Crime Crisis: MPD brass wants more officers. Here’s how it’s deploying who it has
Of the city’s roughly 1,900 commissioned officers, about 61% are on patrol.
Sherra Wright’s request for parole denied
Wright pleaded guilty in 2019 to the murder of her ex-husband and former NBA player Lorenzen Wright in 2010.
MATA ‘Transit Vision’ funding clears first county hurdle
There were seven votes on the county commission for the first of three readings on creating the first dedicated source of recurring local funding for the city-owned bus system. But there are amendments ahead. Related story:
County property tax rate set, but budgeting goes on
But the Shelby County Commission still has some dollar figures to crunch and some conflicting calculations to resolve before it can close the books on another budget season.
Poor People’s Campaign continues King’s work: ‘We need a resurrection’
In 1968, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. came to Memphis to support the sanitation workers’ strike as part of the campaign. National Civil Rights Museum launches ‘Solidarity Now!’ exhibitRelated story:
Cooper-Young tips a hat to gardens
The Cooper-Young Garden Walk returned this past weekend for the seventh year. Visitors had a chance to drop into more than 100 gardens in the eclectic Midtown neighborhood. Some of the gardens included peeks at artist studios, chicken coops, beehives, composters and more. This year’s Garden Walk theme was hats.
Grizzlies notebook: Where they’re going, early draft prep, Mavs disappointment
A look at where the Grizzlies are headed this offseason, and which prospects helped their case at the NBA combine.
$147M down, $148M to pay on FedExForum, with renovations a possibility
“I understand major renovations (at FedExForum) are going to be needed,” Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said, “but I don’t think it’s scary at all.”
Chairman’s Circle head: ‘We are preparing people for careers, not jobs’
David May leads the Chairman’s Circle, the 145 most influential executives in Memphis. He’s also leading the massive regional effort to improve the workforce as it prepares for Blue Oval City’s demands.
FedEx lends a hand with Operation Fly Formula
The flight from the Ramstein Air Base in Germany to Indiana transported the equivalent of 1.5 million 8-ounce bottles of three formulas, all of which are hypoallergenic for children with cow’s milk protein allergy.
Partners MERI and Genesis push past COVID impact to continue medical training
COVID-19 resulted in fewer donations for Genesis Legacy Whole Body Donation Foundation, a non-transplant anatomic donation organization that shares space with the Medical Education and Research Institute.
Spring Fling preview: Athletes to watch this week
Some of the area’s top athletes are vying for repeat titles or to take their teams to long-awaited championships at Spring Fling in Murfreesboro.Related stories:
Spring Fling Preview: Tuesday’s Shelby-Metro Schedule
Spring Fling Preview: Complete list of Shelby-Metro participants
Two-time Super Bowl champion joins Memphis coaching staff
David Diehl will join the Tigers’ coaching staff as a quality control coach.
Metro
The Early Word: Morant, Miller ink a deal; Mapco rises from Hop-in’s ashes
General Assembly ends for the year, Kevin Ritz gets grilled and BluffCakes is closing (but you can still order giant cookies).
Metro D.C. Scorecard: U.S. aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan votes reveal bipartisanship limits
Business
FTC bans noncompete clauses; objectors quickly file suit
Broadcast industry celebrates the victory but crosses fingers that ban will stick.
Business High Court appears to favor Starbucks in Memphis 7 case
Sports
Mike Miller sees new client Ja Morant as top five in the NBA
Miller believes Grizzlies star Ja Morant will show the world he’s a top five player in the NBA, the former Grizz-turned-NBA agent said Thursday in the wake of Morant hiring Miller and his agency to represent him.Related story:
Sports Six quarterbacks selected in top 12 of NFL Draft
Food
Secret Smash Society founders to open Hard Times Deli
The chefs affectionately known around Memphis as the “Patty Daddys” are opening a new restaurant where they can support their families and “not have to work for the man.”
Suburbs
Bartlett Planning Commission sees third new member after resignation
A new member has been appointed to replace Mandy Young, who has served on the suburb’s Planning Commission for the past eight years.
Arts & Culture
MIM Barbecue Contest to feature Marcy Playground, Ingram Hill
The Memphis in May event at Liberty Park will also have celebrity pitmasters doing cooking demonstrations and 129 teams from 22 states and four foreign countries competing for barbecue honors.
Opinion
Sanford: Orange Mound shooting spree struck a nerve. But we cannot concede defeat.
We’ve had plenty of rallies, vigils and marches. We’ve created one anti-violence group after another. We’ve floated balloons as well as ideas. And still, the deaths keep coming.
Podcasts
Reporters address what elements might add up to property-tax hike
A reporters roundtable on “Behind The Headlines” talks about Mayor Paul Young’s property tax hike proposal, new figures showing a drop in crime and first moves by the new MSCS superintendent.