A former MPD officer talks about his experiences on the police department’s Auto-Theft Task Force and the juveniles he encountered — repeatedly — during his time on the force. 

Tennessee has officially and legislatively become a judgmental, vindictive, homophobic, misogynistic, intolerant, small-minded, history-denying, science-denying, racially insensitive if not racist, and holier-than-thou state simmering in its own toxic stew.

“Those of us in Memphis fortunate enough to have known Ron Terry, and even those who didn’t, have one thing in common: We are better off because Ron Terry called Memphis home.”

Memphis needs a feel-good story, a redemption story, of overcoming stumbles, our pain and our negative national image. We need Ja Morant to bring his moves back to the Grindhouse soon and break ankles — not hearts.

“The mayor’s report not only had different conclusions than those that were reported, but they elaborated on specific factors in which MLGW’s actions when it issued an RFP were inadequate and unprofessional.”

“We create the ability to live with our fears by knowing that the goodness of life follows us on the journey.”

“The new garage is ultimately redundant and serves only to improve the mobility of people who can afford to drive.”

“For a hundred Lents, words have been offered — mixed, seasoned, and served — from the pulpit of Calvary Episcopal Church just as ingredients have been from its kitchen below.”

The Memphis Grizzlies have 21 games left in this NBA regular season, and the Western Conference playoff race is so tight that intrigue could linger to the final day.

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Grizzlies Insider: For Memphis, ‘the real test is on the road’

“There is nothing basic about racialized poverty and violence in Memphis. And there is nothing basic about the approach required to fix it.”

It never looks great on paper, but you can always be guaranteed that great stuff will happen. Like a magisterial Jill Scott cracking jokes and dispensing love advice, Sturgill Simpson surprising with a lacerating, hard country-soul set or that time that a nervy Randy Newman surveyed the afternoon crowd and began playing an unedited version of “Rednecks.”

“Justice for Tyre Nichols must happen. ... In unison with this, we absolutely can and must appreciate the actions of the hundreds of good officers in our police department.”

“I’ve experienced all of that, and Scripture backs those descriptions as by-products of walking with Jesus. Once you’ve seen stuff like that, it’s hard to keep it to yourself. It’s kinda like this: When you have tasted Pancho’s cheese dip, you can’t not tell other people about it when they come to our city.”

If it’s important to you that a product is truly made in the United States, research the reputation of the manufacturer or marketer making the claim, including with the BBB, to be sure they’re trustworthy.

“If you’ve been struggling lately, I hope today, for just a minute, you can look at your city the way the outsiders do.”

“Tennessee cities produce 92% of all sales tax revenue generated in the state. However, sales tax revenues returned to cities make up only 20% to 30% of their annual operating revenue.”

We’re showing all the originality of a bad band covering somebody else’s song, and not even a Memphis song at that.

Gene Bartow’s Tigers showcased a model of Black achievement and interracial harmony. If they make another NCAA Tournament run, we will again hear about how Memphians unite around basketball.

House Bill 1233 and Senate Bill 1029 — requiring people to attend a safety class if they fail to lock up guns in their vehicles or boats or if they don’t report gun thefts from a vehicle or boat within 24 hours — would be a small, but important, first step toward fixing the problem the Tennessee General Assembly created in 2021.

WYXR’s Dowd Awards will honor Ekpe Abioto, Dr. O.T. Sykes, Lester Snell, Anita Ward, Dan Greer, and Phyllis and Helen Duncan.

“Let’s pay tribute to one of the good ones who, by losing his life, reminded us again how dangerous policing can be.”

“There are those who would have us look no further than the leaders right in front of our face and there are those who think anyone who is already here is somehow inadequate. The truth is that both of those perspectives fail to see the full picture.”

“One morning, not too far off, we will wake up, we will go outside, and we will discover that while we were sleeping, something that looks an awful lot like mercy has visited our natural world.”

The real work is just starting for the municipalities within the impact crater of Ford Motor Co.’s new BlueOval City electric vehicle campus in Haywood County. How exactly are the surrounding communities going to react?

“I firmly believe if Thomas (Boggs) was still with us, the Greensward parking controversy would have been solved over two beers and a burger.”