The AM/DM

After the Tennessee legislature redrew the state's congressional districts during a three-day special session, it left District 9 incumbent Steve Cohen and democratic challenger Justin J. Pearson living in District 5.  The two are still allowed to run in August's District 9 primary, for which they were both already certified. Pearson plans to do so. But Cohen announced last week that he was droppi...

As we prepare to go into our new work week, it's with summer on our minds.  The Shelby County Board of Commissioners will meet after having heard Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris' budget for the new fiscal year, which begins July 1. School ends for all Shelby County public school systems this week, though on different days. And the Memphis Hope Festival is Friday. Newsletter editor Bianca Phillips i...

It's another weekend to hit the great outdoors. There are garden tours, mushroom hunts and outdoor concerts. But, if none of that strikes your fancy, there's also a conference for sound-recording scholars, collectors, preservationists and creators (that locals can attend, too), Wrasslin' and Tasslin' at Wiseacre Brewing OG and a daylong event about Bigfoot.  Newsletter editor Bianca Phillips joins...

The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is officially on, bringing more than 200 teams from around the country and the world to Liberty Park. This year, we're back down to one barbecue fest this week — as opposed to two — and today Sophia Surrett joins to talk about the festival, as well as some very popular chicken tenders and other food news. Plus: DEA agents shoot a suspe...

Last week, Amazon announced it was launching Amazon Supply Chain Services and offering freight, distribution, fulfillment and parcel shipping to, as it said, "businesses of all types and sizes." The same day, not coincidentally, Memphis-based FedEx stock dropped nearly 10%.  In the week since, FedEx's stock has rebounded, but the story is a good reminder of how the public links FedEx, Amazon and U...

Last week, in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision, the Tennessee General Assembly redrew the state's Congressional districts in a three-day special session. The stated idea of the new map was to flip Tennessee's last remaining Democratic-leaning district to Republican in the next federal election, which is in November. Metro editor Jane Donahoe says Memphis often makes more national news tha...

The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest returns this week as the only barbecue fest in town. That's big news and it's joined by the Memphis City Council beginning budget hearings, the Tigers going on tour, bike to work day and the grand reopening of the National Civil Rights Museum's Legacy Experience.  Newsletter editor Bianca Phillips is here to help us prepare for the wee...

It's peak spring tomorrow, with events galore scheduled. Newsletter editor Bianca Phillips joins us today to talk about  these events and more .  Plus: The proposed Congressional map passes the TN House and Senate All Memphis third graders will retake the TCAP reading exam on the last days of school Police say two women were shot at OUTMemphis after an argument erupts The Front Porch is officially...

On Tuesday, May 5, Shelby County went to the primary polls, winnowing down wide fields in races for county mayor, county clerk and sheriff. Now, Shelby County will return to the polls in August to decide between Mickell Lowery and former state Rep. John DeBerry for mayor and Anthony Buckner and Brad Less for sheriff . Veteran reporter Bill Dries joins us today to talk about the results and what co...

Historically, West Tennessee has been known for commodity crops such as soy, corn and especially cotton. But in recent years, an increasing number of farmers in the area have started growing specialty crops — fruits and vegetables — because they're generally way more profitable per acre. Think $6,000 per acre in revenue compared to $800 per acre.  But for some farmers, there's an issue. Peaches ar...

Today, May 5, is the Shelby County primary election , in which we'll be narrowing down candidates for mayor, sheriff and all host of other offices. In the past week, however, voting has become a very hot topic around the country — especially in Memphis.  After the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a majority Black congressional district in Louisiana, two Republican candidates for Tennessee governor s...

The beginning of May brings us a whole week of Memphis art and fashion, plus an election day and the NBA draft lottery. Today, newsletter editor Bianca Phillips joins us to set up the week and tell us what we can expect .  Plus: Lee greenlights a special session for redistricting next week How Spirit Airlines shutting down will impact Memphis Ted Townsend is out as the Chamber president Baptist Me...

This weekend is full of music and music-related events , with the largest being the Riverbeat Music Festival at Tom Lee Park. But there's also David Lee Roth at Graceland Soundstage, a bodego pop-up with Wu-Tang Clan, the Morning After Club's Beale Street Block Party and a Riverbeat after party at Wiseacre Brewing Co. Today, Bianca Phillips gives us the skinny on all of them.  Plus: Josh Holloway...

The Shelby County primaries are here, with early voting already ongoing, and election day coming fast and furious on Tuesday, May 5. Afterward, we'll know who the Democratic and Republican candidates for Shelby County mayor will be but right now, the race is on.  The Daily Memphian's digital director Holly Whitfield joins us today to talk about how you, the electorate of Shelby County, can get all...

Last week, the Tennessee General Assembly approved a state takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools . The law allows the state to install an appointed board of nine members who then have control over the school system's superintendent, its budget and even its elected board.  In part two of our podcast about the takeover, reporter Laura Testino returns to talk about how churn factors in, what we c...

Last week, the Tennessee General Assembly approved a state takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools . The law allows the state to install an appointed board of nine members who then have control over the school system's superintendent, its budget and even its elected board.  Today, in part one of our discussion about the takeover, Laura Testino joins us to answer some of our burning questions, in...

Newsletter editor Bianca Phillips joins us today to set up the week . In addition to some of our normal governmental activities, early voting ends but Baron Von Opperbean's River of Time, the Riverbeat Music Festival and Memphis Water Gardens all begin.  Plus: Memphis' budget shows the rising cost of doing business Tennessee's cannabis industry is in the weeds State leaders give Memphis suburbs vo...

This weekend is, in a word, busy. It's got a rock opera, roller derby, Shelby Forest Spring Fest, a rescheduled vegan block party and a lego convention. Plus a Friends of the Library book sale and a yard sale.  Newsletter Bianca Phillips joins us today to talk about  all these events and more .  Plus: Ja Morant accuser Josh Holloway is set to visit Memphis next week and make a commitment decision...

Every day, 5,500 cars travel down Southern Avenue, the Cooper-Young's neighborhood's southernmost boundary. For many years, that stretch of road might have been described as neglected or even blighted, with broken glass and trash littering the area between the sidewalk and the street. And then the Cooper Young Garden Club got involved. Today, The Daily Memphian's Nick Lingerfelt joins us to talk a...

College basketball is over for the season, and the transfer portal -- that exciting period where the coaches were trying to get the best talent, the players were trying to find the best teams and the fans were trying to determine their team's chances -- closed yesterday. Sports writer John Varlas joins us today to talk about what this might mean for the Tigers' upcoming season .  Plus: Baptist Hea...

Last week, the man charged with attempting to kidnap Memphis Mayor Paul Young pleaded guilty . But the Memphis court case raised as many questions as it answered. Today, public safety reporter Aarron Fleming is here to talk about the accused, Trenton Abston, his Alford plea and other interesting facets of the case. Plus: A Tennessee bill allows anonymous applicants for director-level jobs $60M Mem...

This week brings the beginning of budget season and also the kick-off party for the new Memphis FC United Soccer League Two team. And, not to give it all away, but at least one of those things makes an appearance on one of our bingo cards.  Digital director Holly Whitfield joins us today to talk about what's happening this week . Plus: A teen has been arrested in the fatal Shelby Farms shooting In...

If there's one thing happening this weekend, it's food. More specifically, it's a bunch of food festivals. Today, digital producer Kelsey Bowen joins us to talk about what looks, and sounds, good.  Plus: Tennessee will expand the voucher program Hardaway hires Missouri assistant coach to Memphis' staff A transgender health care tracking bill passes the Senate A Lakeland board recommends a pay hike...

For the past three years, the civil suit brought by Tyre Nichols' family against the City of Memphis has wound its way through the court system. The trial is currently scheduled for November, and this week, the attorneys for the City of Memphis released new court documents including a list of potential witnesses and experts who could be called to testify.  Sam Hardiman joins us in the studio to ta...

Earlier this month, Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke was arrested in Arkansas for trafficking an illegal substance. Clarke's arrest was due, in part, to a natural botanical that originates from Southeast Asia and can either be a sedative or a stimulant, depending on the dosage. It's been illegal in Arkansas since 2016 but it is still legal in Tennessee. For now.  Joining us today is state h...