How’s it going, Memphis? It’s Thursday, Nov. 6. Ace of Bass may have seen the sign, but the owner of the new Uptown Chick-fil-A says some people can’t see hers. She’s asking Downtown’s Design Review Board to approve either a taller sign or some kind of alternative that will improve the sign’s visibility. The board will also consider two new bank signs for Downtown’s skyline.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Former Memphis Grizzlies player Tony Allen during his jersey retirement ceremony on Saturday, March 15. Allen was arrested on Wednesday in Arkansas. (Brandon Dill/AP file)

Grindfather goes to jail: Former Memphis Grizzlies star Tony Allen was arrested Wednesday in Arkansas on weed and cocaine charges. Allen was a passenger in a car that was pulled over near Payneway — about 50 miles west of Memphis near Jonesboro — for a minor traffic stop. Sheriff’s deputies smelled pot in the car, and after a search found drugs on Allen and in the passenger seat. 

Memphis police officer Marlyn Hannah talked to students at Dexter Middle School at a gun safety presentation on Sept. 19. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Youth gunshot wounds declining: So far this year, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital has treated 97 kids from the Mid-South for gunshot wounds. Experts say that puts the hospital on track for about 120 gunshot wounds by year’s end. If that holds, Le Bonheur will be treating the fewest number of children with gunshot wounds since those injuries spiked to new heights in 2020. So, what’s changed? Violent crime is down for one. But the hospital has also taken steps to help prevent gun violence against youth, and a new state law is bringing gun-safety talks into schools.

“As far as the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office going out and detaining immigrants, that’s not happening,” Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner said. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Jail inmates being moved: The Shelby County Jail was already overcrowded before the Memphis Safe Task Force began. And now that problem is much worse. Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner said Wednesday that hundreds of inmates are being transferred to state and federal prisons and jails in neighboring counties to combat overcrowding. Bonner also denied rumors that the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is working with ICE, aside from an agreement to hold ICE detainees for 48 hours. “Forty-eight hours and one minute, they are out the door. If they don’t come pick them up, we release them,” Bonner said.

A witness testified that Latoshia Daniels, seen here, bought the gun used to killed Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church pastor Brodes Perry hours before the shooting. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Trial over pastor’s death continues: On day two of Latoshia Daniels’ trial for the 2019 killing of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church pastor Brodes Perry, witnesses testified that Daniels bought a gun six hours before Perry was shot. Daniels allegedly shot and killed Perry at his Collierville home over what her attorneys say was a sexual relationship gone bad. She also allegedly wounded Perry’s wife, Tabatha Archie. Archie, who spoke at the trial, said she was unaware of a sexual relationship between her husband and Daniels.

Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. is set to go to trial on March 2, 2026. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

Judge won’t dismiss Ford charge: A federal judge said Wednesday that he won’t throw out the charge that alleges Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. engaged in a kick-back scheme. Ford’s attorney was trying to get that charge, which is one of seven against Ford, dismissed for being “unconstitutionally vague and insufficient.” According to the charge, Ford secured grant funding for several local nonprofits in exchange for a cut of the money.

QUOTED

“There are some concerns about what’s going on with this new [Tigers basketball] group.”

— Memphis Tigers Coach Penny Hardaway
Hardaway didn’t mince words Wednesday when speaking to reporters about his worries for the regular season, which opens Saturday. The Tigers lost their two preseason games — to Arkansas and Auburn — and Hardaway said he was disappointed in how they played.

THE NICE TO KNOW

For the first time in 56 years, the state cross country championships will be held in Memphis at Shelby Farms Park. (Courtesy Memphis Youth Athletics)

‘Best sport in the universe’: For the first time in 56 years, the TSSAA cross country championships are happening in Memphis. The meet brings the state’s top high school cross country runners to compete at Shelby Farms Park today and tomorrow. And to celebrate, our own Geoff Calkins has written a love letter to running. He says it’s the “best sport in the universe,” and as a runner, I have to agree. As one high schooler explained to Calkins: “It’s a really fun sport once you get past the fact that, you know, running really hurts.” Still don’t believe us? Here are five reasons to love running. 

Memphis Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward (right) tried to shoot past Houston’s Kevin Durant (left) on Wednesday, Nov. 5. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Rockets blast Grizzlies: The Memphis Grizzlies are four games into a losing streak after last night’s 124-109 loss to the Houston Rockets. The game was barely a contest at all, except for a very short moment when the Grizz drilled the Rockets’ 16-point lead down to four. But that didn’t last. Morant, who has been struggling to find his joy, still looked pretty down last night, but Chris Herrington says he at least seemed a little more upbeat after the game. (To make the loss worse, we didn’t even get to see Steven Adams, who was out with hip soreness.)

The City of Memphis bought the 590-room Sheraton Memphis Downtown Hotel for $22 million on Wednesday, Nov. 5. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Sheraton deal done: After months of delays, the City of Memphis is now the proud owner of a hotel. The city closed on the Downtown Sheraton hotel Wednesday, a purchase intended to protect the city’s recent $200 million investment in the attached Renasant Convention Center. The aging hotel, which will be part of the Marriott franchise, needs a lot of work, including room updates. And the city plans to enter a lease with a subsidiary of Carlisle LLC to get the hotel up to Marriott standards.

The Daily Memphian’s Ellen Chamberlain with the Michelin man. (Courtesy Ellen Chamberlain)

Bam! Behind the scenes at Michelin: No Memphis restaurants earned a coveted Michelin star at the restaurant rating guide’s first-ever Southern awards ceremony in Greenville, South Carolina, on Monday. But five local eateries earned Michelin distinctions. The Daily Memphian’s Ellen Chamberlain was at the ceremony, and today in Table Talk, she takes us behind the scenes, where she had a very close encounter with a big-time Atlanta chef and really wanted to fan-girl over TV chef Emeril Lagasse.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Memphis Made Brewing Co. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August, and though the taproom is still open, they’re looking at a possible sale. I’m no business expert, but I bet a move to Ashlar Hall could save them.

That’s all for now. Tootles!

.....