The Early Word: Grizz caught in the gun fight? Plus, a Champion goes west
Morning, Memphis. It’s Monday, Sept. 23, and the long-awaited trial for the suspects accused of killing Memphis rapper Young Dolph is scheduled to begin today. Dolph’s murder was way back in 2021, so here’s a refresher on the shooting, the suspects and a few theories as to why he was killed.
The Shelby County Commission returns to a nearly $16 million list of “emergency” repairs for the Shelby County Jail at its meeting today. The Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen will be dissolving some old commissions that are no longer active. Among them: The Animal Control Commission, which hasn’t held a meeting in 24 years. Over at the Collierville BMA, aldermen will consider senior housing in the Bailey Station-Winchester area.
It’s also the date of a grim anniversary in Collierville: Three years ago today, a shooter opened fire at the Kroger on New Byhalia Road, killing one woman and injuring dozens more. For a look at the days ahead, check out This Week in Memphis.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young plans to ask the Tennessee General Assembly for help funding security enhancements, like cameras, around FedExForum. That’s part of a plan to renovate the arena and ink a new long-term deal with the Memphis Grizzlies. But there could be a catch: House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally have threatened to withhold sales tax funding from Memphis if the gun-reform referendum stays on the ballot, and those ballot questions are now a done deal. While withholding sales tax could be difficult, they could deny other funding requests, and our own Geoff Calkins worries that could mean saying no to money that would keep the Grizzlies in town.
Champion’s Pharmacy and Herb Store, which has operated in South Memphis for decades, has expanded with a new Downtown location. Founder Dr. Charles Champion died in 2023 at age 92, and now his daughter Dr. Carol Loree Champion runs the shop, which is best-known for the elder Champion’s handcrafted herbal formulas. The new place on Monroe Avenue was made possible by Downtown Memphis Commission’s Open On Main program. And Champion’s growth isn’t stopping there.
Plus, AutoZone Park could get a refresh, Mini Claw (and places like it) may save the mall and you can get a taste of Montana in Germantown.
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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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