Spirit of Memphis
Memphis nonprofit grinding to give kids boards and places to skate
LaterSkaters Memphis recently gained official nonprofit status and hopes to give 300 kids skateboards this year.
Jody Callahan
Jody Callahan graduated with degrees in journalism and economics from what is now known as the University of Memphis. He has covered news in Memphis for more than 25 years.
There are 608 articles by Jody Callahan :
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June 2024
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EducationMSCS board halts layoffs until Feagins presents personnel plan
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education voted 8-1 for Superintendent Marie Feagins to suspend layoffs as MSCS employees filled both the auditorium and overflow areas.
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Education MSCS email: More than 1,000 positions will be eliminated
According to the email, about 41% of those 1,100 positions, or around 450, are already vacant.
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MusicSouthern Folklore cofounder battling illness
Judy Peiser, who cofounded the Center for Southern Folklore with Bill Ferris in 1972, stepped down from the organization in 2021 due to illness.
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MusicFuture of Center for Southern Folklore uncertain
Memphis’ Center for Southern Folklore isn’t much more than a name at this point. But the worst thing about the situation for historians and music afficionados is the possible loss of the center’s voluminous archives.
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Spirit of Memphis Memphis skaters celebrate Tyre Nichols’ birthday
“My son is a skater,” RowVaughn Wells said of her son Tyre Nichols, who would have been 31 on Wednesday, June 5. “That was his passion. Anytime the skating community wants to honor my son, I’ll be there.”
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Food News Memphis Pizza Cafe takes the pie
In The Daily Memphian’s recent pizza poll, Memphis Pizza Cafe and Garibaldi’s Pizza were voted the top two pizza places in town.
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State GovernmentTennessee booting, towing law goes into effect July 1
Adrian Rios pulled his tractor-trailer into a Memphis gas station one morning and, shortly after his arrival, watched a man pull up, jump out, disconnect the truck’s air lines and attach a disabling “boot” device to his tires.
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May 2024
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Education Whitehaven High principal defends self after graduation fiasco
For more than a week, Principal Vincent Hunter has heard complaints about Whitehaven’s graduation ceremony being moved inside at the last minute, but he said the decision came from the top of the district.
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Spirit of MemphisReddit-famous Memphian is the pick of the litter
Four or fives times a week, Glenn Morris takes out one of his Litterbuggies to pick up trash in Memphis neighborhoods. And Batman has nothing on this guy’s utility belt.
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State Government Drag-racing bill signed into law
Beginning July 1, drag racing goes from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class E felony. Those convicted of the crime will now face up to six years in prison and a $3,000 fine.
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Metro Graceland deed of trust? Register’s office confirms there isn’t one
Graceland might have been used by Lisa Marie Presley as collateral for a loan, but there’s no deed of trust on file locally identifying the property as such.
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MusicGraceland may be auctioned; Elvis heir calls debt claim a fraud
The company that ostensibly Lisa Marie Presley borrowed money from has no online presence or addresses other than post office boxes and a phone number associated with it is no longer in service.
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BusinessLocal TikTok-er and cookie entrepreneur takes on US government
The owner of Chloe’s Giant Cookies, who has 2.2 million followers on TikTok, has joined a federal lawsuit to try and overturn a recently passed law that would either ban the popular video app or force its sale.
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Music Memphis music icon joining Beale Street Walk of Fame
Bobby Whitlock grew up in Millington and got his start at Stax Records. He was a member of Derek and the Dominoes, the classic English band that included Eric Clapton, and also recorded with George Harrison, Dr. John, the Rolling Stones and more
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SportsDog Days: Briarcrest student and Rocket show at Westminster
“It’s essentially the Super Bowl of dog shows,” said the Collierville resident.
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State Government Skrmetti, other AGs sue EEOC over transgender protections
A new rule, which says employers prohibiting people from using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity is workplace harassment, became law in late April.
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Arts & Culture ‘Koala,’ says Memphis family, but they win ‘Family Feud’ anyway
The strange answer came from Angela Thomas, ex-wife of former County Commissioner Chris Thomas, who joined her former husband, daughter and two other family members as contestants on the nationally syndicated game show hosted by comedian Steve Harvey.
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Public Safety 2017 drag racing case still in limbo
Accused drag racer Cordero Ragland appeared in court Tuesday to see if he’s fit to stand trial for what was ultimately a fatal crash, but a judge asked for more information.
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State GovernmentNew rule would close gun loophole, if state AGs lawsuit doesn’t overturn it
According to a statement from Tennessee AG Jonathan Skrmetti, he believes the new ATF rule imposes too much of a regulatory burden on people “who occasionally sell or trade a firearm.”
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Public Safety3 years after death, drag racing is poised to become felony
One Memphis woman said she doesn’t think people understand how dangerous drag racing is, but she and her family know it all too well.
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Public SafetyFatal drag racing case remains unresolved after 7 years
More than seven years after Cordero Ragland was charged with drag racing after ramming his Dodge Charger into an SUV, he will be back in court Tuesday, May 7.
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April 2024
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State Government Planned Parenthood reacts to ‘abortion trafficking’ bill
“I can tell you that we will continue to talk to anybody about abortion services when they ask for that information,” said Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi CEO Ashley Coffield.
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Public Safety Feagins: Teachers are asking for books and tech, not guns
Local education officials, from both private and public schools, continue to express skepticism about the “armed teachers” law.
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State Government State legislative session ends, with changes to bail, biz taxes and barbecue
After more than three months of debates and votes, the 113th Tennessee General Assembly is going home this week. Their decisions include making Memphis barbecue the second state food.
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