Totals are through games of Dec. 17 and are for TSSAA schools in The Daily Memphian coverage area.

Despite being only 5-8 and 188 pounds, former Northpoint Christian School star Christian Saulsberry had the drive to be a professional football player. Four months after achieving his dream, his life was taken.

The Shelby County Commission will appoint the winner of the Democratic primary election Jan. 24. Since there are no Republican or independent challengers in the special March election, the appointee will effectively be the Tennessee House District 86 representative.

The Shelby County Commission passed the TIF trust fund to collect increased property city and county property taxes and use the revenue for Klondike redevelopment. The plan next goes before the Memphis City Council.

Blake Watson, a 5-9, 195-pound running back from Old Dominion, has committed to the University of Memphis.

Related stories:

Tigers football recruiting: Meet the Memphis commits

Transfer portal tracker: Memphis Tigers football

Memphis safety Rodney Owens to focus on NFL Draft

Airport officials are providing tips as they expect a 2.7% increase in traffic compared to the same travel period in 2019, before the pandemic, as well as a 17.2% increase from the same travel period in 2021. 

The Memphis City Council session involves Klondike and Sheraton tax votes, as well as a look at the Dream Hotel next to Peabody Place and the city’s animal ordinance.

Collierville Schools is increasing tuition for those attending the district’s schools and living outside the suburban limits beginning in the 2023-24 school year.

The app is aimed at promoting healthy computer habits — and popping up dog photos.

Drew Hill and Chris Herrington discuss the upcoming road trip for the Grizzlies and the bizarre ejection of Ja Morant on Saturday night. 

Since February of 2020, the Grizzlies have been on 14 road trips of three games or more. They have finished .500 or better on all 14 of those trips. 

Before this holiday-season stretch commences, let’s stop to unwrap the most prominent present each main-roster member of the top-seeded Grizzlies has given us in this opening third of the season.

Related story:

Grizzlies Insider: Can Memphis keep this road streak alive?

Mac of All Trades is the newest venture for Mac Edwards, who also remains part of The Farmer at Railgarten. 

In an effort to retain and grow its number of officers, the Memphis Police Department has opened a recruitment center in Midtown and implemented retention bonuses and a new take-home vehicle program. But is it working? 

Tuesday’s earnings call is expected to focus on how effective the company’s sweeping cost-cutting initiatives announced in September have been so far.

When the NCAA’s early signing period opened Wednesday, recruits from Lausanne, Briarcrest, Houston, Bartlett, Southaven and Horn Lake joined Football Bowl Subdivision schools.

A new multi-year report from the U.S. Geological Survey found the range of black carp in the Mississippi River basin now includes the entirety of the river, from New Orleans to the southeastern edge of Iowa.

Craig Unger, president of the Memphis Redbirds and Memphis 901 FC, said the 12-year-old video board had “outlived its life.”

Humans and hounds head to Hollywood Feed for suitable-for-framing holiday souvenirs.

“I want to go one more year,” said the redshirt senior running back, who will use his sixth year of eligibility provided by the COVID-19 season to return to Memphis for the 2023 season.

Three-star quarterback Carson Black committed to the Tigers in June before decommitting six months later.

There’s a real possibility that this group of primarily transfers and unheralded recruits can lead Memphis to its most successful season since 2013.

Related stories:

Memphis escapes with close home win against Texas A&M

Buckley: A hot-headed star. A long hug. Another huge Tigers basketball win.

Box score: Memphis 83, Texas A&M 79

“I believe this old Christmas story is true for lots of reasons. But when I’m in a pinch and can’t think of any of those, I look to Hollywood to remind me of the power in the name that’s behind everything good in my life.”

Christian Brothers University is partnering with St. George’s University in the Caribbean to provide students with streamlined admissions to its School of Medicine in Grenada.

CEO George Monger is out to make sure independent performers artists get every cent they earn from royalties.