“Crime is not an entity. It is criminals that have the stranglehold on Memphis. You might call them robbers, rapists, thugs, punks or gangs, but they are also Memphians, Memphis-made.” 

An argument against building a pipeline from the Mississippi River to California.

“There are some things I want. I’ve wanted them for a while and the hints just aren’t working. So, I’ve made a modest list — 10 things you can choose from.”

“I’ve witnessed shameless corporate greed and blatant union nepotism. And on balance, I believe the positives of organized labor outweigh the negatives.”

Looking back at some of the first black classmates after the integration of Memphis schools, the writer shares memories of bravery in the face of racial and anti-Semitic abuse.

What would be possible in Memphis if every neighborhood was less than a mile’s walk to a beautiful gathering space where live music – and dance, and public art – was being performed on a regular basis?

After their seemingly perfect life crumbled, my parents — who run Jones Orchard — bounced back because of a tested and proven walk with God.

Guest columnist Phillip Tutor writes, “My optimism for Memphis’ future isn’t Pollyanna gibberish. It rests on Memphis’ historical resilience, a trait that’s rarely been more critical than it is today.”

“I absolutely hate that we have a city filled with seemingly responsible and respected people that will not acknowledge the connection between what we celebrate and what we see in our news reports.”

One of the leaders of the Memphis police union argues that at a time when the national competition for police officers is fierce, Memphis has laid the groundwork for long-term sustained success in hiring police and fighting crime.

“At least Sandlin and others who stormed the Capitol are now admitting their wrongs and are facing the consequences. I’m still waiting for the deniers holding elected office to come to their senses.”

Former Shelby County Commissioner says, “It’s no wonder many are questioning whether they should leave town to get away from the crime. It is affecting our tourism, economy, jobs and our very lives.”

The handling of Alicia Franklin’s rape kit and Eliza Fletcher’s death should not be framed as another example of Memphis’ high crime rates or counted as failings unique to the Memphis Police Department, says guest columnist Sarah Hunter Simanson.

“When we carry with us the heaviness of the broken world wherever we go, we focus such intensity on how we experience the presence of evil in our midst and risk missing the presence of God.”

Guest columnist Jack Keith writes, “We have a messy history. But when I think about Memphis, my heart wells up with pride. I am proud to be from Memphis.”

Davy Crockett is gone. The tavern is gone. The waterfront is gone. And the signs that told you they were there are gone as well.

At a time when politicians are doing their darnedest to run away from our racial history by censoring it in schools, Ole Miss deserves accolades for treating the 60th anniversary of James Meredith’s enrollment with the pomp and circumstance that it deserves.

For a city reeling from trauma, “Nothing is normal. Nothing is right. You’re not yourselves and really, neither is anyone around you. Maybe not anyone in all of Memphis.”

After taking almost 300 days to study the responses themselves and come up with their recommendation to stay with TVA, MLGW is allowing only 30 days for the public to review and comment.

While African Americans in Memphis lent refuge and support to Meredith — and the city’s authorities generally decried the violent resistance in Oxford — many shared the twisted resentments of their southern neighbors.

High rates of crime largely go uncontextualized, rarely correlated to the long-enduring patterns of poverty found on many corners in Memphis. But Pass Over dramatizes these issues so that we can talk about them.

State government must not fail to fulfill the basic function of providing peace and safety to the people. We must fix what’s broken in our state criminal justice system - because we can do better than this.

At a minimum, minimum wages must go up, and employers have to start paying more attention to the welfare of those they employ.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has opened an inquiry into Buy Now, Pay Later loans to determine if they require additional regulation.