Players will take part in the Mississippi’s only professional men’s tennis tournament for $25,000 in prize money.

Memphis and UNLV have met five times previously but haven’t faced each other since the Tigers fell to the Runnin’ Rebels 66-62 in the first round of the 1997 National Invitation Tournament.

At least 12 Memphis-Shelby County Schools closed early on the first day of classes Monday, Aug. 5. At least two schools, Sheffield High and Sherwood Middle, will dismiss early on Tuesday due to HVAC issues.

The City Council also could take final action on ground leases for the planned development at Liberty Park. The leases for an entertainment venue, hotel and apartments would bring much-needed sales tax to the Liberty Park Tourism Development Zone.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools welcomed more than 100,000 students back to classrooms for the first day of the 2024-25 school year.

The Daily Memphian projects the MVP, newcomers of the year and most improved players for the 2024 Memphis Tigers football team. 

Related story:

Memphis Tigers receive votes in USA Today Coaches Poll

Are you ready for it? Here are today’s sudokus. 

This week’s jigsaw puzzle features an image of the new Higginbotham Insurance sign taken by Patrick Lantrip for The Daily Memphian.

Clay Bailey goes down memory lane in a golf cart, celebrating a number of courses that have disappeared from the local landscape.

Coming of age in the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced Gen Z’s career aspirations. 

How does an NBA talent end up at a Division II school? Jaylen Wells’ family explains how the Grizzlies rookie made such a fast rise through the ranks. 

With fungal infections on the rise and becoming more resistant to treatments, Dr. Brian Peters leads a research lab at UTHSC that is at the forefront of the fight against dangerous fungi.

“Not enough of us understand or respect what Memphis truly is. The Mississippi River is a confluence of 10 to 12 rivers that become one. Memphis is a confluence of cultures. Rich and poor. City and country. Religious and secular. Black and white.”

Natalie McKinney and Tamarques Porter will take elected office for the first time when they are sworn in to the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board. Knocking on doors got them here. 

Of 30 major U.S. cities, Memphis had the highest increase in road deaths from 2019 to 2022, according to a recent analysis from the New York Times. 

While some notable Memphis restaurants have closed recently, here’s what’s driving three local restaurant groups to expand. 

Team USA wins silver medal in triathlon’s mixed relay at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games after a photo finish review.

Also happening this week: The Memphis City Council will deal with November ballot referendums, and Ja Morant has a birthday.

This week’s crossword puzzle was inspired by Geoff Calkins’ recent series ranking the greatest Memphis athletes of this century.

“I have forgotten that outposts are just that – outposts. Outposts offer a roof and a bed and company to the wayfaring stranger, but they are never the final destination.”

Ready for today’s sudokus?

A study in Texas a few years ago concluded that on average, in a six-hour day, panhandlers “make” about $10 an hour. What is the right thing to do when someone on the street asks you for money? I believe the answer lies inside of you and has little to do with the person doing the asking.

The Halloween retailer will open two seasonal stores in the Memphis metro area in August. 

Four species of Asian carp have firmly established a home in the Mississippi River basin, and experts say they are here to stay. But one way to get the carp population under control seems relatively simple — eat them.