The Early Word: Cargo theft is big here, xAI may get bigger and Edey is just big
Well, it’s not Wednesday, but you should probably still wear pink on this Thursday, Oct. 3. It’s Mean Girls Day! In the film, which turns 20 this year, Cady has a crush on Aarron, so she gets super-excited when he turns around in class and asks her what day it is. And yes, it’s Oct. 3. So, pull out that pink blazer, and maybe have some Toaster Strudel for breakfast. Tonight, you can catch a special anniversary screening of “Mean Girls” at two Malco theaters.
In more serious news, the jury will begin deliberation today in the federal trial against three of the five former Memphis Police officers charged in the death of Tyre Nichols.
And the Lakeland Board of Commissioners will consider an agreement for the YMCA to operate a new Lakeland Community Center planned for Lakeland Gateway TIF District.
“Breaking into trains, breaking into cargo, breaking into trucking companies and drop yards, that’s a Memphis problem,” said Eric Ellis, regional vice president of ContainerPort Group.
Ellis spoke about Memphis’ cargo theft problem, which is the second-worst in the nation, only behind Los Angeles, at the Memphis Logistics Summit on Wednesday. Experts from the industry discussed possible solutions, including a citywide AI camera network proposed by Memphis Mayor Paul Young.
Elon Musk wasn’t lying when he named the xAI supercomputer Colossus. A subsidiary of xAI plans to enter into a 21-year lease for 552 acres of Memphis and Shelby County Port Commission land near the existing xAI facility with a plan to grow xAI by three or four-fold. And yes, that would mean xAI needing even more power from the grid. (Not-so-fun fact: “Colossus” is also the name of a 1966 sci-fi novel about supercomputers taking over humankind.)
Memphis Grizzlies rookie has some big shoes to fill as he steps into the role once played by Steven Adams (RIP) and Jonas Valanciunas. Good thing Edey already wears big shoes (size 20, to be exact!). Edey is expected to be a Day One starter, which is highly uncommon for an NBA rookie. His teammates discussed their Edey expectations at day two of training camp on Wednesday.
Plus, the Memphis Flyway is underway, Cohen asks for MATA money and the Whitehaven STEM lab breaks ground for real this time.
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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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