The Early Word: Showboats end on a win, Pearson hits trail and a final Memphis pizza duel
Good morning. It’s Memphis in June – Monday, June 3, to be exact – and nothing could be finer, or so the song says.
Hopefully our regular early wordsmith, Bianca Phillips, is enjoying her day off under a shady veranda somewhere.
But the heat is on at the Shelby County Commission, which meets today, and the budget for the next fiscal year will be the focus. Last week, commissioners added nearly $11 million to what had been a balanced budget. They’ll be deciding if that new money stays, and if so, how it gets offset. But Bill Dries says not to expect a final resolution on these issues quite yet.
The four men charged in the killing of Memphis rapper Young Dolph are scheduled to appear in court.
For more on these and other upcoming events, check out the latest This Week in Memphis.
Meanwhile, jazz singer Samara Joy is performing at the Cannon Center for Performing Arts.
Out and about: Memphians took to the streets and parks in droves this weekend, especially for a couple of major annual festivals. On Saturday, Mid-South Pride hosted its annual Pride Parade and Festival on Beale Street. Organization president Vanessa Rodley said that “It’s important for people to see the love and the unity within our community and feel accepted.” At the same time, the annual Memphis Italian Festival was being held in East Memphis’ Marquette Park, with more than 40 teams competing to cook Italian food, among other activities. How many Memphians made the scene at both? Probably more than a few, but we can count at least one: The Daily Memphian’s Kambui Bomani, who captured the scene at each.
Knowing Joe: Joe Theismann, a Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Washington more than a generation ago, moved to Memphis after his playing career and has made the city his home for decades now. He’ll step into the local spotlight this year as the AutoZone Liberty Bowl;s 2024 Distinguished Citizen Award Winner. Theismann talked about being a Memphian last night, and Drew Hill listened in.
Plus, a new law expands GPS monitors as a bail condition, Showboats end with a win and a final pizza duel.
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Chris Herrington
Chris Herrington covers the Memphis Grizzlies and writes about Memphis culture, food, and civic life.
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