City Council members spent big on food and travel, gardeners are tackling food security and a proposed path takes art off the rails.

Funding for a Whitehaven High School STEM Center is among the votes Shelby County commissioners are expected to take Monday.

The General Assembly approved private school vouchers by a one-vote margin in 2019, with some supporting the program because it applied only to Memphis and Nashville. Now, Lee wants anyone, regardless of income, to have access to discounted private school tuition.

“It’s expensive to hire security guards to protect your business,” said the owner of a local security firm, “but it’s more expensive not to.”

Related story: 

Security is a local ‘growth industry,’ but industry struggles to find footing

Security companies are struggling to find qualified security personnel at the need grows locally. 

Also happening this week: The Memphis City Council is expected to take final votes on two ballot questions that could change future city elections. 

As a Rhodes College student, Mariam Khayata explored questions central to her identity and her experience living in Syria. Last month, she got the opportunity to continue those studies at the University of Oxford in England.

The council also spent more than $66,000 on travel, staying in hotels in Nashville and Washington, D.C. Taxpayers paid for the travel by picking up the tab for the City Council’s credit card payments. 

More than 20,000 people participated in the 22nd annual St. Jude Memphis Marathon Saturday morning, Dec. 2.

Related story:

The St. Jude Memphis Marathon in pictures

More than 20,000 participants raced Saturday in the St. Jude Memphis Marathon, half-marathon, 5K and 10K. Jordan English won the marathon in a time of 2:30:21. Sadie Smith was the top female marathon finisher in 2:56:44.

The Downtown Memphis crime plan surfaced in October. It could face its first test this holiday season. Officials involved in putting it together talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the plan and the reality it is built to confront.

Personnel records for Demetrius Haley, 30, reveal that he had multiple allegations of violating departmental policy at Shelby County Division of Corrections.

So far this year, the Olive Branch Police Department has reported 146 vehicle burglaries.

A female employee at the FedEx hub died of injuries received on the job late Wednesday, Nov. 29. The company has not released her name or the cause of death.

Corey Lurry, an inmate at Shelby County Jail, was allegedly beaten by corrections deputies in late September 2022, including three who were indicted for their alleged roles in the death of Gershun Freeman. 

Eric Otten’s double-homicide case heads to a grand jury, more housing is coming to the University of Memphis and Bartlett drivers have a new route.

In a first-of-its-kind deal for the university, the U of M will provide the land but Indianapolis’ The Annex Group will own the facility until it is paid off or the school chooses to buy it. 

The trial delay announcement acted as an anti-climactic conclusion to two days of hearings Wednesday and Thursday about what evidence would be allowed at trial and what experts would be allowed to speak.

Veteran criminal defense attorney Randy Grossman said Williams’ other eight felony charges were dismissed but that a decision about whether the 4-star guard can play would be “completely up to the school.”

Miguel Andrade was expected to accept a plea agreement at Thursday’s hearing, but showed up with new legal counsel who requested the delay. 

Tuohys will stop calling Oher their son, Ben Crump is hired by another family and Rachel’s Flower Shop won’t be rooted on Poplar much longer.

Friday’s free event will also include a catered dinner buffet, presentations, vendors, informational displays and giveaways, and it will culminate with a balloon release to honor everyone in the Memphis community impacted by HIV/AIDS.

The airport’s massive ticketing and security terminal renovation will be a larger project than the recent $245 million remake of Concourse B. 

“The ball is in your court, Youth Villages,” Crump said Wednesday. “We’re not going away.”

The announcement essentially puts an official end to the familial relationship Oher, 37, has shared with the family for about 20 years.