“When a gaggle of kids come in my kitchen door covered in dirt — all red-cheeked and sweaty — cackling and out-of-breath because of some prank they played or game they made up, nothing makes me happier.”

What would Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson have to say about the current state of religion and state in America? They would remind us that we are not a Christian nation. 

“The inclusion of community feedback exemplifies a process that is both inclusive and reflective of our community’s values. This alignment between the Board’s actions and community expectations sets a strong foundation for the collaborative work ahead.”

Charles Ponzi gave his name to a type of investment scheme, but they were around before him and are with us still. Here are some red flags from the SEC and BBB.

“The Boys and Girls Clubs have moved in, connected with and changed some of our most troubled communities. We could help so many more.”

“Shelby Farms is and will continue to be one of the great parks of the world. Whenever there are large publicly owned tracks of land, it has been my experience that there will always be pressure to cut off a piece here and there for some unrelated reason. It is imperative to stay vigilant.”

Today, the battle is over whether diversity, equity and inclusion should even be mentioned in schools and the workplace. Beyond that, some people locally also want to turn back the clock by suggesting separate judicial systems for Shelby County — the current one for predominantly Black Memphis and a new one for the mostly white suburbs.

As the Grizzlies return from the All-Star break with 26 games left and no postseason berth in sight, what else is there to be accomplished? What else is worth watching?

“Although there is a small historical marker in honor of Cole and Walker in Memphis, their names are not as well-known as many civil rights icons.”

“The climate is ripe for what new Memphis Mayor Paul Young has called a pandemic-type response to public safety. Many other cities are being cited as ‘models’ for what can be done, and all have merit.”

“Memphians should feel safe and secure in their homes, churches and businesses, and they should have confidence the public prosecutors they elect are doing their jobs. One of the ways we begin to restore confidence is through transparency.”

Pat Halloran’s life was celebrated in grand style Monday. There was music! There was laughter! There were stories about a larger-than-life character who fell in love with Memphis — and then made it a better place. 

Opinion: When we make external human love the only source of love we receive, we are in dangerous territory.

“Sometimes — especially here in late February — we must do what we can to invite the natural world in, allowing it to carry us until spring arrives.”

At an upcoming event, unwanted guns will be turned into something that plants new seeds and instills new hope. 

Memphis won three in a row after a four-game slide, and some thought they had figured it out. They don’t have it figured out. Furthermore, they didn’t look reinvigorated or rededicated. And, most importantly, they didn’t beat North Texas.

Jackson’s valentines were less Forget-Me-Not than Forgive-Me. But he led the Grizzlies to a surprising win over the Houston Rockets.

Randy Fowler got a new heart in 1997. Wesley Fowler got a new heart in 1999 and another in 2000. Thanks to the generosity of donors, they’re both still singing, parachuting and otherwise living their lives. So on National Donor Day — also known as Valentine’s Day — how about becoming a donor yourself?

This weekend’s Rising Stars event serves as a good excuse to weigh the emergence of Vince Williams Jr. and GG Jackson against the rest of their respective draft classes.

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Grizzlies Insider: Will Jake LaRavia and Ziaire Williams get back on court?

Chuck Gallina’s mother, Mimi, has Alzheimer’s disease, but he still takes her to all the Memphis Grizzlies’ home games. And, even during this lost NBA season, those games have come to mean something more to this family — and it can teach us all about love. 

“Hair is something most of us have to deal with on a daily basis just to step out the front door. And lately I’ve been having to think about my hair more.”

The bankruptcy hearing regarding The Lake District exposed some of the financial problems that continue to plague the mixed-use development in Lakeland.

“Eagles may soar, but weasels don’t get sucked into jet engines.”

What retired Criminal Court Judge Robert “Bobby” Carter discovered — by observation and through data that he could compile — was an eye opener, particularly regarding the dearth of criminal cases that go to trial.

“All these years, we have been living parallel lives. I drive down the middle lane while he bikes on the sidewalk.”