The Early Word: Wrong kind of steals for Ja and a new day for Dory

Bianca Phillips By , Daily Memphian
Updated: February 21, 2025 7:53 AM CT | Published: February 21, 2025 6:21 AM CT Premium

Morning, Memphis! It’s Friday, Feb. 21, which is National Caregivers Day. A new caregiver sculpture will be unveiled in Medical District Park for the occasion.

Also today, the five former Memphis police officers charged in the 2023 death of Tyre Nichols are expected back in court, and one of them will receive a new bond condition after an alleged violation. Also today, the City of Memphis Board of Ethics is set to discuss an ethics complaint against Memphis Fire Department Chief Gina Sweat.

On a lighter note, Hard Times Deli is having a grand opening party this morning at 10 a.m. There will be free beer. (Hey, it’s Friday, live a little). This evening, the Memphis Grizzlies play the Orlando Magic on the road.

On Saturday, Crosstown Brewing Co. is having a pirate party to celebrate seven years of beers. And five former Tigers athletes will be inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame. You can also watch the current Tigers athletes from the women’s basketball team play South Florida on TV.

Sunday is Youth Villages Soup Sunday, which couldn’t have come on a more wintry week, though it should be a tad warmer by then. As for basketball, the Grizzlies play the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road, and Tigers men’s team plays Florida Atlantic from home. For more weekend fun, check out The To-Do List.

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant’s home was burglarized sometime in the evening of Dec. 19 or the wee hours of the next day. As much as $1 million worth of jewelry, watches and luxury bags were taken in what was believed to be part of a theft operation run by seven men from Chile.

The former Dory restaurant on West Brookhaven Circle will become a new private party and event venue. Chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman will run the new Little Flour Private Events space through their Enjoy A|M Restaurant Group. Read more on that in Food Files, plus news of a new spot to get your coffee-and-doughnut fix in Millington.

Plus, an ex-cop in the Tyre Nichols case was arrested, the Memphis-Shelby County Schools state takeover bill is coming together and Tops Bar-B-Q is up in smoke — again.

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Bianca Phillips

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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