The Early Word: Richmond plans to revamp MSCS, and a Guru goes to jail
Howdy, Memphis. It’s Tuesday, April 1, and Memphis Tigers Coach Penny Hardaway is the new head coach for the Memphis Grizzlies.
April Fools! The Grizzlies, still led by interim Coach Tuomas Iisalo, do play the Golden State Warriors at home tonight though, and that’s no joke. In fact, it’s kind of a big deal, and they really need to win.
In other real news, Green Leaf Container Cafe+Farm Stand is officially opening today near LeMoyne-Owen College. The mini kitchen in a shipping container will serve healthy meals (including some vegan options) made with produce grown by kids at Knowledge Quest.
Roderick Richmond, Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ interim superintendent, wants to reorganize the district into five regions, rather than its current seven networks of schools. The regions would be based on school feeder patterns, with the exception of the fifth region, which would be a return of MSCS’ Innovation Zone for low-performing schools. Richmond also wants to revamp student performance assessments and replenish some staffing roles cut by former Superintendent Marie Feagins. His proposals are a response to an audit of MSCS by the Council of Great City Schools that said MSCS lacked vision.
Billy Richmond Jr., the former Memphis Tigers basketball player behind the Wing Guru chain, was arrested on Monday following a Shelby County grand jury indictment for theft and tax fraud. And it’s not the first time Richmond has been in the news for financial issues. Last year, an independent arbitrator ruled that he owed Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant more than $365,000 for breaching a name, image and likeness deal.
Plus, the county health department takes public comment over xAI’s permit, rural DeSoto County residents finally have good internet and the Grizzlies keep losing.
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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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