This Week in Memphis: City budget hearings, Le Bonheur expansion opens
Also happening this week: Shelby County Commissioners begin budget talks, and Tom Lee Park reopens temporarily.
Shelby County Commission to vote on pay raises for County Clerk’s office
County administration has yet to review the raises, which are one of several resolutions on the Monday, May 6, agenda.
Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean bring rare Fugees’ reunion to Riverbeat Fest
The circuitous journey of the Fugees, a landmark 1990s’ New York hip-hop trio, landed them on the banks of the Mississippi River, at Memphis’ first Riverbeat Music Festival, on Saturday night.
Riverbeat artists wow the crowds on the river
Throughout the weekend, artists such as The Fugees, Yung Gravy and Al Kapone & the B.A.W. Band performed for various audiences throughout Tom Lee Park. Related content:
Calkins: The ‘mayor of Whitehaven’ is closing her beauty shop, but she has a lesson for all of us
Hazel Moore could have styled hair, taken care of her children and decided that was enough. Instead, she looked around, noticed things in the community needed doing — and figured she might as well do them herself.
Former ECS star makes MLB history with two home runs in same inning
Brent Rooker, who lives in Germantown during the MLB offseason, is the 60th player in major league history to homer twice in an inning. The last A’s player to do it was Mark McGwire in 1996.
Changes barreling into Memphis’ only distillery
While Memphis’ Old Dominick Distillery makes some staff changes, it looks to the future.
Wolf River Hospitality bringing new concept to Collierville center
Nashoba, meaning wolf in Choctaw, is a live entertainment venue, sports bar and restaurant opening in Carriage Crossing in June.
201 Poplar fire injures inmates, highlights old facility and staff issues
Four inmates at the Shelby County Jail were noncritically injured just before 10 p.m. Friday night after objects were set on fire and thrown in a housing unit.
Morris: Caring for the uninsured requires the whole health care system
“According to the latest statistics, Memphis’s population is 621,000, and 16.5% are uninsured, meaning 102,000 are affected.”
Book bans inspire giveaway at National Civil Rights Museum reading festival
The celebration was held on the 70th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board desegregation case ruling and featured an outdoor giveaway of children’s books for grades pre-K to sixth grade and up.
Four years after pandemic’s start, UTHSC shutters COVID testing lab
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, UTHSC’s lab provided testing for Memphians across the city, from the Memphis Grizzlies to the city’s homeless community, and analyzed tests from the drive-thru testing site at Tiger Lane.
What does the future hold for Memphis’ suburban housing market?
While increased interest rates and rising cost of materials have slowed the housing market, things could improve by the end of this year or the first of 2025.
Data centers will gobble more energy. Powering them can be a problem
As more data centers are built in the U.S., they’re consuming more energy. And in Shelby County, RWE’s Graceland Solar project unwittingly became a case study for how new facilities might be powered.
Memphis’ Nae’Qwan Tomlin receives invite to NBA G League Elite Camp
The Harlem, New York, native averaged 14 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game through the 21 games he appeared in for Memphis this past season.
Birmingham Stallions hand Memphis Showboats their fifth loss
Despite facing an early 6-point deficit, the Stallions won their sixth-straight game while pushing the Memphis losing streak to five with a 39-21 victory in front of an announced crowd of 5,609 fans.
What Daily Memphians think*
“… Thanks for giving us a great peek inside the sport of track. Your coaching certainly leads young runners to build community and character as they continue to grow in the sport. …” — Gary Eaton about Guest Column: The beauty of track and field
“Breaking: Live music on the Mississippi River is as amazing as it ever was. See: previous 100 years. Thank you RiverBeat for keeping it going.” — Michael Bowen about Riverbeat artists wow the crowds on the river
“Hazel Moore is one of the finest people I have ever known. She supported the suffrage monuments that I worked on in Nashville and Memphis, especially for the recognition of Rep. Lois DeBerry. She is a great Memphian and American!” — Paula Casey about Calkins: The ‘mayor of Whitehaven’ is closing her beauty shop, but she has a lesson for all of us
* Select comments upvoted by Daily Memphian readers.
Goals galore as 901 FC downs Tampa Bay
Marlon Santos bags a brace as home team wins its second straight league game.
Movers & Shakers
The University of Memphis College of Education and Monogram Foods announce new positions.
Sudoku: May 5
Are you ready for it? Here are today’s sudokus.
Metro
Former Kroger security guard convicted of first-degree murder
Shelby County Criminal Court Division 8 Judge Chris Craft sentenced Livingston to life in prison after the verdict was read Friday, May 3. Jury begins deliberation in Kroger security guard’s murder trialRelated story:
Premium Education Being a college freshman in pandemic was tough, then it got worse
Business
As plant opening nears, Ford Philanthropy hones in on West Tennessee communities
As Ford Motor Co. inches closer to the 2025 opening of its BlueOval City megasite, the company’s philanthropic arm is investing in the West Tennessee communities on which Ford will rely for its workforce.
Premium Real Estate Inked: Centennial Place for sale, Clark Tower and Trinity Ridge have new tenants
Sports
Memphis’ David Jones invited to 2024 NBA Draft Combine
Jones averaged a team-high 21.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 38% from 3-point range this past season for the Tigers.
Premium Memphis Tigers Football Tigers aren’t getting caught up in 2024 season hype
Food
$10 Deal: Belltower’s chicken sando
It might sound boring to spend too much time talking up a chicken sandwich, but Belltower’s is a sleeper hit.
Suburbs
Bailey: Maybe Memphis isn’t only reason for crime in DeSoto
Prosecutor Matthew Barton says a new judge under consideration in Hernando doesn’t hold the same hard line on crime as Barton. Meanwhile, the DeSoto County sheriff says there are more to the problems than those associated with Memphis.
Arts & Culture
Mud Island Amphitheater could get major renovation
The City of Memphis’ proposed capital-improvement budget includes issuing $17.6 million in debt over four years for the amphitheater’s renovation. A potential big-name operator could be interested, too.
Opinion
Guest Column: The beauty of track and field
“Track is unique because it is both an individual and a team sport. It is a meritocracy in which the best time wins and the fastest athletes get to perform regardless of the opinions of parents or coaches. But the competition in track is not just between runners, but most importantly within each runner too.”
Podcasts
Sound Bites: Quizzing Daily Memphian staffers, part three
Here’s part three of asking Daily Memphian staffers their food hot takes, date night ideas, lunch plans and more. Digital desk manager Elle Perry, digital producer Nick Lingerfelt and reporter Sophia Surrett are in the hot seat.