The Early Word
The Early Word: Bad time for Memphis basketball, good time for skinny jeans
St. Jude’s CEO is stepping down, an anti-LGBTQ marriage bill moves ahead and the Riverbeat lineup is out.
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. In her days as a reporter, she covered everything from local government and crime to LGBTQ issues and the arts. She’s the author of “Cookin Crunk: Eatin’ Vegan in the Dirty South,” a cookbook of vegan Southern recipes.
There are 1230 articles by Bianca Phillips :
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February 2026
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Your house note may go down, and a Tiger’s off the team
Bad Timing got good news, cocktails meet canvases in the Edge and you can play Ja Morant in a new video game.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Thousands of bottles of booze for sale; hundreds against xAI
Trigger law could require schools to track immigration status, local politicians remember Jesse Jackson and Memphis stages are alive with the sound of musicals.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: An East Memphis eatery rises, and a Downtown one falls
Wanda Halbert tries to run again, Coach Penny might need a manager and we look into what killed Memphis Mardi Gras.
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The To-Do List From speed dating to partner painting: What to do for Valentine’s Day
In this week’s To-Do List, see new works from Ballet Memphis, swap seeds at Lichterman Nature Center and eat free king cake at Moxy.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Feagins starts over, and the Tigers are in the eye of a storm
Gov. Lee wants a tax ban, Evelyn & Olive is back with a new name and a record store is opening in the mall (yes, in 2026).
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The Early WordThe Early Word: MSCS has a new leader, and Rhodes goes to prison
Ford loses billions over BlueOval, Republicans may have their mayoral candidate and we’ve got your Galentine’s Day plan.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Young gets heckled, and Ikea says goodbye — or rather, adjö
Tennessee isn’t paying the county to house inmates, lawmakers focus on moms and Makeda’s brings butter cookies to the Big Peach.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Judge rules on MSCS elections; Grizzlies race to the bottom
Germantown raises the roof on debt, a Cooper-Young church can be your home and Slutty Vegan could open in Memphis.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Walker III is a Super star, and Fuego Vivo brings the fire
Memphis Theological Seminary is closing, and so is a Cooper-Young seafood staple. But the Tigers crushed in Sunday’s game.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Morant is still here, and Bain takes barbecue out east
Indie Memphis makes a comeback, Tigers get a “Sincere” win and açaí bowls are coming to the Edge.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: MSCS is snowed out, but the short-staffed Grizzlies go all in
Ex-St. George’s student appears in court, Ford Jr. ignores his guilty plea and Hernando’s mayor “messed up” the budget.
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The To-Do List Lunar New Year, Mardi Gras bar crawls and a concert by Diana Krall
In this week’s To-Do List, eat ice cream for breakfast, party like Edgar Allan Poe and get campy at CMOM.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: JJJ is traded away; Green wants snow plan for side streets
Local pre-K is OK for now, Musk is one step closer to AI in space and Arlington preps for its second liquor store.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: State money goes Downtown, and Ford pleads guilty
New Taylor bill targets legal immigrants, Calvary Church sheds light on painful past and the Grizzlies finally get a home win.
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The To-Do List Pro cornhole comes to town, and the Dixon celebrates 50 years
In this week’s To-Do List, a new Pink Palace exhibit explores the science and culture of food. And Urban Earth hosts a workshop on air plants.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: The meltdown begins; Jerri Green refreshes the PD’s office
Tigers lose a heartbreaker, Grizzlies fans win free nuggets and we recount a 1920s Memphis murder case that reads like film noir.
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January 2026
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Weekend plans may be out, but booze at The Station is a go
International Paper splits, the Tigers finally win and there’s a new place to get salad in the snow.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Memphis may plow ahead, and sober DUIs are a thing
Central High jazz band has had a tough year, the Grizzlies are on a losing streak and we pay homage to brave restaurant workers.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Memphis’ song of ice on streets and fire at Annesdale
Robert Pera’s company came up in allegations around the Russian war effort, Nike cuts local jobs and big decisions are coming on booze and golf.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Memphis not working with ICE, but places are closed for ice
Republican lawmakers go after Mulroy again, tulips are coming to the Dixon and we try to navigate the Morant Maze.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Baby, it’s cold outside, and the sun is setting on Westy’s
Noem brings up Memphis after Minneapolis shooting, and lawmakers want a Texas-style school takeover.
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The To-Do ListNew Spillit film fest shares true stories; sober is sexy at Complicated Pilgrim
In this week’s To-Do List, Eastern European Jewish music meets punk at the Buckman, and the music of Alanis Morissette is the soundtrack for a show at Playhouse.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Forecast is snow joke, and Buster’s owner takes another shot
Funeral home drops Brent Taylor’s name, Chef Jimmy Gentry gets his flowers and the Tigers don’t know what happened.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: 1994 ice storm may drop in, but troopers are here to stay
Craig Brewer’s new film gets an Oscar nom, more affordable housing is coming and there’s a vegan restaurant for sale.
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