Liberty Park breaks ground after 14 years and three mayors
The Monday, June 14, groundbreaking starts with a youth sports complex that is the centerpiece of the $126 million project about where the Libertyland amusement park once stood.
Memphis Grizzlies at the Olympics — maybe?
In May, Dillon Brooks and Brandon Clarke accepted invites to Team Canada’s training camp. Jonas Valanciunas will try to help Lithuania qualify. But what about Ja Morant?
Emhoff coming Wednesday to encourage COVID vaccinations
Douglas Emhoff was just in the city last month to push the Biden administration’s infrastructure plan.
SCS approves $2.2 billion budget
Shelby County Schools approved a proposed budget of $2.2 billion to be presented to the County Commission on Wednesday, June 16.
Germantown reviews peewee fields, moves budget to final reading
The final reading for Germantown’s budget is scheduled for June 28. The board also approved taking the first step toward acquiring soccer fields for the city’s youngest athletes.
Collierville adopts $90.3 million budget, sets property tax rate
Collierville adopted its 2021-22 budget Monday. To support the budget, aldermen also approved a tax rate of $1.72.
Collierville Target closed after fire ‘on grocery aisle’
Collierville’s Target is closed after a weekend fire. There is no set reopening date, but the closure is expected to be about a month.
Latest I-55 travel times show almost smooth sailing on Monday
Instead of the traffic jams varying wildly throughout the hours of each day, this past week’s data showed the same delays for blocks of time.
FedEx increases dividend payments
The dividends will be payable July 12 to people on record as stockholders by the close of business June 28.
Germantown earmarks federal funds for infrastructure
Germantown is expecting about $10.5 million in American Rescue Plan funds. The money will be invested in infrastructure, with the majority going towards drainage.
West Cancer, Saint Francis announcing new partnership
Saint Francis Healthcare and West Cancer Center are joining forces to offer new access to cancer care.
Mud Island renovations hit supply chain problems, cash delays
The shortened park season opened with water in the Riverwalk. But other parts of the upgrade in the 39-year-old attraction have been delayed. Meanwhile, there was an attempt on the City Council to get the park’s long-dormant monorail up and running again that didn’t pan out.
Redbirds catcher Tyler ‘Heindini’ Heineman’s magic goes viral
The journeyman taught himself how to perform magic and uses his skills to loosen things up if it’s a tense clubhouse.
Interim MPD chief Mike Ryall retires after 38 years
He said policing has been his ministry. “I’ve always had a heart for helping those that really could not make that next step by themselves, and they needed some assistance,” he said. “I love God, and I just feel like His hand has been over me to drive that badge forward in a ministry type way.”
General Assembly committee leadership short on diversity
Since Bill Haslam was elected governor in 2010, Republicans have held control of Tennessee’s state government, with the party controlling the trifecta of the House, Senate and governor’s office. No Black politician has chaired a full, standing committee since then.
Metro
Jessica Ramsey advances to Olympics shot put final
Ramsey, who works at Insomnia Cookies and trains at Bartlett, qualified on her third throw.
City of Memphis Consolidation talk returns 11 years after last voters nixed last effort
Business
Board delays U of M apartment decision, allows for Uptown storage facility
The board also approved zoning variances for a Georgia-based developer that plans to build affordable housing complexes in the North Poplar neighborhood near Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.
South Memphis Neighbors’ concerns delay disbanding of Memphis Depot board
Sports
Herrington: Draft night surprised because of what we thought we knew
Now that the 2021 NBA draft is over, it’s also time to see what others thought of the Grizzlies’ picks.
Memphis Grizzlies Grizzlies pick Santi Aldama: A man of mystery
Food
Cheers for Beers: Ghost River brings the brew to Beale with new taproom
Ghost River Beale Street opened earlier this month on the east end of the street, bringing food, live music, its local beers, a nano brewery and a full bar to the new taproom.
Suburbs
Germantown adding student to school board
Germantown’s Board of Education will add a high school student to its board this fall. He or she will be selected by the Houston High principal and provide student insight to the board.
Neighborhoods
About Town: How One Beale’s final piece fits in
The fourth – and final – phase of the $400 million One Beale Development includes 44,000 square feet of meeting and event space, two restaurants, a 6,500-square-foot spa, a 2,200-square-foot fitness center, and “massive rooftop infinity pool.”
Arts & Culture
The To-Do List: Live music, hoops, stargazing
This week Lucero frontman Ben Nichols will play a solo acoustic birthday show and septuagenarian gospel artist Elizabeth King, flanked by some ace Memphis sidemen, will perform a live score to a pioneering work of Black cinema.
Opinion
Conaway: My bucket list – keep breathing. And other deep thoughts
‘You guys not only care about what I have to say, some of you have colorful suggestions about how I might spend my time and places I might go to spend it.’
Podcasts
Listen to Jennifer Biggs shame Eric Barnes and Chris Herrington
Eric Barnes’ disgrace begins with orange juice and ends with an embarrassing confession about Chili-flavored Fritos.