The AM/DM

Earlier this week, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners approved a $43 million loan to keep the county afloat — and to make sure that the government could make payroll in a few weeks. The county has experienced cash flow problems at this time of year before, but this time around, it's raising bigger questions about the county's long-term financial stability. Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and politics and government reporter Bill Dries talk about what's driving the shortfall and if there are larger problems, or solutions, on the horizon. Plus:   Marie Feagins is running for Shelby County mayor Baron Von Opperbean sets an opening date Memphis raises the minimum salary for city employees Memphis officials vow challenge after the guard deployment is halted by a judge The State plans to appeal the National Guard injunction

It's not a great time to be a Memphis sports fan. The Memphis Grizzlies have been struggling this season, and that's before star point guard Ja Morant injured his calf. The Memphis Tigers men's basketball team just experienced its worst home loss since the team lost to South Florida in March 2018. And, the defeat came at the hands of UNLV, headed by none other than former Memphis coach Josh Pastner.  Memphis Tigers football has also been lackluster. The team is facing its sixth year in a row to not make the conference championships.  To put this all in context for us, Daily Memphian editorial director Mary Cashiola talks with sports editor David Boyd.  Plus: Memphis delays a firefighter pay raise MSCS board and employees are asked to grade Richmond as superintendent South Point Grocery arrives in Southaven The County fixes a cash-flow crunch with a $43 million loan A statewide art exhibition spotlights four museums in Tennessee The U of M school district launches a preschool program at Le Bonheur

In South Memphis, an array of art projects are bringing color — and an renewed identity — to a local neighborhood near Downtown.  It's perhaps the culmination of more than 25 years of transformation, but even in the middle of the celebration, there are visible reminders of the pain the community carries. Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and veteran reporter Bill Dries talk about the city's former public housing projects and what has risen in their place.  Plus: A Nashville judge blocks the Memphis National Guard deployment A person is dead after a shooting at Wolfchase Galleria A data center coming to the former Fred's headquarters wants a 15-year PILOT Dunavant fills four top positions in US Attorney's Office Police arrest 8 in a gang sweep Target bought Millington land for more than $2M National Guard deployment has already cost millions

Big government projects may move forward this week. The Shelby County Board of Commissioners is expected to vote on $28.8 million in capital funding for Regional One Health's new Union Avenue campus. And the Memphis-Shelby County Schools system will consider the next phase of its facilities plan, which includes school closures, consolidations and renovations. And the University of Memphis men's basketball team will be in the Bahamas for the Baha Mar Hoops Bahamas Championship.  Editorial director Mary Cashiola and newsletter editor Bianca Phillips discuss all of that and the week ahead.  Plus: Memphis Safe Task Force has seized more than 400 illegal guns  A second St. George's assault victim comes forward ShapeShifter Art School and Gallery is opening in East Memphis Bartlett course manager thinks Quail can do well Twelve acres of Old Forest land in Overton Park opened to the public Whiteside is back in custody and a new trial date has been set 100+ more National Guard members are coming to Memphis The state's high court says Shelby County judges can handle task force case load

Are you ready to get a little bit wacky? Then this weekend's events are for you. One gathering combines two trends — eating pudding with a fork and day-raving with coffee — while another combines the Pink Palace and Opera Memphis and LaZer Divas with Sky Pirates of Destiny. (See, wacky.) Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and newsletter editor Bianca Phillips discuss those events, plus an illuminating new event at the Memphis Zoo and a bus to all the Irish bars in the Memphis area.  Plus: The bill that ended the government shutdown could pay Tennessee's US senators a minimum of $500K each Longtime Highland hangout Newby's is closing Shelby County moves money toward a new Regional One A South Korean manufacturer is to invest another $157 million and create 240 new jobs in Memphis The Sheriff's office demands an apology for a sexual assault lawsuit Crosstown Concourse will have coworking spaces beginning in the spring

There is nothing like the promise of a new grocery store, especially one that's new to the market. Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and suburbs reporter Michael Waddell talk about the possibility of a new grocery store in Lakeland and what new-to-the-market grocer it could be. Plus: Spillit Memphis is launching a film fest The former Railgarten is to become family-friendly Stomping Grounds A lawsuit alleges that two inmates were assaulted at the Shelby County women's jail The DeSoto county DA seeks seeks new sentencing for Whiteside

Michelin stars have been a thing in Europe since 1900, when the first guides were published in France. And then stars came to the states in 2005, when Michelin inspectors went to New York restaurants. But this year marked the first time the Michelin Guide came for restaurants in the American South.   On this episode of The AM/DM, Mary Cashiola and Daily Memphian food writer Ellen Chamberlain talk about the Memphis restaurants that earned Michelin recognition and what that means for them.  Plus: Bartlett honors nation's heroes with a Veterans Day ceremony A mystery grocery store is looking to become part of the Ashmont development in Lakeland A gun-group's lawsuit against the City of Memphis has been dismissed Collierville police are investigating a a sexual assault at St. George's Collierville's bus lot gets closer to its move

The Memphis Safe Task Force has led to a dramatic drop in crime in the city: Aggravated assaults, motor vehicle thefts, robberies and homicides are all down. But, after more than a month in, people are also wondering what happens when the surge ends. Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and enterprise reporter Sam Hardiman talk about the federal crackdown and what some experts and community leaders think we can expect to see once the additional law enforcement personnel leave the city.  Plus:  As temperatures dip, Memphians can expect a "mixed bag" of weather this winter and plenty of precipitation A $750 million bond is suggested for a long-term schools plan A woman involved in a Mississippi Boulevard pastor's murder has been found guilty Marshall Steakhouse is going up for sale A man who had charges dismissed in a drag-racing death has been arrested again A Memphis gynecologist asks for his case to be dismissed again

It's Monday, Nov. 10, and if there's a theme for the week ahead, it might be walking. Many of this week's notable events have ties to pedestrians, trails and public transportation. This morning, editorial director Mary Cashiola and newsletter editor Bianca Phillips, give us the scoop.  Plus: Community leaders weigh in on the long-term impact of the Memphis Safe Task Force Food pantries see hundreds needing help Kamp Kiwani will be auctioned off DeSoto protest data shows significant participation Tony Allen was released on bond after a drug arrest Lucchesi's is to be in more than 40 grocery stores Memphis International is expected to see flights cut

Outdoor events are all the rage this weekend, with a fun holiday market, a very short run (with a much longer afterparty) and a hot take on fire pits. Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and newsletter editor Bianca Phillips discuss those events, plus an exhibit of Stax Records songwriter Bettye Crutcher's letters, lyric sheets and photos once lost — and then found — in an antique mall in Lexington, Tennessee.  Plus: The county mayor wants more judges for Task Force cases Ford could scrap the EV F-150 but says there is no change for BlueOval City Second Line is leaving Midtown A judge is to deny the dismissal request for the case against Ford Memphis kids suffering from gunshot wounds doubled in 2023 but a real decline is happening in 2025 Hundreds of jail inmates will be moved to combat overcrowding Witnesses say a gun was purchased six hours before a Mississippi Boulevard pastor was killed

It's been more than a month since President Donald Trump announced he'd be sending a 13-agency federal task force to Memphis to help curb crime rates. And it's been about eight weeks since The Daily Memphian reported on the possibility that the National Guard would come.  Since then, the U.S. Marshals Service has reported the task force has made more than 1,800 arrests, served more than 800 warrants and made more than 300 immigration-related arrests. Though the task force's focus is crime, education, religious institutions, the court system and even local restaurants have been impacted.  Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola, CEO Eric Barnes and metro editor Jane Donahoe talk about the site's ongoing coverage and answer a few frequently asked questions. Plus: Arlington puts future solar plant plans on ice School of Rock's three Memphis-area locations have been sold A former county director is to be released from jail Two men were electrocuted at xAI's Southaven power plant

Collierville recently planned to overhaul its parking requirements for restaurants, in part because of McDonald's. The fast food restaurant was looking at a new location near Houston Levee Road and wanted to have more parking spaces than currently allowed. That request suddenly had the suburb rethinking its parking formula for restaurants across the board.  Today, suburbs reporter Abigail Warren joins editorial director Mary Cashiola to talk about why the suburb walked back the proposed changes and what will happen to the space restaurant Raven & Lily used to call home.   Plus: Memphs Business Academy football coach is charged in a drug conspiracy A federal agent fired a shot that wounded a suspect in front of the Cordova Corky's MATA's 90-day zero fare pilot program is set to begin A 201 Poplar inmate's death is possibly linked to pepper spray Partial funding has been announced for SNAP following a court filing The trial date has been pushed for two over the 2022 death of a jail inmate Memphis restaurants were recognized at a historic ceremony A Memphis gynecologist has been reindicted on more charges 

The Memphis Safe Task Force has been on the ground in the Bluff City for over a month, making about 1,800 arrests as of Nov. 1 and issuing more than 4,700 traffic citations. With traffic stops being a large part of the task force's activities, at least by the numbers, it seems some area drivers are more conscientious about expired license plates and revoked driver's licenses.  Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola talks with public safety reporter Aarron Fleming about the trend. They also discuss how many missing children the task force has found and who those children are.  Plus: Memphis politicians and the state tussle in Nashville court Marshals Service releases new immigration arrests totals Mayor Young commits to giving firefighters another 2% raise A pedestrian is dead after being hit by a Memphis police car The former Evolve CEO faces decades in prison for allegedly soliciting sex

Editorial director Mary Cashiola and newsletter editor Bianca Phillips help you prepare for the week ahead. Downtown Dining Week is back, the Memphis City Council will be making sausage (though not literally) and if you haven't heard of the Dons yet, you will.  Plus: The Memphis Tigers move up in the national rankings MSCS says its on track to improve chronic absenteeism The Memphis fire chief is retiring Memphis Art Museum has a plan for opening Collierville Square's Raven & Lily space sells Brooks Museum names a new chief curator

This weekend's fun starts with a little dress up but keeps the celebrations going with Samhain and Dia de los Muertos. It also includes a walk on Broad Avenue, India Fest and the Memphis Youth Symphony's fall concerts. Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and newsletter editor Bianca Phillips discuss those events and more.  Plus: The Task Force is impacting crime and straining the local justice system Another inmate dies at 201 Poplar The City provides $500,000 to help offset the loss of SNAP benefits Bartlett imposes term limits

Restaurants are third spaces, places where people can gather, socialize and connect outside their homes or work. But that can put restaurants — especially local restaurants — in a precarious position when politics come into play, whether or not restaurateurs want them to.  Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and food writer Ellen Chamberlain talk about how the local restaurant industry has been impacted by the Memphis Safe Task Force surge.  Plus: The immigration enforcement surge brings fear and absences to some schools Tennessee's graduation rate improves for the third straight year Halbert is likely to go to the Tennessee Supreme Court on a revived ouster complaint Another National Guard resolution has been delayed at the County Commission A restaurant is opening in Downtown's former Tamp & Tap location

Sometimes the best way to get a hint of the future is to look into the past. And, today, we did a little bit of just that. Cedric Coward, the Memphis Grizzlies' newest rookie, scored a combined 57 points in his first three regular-season games with the team. On Saturday night alone, he scored 27 points against the Indiana Pacers. Editorial director Mary Cashiola and columnist Chris Herrington talk about Coward's journey to the NBA, his performance so far and to which other rookies — and eventual superstars — his numbers are comparable.  Plus: The MSCS board unanimously OKs an expanded bus service in response to ICE concerns Lindsey Whiteside is granted bond and home incarceration for the second time The County Commission voted to put all 9 MSCS board seats on the 2026 ballot again A Collierville bus lot moves to final review despite pushback A Downtown restaurant closes after nearly two decades The state argues that the National Guard is an army and not a militia  

Halloween is just around the corner, and The Daily Memphian's popular "Ask the Memphian" series has been getting into the spirit with a number of local ghost stories. There's a haunted bar, a local boogeyman and a ghost said to inhabit Downtown's Orpheum theater. Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and reporter Jody Callahan talk about all the ghosts and goblins. Plus: A Federal grand jury indicts a former youth pastor on 3 felony counts The impending loss of SNAP benefits leaves some wondering how they will eat The Evolve Bank & Trust CEO is arrested for child pornography Immigration arrest numbers are no longer part of the Memphis Safe Task Force data releases With a new owner, Cafe Piazza celebrates 20 years

Newsletter editor Bianca Phillips and editorial director Mary Cashiola help prepare you for the next seven days. The last week of October 2025 includes the Hoops for St. Jude Tip Off Classic (and John Calipari's return to coaching at FedExForum), the Shelby County Commission possibly overturning a mayoral veto and, coming up very soon, the end of Daylight Saving Time.  Plus: The National Guard's impact hits some restaurants hard and some not at all Expired car-tag renewals have jumped since the Task Force's arrival Bartlett's Quail Ridge Golf Course could reopen International Paper is to outsource its IT services The Memphis airport building construction will cost $57 million

This week's fun is perhaps heavy on the heebie jeebies, given the proximity to Halloween. There are two stage productions adapted from novels and a party with a very successful children's book author. Today, editorial director Mary Cashiola and newsletter editor Bianca Phillips discuss those events and more.  Plus: A controversial East Memphis liquor store license is denied Two Memphis restaurants are making comebacks The judge who presided over the Lindsey Whiteside case recuses himself Germantown Schools see fewer students who live in the district Shelby Drive is to remain closed when a new fire station reopens