Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Laura Faith Kebede

Swift release of Nichols' bodycam footage hasn't opened door to other MPD videos

marc.perrusquia@memphis.edu (Marc Perrusquia) — Sat, 4 Feb 2023 11:50:13 -0600

The quick release of footage of the Tyre Nichols’ beating is an anomaly for MPD, which has not released video or other details in a series of officer-involved shootings since November.

Civil Wrongs: How a grisly lynching still haunts Memphis a century later

lfkebede@memphis.edu (Laura Faith Kebede) — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 08:34:28 -0500

The lynching of Ell Persons on May 22, 1917, shaped Memphis history. Now, 105 years later, the site has remained nearly unscathed, but what has changed?

Kebede: Civil Wrongs project shares stories of the past still relevant today

lfkebede@memphis.edu (Laura Faith Kebede) — Sat, 30 Jul 2022 04:00:08 -0500

“The cases in our region that we plan to investigate as part of the Civil Wrongs project were often trivialized by journalists at the time. Reporters often took officials’ statements without question while disregarding Black voices that dared to complicate the story.”

Ceremony honors the late Judge Odell Horton as federal building is renamed

lfkebede@memphis.edu (Laura Faith Kebede) — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 18:10:36 -0500

Rep. Steve Cohen led the unveiling of a sign proclaiming the Odell Horton Federal Building.

“Giant of a judge:” The life and legacy of Judge Odell Horton

Victims' families languish as state effort to document civil rights-era crimes stalls

lfkebede@memphis.edu (Laura Faith Kebede) — Fri, 8 Jul 2022 17:49:23 -0500

A 2018 law created the Tennessee Civil Rights Crimes, Information, Reconciliation, and Research Center, but provided no additional funding or staff.

'Hands up! Don't shoot': The forgotten Memphis police killing of Black teenager Larry Payne

lfkebede@memphis.edu (Laura Faith Kebede) — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 04:00:12 -0500

A half century later, family still fights for recognition to soften “a pain that will never go away.''

Teacher feedback pushes SCS superintendent to delay vote on literacy contract

lfkebede@memphis.edu (Laura Faith Kebede) — Sat, 27 Feb 2021 04:00:08 -0600

Joris Ray said he still supports the proposal to spend $5.6 million next school year on Educational Epiphany’s teacher training and take-home literacy flashcards for Memphis students, but he pulled a vote on the contract from this week’s school board meeting agenda.

Most Memphis charter networks are reopening but most students aren't returning

lfkebede@memphis.edu (Laura Faith Kebede) — Tue, 9 Feb 2021 10:13:14 -0600

Charter schools run by nonprofit organizations are allowed to make their own plans about reopening buildings. That means about a quarter of Memphis students attend public schools that are not obligated to follow Superintendent Joris Ray’s decision to continue all-virtual learning.

Some Memphis school board members push for a reopening date

lfkebede@memphis.edu (Laura Faith Kebede) — Fri, 5 Feb 2021 10:05:00 -0600

Superintendent Joris Ray presented updates for reopening during a board committee meeting Thursday, including creating a district contact-tracing team and using district buildings to administer vaccines to teachers. But he has delayed reopening classes indefinitely, citing high community spread of COVID-19.

Race, politics and power loom large in dispute over reopening schools

maldrich@Chalkbeat.org (Marta W. Aldrich) — Wed, 3 Feb 2021 10:52:10 -0600

Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Ray has stood firm with all-remote learning, and accuses state leaders of being out of touch with the needs of Memphis students, who are mostly Black and disproportionately affected by the deadly virus.

Local virtual learning data points to student struggles

lfkebede@memphis.edu (Laura Faith Kebede) — Tue, 2 Feb 2021 11:49:49 -0600

Memphis students are struggling with material taught during virtual learning, a top Shelby County Schools official said, pointing to test results.

'Please don't hurt my children,' Joris Ray begs lawmakers

lfkebede@memphis.edu (Laura Faith Kebede) — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 11:14:38 -0600

Superintendent Joris Ray posted a video Friday, Jan. 22 urging state legislators to vote against a bill that could “defund public education” if Shelby County Schools remain closed.

New bill aimed at urban school districts: Give students 70 days of in-person education or else

lfkebede@memphis.edu (Laura Faith Kebede) — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 13:01:19 -0600

If it passes, Tennessee’s two largest school systems would have to reopen quickly to meet that threshold.

KIPP educators call for removal of executive director

lfkebede@memphis.edu (Laura Faith Kebede) — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 04:00:08 -0600

Nineteen KIPP Memphis Academy Middle staff members sent a letter to the board of directors asking them to remove Kendra Ferguson, who has led the charter network of five schools since 2016 and reports to the board.

Shelby County Schools considers how to spend next round of coronavirus relief money

lfkebede@memphis.edu (Laura Faith Kebede) — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 11:01:23 -0600

District officials said they expect money they will get from the latest federal relief package could be about four times higher than last time, or about $190 million.

As Memphis district considers future of virtual learning, superintendent says, ‘No one will force me to open schools’

lfkebede@memphis.edu (Laura Faith Kebede) — Fri, 8 Jan 2021 09:18:00 -0600

The tension between the Memphis leader and state officials illustrates the differences in how Tennesseans are responding to school safety concerns related to the virus.

Students led overhaul of sexual harassment protections in Shelby County Schools

lfkebede@memphis.edu (Laura Faith Kebede) — Sat, 26 Dec 2020 04:00:10 -0600

Shelby County Schools leaders recently revised how the Memphis district handles sexual harassment complaints after pressure from former and current students who championed the change starting four years ago.

Remote learning: Memphis student scrambles to catch up on missing assignments

lfkebede@memphis.edu (Laura Faith Kebede) — Fri, 25 Dec 2020 04:00:01 -0600

During a November video call with his algebra teacher, the 14-year-old had a terrible realization: There was a tab he never clicked on, where his teachers had noted missing assignments. Jalan, typically an A student, had 73 assignments in seven classes that were overdue.

Memphis school leaders ask $30 million for learning loss and literacy

lfkebede@memphis.edu (Laura Faith Kebede) — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 21:13:40 -0600

The request would increase to about $50 million annually in the third year as the Memphis district hires more teacher assistants for students in K-2.

Tennessee child care options decrease as federal COVID relief money expires

lfkebede@memphis.edu (Laura Faith Kebede) — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 11:10:00 -0600

The Tennessee Department of Human Services child care assistance program for workers deemed “essential” during the pandemic expires Dec. 31. The state has no plans to renew the program.