The Early Word: Ford Jr. gave more grants; plus, new life for Houston’s
Let the good times roll, Memphis! It’s Fat Tuesday, and if you got the baby in last year’s king cake, today is your last chance to bring a cake to the office before the Mardi Gras season ends. Don’t let your colleagues down.
Speaking of rolls, the Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team is on one, so here’s hoping the winning streak continues as they go up against UTSA tonight. While the men’s team has won the last three games, the Tigers women have lost just as many, so let’s wish them luck for tonight’s match-up with Florida Atlantic.
Shelby County Commission meeting minutes show that Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. may have directed more grant funds to the same nonprofits involved in the alleged kickback scheme he was indicted over Friday. The indictment alleged that Ford steered nearly $630,000 in county grant funds to three nonprofits and then funneled about $264,700 to himself. He’s facing one count of alleged kickbacks and bribery and six counts of attempted tax evasion for that. But the minutes show Ford and county commissioners approved an additional $85,000 to the same nonprofits.
The vacant Houston’s restaurant in the shadow of Clark Tower could see new life soon. According to information filed with Develop 901, the proposed tenant is the Spell Restaurant Group LLC, which also owns Brookhaven Pub & Grill and Babalu.
Plus, Cordelia’s Market gets new owners, the Grizzlies can’t stop losing in the final seconds and the Ostrander Award show may not go on.
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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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