The Early Word: Liza’s light shines on, but dark days loom at MATA
Good morning, Memphis! It’s Tuesday, Aug. 20, and the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board will consider a resolution to fund a science lab that’s currently halted at Whitehaven High.
The Memphis City Council will weigh a potential $3,000 bonus for city retirees at its meeting today, and they’ll also take a vote on a controversial Whataburger proposed for Union Avenue.
Tonight at the Hilton Memphis, the first of the nine-event Memphis Touchdown Club speaker series will feature SEC Network football commentator Cole Cubelic, who played center for Auburn.
The Memphis Tigers women’s soccer team scored another win on Sunday, the 301st for Coach Brooks Monaghan. He’s taken the team from ninth in the conference to five straight conference championships and two straight Sweet 16s. And yet, the team’s facilities are, in our own Geoff Calkins’ words, “frankly, an embarrassment.” But that may be changing, thanks to the family of Memphis runner and former Tigers soccer player Eliza Fletcher. She was killed nearly two years ago on a morning run, and now her family is launching the Liza’s Light University of Memphis Soccer and Track Stadium Fund to raise $7 million for a new stadium named in Fletcher’s memory.
Memphis Area Transit Authority Interim CEO Bacarra Mauldin said on Monday that about 225 employees — both operational and administrative staff — could be cut if the agency can’t get more funding to fix a $60 million deficit. MATA’s board could vote on a budget later this month, and if necessary, layoffs could start this fall. On Sunday, MATA announced the end of the Main Street trolley line, because it can’t afford a needed repair. And last week, Mauldin revealed that MATA’s other two trolley lines, which are serviced by trolley buses, and a number of bus routes could be cut, too.
Plus, an unsigned Memphis-Shelby County Schools contract leads to police call, the BlueCross BlueShield building may soon have new owners and we’ve got your guide to every single Memphis Grizzlies game on the schedule.
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Bianca Phillips
Bianca Phillips is a Northeast Arkansas native and longtime Memphian who’s worked in local journalism and PR for more than 20 years. In her days as a reporter, she covered everything from local government and crime to LGBTQ issues and the arts. She’s the author of “Cookin Crunk: Eatin’ Vegan in the Dirty South,” a cookbook of vegan Southern recipes.
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