With no more scheduled meetings and winter break rapidly approaching, it looks like around 35 Memphis schools will go without cleaning starting Jan. 1, 2026.

When or if three former Memphis police officers convicted federally in the death of Tyré Nichols will receive a new trial remains up in the air. So where does that leave the two who pleaded guilty? 

Former bank CEO Robert “Bob” Hartheimer will plead guilty to a series of child pornography charges.

Crime keeps dropping. Police say major offenses fell again in November, reaching their lowest level in nearly three years.

At a hearing that displayed a clash of environmental activism and the city’s business establishment, the Air Pollution Control Board said the controversial air emissions permit will stand. But it may come with a policy change.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s topical action-comedy romp “One Battle After Another” and Ryan Coogler’s Delta-set horror period piece “Sinners” dominated this year’s awards vote of the Southeastern Film Critics Association. 

A replacement has not yet been named.

Say goodbye to 2025 with a midnight toast, and then set some healthy resolutions and eat some lucky black-eyed pea soup. 

Standouts from Arlington, Bartlett, Brighton, East and Soulsville up for consideration this week. Voting ends at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18.

Standouts from FACS, Freedom Prep, Hillcrest, MUS and St. Benedict up for consideration this week. Voting ends at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18.

The Grizzlies are starting all over again: Evaluating the ability of co-stars Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. to elevate this team while still waiting to get whole again.

Are you a Wordle fan? Try WordRow, a similar game. It’s free to play.

Today’s photo is from Cxffeeblack and was taken by Patrick Lantrip.

Ready for today’s sudokus?

The dispatch center was useful in September 2021, when a shooter opened fire in a Kroger, and more than $800,000 worth of improvements aim to keep it “resilient.”

The Memphis Trousers Affair: One night in 1986, a former Australian prime minister endured his worst day in the Bluff City.

The Grant family name has become synonymous with homebuilding and development with a number of relatives involved for generations.

Park + Cherry recently debuted a fall/winter menu, and it’s full of seasonal goodness to take the edge off winter’s chill.

A road trip in a van whose passengers included a member of a powerful Memphis family aided the search for the Tigers’ 26th head football coach. They agreed on someone Ed Scott had heard speak long before Ryan Silverfield left for Arkansas.

The city needs sales-tax growth at Liberty Park to pay bonds at the Memphis Sports and Events Center. To generate that tax growth, it needs hotel and apartments to become something more than hypothetical. 

Also happening this week: MSCS holds a meeting on the possible closure of Georgian Hills Elementary School.

The commission votes on a resolution that asks County Clerk Wanda Halbert to cooperate with the regular audit of county finances. Auditors say Halbert isn’t cooperating as a Dec. 31 state law nears.

It didn’t take long after the Tigers tipped off against the Cardinals inside a raucous KFC Yum! Center in a 99-73 loss for one to wonder if Penny Hardaway’s team truly recognized the magnitude of the moment. 

Are you a Wordle fan? Try WordRow, a similar game. It’s free to play.

Today’s photo is from the St. Jude Health & Fitness Expo held Thursday, Dec. 4 and was taken by Patrick Lantrip.