FedEx exec Richard Smith says this is a critical moment for Downtown Memphis — and the Grizzlies, FedExForum and Beale Street may be the key.

Richard Smith was as surprised as anyone when Fred Smith, his father, decided the family would give $50 million to help renovate the stadium. Here’s Smith on crime, Ja Morant, conference realignment and how that gift came to be.

“My son was just walking to a friend’s house, doing what millions of children do every day. He had his whole life ahead of him. That life was stolen from him.”

“Domestic violence remains an issue affecting more individuals than most realize with one in four women and one in seven men experiencing severe physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetimes.”

From Ja’s return to lineup/rotation guesses and suggestions, catch all 10 of Chris Herrington’s takeaways from preseason play.

“Most of us emphasize learning from the past or planning for the future. Unfortunately, this often leads to living in the past and agonizing about the future.”

“As children will spend most of their early lives in classrooms, fostering curiosity outside of school can help make their educational journeys more fun and fruitful.”

While an NBA truism is that the biggest stars win titles, the belief here is that depth will be of increasing importance in the regular season.

Tennessee’s Republican leadership maintains that cities and counties can’t have different state laws, but what did they do when it came to new, suburban school districts and school vouchers? 

Jarvis Greer was born in Memphis. Zach Randolph was not. The two love the city just the same. “It’s home,” Z-Bo said.

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“Could not be any better,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., the president and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness arm of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “And next year, we’ll take it to the next level.”

Twenty-two years ago, Derek Clenin blocked an extra point to lift MUS over CBHS. Clenin died Oct. 8. Now, the quarterback of that CBHS team, Carter Giovannetti, plans to run the St. Jude Marathon in his friend and rival’s name.

Memphis author Lora Chilton writes: “What can be done to remedy the ongoing and past violence against Native people? Acknowledging the history by telling the stories is one way to start the healing process.”

“Why has the American adult world gone so nuts over these two fresh pastimes?”

“The truth is that no one is asking the people that have lost everything whether or not they are Republican or Democrat before they help them, no more than those two walkers on the beach asked me.”

“I understand why civic leaders in our community want to maintain strong relationships with people in both parties,” Ashley Coffield writes. “But the extremism and attacks on Memphis from elected officials will not stop.”

Having Ja Morant back, a new primary frontcourt partner in Zach Edey and a new offense system is an awful lot of context change for Jackson. 

In today’s political climate, honesty and good taste are in short supply.

Rick Spell, who owns three Memphis restaurants, had a recent meeting with the police. And he came away impressed. 

“(The gun referendum) doesn’t practically affect any of the violent crime issues facing Memphis. Passing a law that can’t be enacted is just noise when we need action.”

Call it a double do-over. Given the opportunity to second guess their decisions on Kennard and Smart, the Grizzlies have instead chosen a second chance for both. 

“Studies have shown as many as 50% of the matters brought to primary-care physicians have no basis in a problem that any pharmaceutical can help.”

“As utterly wonderful as a place may be, it really is the people who are the heartbeat behind it.” Now the North Carolina mansion is closed indefinitely.

Eating out in Memphis is a reward for living here. You deserve it.

“We may make our choices alone, but we share the consequences with others. The actions of these officers have impacted multiple families, a police department, a city and a profession.”