The Memphis City Council approved $10 million from the city’s rainy day fund to fill the gap, most of which — about $9.7 million — is in the Memphis Fire Department’s budget. 

“It seemed like forever,” Alicia Franklin said of her alleged rape by Cleotha Abston during testimony she gave on the first day of trial in the case.

Superintendent Marie Feagins has been talking to senior leadership about the issue and a “few positions that have been posted” are to streamline operations, she said at a briefing that also covered safety, truancy and more.

Oral arguments were heard Tuesday, April 9, in an appeal of a class-action lawsuit against the City of Memphis about its alleged lack of testing more than 12,000 sexual assault evidence kits, some dating back decades.

Mayor Paul Young and Interim Chief C.J. Davis support a Memphis City Council ordinance to create a philanthropic and research foundation that would take private donations and put them toward the city’s public safety efforts.

The trial was paused in December to determine if Morant would be immune under the state’s self-defense immunity statute, also known as the “stand your ground” law.

A state board overseeing attorneys’ disciplinary proceedings has censured a Shelby County juvenile court magistrate judge for filing an ill-intentioned lawsuit. 

The Craigmont planetarium is a one-of-a-kind offering in Memphis’ public school system. And it’s an example of how school building improvements can enrich student learning.

Jury selection kicks off in Abston’s rape trial, Coach Cal could be our neighbor and we’ve got a look at the good (and the bad) from Cordova’s Eat N Vibe.

Throughout his first 100 days, Memphis Mayor Paul Young has sought ways to get to “yes” and make Memphians feel heard by their new mayor, wielding his newfound power and spotlight to recast the city’s narrative and try to paint hope on Memphis’ self-portrait. 

But yes is not easy to come by. Listening takes hours that turn into days. Narratives don’t change in 90 days. Or 100. Already, circumstance has intervened. 

The study would cost $250,000, and the new center $18.6 million. County Mayor Lee Harris meanwhile has said the diversion center is a more immediate priority that could help with conditions in the current jail.

There was an undeniable buzz inside the Memphis Zoo as attendees waited for the partial solar eclipse to hit its maximum percentage.

The Daily Memphian photographer Patrick Lantrip traveled to Sikeston, Missouri, to photograph the solar eclipse. From Missouri, the disk of the sun was covered 100% by the moon, as opposed to 97.7% in Memphis.

Related content: 

Gallery: A live look at the solar eclipse

Path to totality: Memphians head out of town to get 100%

Opportunities to explore the universe offered at U of M

A new deal has been struck to fund the FedExForum renovations, according to a draft agreement obtained The Daily Memphian.

Abston’s attorney previously tried to have jurors from Davidson County used in the trial, arguing that excessive media coverage of the Eliza Fletcher case would taint a potential local jury pool.

Daily Memphian photographer Mark Weber photographed the eclipse, and those watching the eclipse, on Monday, April 8, 2024, at the University of Memphis and Overton Park.

Related content: 

Gallery: Show me the eclipse from Missouri!

Path to totality: Memphians head out of town to get 100%

Opportunities to explore the universe offered at U of M

The quarterly meetups will include expert guest speakers or panelists discussing the uses of AI in work and other settings. 

Participants will be able to learn more about more than 140 training programs for jobs in the Mid-South. 

The council move comes as Mayor Paul Young prepares to fill the newly created position of city public safety director. Meanwhile, Young takes some changes in the current city budget to the council Tuesday, April 9, which may be clues to his budget for the new fiscal year.

But first, the Memphis Police Association says the city needs to demote 120-plus newly promoted second lieutenants.

County elections administrator Linda Phillips said in a release that all petitioners should be aware of pending legislation that could remove Melissa Boyd’s former seat, making any petitions null and void. 

A bill to complete the financing remains pending at the Tennessee General Assembly.

The exploration this month began with an an eclipse gathering. 

MPD’s homicide-solve rate is complicated, DeSoto’s DA has a true-crime podcast and you’ll be paying more for crawfish this season. 

Chasing the feeling of being “on another planet for a while,” Memphians are headed to places such as Greers Ferry and Cherry Valley, Arkansas, and Purmela, Texas, to experience this year’s total eclipse.