The AM/DM

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...

A historic Front Street property . An unleaseable shopping center . A signature Midtown music venue .  Those are some of the buildings that have recently been sold or are currently for sale.  Today, commercial real estate reporter Andy Ashby is here to tell us not only what's going on with those transactions, but what makes commercial real estate such a fun and interesting beat.  Plus: Germantown...

This week begins with a public question: How should AI-related property-tax revenue be spent? The Memphis City Council is asking citizens to weigh in Monday, April 13.  There's also a Shelby County Commission meeting, a luncheon to celebrate Girls Inc. of Memphis turning 80, a fundraising gala for LeMoyne-Owen College and an award ceremony for realtors. Plus, the start of early voting and our firs...

It's time to get your counter-culture on.  Some of the highlights this weekend include Tattoo Fest at Graceland Exhibition Center (with more than 200 tattoo artists from around the country), the Spirit Fest Metaphysical, Holistic, & Crystal Expo, a music festival featuring only tribute bands and a Shelby County "Star Trek" day celebration.  Newsletter editor Bianca Phillips joins us today to talk...

For more than a decade, the City of Memphis has tried to quell gun violence by talking to potential perpetrators and intervening with them before they might make life-altering choices. How does the city do it? Using several nonprofits and people, mostly men, called "violence interrupters." The nonprofits identify people deemed to be at risk of perpetrating violence — because they are connected eit...

In November of last year, two DeSoto County teenagers were in danger after their SUV crashed and went into a ravine. It had been raining, and the water in the ravine was moving fast.  But the girls were lucky because one of the people who witnessed the accident was Johnathon Bigham. And Captain Bigham is the leader of DeSoto County Search & Rescue, a group of about 34 volunteers who get called to...

Among a city of talented musicians, the Whalums stand out.  Kirk Whalum is a Grammy Award-winning saxophonist whose achievements include soloing on Whitney Houston's smash hit, "I Will Always Love You." Wendell Whalum was a respected organist, musicologist, composer, and longtime director of the Morehouse College Glee Club. Hugh "Peanuts" Whalum was a jazz saxophonist, singer and pianist who toure...

It's a busy week, and it starts with your last opportunity to register to vote before the Shelby County primaries on Tuesday, May 5.  And there's a celebration in honor of those who have helped Midtown stay Midtown. Newsletter editor Bianca Phillips is here to talk about it all and get us prepared for the week ahead .  Plus: Grizzlies star Ja Morant's home is for sale A triple shooting Downtown le...

This weekend's events — the ones The Daily Memphian staff are most excited about, anyway — have one very important thing in common. They are free. Newsletter editor Bianca Phillips is here to give us all the details on those events, including the absence of a price.  Plus: The Halbert ouster attempt could be back in play UTHSC gives $1.75M in grants across Tennessee An MSCS audit yields findings '...

Spring is often a time of renewal and rebirth, and those themes seem to be echoing in our local restaurant scene. Reporter Sophia Surrett, who writes our weekly Food Files column and tracks local restaurant openings and closings, is here today to talk to us about some of the eateries on the horizon.  Plus: Heartsong Church sells 10 acres for $700,000  Memphis guard Curtis Givens III plans to enter...

Roughly a month ago, Memphis Police Department officer Oscar Torres-Molina was shot during what should have been a routine traffic stop. Though police know who the alleged shooter is, he hasn't been found yet .  The Daily Memphian's public safety reporter, Aarron Fleming, was curious about that recently, especially in light of the extra manpower on the ground due to the Memphis Safe Task Force. Fl...

Early on, the plan to overhaul Regional One was to rebuild the entire thing on its current site, and to do it in phases so the hospital could still operate during construction. But then the plan changed, to building a new hospital on the Commercial Appeal's former home on Union Avenue. The land was purchased, for $26.6 million, and the entire project is estimated to cost upwards of $900 million. B...

This week begins with a Shelby County Commission meeting and a new member of the commission. This week also includes the three-day commemoration of the 58th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination at the National Civil Rights Museum, including the annual changing of the wreath. And, on Sunday, a new contract with a Pennsylvania company to maintain the state's interstates begins.  The...

This weekend brings a lot of opportunities to get outside: South Main Trolley Night, a garden party at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens and the Mane Street Food Festival. But it starts with a focus on inside. Art by Design, an ArtsMemphis fundraiser, will have a showroom at Agricenter International with art activations done by local interior designers and galleries.  Today, newsletter editor Bianca Phi...

Today, Regional One is 1.2 million square feet across six main buildings and 15 acres, and it has centers of excellence for trauma and burn victims, high-risk pregnancies and newborns with critical issues. Today we're joined by reporter Jody Callahan for part one of a discussion about what Regional One is and why it needs a new hospital facility . Plus: A riverfront group's lawsuit over museum con...