Calkins: Time to hold Musk and xAI to ‘the one promise they’ve made.’
“Will Elon Musk follow through on his promise to build a water-recycling facility? It’s up to Memphians to make sure he does.”Related content:
Greater Memphis Chamber CEO placed on leave, reasons unclear
According to several high-level sources, Ted Townsend has been placed on leave by the Greater Memphis Chamber, but it is unclear why.
The Early Word: xAI’s water plant is on the back burner; Fred Smith is a Tiger
Two sue Youth Villages over shooting, a Hernando native is helping with the moon mission and we recommend a sandwich that looks like a shoe.
Food Files: Another Raising Cane’s in Memphis and another Taziki’s in Collierville
More gyros are coming to Collierville, and a second Memphis Raising Cane’s is planning its grand opening party.
Martin: Can a hometown kid help Hardaway bring back the glory days?
The four-star prospect committed to Penny Hardaway and the Tigers, giving the Memphis basketball program some much-needed momentum after the worst on-court season since the 1970s. Memphis made: Briarcrest standout Fred Smith Jr. says yes to TigersRelated content:
2 more mass shooting victims file $15M suits against Youth Villages
The two were both shot April 9, 2025, during a meeting of Youth Village’s SWITCH program in Hickory Hill.
Bailey: MLGW representation and suburban voices on the utility board
Suburban representation on the MLGW board is a long-standing debate tied to a bunch of intertwined issues. But about a third of the customers who live outside of Memphis have no voting voice on that body.
Houston, we have a Hernando native: Matthew Ramsey is NASA’s Artemis II mission manager
Matthew Ramsey is managing the Artemis II mission, but his roots are in DeSoto County where he played sports and learned from STEM programs at Hernando High.
The Rambler hotel sold at auction
Marcus & Millichap, a commercial real estate brokerage, announced the sale but would not disclose the buyer or the sales price.
Concerts in the Grove return to Germantown with new spring lineup
Singer-songwriter and bassist Mark Edgar Stuart opens the spring series on May 7.
$15 deal: Órale Tacos’ barbacoa huarache
At Órale, diners choose from a variety of toppings for their huarache, ranging from carne asada, carnitas, grilled shrimp, chorizo sausage or just vegetables.
The transfer portal is open. Who might Penny Hardaway bring in?
Among nearly 2,000 players who have entered the transfer portal, Penny Hardaway will likely need to find 11 to assemble his make-or-break team. So who might they be?
Elon Musk gives timeline on water recycling plant
The Daily Memphian reported the water recycling facility, a key promise the company made to local leaders and residents, was “on an indefinite pause.” Without it, xAI uses fresh drinking water to cool its Colossus data center.
XAI Mississippi air permit appealed by SELC
Last month, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Permit Board approved an xAI subsidiary’s application to erect 41 natural gas turbines.
Memphis made: Briarcrest standout Fred Smith Jr. says yes to Tigers
College choice ends a whirlwind last few weeks for the two-time Mr. Basketball winner from Briarcrest Christian School.
Tigers to wear FedEx sponsorship jersey patches
The NCAA announced earlier this year that it would allow schools to wear commercial jersey patches.
Board considers grants for Downtown improvements
The Downtown Memphis Commission’s Center City Development Corp. will consider several grants for Downtown projects at its April 15 meeting.
The AM/DM podcast: Counter culture takes center stage
Bartlett pitcher voted athlete of the week
The voters have spoken. And they have chosen Russell Randall as this week’s Daily Memphian spring-sports athlete of the week.
Dress like Selena, party with Trekkies and get a tattoo at Graceland
In this week’s To-Do List, the Stax Music Academy takes over Handy Park, Ballet Memphis performs a Shakespeare classic and Novel’s new club lets you walk and read at the same time.
What Daily Memphians think*
“The man knows what he’s doing. Looking forward to revisiting.” — Jeffrey Old about The Second Line reopens in Laurelwood
“Thank you, FedEx for supporting the Tigers and the Memphis community at large!” — Thomas Sine about Tigers to wear FedEx sponsorship jersey patches
“Find players who are interested in ‘team’ basketball, being a part of something bigger than just a paycheck & willing to realize being a Memphis Tigers is utmost. Chemistry is vital.” — Mike Hanna about The transfer portal is open. Who might Penny Hardaway bring in?
* Select comments upvoted by Daily Memphian readers.
Memphis becomes first team in professional baseball to 10 wins
The Redbirds avenged their Game 2 loss with a dominant pitching performance.
Sudoku: April 10
Ready for today’s sudokus?
Daily WordRow: April 10
Are you a Wordle fan? Try WordRow, a similar game. It’s free to play.
Daily Jigsaw: Houdini
This jigsaw puzzle is a photo of Harry Houdini’s star of fame outside the Orpheum Theatre and was taken by Patrick Lantrip.
Metro
XAI promised it would save billions of gallons of fresh drinking water every year by recycling wastewater. Now, that’s in doubt.
Ahead of SpaceX’s IPO, it would stand to reason the cost of a water-recycling plant may be essential to the long-term health of the Memphis Sand Aquifer, but it might not be essential to a company whose books could soon come under broader public scrutiny.Related content:
Premium Spirit of Memphis From Bartlett to the moon and back
Premium Public Safety Can a new approach convince people to put the guns down?
Premium State Government $1.6B in child support held up due to third-party vendor, judge alleges
Premium Spirit of Memphis Tennessee legislature honors Memphis native Drew Holcomb
Business
Prince Mongo sells historic Front Street building for $1.25 million
Built in 1875, the building is across the street from the under-construction Memphis Art Museum.
Premium Real Estate Local investor sees value in ‘unleaseable’ shopping center
Premium Transportation & Logistics FedEx Freight sets goals before going public June 1
Premium Real Estate Former office space will become a creative space for charter school kids
Premium Health Care SweetBio rolls out new, longer-lasting wound product
Sports
Redbirds recap: Redbirds drop Game 2 at Knights
Leo Bernal smacks his first career Triple-A home run in the ninth.
Premium Sports Redbirds recap: Memphis bats dominate opener at Charlotte
Premium Memphis Tigers Basketball What’s Memphis paying new women’s basketball coach Hana Haden?
Premium Memphis Grizzlies Grizzlies 25: Zach Randolph overcame injury to make more Memphis memories. But, oh, what might have been.
Premium Memphis Grizzlies Herrington: Evaluating Zach Kleiman’s history of coach and player management
Food
The Second Line reopens in Laurelwood
The Second Line opened at 4550 Poplar Ave. on Wednesday, April 8, once again serving Cajun-Creole cuisine that includes po’boys, gumbo, red beans, crawfish, and pimento cheese fries.
Premium Real Estate Veteran restaurateurs to open Middle Eastern bakery
Premium Food At Mempops, spring heats up demand
Suburbs
Germantown aims to spend $27 million on safety, streets and schools
Germantown has about $27 million planned in improvements as part of the 2026-27 budget.
Premium Business Suburban leaders, residents want more restrictions on solar
Premium Metro Suburbs could get voting representation on MLGW board
Arts & Culture
Memphis Movies This Week: ‘Jerry Maguire,’ ‘E.T.’ get big-screen revivals
In addition to the throwbacks, screenings this week include a set-in-Italy romantic comedy, “You, Me and Tuscany,” and the new horror movie “Faces of Death.”
Premium Visual Arts ‘Crafting, it’s undervalued’ — but not at events like Art in the Loop
Premium Music A plus for fans of vinyl: Annual record swap spins into weekend event
Opinion
Calkins: The Grizzlies have a problem. And it isn’t just basketball.
They fell in love with the Grizzlies on their first date. But after Monday’s game, they’re giving up their season tickets. And they’re not alone.
Podcasts
The AM/DM podcast: ‘Violence interrupters’ seizing the moment?
For more than a decade, the City of Memphis has tried to quell gun violence by talking to potential victims or perpetrators before they make life-altering choices.
Games
Daily Jigsaw: Just ducky
This jigsaw puzzle is a photo of baby ducks at Metzer Farms and was taken by Patrick Lantrip.