Zach Kleiman brings Grizzlies fans a night of shockers
Josh Giddey, Jonathan Kuminga and Franz Wagner were gone, so surely Memphis would pick Moses Moody or James Bouknight. But the Grizzlies’ vice president of basketball operations had other ideas.
NBA draft: Grizzlies pick Ziaire Williams at No. 10
Williams struggled in his lone college season at Stanford, but he impressed enough to go in the top 10. Grizzlies trade up to 1st round, select Aldama of Loyola in MarylandRelated stories:
Calkins: Just don’t be surprised if Grizzlies draft shockers work out
The Grizzlies stunned the NBA universe twice Thursday night, first by taking Ziaire Williams at No. 10, then by taking Santi Aldama at No. 40. But given the team’s recent success in the draft, should we really be surprised if the Grizzlies hit on their picks?
Herrington: Grizzlies surprise on multiple fronts with confident, risky draft night
It was smoke-screen season, and when it came to draft-night prognostication, the smoke got in the eyes of even the high-profile specialists.
Grizzlies/NBA draft blog: Where the Grizz stand
Beat writer Drew Hill and columnists Geoff Calkins and Chris Herrington will post blog posts, stories and columns as events develop for the Grizzlies.
No new mask mandates, for now
The next health directive will offer clearer guidance on when and where to mask, but Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said he does not expect additional restrictions or mask mandates at this time.
Homicides up 14.6% over year ago
The city is on track to exceed last year’s record 332 homicides. Violent deaths are up 14.6% in 2021 compared to the same time period last year.
Tennessee Republicans remain low-key on call for vaccination
While many Republican leaders nationwide are now calling more strongly for COVID vaccinations in light of the Delta variant, Tennessee’s leading Republicans have remained more muted.
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.
Ridgeway Trace shopping center sells for $38 million
Ridgeway Trace shopping center operates at a prime junction for Memphis retail: Interstate 240 and Poplar. The property changed hands this week.
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.
City Council requires masks, limits attendance at sessions
A week after welcoming the public back to its sessions at City Hall, the Memphis City Council is reinstituting pandemic measures starting with the Tuesday, Aug. 3, committee sessions and the full meeting of the council later in the day.
TDOT: Bridge reopens eastbound by Monday morning
Eastbound traffic will resume by Monday, Aug. 2, and westbound lanes will reopen Friday, Aug. 6. Crews will continue some work on the Hernando DeSoto Bridge even after the span across the Mississippi River resumes.
Memphis football’s Black assistants cautiously optimistic about their future
“Stay true to what you do and try not to worry about the outside factors,” Tigers defensive line coach Kyle Pope said.
FIREBIRD blends modern dance, sculpture at uncommon space
After making a splash with last fall’s BVOE, Off the Walls Arts returns with FIREBIRD, blending modern dance and sculpture at its unconventional South Memphis arts space.
City Council Scorecard: The impact of Memphis 3.0 where commercial and residential meet
The Council Scorecard follows the saga of a used car lot in Raleigh that has come to symbolize the complexity of trying to move toward less-intense commercial development on major roads that have neighborhoods just behind them.
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.
Sanford: New Health Department director weathered unnecessary political storm
Otis Sanford says the dispute between Mayor Lee Harris and County Commissioner Mark Billingsley seems to portend the year ahead for politics in Shelby County.
Consolidation talk returns 11 years after last voters nixed last effort
The first step would be a commission to draft a charter for a combined city of Memphis and Shelby County government covering Memphis and unincorporated Shelby County but not the six suburban towns and cities.
Metro
Morgan resigns as local Republican Party chairman
The local Republican Party’s executive committee meets later this month to elect a new chair.
Public Safety Military lawyers sworn in to help with federal Task Force cases
Premium Business Christian Brothers University names insider to guide post-probation turnaround
Public Safety Jerri Green named interim public defender
Metro The AM/DM podcast: Inside the Memphis Safe Task Force’s daily reports
Business
Despite challenging 2025, Memphis Tourism optimistic for 2026
Last year, Memphis was one of the few markets nationwide to see hotel-occupancy growth.
Premium Business Christian Brothers University names insider to guide post-probation turnaround
Premium Business From New Canada Road to The Lake District, 2026 set to be a big build year for Lakeland and Bartlett
Premium Health Care Anyone can do science: How a little girl from rural Louisiana became a research leader at UTHSC
Premium Business Liberty Bowl’s SEC, AutoZone deals hinge on pending CFP decision
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:
High School Sports Bartlett outlasts Houston behind Braylon Williams’ 32 points
Memphis Grizzlies Jackson, Spencer lead Grizzlies in tight win over Spurs
Memphis Grizzlies Box score: Grizzlies 106, Spurs 105
High School Sports Whitehaven High football coach Saulsberry stepping down
Food
Meet the big food company in Memphis you don’t know exists
With 3,500 employees and facilities in nine communities in the eastern part of the U.S., the Memphis-based company makes snacks for some of consumers’ favorite brands.
$15 Deals $15 Deal: Soul Fish’s crawfish tacos have crunchy inside and chewy shell
Suburbs
Thompson Machinery plans road network for Collierville site
Collierville officials endorsed a plan to subdivide more than 130 acres in southeast Collierville.
Premium North Mississippi Packed room challenges Southaven board over xAI
Arts & Culture
Memphis Movies This Week: Bradley Cooper’s ‘Is This Thing On?,’ a Jim Jarmusch award-winner
Jim Jarmusch is a New York filmmaker, but one with Memphis connections. Chris Herrington says the filmmaker’s “Mystery Train” is arguably the greatest of Memphis movies.
Premium Performing Arts The Arts Beat: New year, more art
Opinion
Echols: A friendship 84 years in the making
“In a world where loneliness is an epidemic, I wondered what could possibly go into cultivating a friendship like this one.”
Premium Guest Columnists Opinion: A Memphis treasure is being lost
Podcasts
The AM/DM podcast: Inside the Memphis Safe Task Force’s daily reports
Recently, The Daily Memphian obtained daily Task Force reports between October and early December, giving us more insight into the operations than ever before.