The Early Word: Wins for Wanda Halbert, Taylor Jenkins and Frayser
Welcome to the prelude to the weekend. It’s Thursday, Nov. 21, and the Memphis Tigers men’s basketball team kicks off a seven-day, four-game stretch tonight as they play San Francisco. Coach Penny Hardaway said this upcoming run may be the toughest he’s faced in his coaching career in Memphis.
Speaking of stretches, if you’re looking way ahead on your calendar, go on and plan to be at our annual Daily Memphian Commercial Real Estate Seminar on Thursday, Dec. 5. It’ll feature keynote speaker Richard Shadyac, president and CEO of ALSAC, and a panel of CRE experts — Michael Donahoe, Elliot Embry and Jonathan Aur. Tickets are on sale now.
On Wednesday, Circuit Court Judge Felicia Corbin-Johnson dismissed the second ouster petition against Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert. Corbin-Johnson named two reasons for her ruling: the county’s decision to hire outside private counsel to lead the ouster and the choice of a deputy county attorney to make that decision instead of the county attorney. Shelby County Attorney Marlinee Iverson had passed the matter off, citing a conflict of interest.
Memphis Grizzlies Coach Taylor Jenkins just became the winningest coach in franchise history, following the team’s 117-111 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night. The Grizzlies’ 13th head coach now has 215 career victories under his belt. Our own Drew Hill takes a look at Jenkins’ long path to victory.
Last week, Memphis City Council members rejected Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ plan to build a new Cordova high school near Shelby Farms. And that was something of a “death blow” for the Cordova plan, according to Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris. But it was good news for a planned new Frayser high school, which is now likely to be built first. MSCS is considering moving $11 million toward the Frayser build, a move district officials say is necessary to keep the project on track. But MSCS Superintendent Marie Feagins said the district may still need to launch a capital campaign to cover the full cost of the high school.
Plus, Downtown could get a “hamburger tax,” a new center for paralyzed vets is coming to Beale and we tell you why all those ladybugs were in your house early this week.
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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. She’s a diehard morning person who spends her free time running marathons and ultras. She’s the author of “Cookin Crunk: Eatin’ Vegan in the Dirty South.”
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