Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | John Klyce

Prince Mongo dies after fall at his East Memphis home

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 20:16:03 -0500

Prince Mongo, the local eccentric who sported goggles and a silver wig and ran for mayor repeatedly, has died.

Ask the Memphian: When and why did Memphis install trolley lines?

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:16:43 -0500

In this week’s Ask the Memphian, we take a look at the costly, controversial, but ultimately successful effort to bring a trolley system to Memphis.

Surgical oncologist Dr. Martin Fleming takes after his father. And his son takes after him.

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Sun, 9 Aug 2026 04:00:04 -0500

As a surgical oncologist at UT Health Sciences, Dr. Martin Fleming has followed the path of his father and served as a role model for his son — in addition to training hundreds of doctors.

Improv theater helps at-risk young people learn a new script

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Fri, 7 Aug 2026 15:30:23 -0500

Time on stage helps Memphis Allies’ SWITCH participants, including many former gang members, becoming more confident, sociable, empathetic and aware of their emotions.

Longest tenured zookeeper Morgan Powers retires after 55 years

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Sat, 1 Aug 2026 17:07:48 -0500

On Friday, July 31, Morgan Powers retired after working at the Memphis Zoo for more than half a century. Here’s a look at his long and exciting career.

Inspired by Mark Twain, retired teacher travels the Mississippi River on a homemade raft

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 14:48:55 -0500

Charles Phillips takes a break at Mud Island Marina from the Huck Finn journey that’s been exciting, enlightening, and on occasion terrifying.

Ask the Memphian: Will the Memphis Art Museum land major touring exhibitions?

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 04:00:12 -0500

From a fresh start to a growing gallery to more national recognition and tourists, here’s why the Memphis Art Museum staffers are so excited about the tantalizing possibilities that will come with the new space.

The life and 'great legacy' of banking executive, philanthropist Jack Moore

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 11:21:43 -0500

“If you think about things that are important in life — your family, your faith, your community, leading, and investing back in the community — that’s what Jack Moore was all about.”

Memphis' forgotten figures: Nursing pioneer Lena Angevine Warner

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 10:20:52 -0500

This week, we take a look at the life of Lena Angevine Warner, who survived a case of yellow fever, served on Walter Reed’s team that identified its cause and revolutionized nursing in Tennessee.

Memphian who fought Muhammad Ali, served as Green Beret and became Secret Service agent dies

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:31:10 -0500

Henry Hooper II, who died July 12 at the age of 87, had an illustrious life and career.

'A deep love’: Inside the life and career of Trey Crump, Memphis Heritage's first executive director in four years

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 04:00:08 -0500

Trey Crump has had a passion for historic buildings. Now, he’s been chosen to lead the nonprofit dedicated to preserving them. Here’s how he got to Memphis Heritage — and what he plans to do.

Ask the Memphian: How does the Orpheum determine its Broadway season lineup?

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 04:00:08 -0500

Orpheum Theatre CEO Brett Batterson sees almost every new Broadway production in New York. The first question he asks himself: Should he bring it to Memphis?

How does the Memphis Zoo safely care for venomous snakes?

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 04:00:05 -0500

To celebrate World Snake Day, Chris Baker, associate curator of reptiles at the Memphis Zoo, discusses how he and his team safely care for venomous snakes and why he thinks they’re such remarkable animals.

Memphis writer exploring conservation and faith in the South

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Wed, 8 Jul 2026 20:51:27 -0500

Memphis writer Martha Park received a $4,000 grant from the nonprofit South Arts and a $5,000 grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission — which she will use to fund a series of stories about the intersection between conservation and faith in the South.

Meet identical twins who traveled the world and landed in the same program at UTHSC

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 09:19:49 -0500

Hunter and Spencer Turner are students in UTHSC’s nurse-anesthesia program, which is the latest stop in a journey that’s taken them from small town Tennessee to Japan to Italy to Memphis.

PTSD and alcoholism can ruin veterans' lives. This UTHSC researcher's solution could one day treat both.

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 04:00:02 -0500

“For things like PTSD and addiction, … all we’ve been able to do are treat symptoms,” said Dr. Jessica Snowden, the vice chancellor for research at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. “We haven’t really had enough understanding of a cause to be able to actually treat a cause. And Dr. Cruz’s work is helping bridge that gap.”

Ask the Memphian: Why did the city and state try to put a highway on Mud Island?

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 07:48:00 -0500

In this week’s Ask the Memphian, we look back at the 1980s plan to build a highway on Mud Island, and the efforts of the people who stopped it.

In the age of social media and AI, college students are opening physical books less. But Rhodes professors still believe reading is fundamental.

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 09:50:31 -0500

For Rhodes College, a small liberal arts college that prides itself on creating lifelong learners, apathy about reading can feel not just like a challenge but an affront to its mission. Here’s why students are reading less than ever — and what professors are doing about it.

Her father was addicted to crack cocaine, and she was in a gang. But her future was paved with better days.

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Sat, 13 Jun 2026 15:49:24 -0500

Despite the ups and downs in LaQuita Hughes' life, the deaths, rejections and devastation, she’s given every day all she’s had. And that eventually landed her at her own pink, three-story Victorian-style home.

Why is Hernando's Hide-A-Way taking a stand against AI art? It comes down to soul.

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Mon, 8 Jun 2026 12:13:23 -0500

Generative AI has become widely used. But Celine Lee, co-owner of Hernando’s Hide-A-Way, wants no part of it. Here’s why.