The Early Word: Feagins wants to stay, but Showboats show themselves out

Bianca Phillips By , Daily Memphian
Updated: July 23, 2025 8:37 AM CT | Published: July 23, 2025 6:21 AM CT Premium

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Who’s ready to ease on into this day, Memphis? It’s Wednesday, July 22, and “The Wiz” opened at the Orpheum Theatre last night.

Marie Feagins called: She wants her old superintendent job back.

Showboats sail away: The Memphis Showboats are sailing into the sunset. Or at least to another state.

A theater, a mall and a drive-in walk into a salon … and they’re all getting a fresh new look.

Save the date: The man accused of killing three people and wounding three others in a citywide shooting spree in 2022 will go to trial next year.

Power on: There’s about to be a new Colossus in town.

Worth a shot: The restaurant group behind three local restaurants with Tekila in the name is bringing the fuego to East Memphis.

Jack’s hits the road: The owner of a Bartlett barbecue spot closed his restaurant so he could pursue a career in medicine.

Ozzy’s Memphis moment: Ozzy Osbourne, who died on Tuesday, had a famous run-in with Memphis cops in 1984.

New Man Cave coming: Dudes, get ready for cocktails with your mani-pedi.

New life for an old haunt: A long-vacant University of Memphis women’s dorm is getting a refresh.

Go big or stay home? Memphis Tigers baseball player James Smith IV turned down the pros. Here’s why.

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Bianca Phillips

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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