In an otherwise carefully crafted State of the City address that was full of symbolism and substance, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland included one line that may have caused more confusion than clarity.

The Tennessee Republican Party must find the political courage to move the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust – a blatant symbol of Tennessee’s shameful history – out of the Capitol rotunda and into the museum, and replace it with a hero that is more representative of all Tennesseans. 

If history is any guide, the new Memphis Express professional football franchise will do fine. The big question concerns the league, the new eight-team Alliance of American Football.

On a surreal night for Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and the Memphis Grizzlies, Conley put it best: "You just felt the love."

Feelings are divided as Lakeland residents debate the cost of a new high school in the growing suburb.

With Mac Daddy, Memphian Jim Lord hopes that his signature mac and cheese dishes will bring him fame and fortune – or at least a food truck.

A Boulevardier is the drink of the day with Bar Talk and Drew Wooten, bartender at Southern Social in Germantown.

Bands and solo/duo acts from Memphis and Mississippi to the Mediterranean and all points in-between competed Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the annual International Blues Challenge on Beale. Competition continues through Saturday.

Members of the Bridge Builders Change program are creating a safe space for victims of sexual assault, abuse and harassment to share their stories of strength in an open forum.

• Leadership Memphis celebrating 40th anniversary by honoring 40 Memphis change makers
• Memphis resident freed from prison lands book, movie deal
• Shelby County Court Clerk to appear before State Supreme Court on expungement case

Mike Conley scored 25 points and Justin Holiday converted a pair of free throws with .1 seconds remaining as the Grizzlies defeated the Timberwolves 108-106 on a night where trade rumors were prevalent. 

Mike Conley had 25 points and nine assists in possibly his last game for Memphis, and the Grizzlies beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 108-106 on Tuesday night on Justin Holiday's two free throws with .1 seconds remaining.

Memphis city council members again delayed approval of Memphis Light, Gas and Water rate increases Tuesday, instead urging the utility to make its case to the public for an infrastructure overhaul before the council tries again later this month.

Legendary Memphis deejay and Elvis friend George Klein has died, according to multiple sources. 

The cocktails at P.O. Press in Collierville are as creative as the food. Coma Pony debuted this week and counts olive oil among its ingredients.

Memphis center Marc Gasol will not play Tuesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves as the team reportedly discusses a trade with the Charlotte Hornets.

Applications for the March meeting of the Land Use Control Board include the latest phase of the South City mixed-use development, a waste-management company expansion in Whitehaven and the move of a funeral service to Whitehaven.

Gov. Bill Lee says he favors pulling the ability to compel testimony from police oversight committees, even though Knoxville's board has had that authority for 20 years without incident. 

The Weekly Memphian is a partial guide to things happening in Memphis, recommended by Daily Memphian staff. This guide covers Feb. 6-12.

Declaring that high school needs to look different in Tennessee, Gov. Bill Lee Tuesday announced his legislative initiative to expand access to vocational and technical training for students who are soon to start college or a career.

The state board of education is being told it should approve a recommendation to shut down a small Memphis charter middle school after 10 years of operation.

• Shelby County Court Clerk to appear before State Supreme Clerk on expungement case
• Alpha Kappa Alpha pledges $100,000 endowment to LeMoyne-Owen
• Sales, net income rise at Mueller Industries
• Memphis woman to be guest at President Trump's State of the Union address
• Building permit filed for Germantown location of The Container Store
• Juvenile Court monitor to submit final report
• Fred's Inc. announces appointment of CEO and three other top executives

More housing for the families of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital patients could be coming soon to the Pinch District Downtown. 

Bartlett-based business is finding a market for vinyl records.

Knoxville representative says universities should close Confucius Institute programs because it’s a “front for communist propaganda and intelligence gathering.” The University of Memphis is keeping its program, however.