Protest peaceful on 16th night
A 16th night of protesting over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis concluded peacefully Downtown Thursday evening.
Daily Memphian records request inspires resolution to improve MPD transparency
Memphis City Council member JB Smiley is pushing a resolution to urge Mayor Jim Strickland’s administration to put data, complaints and other information regarding police misconduct and use of force on the city’s website.
Calkins: Want to run a 5K? Go to the beach? Expert says how — and when — you can resume activities
Dr. Jon McCullers thinks we'll have 5Ks before the year is out. He's OK with the beach (and the protests!) too.
Calkins: Fans at college football games? Not so fast, my friend
Dr. Jon McCullers, head of the task force to open the University of Tennessee, remains skeptical that there will be large fan gatherings at football games this fall.
Chancellor: ‘Shame’ on state for not following absentee voting order
A Davidson County chancellor chastised the state Thursday for not following a court order on mail-in absentee voting during the COVID-19 pandemic and ordered it to put up a new form by Friday and tell county election officials to comply.
Memphis, Alabama set future basketball series
The Tigers and Crimson Tide will begin a two-game set inside Coleman Coliseum in the 2021-22 season and return to FedExForum in 2022-23.
Senate passes nearly $40B budget using reserves to cover shortfall
The state Senate approved a $40 billion budget for fiscal 2021, using a chunk of reserve funds to cover about $1 billion in tax shortfalls caused by the COVID-19 crisis, but refused to restore money for education and postpartum health care.
Phase 3 reopening to see partial restart of Riverside Drive traffic
Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter says despite the recent spike in daily confirmed cases, she sees little reason to put off a move to Phase 3 on Monday.
Shelby County Health Dept. gives details on Phase 3
Shelby County Health Dept. director Alisa Haushalter opened Thursday’s briefing with some thoughts on Phase 3.
Neighborhood leaders reconnect in first meeting since COVID-19 pandemic
Rice hopes the Frayser Exchange Club resumes in-person meetings in the next month or two at Impact Baptist Church and Ministries on Clifton Avenue. That’s almost entirely dependent on how the pandemic’s status locally.
Laird Veatch says no Memphis football players tested positive for COVID-19
No Memphis players tested positive for coronavirus during phase zero of the Tigers’ reopening plan.
Grizzlies Notebook: Roster questions grow, Ja Morant takes flight and more
With the NBA season headed to a start in Orlando, questions linger on the Grizzlies roster, injuries and the steps to clearing those questions.
Senate approves measure allowing DeBerry to run as independent
State Rep. John DeBerry has a chance to run in District 90 as an independent after the Senate approved a House-passed bill Thursday enabling to get back on the ballot after Democrats removed him.
U of M pours $1.1B in local economy; R1 status would add $100 million more
Research funding at the University of Memphis is up 70% in the last year.
SCS board votes Thursday on take-home digital devices for all students
Providing take-home devices for students is the focus of a special called meeting of the Shelby County Schools Board on Thursday.
Agency may increase grants for South City businesses because of pandemic
The Downtown Memphis Commission staff recommends that grants for exterior improvements to South City businesses start covering 90% of the costs instead of 75%.
Georgia linebacker Jared Nedd commits to Memphis Tigers
Coach Ryan Silverfield picked up his third commitment from the Peach State.
Jobless claims continue to roll in as COVID-19 restrictions ease
New jobless claims continued to trickle in amid a phased reopening of the Memphis economy after devastating losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Memphis adds to existing series with Mississippi State
Memphis and Mississippi State have extended their football series with the teams adding a home-and-home series in 2028 and 2029.
Florida offer kicks things into high gear for ECS standout Kam Jones
ECS star Kam Jones blends natural scoring ability with a well-developed basketball IQ.
4 townhouse units approved over Cooper-Young objections
A developer redesigned a four-unit town house development in response to objections from within Cooper-Young Historic District. The Land Use Control Board approved the plan even though neighbors still argued that four units were too many.
Building a bubble is complicated, but Ja Morant is ready
Chris Herrington and Drew Hill talk about the questions the NBA and the Grizzlies do still have to answer in this week’s Daily Memphian Grizzlies Podcast, as well as about Hill’s feature this week on rookie forward Brandon Clarke.
Grizzlies Insider: Clarke’s rise was expected — but only by those in the know
With the NBA set to return late next month, this new newsletter will bring you everything you need to know about the Memphis Grizzlies each week.
Metro
East Memphis liquor store gets local Alcohol Commission approval
Before Ethan Edwards can fully open his new store, which is only selling non-alcoholic materials now, he must also get approval from the state Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
Metro The AM/DM podcast: All about the sharp decline in Memphis’ murder rate
Premium The Early Word The Early Word: Republican chair resigns, and school takeover is back
Public Safety Military lawyers sworn in to help with federal Task Force cases
Education Most Tennessee students don’t use vouchers to exit low-performing public schools: comptroller
Business
Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis forced to reschedule some procedures
The HVAC leak began Monday morning. Additionally, ambulance traffic into the hospital is being rerouted.
Premium Real Estate East Memphis liquor store gets local Alcohol Commission approval
Premium Business Memphis tourism sees path from struggle to strength in 2026
Premium Business Germantown’s The Standard development could generate $2.2M in taxes
Movers and Shakers Movers & Shakers
Sports
Grizzlies break two losing streaks in close win over Spurs
Vince Williams Jr. and Cam Spencer were unlikely co–stars of an unlikely night to break a bad streak for the Memphis Grizzlies. Related content:
Premium Memphis Grizzlies Grizzlies 25: Dillon Brooks always put on a show, to sometimes mixed reviews
High School Sports Bartlett outlasts Houston behind Braylon Williams’ 32 points
Premium Millington Rundown raceway receiving robust refresh
High School Sports Whitehaven High football coach Saulsberry stepping down
Food
Erling Jensen Small Bites gets new chef to ‘Bragg’ about
In the past, John Bragg led La Montagne, La Tourelle and River Oaks.
$15 Deals $15 Deal: Soul Fish’s crawfish tacos have crunchy inside and chewy shell
Suburbs
Rundown raceway receiving robust refresh
After years of inactivity, the former Memphis International Raceway is about to get a facelift and a new lease on life.
Premium Business Germantown’s The Standard development could generate $2.2M in taxes
Arts & Culture
The Arts Beat: New year, more art
What’s coming in 2026? Museums, band reunions, new concert venues, landmark anniversaries, a handful of funny guys and portals to parallel universes.
Visual Arts Dixon opens third installment of ‘Black Artists in America’
Opinion
Herrington: As injuries and losses mount, the Grizzlies season could be taking a turn
With a losing streak, new injuries to Ja Morant and Cedric Coward and a crowded coming schedule, this Memphis Grizzlies season may be at a crossroads.
Premium Geoff Calkins Calkins: They fell in love. Broke up for seven decades. Then they found each other again.
Podcasts
The AM/DM podcast: All about the sharp decline in Memphis’ murder rate
In 2025, Memphis’ number of murders declined more than 25% since the year before.
Metro The AM/DM podcast: Inside the Memphis Safe Task Force’s daily reports
Games
Sudoku: Jan. 6
Are you ready for it? Here are today’s sudokus.