The Early Word: Youth Villages case dropped; GPAC head steps down
How’s it going, Shelby County? It’s Tuesday, May 13, and Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. is due back in court today on federal bribery and tax-evasion charges. Ford is accused of taking kickbacks from county grants awarded to nonprofits. Today’s court hearing could determine the timeline for Ford’s trial.
The criminal case against four staffers from Youth Villages’ Bartlett campus over the death of a teen girl in November 2023 has been dropped. Alegend Jones died in Youth Villages’ care, and her autopsy showed she likely died from complications of a restraint that staff used against her. The staffers were indicted in October 2024 for aggravated child abuse and facilitation of reckless homicide. But those charges were rescinded two days later. Last week, Youth Villages and Jones’ family said both sides would agree to resolve any disputes about her death.
Paul Chandler, who has served as the executive director of the Germantown Performing Arts Center for 13 years, is stepping down to take a new nonprofit job. During his time at the top, Chandler opened The Grove, GPAC’s outdoor venue, and he’s been credited with making GPAC “the premier jazz-presenting venue in the Mid-South.” Parke Kennedy, GPAC’s development director, will serve in the interim executive director role.
Plus, Memphis-Shelby County Schools sues over a hacking incident, Bartlett’s Union Depot may get bigger and the NBA Draft Lottery wasn’t great for the Grizzlies.
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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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