Crime continued to fall across the board in Memphis in 2025 and residents say they feel safe right now. But they also want to see an approach more targeted at addressing the root causes of crime.

The funding comes as Memphis and Shelby County continue to negotiate with the Grizzlies for a new, long-term lease and the city tries to find a way to renovate AutoZone Park.

Shelby County’s metro hospitals were forced to collaborate with rural hospitals as West Tennessee communities lost access to care. But a large federal grant could alleviate some of that pressure.

The holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr. drew a large crowd at the Civil Rights Museum as one of the last living members of the city’s civil rights vanguard called out against “the silence of good people.”

Already facing Rep. Justin J. Pearson, Steve Cohen faces a new challenger; one who was active during the George Floyd protests in Memphis years ago. 

Republican leadership did not say whether local schools or the Tennessee Department of Education would be responsible for verifying immigration status or where such data would be held.

Through improbable twists of fate and the generosity and foresight of Hugo and Margaret Dixon, the Dixon Gallery & Gardens has become a jewel in the city’s cultural landscape.

Also happening this week: Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. is due in court.

The first woman to lead the Memphis Police Department’s motorcycle unit is retiring after 39 years. But she’s not leaving for good.

While people in the Memphis area grapple with the real-world effects of xAI’s “rapid execution” in Mississippi, many see a company that is innovating its way to become a major player in the worldwide AI race. 

Instead of expanding pre-K access, classrooms may close if Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris doesn’t release local funding, prekindergarten organization First 8 says.

Chilly weather didn’t deter workers around the city, including an altruistic team at T.O. Fuller Park, which also holds a place in civil rights history.

Phyllis Aluko said there’s been a shift in people’s attitudes toward crime, punishment and due process, but public defenders play a key role in upholding constitutional standards. 

Rachel Davis moved to Collierville because keeping her kids in the district was important. Now she’s seeking election to the suburb’s Board of Education.

Unconventional project provides new digs for Code Crew, Greater Memphis Chamber, Literacy Mid-South, Moore Tech, Memphis Symphony and Collective Blue Print.

According to an official autopsy report, heart disease claimed Antonio First, who died Nov. 1 at the Shelby County Jail.

The University of Memphis is honoring two graduates with its Legacy Award.

State Republicans plan immigration crackdown, Beale Street gets a big boost and the “face of MIFA” is stepping down.

January hits hard this weekend, but there’s still stuff to do, especially if you’re ready to be put to work. 

Last year, 5,500 Shelby County students got about $45 million in public funding to use at private schools by participating in the state’s two major school voucher initiatives. Even more vouchers could be on the way.

Students at Lakeland Prep are preparing for a weekend robotics competition where an outstanding performance could earn them a spot in the state championship next month.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris torched President Donald Trump at the Orpheum Theatre, calling his administration “callous, corrupt and incompetent.”

“It’s time, and I’m very happy with my decision. I have no regrets,” Chism said.

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris is calling for stronger reforms at the Shelby County Jail, saying the Sheriff’s plan falls short amid a rise in inmate deaths and what he described as a “lack of basic humanity.”

Sally Jones Heinz is retiring as executive director of MIFA. “There isn’t an organization like this anywhere in the country,” she said. “It’s the best.”