It’s bike night, lots of people are looking at tax hikes, and why do we have so many gas stations? 

The late 1950s or early 1960s painting of the Cossitt Library surfaced last month. It was set aside during a cleanup of the Downtown landmark, and the rediscovery marks a turn in fortune with a renovated Cossitt set to reopen in the fall.

On June 8, 1999, Verlinda Johnson Henning’s husband, Darrell, died at the age of 45. Exactly 22 years later, Henning appeared as reigning champion on “Jeopardy!” It was just a coincidence, of course. But it helped her find balance on a very difficult day.

Related story:

Memphian is ‘Jeopardy!’ champion June 7, comes in second June 8

Martavius Jones says he will push for the increase at next week’s council session. 

Republican county commissioners who voted two weeks ago in favor of a resolution urging Gov. Bill Lee to veto a ban on teaching critical race theory took back their yes votes Monday. The resolution still passed.

State Sen. Katrina Robinson and two co-defendants are facing trial on charges of wire fraud and money laundering. The case is separate from allegations that Robinson stole more than $600,000 from her business, The Healthcare Institute.

A landmark deal hits the local banking world, a 30-year veteran of the force gets promoted and we could be at herd immunity, but we’re not. 

With the more contagious U.K. variant, a safe point of herd immunity is now 80% or more.

The tax hike requires one more vote by the commission after notice is given to the public and the Board of Equalization with a chance for public comment. The commission also approved $1.3 million in recurring funding for the Memphis Area Transit Authority.

MPD veteran Don Crowe has been promoted to assistant police chief. He will be second in command under new Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis, who starts June 14. 

A new Whitehaven soundstage could be hitting the mark for film students, Peyton is paying it forward and, after COVID, we’re getting back on the horse. 

Meanwhile, a City Council member who is term limited said he may be on the 2022 ballot for Shelby County Commission and an incumbent commissioner says he will probably seek another term.

The Southaven private school plans to add a grade each year until it extends to 12th grade. It’s affiliated with Brown Missionary Baptist Church, which was founded in 1882 by former slaves.

The Monday, June 7, session of the County Commission could mark the end of the 2021 budget season with a series of final votes on a $1.4 billion consolidated budget and a county property tax rate considered stable if it drops from the current $4.05 to $3.45. 

Transparency advocates say reforms are needed to make police body camera footage less expensive, more accessible to the public.

Related article:

Lack of Transparency: Bodycam footage often costly, heavily edited and takes months to get

Police bodycam programs were created to promote transparency and build public trust, yet high costs and long waits for heavily edited footage makes those programs a ‘bait and switch,’ critics say.

Related story:

Critics advocate reforms to limit bodycam fees and redactions

Germantown property owners whose houses were damaged by a 2019 flood say the Shelby County Assessor promised to meet with them to discuss how their homes’ values increased despite the destruction. But Melvin Burgess’ representatives say no such gathering will occur.

A new Shelby County Youth Assessment Center is slated to open in July at the former Raleigh library. The county will operate the center. 

The former Tennessee governor talked on The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast about the state’s path to Republican dominance and his call on Christian conservatives to pull away from the nation’s partisan political divide.

According to a Tweet posted by the Memphis Police Department, a vehicle crashed into a house on Horn Lake Road in South Memphis and killed Young, who was sitting inside.

The path of the two budget seasons and the use of federal funds to close financial gaps — plus other topics — are the focus of a reporters roundtable on “Behind The Headlines.”

Police issued an arrest warrant Friday, June 4, on a charge of assault against the crew worker who berated and threatened Shelby County Commissioner Tami Sawyer Tuesday in Health Sciences Park. 

Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Paula Skahan ruled state prosecutors can hire an expert in the Pervis Payne case to determine if the death row inmate an intellectual disability.

Paul Whited, a choir teacher at Bartlett High School, has been indicted on a theft charge, accused of stealing at least $6,900 in choir fees.