Buster’s heads east, judge approves permitless carry for 18-year-olds and we tell you where to find Cal-Mex on the cheap.

Since 1923, thousands of students across the nation have vied for an award with the Scholastic Arts and Writing competition to showcase the peak of their creative talents. Notable past winners include Andy Warhol and Stephen King, among others.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools gave an overview of its upcoming budget, projecting increased revenue and proposing new investments.

The Lakeland School System’s annual budget is proposed to increase about $3 million as the district continues to grow, adding grades to its high school.

“We want to keep Hanley in Journey Community Schools because we think it’s the best option for our students, families and community,” said Nickalous Manning, executive director of Journey Community Schools.

Gregory Livingston had his bail lowered to $750,000 by Criminal Court Division 8 Judge Chris Craft.

Tennessee Republicans voted to expel two Black Democrats, Justin Pearson of Memphis and Justin Jones of Nashville, on Thursday, April 6, for speaking out of turn during a gun-safety protest a week earlier.

Related story:

What happens now that Justin Pearson has been expelled from his House seat

One of the three men charged in a shooting at the Prive restaurant and bar last week has had his bail set at $250,000.

Attorneys for the Shelby County Election Commission also renewed a motion to dismiss the residency lawsuit. And a notice that the commission would enforce a five-year residency requirement has been removed from its website.

A federal judge’s ruling ends the age-discrimination lawsuit against Tennessee’s 2021 permitless carry law, allowing individuals aged 18 to 20 to carry handguns without a permit.

Crosstown High students stage a walkout, Tennessee passes abortion exemption and Memphis cops can have tattoos now.

This is the first hiring expo MPD has hosted in 2023. The police department hopes to bring in more than 280 recruits this year.

The Shelby County Election commission has set a hard April 15 deadline for any new district lines to be submitted to it. The council now plans to take its final vote on new district lines in May.

The Shelby County Commission has filled two vacant seats in the Tennessee General Assembly from Shelby County in the past year — one following an expulsion and the other resulting from the death of a legislator. Here is how the process works.

Protests were planned at more than 200 schools across the U.S., including White Station High School, Memphis Business Academy High and Crosstown High in Memphis.

A bill that would add a narrow exemption to one of the strictest abortion bans in the United States is on its way to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his approval.

The National Weather Service of Memphis canceled the tornado watch for Shelby County just after 2 p.m. 

Gershun Freeman’s family files a lawsuit, local chefs feed tornado victims and pretty tacos are coming to Front Street.

As the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board of education is nearing the end of its months-long search for a new superintendent, The Daily Memphian talked to board chair Althea Greene to look back on the process and discuss what lies ahead for the district and its new leader.

Supporters, critics differ on merits of proposed legislation. 

The museum was transformed into a living memorial for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at NCRM’s MLK55 commemoration. King’s distinctive and punctuating speeches echoed through the plaza at full volume as visitors entered and exited the museum.

Rep. Justin Pearson spoke at the Tuesday, April 4, ceremony at the National Civil Rights Museum marking the 55th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. 

The White House reaction to the threatened expulsion of three Democratic state Representatives by the majority Republican leadership of the Tennessee House includes calls for an assault weapons ban among other measures.

Related stories: 

Rep. Justin Pearson says move to expel is ‘persecution'

General Assembly introduces resolutions to expel Justin Pearson, two other Democrats

The city council meets Wednesday, April 5, in special session to take the first of three votes on changes to its district lines for the October elections.

An additional suspect in the shooting at Prive restaurant was apprehended by U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement agencies, and a third suspect has been identified by the Memphis Police Department.