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Calkins: Mayor Young talked about crime, immigration and the future of the city. Of course it got loud.

By , Daily Memphian Published: February 12, 2026 4:00 AM CT
Geoff Calkins
Daily Memphian

Geoff Calkins

Geoff Calkins has been chronicling Memphis and Memphis sports for more than two decades. Calkins has been named the best sports columnist in the country five times by the Associated Press sports editors, but still figures his best columns are about the people who make Memphis what it is.

“Just wait, y’all,” said Memphis Mayor Paul Young.

That was one of the rhetorical approaches he tried.

“Keep listening,” he said.

“There will be some things you like.”

“I’m going to get through this speech.”

Young did get through his annual State of the City speech Tuesday at long last. But not without multiple, vocal interruptions from protesters doing what protesters do.

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Mayor Paul Young state of the city ice Memphis Safe Task Force Subscriber Only

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