All MATA services will be free to ride on Thursday, April 28.

Willy Bearden, who has been making movies and documentaries, writing scripts and stories and producing events of all kinds all over the world, is on this week’s edition of The Sidebar. 

The longtime house orchestra of Germantown Performing Arts Center is transitioning away from a traditional orchestral model and will continue with new performances in November. 

Continued growth in DeSoto County translates to a need for a new Justice Court building. The facility, already under construction, should open this summer alongside other law-and-order facilities.

The Memphis Grizzlies finished with the third-best road record in the league this year, 26-15. 

This week, cheer on the Memphis Grizzlies at Fourth Bluff watch parties, catch local music shows on porches throughout Cooper-Young and see Memphis soul singer Talibah Safiya at Crosstown Arts.

“What is troubling here ... is the narrative around crime is so strong, so in your face all the time.”

The Grizzlies went away from Steven Adams and used second-year forward Xavier Tillman Sr., who delivered critical defensive stops and rebounds. 

Ja Morant’s film study and Taylor Jenkins’ gut fostered the Game 2 win. But the Grizzlies are shifting to enemy territory and potential new hindrances.

Related story:

Grizz fans praise Xavier Tillman, call Kaari Morant a top Memphian online

Harding Academy will host its annual Student Art Show Thursday, April 21, displaying original artwork created by Harding art students in grades 7-12.

With a new grandchild on the way and an aging mother, Neely said the timing was right to come home where she can “bleed blue.”

DeSoto County governments are taking varying approaches to the potential sale of medical marijuana.

FHN president and CEO Bryan Jordan said in a statement released Tuesday that higher long-term rates and global uncertainty impacted operations. Jordan also said FHN is “well positioned” to benefit from rising short-term rates. 

When The Daily Memphian asked locals what the city needs to improve the area’s culinary scene, the answers spanned the globe.

Also announced are the freshman of the year, coach of the year and the all-metro teams.

Ford Motor Co. plans to bring a 10,000-square-foot display that will include updates on its project at the Megasite of West Tennessee, future Blue Oval City, as well an outdoor EV track.

The free summer series will kick off with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s Sunset Symphony on Sunday, May 29.

The next possible landmark COVID drug is so rich in Memphis DNA that if approved by the FDA, patent royalty checks will immediately flow to town. Plus, it’s in capsule form, taken once a day for 21 days. It does not need to be refrigerated and can be shipped easily and inexpensively around the world.

Homicides and violent or gun-related crimes have become a growing issue in the city of Memphis, with a 45.9% increase in murders from 2019 to 2020, according to the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission. Memphis set a record for homicides in 2020 with 332. And broke it again with 345 in 2021. 

With six minutes left in the game, everyone at FedExForum was dancing to “Whoop that Trick.” Including little Kaari Morant. It was that kind of triumphant night.

Jaren Jackson Jr. scores 16 points, including four 3-pointers, and Xavier Tillman Sr. provides the surprise element in a 28-point win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

Related stories:

Calkins: Grizzlies whoop those Timberwolves

Herrington: Adjustments, song requests, whooped tricks as Grizzlies exhale in Game 2

Grizz fans give players advice for Game 2 online, not feeling ‘MemThis’

Box score: Grizzlies 124, Timberwolves 96

The two proposals were introduced during council committee sessions but appear to have been discussed among council members prior to that. 

Related story:

City Council approves Southwind apartments, Liberty Park management contract, more

Memphis police Tuesday released video footage of the three suspects from the shootout that occurred on Beale Street April 10.