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
County Commission tries one last time on new-jail study
Shelby County commissioners debated whether they should do nothing and let the new commission with a new majority start anew on the issue.
Public Safety Memphis Safe Task Force sweeps Hickory Hill nightclub, arrests 6
Spirit of Memphis Four Memphis writers are finalists for Tennessee Book Award
Public Safety Fatal shootout leaves family grieving, lawmakers and neighbors targeting ‘trap houses’
Premium The Early Word The Early Word: A gas station hold-up and a biker gang in spandex
Business
JoJo’s Espresso plans third area location
The new location will be 2,200 square feet, which JoJo’s co-owner said will be the company’s go-to size for any future locations.
Premium Health Care ‘We don’t have a healthcare problem. What we have is a funding and a payment problem.’
Premium Health Care UTHSC reports vindicate controversial professor, but departed faculty disagree
Premium Real Estate Former Cascades developer owes millions in unpaid loans, documents show
Premium Spirit of Memphis Surgical oncologist Dr. Martin Fleming takes after his father. And his son takes after him.
Sports
Cam Boozer, meet Tommy Fleetwood. Memphis, meet the Audubon clubhouse’s new sponsor.
Memphis Grizzlies rookie Cameron Boozer met the world’s No. 6-ranked golfer on the green, where they helped FedEx announce its $1 million gift to sponsor the new clubhouse at The Links at Audubon.
Sports College-sports bill doesn’t get vote but does get spot on US Senate’s September calendar
Memphis Tigers Basketball Memphis basketball announces nonconference schedule
Premium Memphis Tigers Football Hill: NCAA rules will change story for Memphis football’s next Anthony Miller or Calvin Austin — and maybe the next Charles Huff
Premium Geoff Calkins Calkins: Memphis needs more gang members. (The spandex kind.)
Food
JoJo’s Espresso plans third area location
The new location will be 2,200 square feet, which JoJo’s co-owner said will be the company’s go-to size for any future locations.
Premium Food News Here’s the dill: Boss Lady Pickles gets a chance at Cordelia’s
Suburbs
JoJo’s Espresso plans third area location
The new location will be 2,200 square feet, which JoJo’s co-owner said will be the company’s go-to size for any future locations.
Premium Arlington Incumbent school board candidates see challenges amid state policy concerns
Arts & Culture
Four Memphis writers are finalists for Tennessee Book Award
An ice storm aftermath, the newspaper industry, small-town Helen of Troy circa 1993 and where climate crisis and motherhood intersect: Here are the four books that have Memphians up for a statewide award.
Premium Visual Arts Metal Museum’s Rust Hall design blends old and new
Opinion
Calkins: Memphis needs more gang members. (The spandex kind.)
Collierville Alderman Charles Hall touched a nerve recently when he called cyclists “the spandex gang.” Hall says he didn’t mean anything by it. But Geoff Calkins says Memphis — and the world — would be a better place if it adopted the principles of the spandex gang.
Premium Memphis Tigers Football Hill: NCAA rules will change story for Memphis football’s next Anthony Miller or Calvin Austin — and maybe the next Charles Huff
Podcasts
Outgoing mayor Lee Harris said state oversight will make Mickell Lowery’s job harder
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris talks about his eight years as mayor on “Behind The Headlines” and the challenges facing his successor, Mayor-elect Mickell Lowery.
The Sidebar: Eric Barnes on arts, culture & more Pat Mitchell Worley on the legacy of Stax in Memphis
Games
Daily Jigsaw: ‘Suffs’ spotlights Memphis suffrage
Today’s puzzle features the bust of Mary Church Terrell, a Memphis suffrage movement activist and daughter of Robert Reed Church, said to be the South’s first Black millionaire. The photo was taken by Jonathan Mintz.