Good morning. It’s Monday, Feb. 2, and if you feel like you’ve been here before, it’s because you have. Today is Groundhog Day, and it sure feels like it when we’re waking up to more bitter cold, icy residential streets, still-closed schools and yet another Memphis Grizzlies-Minnesota Timberwolves match-up. 

And to make matters worse, Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter. But there’s good weather news for us this week. 

Here’s are some things that won’t give you déjà vu: New restaurant The Pop Spot is opening today on Brookhaven Circle. And the Shelby County Commission will vote on a new county medical examiner. See what’s up coming up later this week here. 

THE NEED TO KNOW

Roads will remain icy on Monday, Feb. 2, but above-freezing temperatures should help clear streets by the end of the week. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

Time for a meltdown: It may feel like Groundhog Day this morning, but there’s good news: The remaining ice should melt today and tomorrow, thanks to warmer temps and rain. If you’re all out of bread and milk, you might find some stores still have empty shelves, but that’s getting better. (FWIW, I had better luck at Aldi than Kroger over the weekend.) The estimated damage to buildings, utilities, etc. in Shelby County from last week’s winter storm is nearly $5 million. And U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen plans to ask Gov. Bill Lee to help pay for it.

Shelby County’s new interim chief public defender Jerri Green of Memphis greeted supporters of her gubernatorial campaign on Friday, Jan. 9, at RP Tracks. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)

New life for the PD’s office: Interim Shelby County Chief Public Defender Jerri Green has big plans for her new office, starting with the furniture. Green, who is also a Memphis City Council member and Tennessee gubernatorial candidate, has already updated some of the decor, and more changes are coming. She wanted to make sure the office didn’t look “old and retired” since “it’s already the worst day of your life” when you need the PD’s office. But Green’s plans are bigger than aesthetics; she’s also looking at how to boost office morale and better representation for clients.

Yana Beeker (front) and Roddy Peterson (behind) slid down a hill at the Tennessee Capitol on Jan. 24 in Nashville. (George Walker IV/AP)

Snowy updates from Capitol Hill: Political reporter Noah McLane is up in Nashville, where, like so many other things, the Tennessee General Assembly was on pause last week for winter weather. But it’s already been a busy session: Immigration has been a hot topic on both sides of the aisle, the state takeover bill for Memphis-Shelby County Schools looms and some bills are already dead. Here’s McLane’s update on all of that and more.

Death to taxes? Bartlett Alderman David Reaves wants to abolish the suburb’s property tax, and he’s hoping the Bartlett Board of Mayor and Aldermen can explore the idea in 2026. Bartlett’s roughly $37 million in property taxes makes up about a third of its overall budget this year, and a couple other aldermen wonder where that money would come from without a property tax. Reaves has an idea.

QUOTED

People protested against Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis on Jan. 25. (Adam Gray/AP)

“I think Memphis is going to be complacent ... until they’ve felt it … we may just keep the status quo until something dramatically changes.”

— Mauricio Calvo, president and CEO of Latino Memphis
Memphis and Minneapolis are both experiencing widespread crackdowns on immigrant populations. So what’s prevented escalations here like the ones in Minneapolis, where two protesters were fatally shot by ICE agents? Reporter Aarron Fleming talked with local activists about what’s different. 

THE NICE TO KNOW

Detective Morris Solomon in an archival photo. (Courtesy Memphis Public Libraries)

The Gray Hat Mystery: If you think crime is bad today, well, “the ’20s were really wild” — as in the 1920s. In today’s Ask the Memphian, Memphis Public Libraries archivist Wayne Dowdy talked to reporter John Klyce about one of Memphis’ most famous murder cases, which dates back to Nov. 21, 1927, and reads like a film noir plot. It involves the killing of a wealthy businessman known as the “Hot Tamale King,” a gray hat left at the scene of the crime and an eager young detective determined to solve the case. 

Memphis Tigers guard Dug McDaniel drove to the basket against the Tulane Green Wave during the game at FedExForum on Sunday, Feb. 1. (Wes Hale/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Heartbreaking loss: The Memphis Tigers were so close to a win on Sunday before ultimately falling, 78-76, to Tulane at FedExForum. The Tigers were behind by as many as 15 points in the first half, but they caught up toward the end and tied things up with around 30 seconds left on the clock. Unfortunately, Tulane star guard Rowan Brumbaugh made the tiebreaker in the heartbeaker.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels drove against Memphis Grizzlies guard Ty Jerome on Saturday, Jan. 31, at FedExForum. (Brandon Dill/AP)

Free chicken nuggets: The Memphis Grizzlies dropped their sixth straight game Saturday night at FedExForum, but Memphis fans were still winners — of a free eight-piece chicken nugget from Chick-fil-A. When a player on the opposing team misses two consecutive free throws in the second half, fans can use their tickets for free nuggs. It’s rare, but Minnesota Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert made it possible in the Grizzlies’ 131-114 loss to his team. Another highlight: point guard Ty Jerome played his first game all season. In other Grizz news, FedEx’s founding family recently tried to buy Robert Pera’s majority interest in the team, but Pera isn’t selling or relocating.

Boscos’ wood-oven shrimp is best served warm with slices of French baguette bread for dipping. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)

Eat so many shrimp: Boscos Restaurant & Brewing Co.’s wood-oven shrimp was inspired by the barbecue shrimp at Mr. B’s Bistro in New Orleans. Boscos owner Andy Feinstone tried it with friends and someone said, “‘Imagine this in our wood-fired pizza oven.” And so, he made that a reality for the Boscos menu. You likely don’t have a wood-fired pizza oven at home, but this recipe is the closest you can get in a regular home oven. 

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III warmed up before the NFC Championship NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Jan. 25 in Seattle. (Lindsey Wasson/AP)

Super stars: This Sunday, the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks will duke it out in Super Bowl LX. And if you follow Memphis high-school sports, you may notice a familiar face: Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III. He was an Arlington High football standout, but he’s far from the only Memphis high-school player to make it to the big game. The Daily Memphian’s John Varlas looks at all the local guys who have been a part of the show. 

THIS WEEK’S WEATHER

Last week, it felt like winter was never going to end, but just at look at Friday’s high!

You’re all caught up! Enjoy the melt.

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