The Early Word: Feagins wants phone receipts; Musk explains why Memphis

Bianca Phillips By , Daily Memphian
Updated: February 19, 2025 6:19 AM CT | Published: February 19, 2025 6:18 AM CT Premium

Happy snow day, Memphis! It’s Wednesday, Feb. 19, and if you get the day off, congrats. Plenty of us will be working from home, but if you have to drive today, the Memphis Police Department offers this advice from your high-school driving test. Read on for more on the roads, school closures and more.

As for what’s happening today, Downtown’s Center City Development Corp. is set to meet, virtually, to discuss a grant for a project that would transform a multifamily building on North Dunlap Street into housing for the Hospitality Hub’s formerly homeless clients. 

Memphis Tigers basketball games are usually on, snow or shine, and the women’s home game against UAB tonight appears to be a go. Also, if you’re headed to the Orpheum Theatre tonight to see “Hamilton,” that show is going on, too. 

Former Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins is requesting call logs and text messages from school board members’ phones. The subpoena request came two days after she filed a lawsuit alleging board members violated the state’s Tennessee open meetings law when they fired her in January. That request has since been sealed since it contained board members’ cell phone numbers. 

Elon Musk’s xAI, which was approved for a land sale on Tuesday by the Memphis City Council, has been training its AI chatbot, Grok, in Memphis. The bot was unveiled on X Monday, and during that event, Musk explained why he chose Memphis in a rambling quote that mentioned both Elvis and ancient Egypt

Plus, the City of Memphis tries to toss the Tyre Nichols suit again, Brian Kelsey finally heads to prison and the city says it was ready for snow.

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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. 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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