The trial is expected to last around two weeks. 

Parker’s next court appearance is set for 9 a.m. on July 29 at Shelby County General Sessions Criminal Court Division 10.

In this morning’s episode of the AM/DM podcast, editorial director Mary Cashiola and newsletter editor Bianca Phillips discuss the biggest news events of the coming week. 

A Memphis Tiger is arrested, a “dirty” Mormon drink trend is here and we explain what happened to Union Avenue’s arrows and Xs. 

Commissioners will discuss putting all nine Memphis-Shelby County Schools board seats on the ballot. Some say this amounts to a voter recall of the board.

Union Avenue once reversed lane directions twice a day in a bold attempt to reduce traffic congestion. It may have worked for a while, but it became a confusing jumble that contributed to numerous accidents. 

Memphis Mayor Paul Young has reshuffled his cabinet in recent months and on July 10, hosted an overnight executive retreat at Bass Pro Shops, which he called “an opportunity to really recalibrate the team.”

Also happening this week: Ford Jr. is supposed to get a trial date, and Tennessee tax-free weekend is coming.

Corey Adams was a freshman who signed with Ole Miss after helping lead his high school football team to a Louisiana state championship last season.

Also in our political roundup: Mick Wright says he won’t seek office in 2026. And a top administrator to Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert promises to run for office next year.

Even though the Memphis Police Department’s numbers point to a decrease in crime, some in the city are skeptical.

Roderick Richmond is one third of the way through his interim superintendent contract, which expires in July 2026. MSCS board members haven’t discussed how long his role will last. 

Middle schoolers and high school students got to explore computer science and coding during a three-day event at the University of Memphis.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory with the heat index expected to surpass 110 degrees Sunday.

In the early 2000s, DeAndre Brown was convicted of bank fraud, and cannot own a gun. Now, he’s suing in federal court, claiming a violation of Second Amendment rights. 

The pastor of The Blvd talked about the project on “Behind The Headlines,” with the CEO of Crosstown Concourse and the Meharry Medical College official who’s leading the Nashville college’s reach into Memphis.

The Young Mob gang allegedly “receives money and income from drug trafficking, kidnappings and robberies,” according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

This comes after both houses of Congress narrowly approved a measure this week that will “claw back” about $9 billion from the budgets for public broadcasting and foreign aid.

Related content:

How Memphis' two Congressmen voted on the $9B federal funding takeback

The D.C. Scorecard tracks the votes of U.S. Reps. Steve Cohen and David Kustoff in the Friday, July 18, final vote on the $9 billion spending-cut bill that the Senate approved Thursday.

The purchase indicates the artificial intelligence company’s continued investment in the MidSouth, which now spans state lines. 

Memphis fire union sues the city, a taste of Nashville comes to Germantown and a Grizz draft pick may be the new Grindfather.

Tennessee’s senators voted against amendments from Democrats that failed in the run-up to approval of $9 billion in federal-funding cuts to public television and the U.S. Agency for International Development programs.

The Memphis Fire Fighters Association has sued the City of Memphis over reneging the union’s planned 5% raise for the current fiscal year. 

All bets are off with gambling machines, Good Fortune has some good fortune and Herrington weighs in on the Bears of Summer.

A court ruling determined these coin-operated mechanisms seen in some local convenience stores are, in fact, slot machines.