It's not often that a South Memphis native boasts about planting roots in North Memphis. But, Mike Daniels is an exception. Daniels is a new first-time homeowner, thanks to Frayser Community Development Corporation's new Home Ownership Campaign.

At a time when brick-and-mortar retailers are competing with e-commerce, Downtown Memphis is trying to figure out if it can support retail at all.

For all of the planning and man-made features that went into the new Mississippi River Park and its River Garden, including people-sized bird nests, there is another new feature that park planners didn’t anticipate.

A state panel approved Memphis’ request Monday for a Fairgrounds Tourism Development Zone to help fund an estimated $150 million project complete with a youth sports and events complex that will depend on construction of a privately developed hotel.

“I need help with everything,” Brooks said. “Most important has been the money issue. Buying Pampers, wipes, clothes, extra bottles. Then transportation sometimes because my mom works every day, and I need to find a way to my doctor’s appointments for my babies.