It’s Friday, and if you’ve been working for the weekend, well, we’re here. Today is July 11, and it’s the start of a very artsy weekend with live music, artist talks and closing exhibition receptions. There’s more on all of that in The To-Do List.

But there’s also sports: The Memphis Grizzlies kick off Las Vegas Summer League play today as they take on the Chicago Bulls. And elite pole vaulters will be, uh, getting high in Memphis on Saturday. As in, high in the air over Beale Street during the Ed Murphey Classic.

Soul & Spirits will open their new beer garden and dog park Saturday, which is big news if you’re a craft beer drinker, like me, who likes to party on a patio with your pooch.

THE NEED TO KNOW

Agents with the Drug Enforcement Agency fatally shot someone at this East Memphis hotel Wednesday. (Natalie Van Gundy/The Daily Memphian)

TBI names man killed by Task Force: The man fatally shot by federal agents with the Memphis Safe Task Force Wednesday was 47-year-old Alfonso Ivy. He was shot at the Extended Stay America Suites in East Memphis as agents attempted to serve a warrant on drug charges. Ivy allegedly pointed a gun at agents while trying to escape. 

“It’s important that we get the facts so that we know how to move and engage with this (Task) Force that’s here,” said state Sen. London Lamar, regarding the recent fatal shootings by Task Force members. (Brandon LaGrone II/The Daily Memphian file)

Taken to Task: The Memphis Safe Task Force is becoming a political football in the 9th District congressional race. State Rep. Justin J. Pearson and state Sen. London Lamar are in a heated battle for the Democratic nomination, and though both are opposed to the Task Force’s presence, their approaches are quite different. The Daily Memphian’s Bill Dries has more on that, plus a look at polling on the Republican side in the race for Tennessee governor. 

DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton is seeking dismissal of a defamation lawsuit filed against him by a local school board member. (Brandon LaGrone II/The Daily Memphian file)

Sticks and stones? Name-calling is at the center of a legal fight between the DeSoto County district attorney and a school board member. District Attorney Matthew Barton once called DeSoto County Schools board member Michele Henley a “pedophile sympathizer” over her support of youth pastor Lindsey Whiteside, who is accused of having a sexual relationship with a minor. Henley sued Barton, and now, he’s pushing to have the lawsuit dismissed, calling it a “political hit piece as opposed to allegations of judiciable facts.” In other DeSoto news, Chancery Court candidate Malenda Harris Meacham — better known around here as the Grizzlies Bongo Lady — is fighting against a lawsuit that alleges discrimination against white voters.

MEET MEMPHIS

Cameron Boozer threw out the first pitch prior to the Redbirds game at AutoZone Park on July 2. (Wes Hale/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Memphis Grizzlies rookie Cameron Boozer is just a normal teen — but one with a whole boatload of confidence. His room is messy, he likes to go to the beach and, like everyone else in the world, he’s watching season eight of Peacock’s “Love Island USA.” But ask him about basketball, and you’d think he earned a few NBA championships already. “You look at who we brought in. I am a guy that is going to make your team a lot better,” he said. To his credit, he does have the college basketball accolades to back confidence that up. 

THE NICE TO KNOW

Cameron Park poured matcha into oat milk at Ouri Matcha’s pop-up cart. (Greg Campbell/The Daily Memphian file)

Tea on tea: A mobile matcha bar is opening its first brick-and-mortar in Uptown soon. Ouri Matcha plans to open in the space that was formerly home to The Mane Wildling floral studio. They’ll serve matcha (duh) but also some Korean pastries. In sad news, a restaurant closing announcement has me saying, “Well, son of a ...” After four years, Hickory Hill’s Son of a Vegan is calling it quits. But you still have a few days to try their life-changing lasagna. (Trust me.) And in this week’s $15 Deal, we’ve got a tip on the perfect summer lunch special. (Spoiler: It comes with froyo.)

The Memphis Jazz Apartments are planned across from the existing Memphis Blues Apartments in Frayser. (Andy Ashby/The Daily Memphian file)

Not everyone is Jazzed: A new manufactured home park is coming to Thomas Street in North Memphis, despite pushback from a neighbor. The Land Use Control Board approved the Memphis Jazz development Thursday. It’ll add 249 homes, plus a basketball court, walking trails and more on 62 acres. But a nearby property owner is worried the homes will flood, since the big 2011 flood damaged homes adjacent to the site where Memphis Jazz will be. 

Former Greater Memphis Chamber CEO Ted Townsend stepped down in April. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Want to lead the Chamber? Brush up that LinkedIn profile, because the Greater Memphis Chamber is on the hunt for someone to replace Ted Townsend. Townsend, the former president and CEO, resigned back in April after he was placed on leave for unknown reasons. The organization is now conducting a national search and accepting applications.

University of Memphis coach Penny Hardaway on the sidelines in a game against Tulane University on Wednesday, March 11. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian file)

From Mulkey to Hardaway: Penny Hardaway has scouted out a new scouting director. The Memphis Tigers basketball coach is hiring Ethan Hunt, who spent the last two seasons as an LSU women’s basketball graduate assistant under coach Kim Mulkey.

WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT

Memphis Grizzlies fans may know Anthony Sain from his hot Grizz takes on The Anthony Sain Show. And Early Word readers may know him for his hot takes on X. But there’s more to Sain than basketball: Action News 5 talked to Sain and his wife about the nonprofit they founded to help underserved youth improve their volleyball skills. 

Have a fine weekend! I’ll be out Monday and Tuesday, so digital producer Kelsey Bowen will be waking up with you. 

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