Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Opinion

Sanford: Time for Big Shelby to come to the table — and vote

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 07:16:54 -0500

“(This) all adds up to being arguably the most significant county primary in recent memory. And it is almost exclusively a fight among Democrats who make up a majority of the more than 432,000 active registered voters.”

Echols: 'We have dulled our own human-ness'

candaceecholswrites@gmail.com (Candace Echols) — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 04:00:15 -0500

“Our culture has some good things going for it, but at the moment, we have dulled our own human-ness in ways that makes the God behind icy winds and spiraling leaves harder and harder to notice.”

Opinion: Too many abuse victims have no legal help. The Tennessee Supreme Court can fix that.

btaylor@hopehousememphis.org (Brandi Taylor) — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:00:12 -0500

“Survivors should not have to navigate a legal maze alone to secure their safety. I urge my fellow Memphians to tell the court to expand opportunities to provide legal help.”

McCreery: Germantown deserves full-time leadership

editors@dailymemphian.com (Jon McCreery) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:00:08 -0500

“We need to change our form of government. We need to ensure our city has the full-time leadership needed to meet the demands of today and the expectations of the future.”

Opinion: Arts, culture and the future of the Memphis economy

editors@dailymemphian.com (Anasa Troutman) — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:17:58 -0500

“We need to build a cultural plan — a long-term strategy that guides how Memphis and Shelby County builds infrastructure for investment to integrate arts, culture and entertainment into its economic development, urban planning and community life.”

Opinion: The next county mayor must protect pre-K

kandace@first8memphis.org (Kandace Thomas) — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:39:17 -0500

“The youngest members of this community did not ask to be born into a budget dispute. They arrived, as all children do, with the expectation that the adults around them would provide what they need to thrive.”

Opinion: DA Mulroy on criminal justice data and accountability

editors@dailymemphian.com (Steve Mulroy) — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 13:54:09 -0500

“Delays in handling cases, jail-intake processing delays, the “solve rate” for crimes, the repeat-offender rate — these are all worthy objects of emphasis ... . But they may not fit the right (so to speak) political agenda.”

Opinion: In the face of unprecedented danger, Memphis police officers answer the call

john.covington@memphispoliceassociation.org (John Covington) — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 13:55:53 -0500

“May we never forget those we’ve lost. May we never take for granted those who still stand watch. And may we always remember that every day, in a city where danger is always present, Memphis police officers continue to answer the call.”

Opinion: The call is around us all the time. The trick is to recognize and respond.

rmaxey@dailymemphian.com (Ron Maxey) — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 13:41:08 -0500

“The trick is to recognize and respond. That’s easy when the call is a call to appreciate life’s blessings. It’s a bit trickier when it’s a call to endure hardships. With those, it’s easier to forget.”

Echols: How all the broken pieces reveal the essence of Easter

candaceecholswrites@gmail.com (Candace Echols) — Sun, 5 Apr 2026 04:00:00 -0500

“Disorder does not only lead to crime. Disorder can also be the kingdom of light. It’s about hope. Light emerges from the hammer blows.” Is this not the essence of Easter?

Opinion: Memphis must demand more from industrial polluters

editors@dailymemphian.com (LaTricea Adams) — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 15:35:11 -0500

“If a company’s business model depends on the exploitation of a Black city and the enrichment of a few power brokers at the top, we don’t want them here.”

Opinion: Data raises questions about accountability in the criminal justice system

editors@dailymemphian.com (Leslie Taylor) — Wed, 1 Apr 2026 12:39:06 -0500

The performance of the criminal justice system can’t be assessed without knowing the full picture. We have regular and reliable reporting from law enforcement agencies, but why don’t we have the same expectation for the district attorney and court clerks?

Calkins: Iranians in Memphis say 'It's torture to even explain.'

gcalkins@dailymemphian.com (Geoff Calkins) — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 17:48:21 -0500

The Daily Memphian asked local Iranians how they feel about the war. The prevailing sentiment? “The bombs do not scare us; what scares us is the war ending and the Islamic Republic still ruling Iran.”

Opinion: We can add new housing and preserve stable neighborhoods

editor@dailymemphian.com (Emily Bishop) — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 04:00:14 -0500

“Memphis does not have to choose between growth and stability. By directing density to the right places, supporting homeownership, investing in transit, and revitalizing neglected corridors, we can achieve both.”

Opinion: Art is enduring

dcarpenter@dcamemphis.com (Doug Carpenter) — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 15:09:56 -0500

“We should recognize the power of art as an ever-evolving representation of who we are as a city.”

Opinion: In Memphis, school decisions carry history. This one carries hope.

editor@dailymemphian.com (Tim Ware) — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 15:11:27 -0500

“The leadership of the Memphis Grizzlies Preparatory Charter School and Believe Memphis Academy Charter School have begun a conversation about merging.”

Opinion: 'Justice, safety, solidarity, law and order — in Memphis, they have to be the same project'

editor@dailymemphian.com (Christian Man) — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 15:46:38 -0500

“Amid the frustrating recruitment challenges facing the Memphis Police Department, I would like to turn our attention to a different critical element of our public safety architecture: the frontline civic organizations engaged in violence-reduction efforts.”

Outgoing FedEx St. Jude Championship leader: 'To the city of Memphis — thank you'

editor@dailymemphian.com (Joe Tomek) — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 04:00:02 -0500

Before FESJC’s outgoing Executive Director Joe Tomek leaves for Australia, he has some advice for Memphians.

Opinion: Survey shows support for local police — and for hiring more of them

wgibbons@memphis.edu (Bill Gibbons) — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 04:00:04 -0500

“With strong overall positive feelings about local police coupled with a very strong desire for more officers, we need a major effort to recruit and retain people of good character and a sense of public service to be in local law enforcement.”

Echols: 'Not understanding each other' is hardly limited to different languages

candaceecholswrites@gmail.com (Candace Echols) — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 04:00:04 -0500

“The cacophony of languages rising from the upstairs coziness of this one tiny coffee shop in a small foreign village brings back wonderful memories for me as well as excitement for my children.”