Davis’ return to Memphis and what he said Friday afternoon was a reminder that when things go right here, there can still be a profound connection between a coach and a player — and a player to a city.

“This week the suburbs accomplished something 10 years in the making — getting two official votes on the Memphis Light, Gas & Water board.”

“There is a difference between criticizing law enforcement as a profession and criticizing how law enforcement officers are trained. Examining professional failures does not demean a profession. It strengthens it.”

“Memphis without the Redbirds, Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals? It would be like the Fourth of July without fireworks.”

“Nearly 800,000 vehicles are donated to charities every year. There are a host of charities that accept donations of cars listed. But they may not all be reputable.”

“The legal challenges making news this week seem to be name-calling, accusations and publicly shaming others.”

“If you plant the right trees in the right places, embrace and care for our native ecosystem, and hold industry and government accountable for their impacts on our environment, we may just succeed.”

Dusty May and Penny Hardaway will always be inextricably linked. The outcome of their meeting in the NCAA Tournament three years ago charted a path for them both; one led to the NBA, and one that may yet lead to an unceremonious divorce.

Opinion: “Memphis does not have to choose between innovation and stewardship. ... SpaceXAI must complete the water recycling facility, pursue water-saving technologies, and be the community partner Memphis was promised.”

“American exceptionalism becomes dangerous when it suggests America is beyond criticism.”

“The real problem here — the sweaty elephant in the room — is infrastructure sorely in need of an upgrade. But as an average user who just expects the lights to come on when I flip the switch, I can’t accept that power in an urban area should go out so easily, so often and for so long.”

Opinion: “What was once a simple Fourth of July with fireworks on a single day has stretched into a week-long celebration with aerial displays across the dark suburban skies.”

Luke McLaurine is a World War II veteran who’s lived through 40% of America’s 250 years. He’s a survivor of Nazi prison camps, flies a flag at his house and says daily doughnut consumption is the key to longevity.

After the trade of Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers, what does the Grizzlies roster look like?

Both the Memphis Grizzlies and Ja Morant needed a fresh start. Now they both have it.

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Grizzlies trade Ja Morant to Portland

“The Grizzlies have finally traded Ja Morant, the biggest star they may ever have. But by the end they just wanted him gone.”

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Grizzlies trade Ja Morant to Portland

“The bold, metal sign in front of the Visitor Center no longer says ‘LVIS PRESLEY BOULEVARD.’ But who fixed it? A quintessentially Memphis institution, of course.”

Opinion by Joseph Ryan Kelly: “If Mayor Young truly believes Anthropic’s partnership with xAI is unequivocally good news for Memphis, then he is badly misreading the moment.”

Opinion: “Otis Sanford begins his recent column with a reasonable premise: Politics should be set aside when discussing the federal indictment of suspended General Sessions Court Clerk Tami Sawyer. Unfortunately, that’s not what follows.”

A Florida Little League team traveled to Memphis to deliver the money they’d raised, and play a game against Memphis Little League. Then they learned one of the opposing players was a St. Jude patient.

Opinion: “The secret sauce that makes Memphis amazing has nothing to do with barbecue. Actually, it is the people. The kindness of the general public in this city is rich.”

Chris Herrington resets the Memphis Grizzlies' offseason with an overview of where the roster/salary situation stands and what could be left to do.

“Drowning is often viewed as a tragic accident, something rare and unavoidable. In reality, drowning is a leading cause of preventable injury and death, particularly among children and young adults.”

Mayor Mike Palazzolo announced this week that he is retiring from service in Germantown. But is another office a possibility?

As long as Ja Morant is on the Grizzlies roster yet not in their plans, the future isn’t fully here. The Morant-led “Grizz Next Gen” past and Cam Boozer-led To-Be-Named-Later future are ships passing in some awkward present waters.