Memphis weeps for the beautiful lives and souls of those cut short by monsters. Yet all of this — all the horrors and the beauty — are a byproduct of the same place. A juxtaposition that is difficult to comprehend.

The successes we’ve had — along with our continued desire to improve, to expand, and to work even harder — are possible because of so many readers like you.

“I learned to be self-critical, to understand context and history before rushing to judgment. I learned to ask “why” questions before adopting the kind of moral confidence that only God can claim.”

The Rev. Sandy Webb of Church of the Holy Communion: God has never given up on humanity. And, neither must we.

“To me, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis is an organization that combats the effects of poverty, hatred and violence with love.”

Related story: 

Letter to the Editor: This is not God’s plan

Eliza Fletcher was a measure of this city. This tiny, tiny town with such a huge, huge heart. 

Beginning the conversation is the first step in moving the needle towards care and a cure.

Tenn. Gov. Bill Lee, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, MPD and the TBI all share the responsibility for our failure to reduce local crime. But their responses in the aftermath of an incredibly tragic week are not good enough. 

“Women should be able to run — to exist in any space at any time — without fear of violence. But that isn’t the reality we live in,” says guest columnist Sarah Hunter Simanson.

With Republicans losing every county office, a former local party executive director looks at what the GOP needs to consider if it’s going to win again.

One was an attorney who used the law to make a positive difference in society. The other was a gun-wielding juvenile delinquent. Their paths crossed on the evening of May 25, 2000, and now, 22 years later, it serves as an eerie backstory to the tragic kidnapping and murder of Eliza Fletcher.

“After this awful past week, many of us have something in common with Robert Church — we have the option to leave and the privilege of choice. I am so glad Robert Church chose to stay.”

“Let’s make Memphis an independent city-state.”

Right now, in Memphis, we’re suffering — directly for some, psychologically for all — from a spate of unusual crimes. The fear for some is that the unusual is now morphing into usual. But it’s felt that way before. 

It is the most serious crisis facing the city in decades. What are Memphians to do?

With the implementation of the Education Savings Account Program, families in Shelby County can receive nearly $8,200 toward tuition, fees and transportation to attend Catholic schools.

Even with Memphis’ continued job growth, new headwinds emerged with the perhaps the most notable headwind today being high inflation, which has reached levels not seen for 40 years.

This Labor Day, consider how work helps bring you closer to those things you value the most, whether that is God, family or something else.

I’m a Gen Xer whose family saw college as a surefire ticket to the fabled American Dream. It instead left me saddled with debt, until now. 

“This city is blessed by its food, the abundance of creativity, diversity and tradition mixed in the same bowls, seasoned with love, soul and imagination — and still made and served by amazing people with a smile through the most trying of times.”

Thirty-five years ago, on Sept. 1, 1987, Church Health opened for the first time and cared for 12 people. In the ensuing years, more than 80,000 different individuals have come through our doors seeking help.

Tarik Sugarmon ushers in a new era for Juvenile Court in Memphis and Shelby County.

As tensions continue between Memphis in May and the Memphis River Parks Partnership, the festival’s stance has communicated to potential ticket-buyers that anything different than the old festival on the old footprint is destined to be a lesser experience. But it doesn’t have to be. 

We must fight for abortion rights, especially for legal exemptions for medical complications as well as pregnancies caused rape and incest, and impregnated children.

Eligible families now have the choice to use an ESA – also known as a voucher – to attend private schools and get extra help for their children.