Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Breaking Memphis Election Results, Crime News, Local Government & Education Updates

Two Memphis charter schools take different paths toward closure for academics

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 13 May 2026 04:00:10 -0500

South Memphis charter schools Believe Memphis Academy and Memphis Delta Preparatory Charter School each received a Tennessee “priority” designation for low performance earlier this school year.

MSCS extends attorney's contract as it prepares for legal challenge of takeover

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 12 May 2026 20:21:55 -0500

The contract extension for attorney Justin Bailey would keep him employed with the district for at least three more years.

Tennessee House Speaker removes Democrats from standing committees

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Tue, 12 May 2026 20:02:09 -0500

The move came as a result of Democrats’ actions on the House floor May 7 during a vote on new a congressional map that splits majority-Democratic Shelby County into three different districts.

Mayor Young vetoes council rewrite of impasse ordinance

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 12 May 2026 20:00:03 -0500

In a three-page letter, Young writes that the ordinance “seeks to enlarge the Council’s authority in direct contravention of the charter.”

Redistricting update: Court date set in one suit, plaintiffs file emergency motion in another

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Tue, 12 May 2026 19:29:17 -0500

The plaintiffs in one of the federal cases against Tennessee’s new congressional maps have filed an emergency motion for an expedited ruling.

Election commission to seek $350K from state for district shake-up

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 12 May 2026 16:07:56 -0500

Redistricting plans mean an “aggressive timeline” and overtime costs for the Shelby County Election Commission, Linda Phillips told reporters Tuesday.

Pearson staying in 9th, plus a few Memphis surprises on first congressional candidates list

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 12 May 2026 18:28:35 -0500

Pearson declares ahead of a Friday filing deadline for the congressional seats with new district lines.

MPD releases body camera footage of officer shot, suspect pleads not guilty

editors@dailymemphian.com ( The Daily Memphian Staff) — Tue, 12 May 2026 15:10:08 -0500

The footage, posted on MPD’s X account, does not appear to be raw, unedited footage but an edited version of MPD Officer Oscar Torres-Molina being shot.

The AM/DM podcast: Redistricting Tennessee and what comes next

mcashiola@dailymemphian.com (Mary Cashiola) — Tue, 12 May 2026 06:27:41 -0500

Metro editor Jane Donahoe says Memphis often makes more national news than it should for a city of its size, and last week was no exception.

ACLU files federal lawsuit over Tennessee's new Congressional map

noahmclane.news@gmail.com (Noah McLane) — Mon, 11 May 2026 21:57:34 -0500

The ACLU has joined the NAACP, Tennessee voters and Congressional candidates and the Tennessee Democratic Party in suing the state over its new mid-census Congressional map.

City Council to consider resolution opposing new congressional district lines

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 11 May 2026 15:48:58 -0500

The resolution is not binding on state lawmakers, who have already passed the controversial plan. Council members also take a look at affordable housing in Orange Mound.

MIFA names new president and CEO

sbohnel@dailymemphian.com (Steve Bohnel) — Mon, 11 May 2026 14:07:42 -0500

MIFA named Dorcas Young Griffin, a longtime Shelby County employee, as its incoming president and CEO on Monday.

The AM/DM podcast: A week of barbecue, budgets and bikes

mcashiola@dailymemphian.com (Mary Cashiola) — Mon, 11 May 2026 06:29:41 -0500

The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest returns this week as the only barbecue fest in town.

This Week in Memphis: BBQ fest, budget talks and Bike to Work Day

editors@dailymemphian.com ( The Daily Memphian Staff) — Tue, 12 May 2026 12:05:21 -0500

Also happening this week: Tigers coaches go on tour, and the Civil Rights Museum reopens its Legacy building.

'I want to hit a ball with a weird-looking stick'

jcallahan@dailymemphian.com (Jody Callahan) — Mon, 11 May 2026 10:13:13 -0500

More than 100 people gathered Saturday for the Bluff City Brawl, a celebration of the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie and Gaelic football.

Planting hope at Shelby Farms

plantrip@dailymemphian.com (Patrick Lantrip) — Sat, 9 May 2026 16:08:18 -0500

Mid-South Transplant Foundation hosted an event to plant eight trees in the Beaver Lake picnic area at Shelby Farms Park, honoring the eight lives that can be saved through organ donation.

MUS names next head of school

jcallahan@dailymemphian.com (Jody Callahan) — Sat, 9 May 2026 16:16:07 -0500

Hart Roper will succeed Pete Sanders, who announced in January that he would retire at the end of the 2026-2027 school year.

Advocates call to halt execution of Memphis man

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Sat, 9 May 2026 12:34:03 -0500

Community leaders and legal advocates are fighting against the scheduled execution of a 59-year-old Memphis man.

Tom Lee Day will move to October, but poetry honored today

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 9 May 2026 10:08:57 -0500

The Memphis River Parks Partnership announced the change Friday, May 8, as it honored recipients in the 5th annual Tom Lee Poetry and Spoken Word competition.

Affordable housing wins come a few lots at a time

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 9 May 2026 04:00:13 -0500

Habitat for Humanity recently hit a milestone in Uptown: Two homes it finished building in February had their appraisals match their costs, which isn’t a given when talking about affordable housing in Memphis.