed the University of Tennessee’s lead and just changed the DEI office’s name. Protester Emily Emmons, 19, worried the end to DEI is just the tip of the iceberg.
QUOTED
 A Germantown building that once held a bookstore, offices and an arcade is looking worse for the wear. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
“[Carrefour is] not anything like it was in my childhood. It’s almost shocking to me [demolition] hasn’t happened sooner.”
—Mindy Fischer, Germantown resident
The long-planned razing of Carrefour at Kirby Woods will begin next Tuesday. The open-air mall is being transformed into a mixed-use development called The Standard Germantown. But lately, the property has turned into an eyesore with shattered glass and graffiti.
THE NICE TO KNOW
 Which of these national grocers wants to open in Union Depot? Some clues have been dropped. (Mark Long, Mark Weber/AP file, The Daily Memphian file)
Bartlett grocery clues: Earlier this week, the Bartlett Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted down a plan to expand Union Depot’s tax-increment-financing district over a mystery grocer. The mixed-use plan includes a grocery store, but developer Keith Grant won’t say which store. And at least one aldermen said he worried it’d be another Kroger or Walmart. Though Grant wasn’t naming names, he did say it’s a national grocer with a plan to “redo or build more than 150 stores.” And that sounds an awful lot like one particular grocer’s recent press release.
 Good Fortune will host a popup for a new Filipino snack bar. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian file)
Lovely little lumpia: A new Filipino snack bar is looking for a Downtown home, but since it hasn’t found one yet, the good people at Good Fortune are helping out. Good Fortune will host a popup next week for Kuya, the coming-soon Filipino restaurant from local food-scene vet Shayne Diaz. Also happening soon: a new pho restaurant, uh, just pho Southaven. (Eh?) Read more on the coming-soon Pho Haven and Germantown’s first Chipotle in Food Files. And in this week’s $15 Deal, writer Erica Horton finds a cozy bowl of pasta that you might want to “hug close to yourself while you sit on the couch and watch a movie.”
 Ray Lepone has been appointed a Shelby County Criminal Court judge. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)
Only they can be the judge: Gov. Bill Lee has appointed two new Shelby County judges to vacant seats on the circuit court and criminal court. Ray Lepone, the former number two at the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, will replace former Judge Paula Skahan, who retired earlier this year. And local attorney Chris Frulla will replace former Judge Valerie Smith, who was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals.
 DeSoto County dignitaries tossed dirt during the Landers Center expansion groundbreaking on Thursday, Aug. 28. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)
Lazy river coming to Landers: The $85 million expansion of the Landers Center in Southaven broke ground Thursday, and it sounds like the kind of place where you might want to hang poolside with a cold mai tai. The expansion includes a new 240-room Embassy Suites hotel with — wait for it — a lazy river and cabanas. Amelia Lovorn, president of the DeSoto County tourism board, says you can find her there with her “big pink flamingo” pool float. (Girl, me too.)
WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT
You can take your pick of what to do on 901 Day. But the clear highlight, IMO, will be Project Pat’s headlining show at 901 Day on Beale.
He’ll be joined on-stage by Alaynna Doty, the nine-year-old who went viral rapping “Chickenhead” in an Olive Branch restaurant. You surely saw the video a few weeks back, but just in case you need it, here’s a refresher.
If that doesn’t put a smile on your face, nothing will. Happy 901 Day, Memphis! The Early Word will be off for the holiday, but it’ll return on Tuesday.
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