The Early Word: Edey shows off skills, and a top MPD cop shows his way out
Morning, Memphis. It’s Tuesday, July 9, and the remnants of Hurricane Beryl will be barreling just west of us, dumping rain on our dehydrated plants.
The Memphis City Council could take its first vote today on a ballot question over suburban representation on Memphis Light, Gas and Water’s board. And Memphis-Shelby County Schools is having a public meeting on its plan to keep Caldwell-Guthrie Elementary School open and add middle-school grades. Tonight, the Memphis Grizzlies take on former Memphis Tigers star David Jones and the Philadelphia 76ers in Salt Lake City.
The Memphis Grizzlies’ new center Zach Edey debuted in last night’s NBA Summer League opener against the Utah Jazz, and it didn’t even matter that the team fell, 97-95, in overtime. What mattered was fans got a first look at what Edey can do.He delivered the game’s highlight: a literal last-second point that sent the game into overtime, and he put on quite a show for the whole game. As our own Drew Hill says, “If you are a fan who wants to overreact to a single summer league performance, now is the time to do it.”
Shawn Jones, Memphis Police assistant chief, is leaving the department following reports that he actually lives in Georgia. Jones spent more than 20 years as a member of the Atlanta Police Department, and Memphis Police Interim Chief C.J. Davis said he received relocation assistance pay when MPD hired him. Memphis Mayor Paul Young said the decision to let Jones go was not related to residency. The Memphis Police Department doesn’t have a residency policy anymore, per state law, but the Memphis City Council is set to discuss MPD’s residency rules at its meeting today.
Plus, xAI will offer more jobs than projected, Southwest college was hacked and we’ve got a look at the only countywide race on the August ballot.
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Bianca Phillips
Bianca Phillips is a Northeast Arkansas native and longtime Memphian who’s worked in local journalism and PR for more than 20 years. In her days as a reporter, she covered everything from local government and crime to LGBTQ issues and the arts. She’s the author of “Cookin Crunk: Eatin’ Vegan in the Dirty South,” a cookbook of vegan Southern recipes.
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