Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Brandon LaGrone II

Memphis Grizzlies and FedEx unveil new Dream Court at Northeast Prep Academy

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 09:16:26 -0500

Northeast Prep Academy students celebrated the unveiling of a vibrant new Memphis Grizzlies and FedEx Dream Court featuring a hand-painted mural by local artist Siphne Sylve.

ACLU presses for immediate court intervention against Memphis Safe Task Force

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:14:32 -0500

A federal judge heard arguments about whether to temporarily block the Task Force from enforcing a Tennessee buffer law and retaliating against citizens who film police operations.

Kratom explained: The gas station plant raising red flags across the Mid-South

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 20:58:48 -0500

With a recent string of arrests, deaths and new legislation, the word “kratom” is suddenly everywhere across the Mid-South. But what exactly is the substance frequently seen advertised at local gas stations and smoke shops?

Colin Kaepernick to appear in Memphis

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 13:53:33 -0500

Event organizers said that the gathering is designed to activate and honor the continued legacy, courage and determination associated with today’s civil rights movement.

Task Force has targeted citizens, ACLU alleges

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 04:00:08 -0500

Attorneys seek a preliminary injunction to stop Task Force members from retaliating against residents who film their operations.

How to register to vote in Shelby County

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 16:23:02 -0500

Shelby County residents preparing to participate in the upcoming Nov. 3 election must complete their voter-registration applications by Monday, Oct. 5.

Detainees sue Shelby County over extreme heat, broken fire alarms, raw sewage at 201 Poplar

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:21:51 -0500

The lawsuit paints a picture of a facility in perpetual crisis, from a major air conditioning failure this summer as well as raw sewage backups, mold issues and pest infestations.

How El Niño could affect the Mid-South this winter

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 09:56:17 -0500

As the calendar turns toward winter, Mid-South residents face a seasonal forecast dominated by a familiar but often misunderstood meteorological phenomenon.

SW Memphis residents on SpaceXAI: 'We want the same respect as Germantown and Collierville'

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:55:47 -0500

Tensions flare at a public where officials present a spending plan for roughly $3.259 million in tax revenue generated by the SpaceXAI data center.

Three being investigated after death of 6-year-old left on daycare bus, lawyer says

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:46:47 -0500

Memphis police have completed their investigation into the death of 6-year-old Winter Jones after she was left on a daycare bus, according to attorneys representing her family.

Twin Sumatran tiger cubs born at Memphis Zoo

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 16:07:20 -0500

Zoo veterinary staff members were in for a surprise when an unexpected pair of twins was born Saturday, Sept. 5. Now, residents are in for a treat: the chance to vote on a pair of names.

FBI command shift to Nashville led to more agents on Memphis streets

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 04:00:12 -0500

After the FBI closed its Memphis field office in 2024, it consolidated the command structure, a move that has been instrumental in the FBI’s involvement with the Memphis Safe Task Force.

Memphis orgs rally to support families affected by ICE raid

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Sat, 5 Sep 2026 10:01:16 -0500

Court filings show the club that was raided had been targeted.

Freedom Award honorees include Fred Gray, Nneka Ogwumike

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Fri, 4 Sep 2026 07:06:06 -0500

The National Civil Rights Museum announces 2026 recipients, highlighting decades of activism in law, sports, media and community leadership.

New sheriff gives tour of crumbling 201 Poplar

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Tue, 1 Sep 2026 21:35:24 -0500

The wear and tear on the 40-year-old building is evident everywhere, but progress is happening in small, expensive steps, including restoration of the jail’s 10 escalators, which cost more than $1 million.

ICE raid detains 100 in Memphis, draws community backlash

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 14:12:42 -0500

A sweeping federal immigration operation at a neighborhood bar resulted in the detention of an estimated 100 patrons, sparking widespread condemnation from local advocates and a response from the mayor.

Man killed by National Guard was shot in back, autopsy reveals

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:57:42 -0500

A newly released autopsy shows 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson was shot in the back in Downtown Memphis in July.

Memphis law school launches institute to guide legal field through AI era

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 04:00:09 -0500

The institute seeks to foster AI literacy and accessibility across the legal spectrum.

DNA results from crime scenes could soon be returned in as little as 90 minutes in Shelby County

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:02:19 -0500

The new technology aims to dramatically reduce investigation timelines compared to traditional forensic processing at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation lab in Jackson, Tennessee.

MLGW restores power to 105K — but warns progress will be slow for remaining outages

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 18:23:46 -0500

As of Monday afternoon, Aug. 24, approximately 35,000 customers remained without electricity, down from a peak of 140,000 at the height of the storm’s aftermath.