“Dinner at his and Carol’s house, or five minutes on the phone, or two minutes in the corner of a theater lobby at intermission – be assured – you’d spit out whatever you were drinking.”

On Tuesday night, the Memphis Grizzlies will play their regular season homecourt finale against the Portland Trail Blazers before heading out on a season-concluding three-game road trip.

“Memphis — tough, strong, seasoned Memphis — this is our chance to be soft. This is our chance to love our sister city — to be the ones who understand. This is our chance to be with.”

“The sound of Rolling Fork was the sharp drone of chainsaws as volunteers with equipment went house-to-house, cutting and dragging debris out to where it could be picked up.”

“I believe that the truth is to be found, and we can find it the same way that King was looking for it on the night of April 4, 1968.”

“As bad as it was last Saturday morning, it’s bound to get worse for my hometown. Nothing is working the way it should ... And it was already a town in the vice grip of extreme poverty.”

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“Would that Memphis and its surrounding communities realize King’s dream and be a compelling model for the nation.”

“Pig butchering” alludes to the practice of fattening up a hog before slaughter. The investment scam originated in Southeast Asia and spread worldwide during the pandemic.

Getting away from it all is all around us, and — if only for a morning in the woods or an afternoon or day on the water, or in a peaceful moment of reflection — we need but see it.

“I’m from Rolling Fork, Mississippi, in what I like to call the Deep Delta. It is the place that made me. It is the place that gave me the confidence to do all the things I’ve dreamed of and accomplished.”

“The residents of the neighborhoods surrounding Sterilization Services of Tennessee already face more than their fair share of adverse health, social and environmental conditions compared to many other parts of Shelby County.”

I’m not sure anyone is bothered by the “parade inside my city” line aside from a television carnival barker and people on the Internet, but does a lyrical investigation after recent incidents make one wince? Sure.

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“I think maybe every time I’ve left a piece of my heart somewhere, I have been cataloging signposts — signposts that point to a place where all good things will not come to an end.”

“To unite Memphians around solving Memphis’ problems for Memphis’ future, we need nonpartisanship. We need to keep nonpartisanship in City Hall and bring it back to our county government.”

“Cops know that putting a loaded gun on the hip of a teenager, or in the hands of a high school cheerleader, a ‘watch this’ bubba, or a something-to-prove street kid is guaranteed lethal.”

For a team many expected to slide, the month of March has belonged to Jaren Jackson Jr., who’s led the team at 23 points per game on 53% shooting, as the Grizzlies have reclaimed their spot at second in the conference. 

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Buddy Chapman, 83, is calling it all quits. He will step down as the leader and face of CrimeStoppers effective April 1.

“My advocacy work has a purpose. I have a purpose. And as long as I’m able to advocate, I will continue to fight for others with melanoma.”

“In addition to being a teacher, all three of my own children attend public schools. Like everyone, I want to keep them safe. I want to keep my students safe. Putting more guns into schools is not the answer.”

“In the past couple years, the Jail has seen troublesome population increases and has left key positions vacant ... the family of Gershun Freeman has called for a DOJ investigation into his homicide.”

“As my school librarian taught me, not all books are right for every reader, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t right for the library.”

“Those two elderly people have lived long in this place — this Memphis we’re in now. They’ve seen a whole lot of water flow under that bridge downtown.”

“Few of us, and certainly not this writer, can truly know the gift of immense talent and the impact of fame and mountains of money at age 23.”

This is perhaps the biggest young star in the NBA, subject to a league gun investigation twice in five weeks. It’s a red alarm issue far beyond Memphis. 

“While we might not agree on where to get the best pizza in town or which is the best Memphis in May band, we may find we totally see eye-to-eye on the ideal spot to catch a stunning sunset.”