Happy Tuesday. It’s Nov. 18, and the Memphis City Council will consider what to do about the Wolf River Bottoms, which is best-known as a place to ride four-wheelers and dump old tires.

Also tonight, the Memphis-Shelby County Schools will vote on a potential lawsuit over changes to board elections. And the Memphis Grizzlies play the San Antonio Spurs — without Ja Morant.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Members of the National Guard conducted a community safety patrol on Beale Street on Friday, Oct. 24. (George Walker IV/AP file)

Guard deployment blocked: A Nashville judge ruled Monday that Gov. Bill Lee didn’t act legally when he deployed the National Guard to Memphis. The ruling, which stemmed from Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris’ lawsuit over the guard’s presence here, blocks the current deployment, but the state can still appeal. The judge’s decision does not apply to the other federal agents in town as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force.

Evacuated shoppers huddled outside of the Macy’s store at Wolfchase Galleria on Monday, Nov. 17. (Aarron Fleming/The Daily Memphian)

One dead in mall shooting: A shooting at Wolfchase Galleria Monday left one person dead. Police have arrested the suspect, who initially fled in a white SUV. Not much is known yet about the victim or suspect, but a Memphis police colonel said they believe the shooting followed an “altercation.”

“Employees will get paid at the end of this month. Let me be clear on that,” said Shelby County Deputy Finance Director Danielle Schonbaum. (The Daily Memphian file)

County cash-flow fix: The Shelby County Commission voted Monday on a $43 million fix to ensure the county can make its payroll in two weeks. The fix comes in the form of a loan from the county’s debt service fund. The county typically has cash-flow issues because of when property tax bills are due, but Harris said the county was also experiencing “unprecedented financial burdens” due to the Memphis Safe Task Force and government shutdown. The commission also approved an extension of health care benefits for a Shelby County sheriff’s deputy who was severely injured on the job — but not without some drama from Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr.

5C Group is requesting a PILOT for an AI data center at 4300 Getwell Road, the former Fred’s headquarters. (Submitted)

More AI is coming: A Canadian tech company plans to develop a $152 million AI data center in Memphis at the former Fred’s headquarters on Getwell Road. 5c Data Centers is asking for a 15-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes incentive from the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County. The application says 5c plans to bring 15 new jobs.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant during a game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Monday, Oct. 27. (Jeff Chiu/AP file)

Point guard probs: The Memphis Grizzlies are already off to a rocky start with a 4-10 record. And to add, um, injury to insult, now Ja Morant will miss at least two weeks with a calf strain, seemingly the result of a collision with Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill on Saturday. This means the Grizzlies will have to rely on a few relatively inexperienced combo guards in the meantime. Our own Chris Herrington reminds us not to give up hope, because the team still has “some good stuff happening.”

QUOTED

Memphis Tigers Coach Penny Hardaway reacted against the UNLV Rebels during game at FedExForum on Nov 16. (Wes Hale/Special to The Daily Memphian)

“I’m trying to figure this team out.”

— Memphis Tigers Coach Penny Hardaway
You and us both, Penny. After the Tigers’ big loss Sunday to UNLV, Hardaway said he’d trying to determine which guys on his team are willing to fight. “Not even shoot well or play well — just fight,” he said. He’ll have to figure that out soon, because six of the Tigers’ next eight games are against well-ranked opponents.

THE NICE TO KNOW

Memphis may be getting yet another Chick-fil-A. (Submitted)

Chick this out: Is there a point when a city hits peak Chick-fil-A? A Chick-fil-A may be opening soon in the old Juicy Crab on Winchester Road, less than two miles from an existing Chick-fil-A on the same road. A new construction permit was filed with the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development last week.

Leg warmers coming to a store near you: Chicago-based clothing brand Akira is opening its first Memphis store soon. A glance at the company’s website reveals leg warmers in various textures (demin! faux fur!), party dresses galore and enough skin-tight faux leather to fill a motorcycle club. The store will take over the old Forever 21 spot in Wolfchase Galleria, and it’s already hiring.

Students of the University of Memphis Campus School-Kimball attended their school’s grand opening on Aug. 8. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

School meets hospital: A new pilot program will admit up to 10 preschool-aged patients at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital to the University Schools district. The program is open to long-term patients, who will receive virtual and in-person lessons inside the hospital. The district, which broke off from Memphis-Shelby County Schools last year, hopes to eventually expand the program through 12th grade.

Archd makes wooden bookends with quotes from powerful women. (Courtesy Archd)

Gift happens: Your sister called; she doesn’t want another set of last-minute bath bombs from Walgreens for Christmas. So, let us help you get started on holiday shopping now. Our staff came together to curate this year’s Holidays in Memphis gift guide, which is stuffed with ideas for locally made items and experiences, including one that’s totally free.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

As mentioned earlier, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant is out with another injury. And it happened less than one quarter into Zach Edey’s return game. Are the Grizzlies cursed?

Here’s hoping for a Grizz win tonight anyway!

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