It’s Monday, Oct. 20, and kids and teachers across Shelby County are back in class after fall break.

For a look at what’s coming up in the days ahead, check out This Week in Memphis.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Alex Smith, left, and Lance Willinger were among the protesters at the “No Kings” protest at the corner of South Highland Street and Poplar Avenue. (Greg Campbell/Special to The Daily Memphian)

No kings (but lots of costumes): Thousands showed up to the corner of Poplar Avenue and Highland Street Saturday to protest President Donald Trump’s policies. The second Memphis “No Kings” protest was one of an estimated 2,500 Trump protests across the country this weekend, but some thought the crowd was a bit smaller than at the first such protest here back in June. Many showed up to the peaceful protest in costumes (think Shrek, Cartman from “South Park” and Gizmo from “Gremlins”), because, as one woman explained, “It just looks ridiculous to be fighting with a unicorn.” But there weren’t many counter-protesters to fight anyway.

Memphis workers fixed potholes on Knight Road in Southeast Memphis on Monday, Oct. 13. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Hole-istic approach: Memphis is finally being proactive about its pothole problem. In the past, the city relied on residents to report potholes, but now, the city is sending crews out to look for holes. And while they’re at it, they’re also cleaning out stormwater drains and taking other measures to prevent potholes. Since the new program began two months ago, nearly 3,600 holes have been filled. (If you’re reading this City of Memphis, send a crew out to the road that runs through Tobey Park, which has more potholes than road.) Residents aren’t off the hook though; the city still encourages citizen pothole reports.

Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert says she doesn’t owe Millington rent because the rental agreement was made by Shelby County government, not her. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Bailing out Halbert? Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert is still refusing to pay rent that the City of Millington says it’s owed for her office lease there. “We don’t have a rent,” Halbert said Friday. But Halbert’s office does, in fact, owe rent to the tune of $40,000. And now the Shelby County Commission may step in to cover it to avoid legal problems with Millington. 

TBI and Tami Sawyer: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has been asked to look into an Oct. 7 incident involving General Sessions Court Clerk Tami Sawyer and Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies. Sawyer got into a heated exchange with deputies at the courthouse after her personal, armed bodyguard was denied entry. Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner said his office had already conducted a review of the deputies’ actions. 

QUOTED

“We are under siege by our own government.”

— Jazmin Berlanga with Vecindarios 901
Berlanga spoke at a press conference Friday protesting the Memphis Safe Task Force, which has made more than 180 immigration-related arrests since it began a few weeks ago. Berlanga’s group shares info about ICE activity with the local immigrant community. She and others believe the number of immigrant arrests to be much higher than reported.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Earnestine & Hazel’s occupies a space at 531 S. Main that was built in 1918. It stands across the street from a former cemetery. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Putting the soul in Soul Burgers: We’re continuing our spooky-themed Ask the Memphian series today with a look at the many ghost stories that surround the 107-year-old South Main bar Earnestine & Hazel’s. You’ve no doubt heard the bar was once a brothel, and while it’s not confirmed, reporter Jody Callahan uncovered some info on the bar’s past as a rooming house that could lend some truth to that. And people have definitely died in the building, though there’s no evidence of any murders. If there are ghosts in the bar, it seems they might be coming from across the street.

The City of Memphis is preparing to celebrate John Calipari and his former Tigers as part of the Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic preseason game. (Photo illustration by Kelsey Bowen/The Daily Memphian)

Coach Cal countdown: On Oct. 27, former Memphis Tigers basketball Coach John Calipari will be back in Memphis as his Arkansas Razorbacks take on the Tigers in the Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic. And though Calipari is still reviled by many Tigers fans for how things went down during his time here, our sports writers are past all that. So, they’re honoring Coach Cal in the days leading up to the Classic with nine memorable stories for his nine memorable years as coach. For starters, Geoff Calkins looks at the Nov. 14, 2002 season-opening victory over Syracuse at Madison Square Garden and the March 12, 2005 loss when Darius Washington Jr. blew the Tigers’ chance at the NCAA Tournament.

Memphis’ Sutton Smith returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown in the Tigers' game against UAB Saturday, Oct. 18, in Birmingham. (Courtesy Memphis Athletics)

Tigers finally fall: The Memphis Tigers football team is no longer undefeated after losing what was supposed to be an easy game against UAB on Saturday. UAB had just fired its head coach, and the team was without starting quarterback Jalen Kitna. Yet, the Tigers trailed by a touchdown with 1:50 remaining and redshirt freshman AJ Hill leading the offense. Hill stepped in after starting quarterback Brendon Lewis left with an injury. It seems three penalties cost the game for the Tigers, big-time. The 31-24 loss meant the previously No. 22 Tigers are no longer ranked.

Mic drop: Want to belt out the lyrics to “KPop Demon Hunters” songs without worrying what some stranger thinks? Soon, you can perform karaoke with only your closest buds — and no lookie-loos — at The Studio Karaoke. The karaoke spot, opening soon in Poplar Plaza, will have five, soundproofed, private rooms that can host groups of up to 20 people. And you can have food and drinks delivered to your room.

The Emerging Developers Academy offers developers the opportunity to apply their work in South Memphis. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Affordable housing bootcamp: Memphis has a shortage of affordable housing, but a new academy will help local developers learn how to create more cost-efficient homes on county land-bank property in South Memphis. The Emerging Developers Academy from the Shelby County and Alliance for Housing Progress will host 20 up-and-coming developers in its first bootcamp, beginning in early November.

THIS WEEK’S WEATHER

Fall has been here for a few weeks, but the weather is finally catching up.

Get ready for that just-turned-on-the-heater smell.

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