The Commercial Appeal
NEXT BIG STEPS
The largest capital project in Memphis International Airport’s history continues to take shape. The more than $700 million modernization of the airport’s main terminal, Terminal B, is estimated to be completed in late 2030 or early 2031, according to...
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‘Whole different level’
On a wall inside the tower-like structure on Mud Island that once marked the entrance to the theme park’s Mississippi River Museum is a large photograph of Mark Twain, seated in a chair on the deck of a riverboat, peering, presumably, at some distant...
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SOUNDTRACK OF THE STRUGGLE
Moments before he was fatally shot, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called out to jazz saxophonist Ben Branch from the balcony of the Lorraine Motel to request a song. h Today, Branch’s saxophone rests at the National Civil Rights Museum, much of which is...
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Legislature adjourns after seizing control of airports, more
After four days of marathon session meetings during which lawmakers preempted local control of airports, the state’s two largest public utilities, its largest school district and all 95 sheriff ’s departments, the Tennessee legislature is adjourned for...
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Memphis teen hits screens around world in ‘Michael’
Perhaps Jaylen Lyndon Hunter was fated to be a member of the Jackson 5, in one way or another. h “I was pregnant with him when Michael Jackson died,” said Jaylen’s mother, Crystelle Jones. “I was grieving Michael, so I was playing his music all the...
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Mayor proposes no tax hike, 2% raise for all employees
In his third budget as Memphis’ mayor, Paul Young proposed an $898 million budget that would see no tax increase despite the city’s continued struggle to grow its revenues. Young, who has been vocal in the past about the city’s ability to open revenue...
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After 38 years, Oak Court Mall officially closes
The Oak Court Mall is officially closed. On April 20, Oak Court Mall announced the closing of the interior portion of the East Memphis mall at 4465 Poplar Ave. The adjacent Dillard's store, along with Pinnacle Bank and the office building, will remain...
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Providence Place development takes shape
Work is ongoing at the Providence Place mixeduse development in Arlington. The $90 million, 45-acre development is located on the south side of Milton Wilson Boulevard and east of the Arlington Village Planned Development and Hall Creek luxury...
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Does Germantown need a full-time mayor?
Germantown voters will head to the polls on May 5 to decide whether the city’s mayor should serve in a full-time capacity. Supporters of the move say it’s time for Germantown’s government to evolve, while opponents cite concerns about a lack of...
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FEDEX
This story is part of the Iconic Brands series, a USA TODAY Network project showcasing the companies and brands that helped shape the nation’s identity, economy and culture. The series celebrates American ingenuity with a deeply reported examination of...
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MPD: Three shot, one killed outside Memphis strip mall
Three people were shot, one fatally, outside a strip mall near the intersection of Knight Arnold and Mendenhall roads in southeast Memphis on the evening of April 16, the Memphis Police Department confirmed. MPD Public Information Officer Theresa...
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Ford brings high-tech labs into schools
Ford Motor Co. is working to attract students to careers in advanced manufacturing. One way the Michigan-based automotive giant aims to do that in West Tennessee schools is through the recent launch of its Ford Future Builders Labs. These high-tech...
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Early voting has begun for the Shelby County primary election
Early voting in Shelby County started on April 15 for the Shelby County primary election. Memphis and Shelby County voters will choose a new county mayor and sheriff, as well as decide on several Memphis-shelby County Schools board member seats,...
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COGIC Mason Temple gets $1.2M for upgrades
Mason Temple, the historic site of Martin Luther King Jr.’s final speech and the headquarters of the Church of God in Christ, was awarded a $1.2 million federal grant, COGIC clergy and staff announced in an April 13 press conference. The grant was...
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‘I love Memphis’
NBA superstar Lebron James, known as “King James,” is a noted fan of professional wrestling. Jerry “The King” Lawler — who spent several of his formative childhood years in an Ohio suburb — is a devoted fan of Cleveland professional sports. In a sort...
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INKED OVER GRACELAND
In the 1950s, Elvis Presley was accused by some critics of being “a definite danger to the security of the United States” (to quote a letter in the FBI’S Elvis file). The singer promoted delinquency and immorality with his “lascivious contortions” (so...
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2026 a big year for arts, culture groups
This is a milestone year for Memphis. Close to two dozen of the city’s arts and culture organizations and institutions celebrate significant anniversaries in 2026. Even as it recognizes the past, Memphis is looking ahead. Downtown’s Memphis Art...
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Memphis inks Fedex patch deal
Memphis and Fedex announced a jersey patch deal on April 9 that will feature the logistics giant on the Tigers’ uniforms starting in the 2026-27 academic year. Fedex and Tigers athletics have long been linked, and the Memphis-based company already...
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Autograph Collection to Riverline
Memphis hotels have made headlines recently, with NBA star Lebron James criticizing the city and its accommodations. h However, the city has seen a slight uptick in occupancy rates in Downtown Memphis despite several notable properties being up for...
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14 new stores to check out in Memphis suburbs
Several new retail options are in the works in the Shelby County suburbs. In addition to some locally owned shops, a variety of national chains are expanding their footprint in the area, from Ross Dress for Less and Hibbett Sports in Collierville to...
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Operation Tristar Hammer shows wealth of results
West Tennessee law enforcement officials announced Operation Tristar Hammer has resulted in the arrests of over 50 individuals in an effort to keep illegal drugs off the streets in the region. In a press conference on April 6, several law enforcement...
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Hernando native helps guide Artemis II mission
From Mississippi to the moon. That’s one way to characterize the career trajectory of Matthew Ramsey, a Desoto County native who is helping to guide Artemis II, the NASA space mission now on its way to Earth’s natural satellite. A veteran aerospace...
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‘The man, the movement, and the momentum’
Carrying on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a central theme of the Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu’s speech on April 4 — that and reminding everyone to not just remember history, but to also forge our own. “A man who gave his life because he...
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‘THE SOUL MAN’
“Everybody has their stories,” said David Porter, “but there are not that many people who have the truth.” The 84-year-old Stax Records legend is finally offering up his truth in a new book, “The Soul Man: Life of Songwriter David Porter.” Porter’s...
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Michael Jackson, Denim & Pearls
The Women’s Rape Assistance Program recently held its 13th annual Denim and Pearls fundraising event for survivors of sexual and domestic violence. Hundreds of people gathered at the Carl Perkins Civic Center on March 28 for a night of live music in...
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Early MSCS audit results worry TN GOP leaders
Early findings from the forensic audit of Memphis-shelby County Schools were released by the state of Tennessee on April 1. The preliminary forensic audit report, performed by Cliftonlarsonallen LLP, found 175 deficiencies in the interim report. The...
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Movement fights mental health crisis
Jayla Cole never experienced the carefree teenage years. She could not get a driver’s license because of epilepsy and frequent seizures. She didn’t want to take photos or selfies because Bell’s palsy left her with facial paralysis – a twisted smile...
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4 MPD OFFICERS PLACED ON LEAVE
The Memphis Police Department has placed officers involved in arresting and pepper-spraying protesters at a “No Kings” event on administrative leave, Memphis Mayor Paul Young said in a statement on March 30. MPD later said four officers had been...
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Iran threatened with new targeted strikes
President Donald Trump on March 30 said the United States was engaged in “serious discussions” with Iranian officials on a deal to end the war – but threatened to launch strikes on the country’s power, oil and water facilities if negotiations...
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‘No Kings’ protesters, Memphis police clash
The No Kings protest in Memphis on March 28 began calmly with more than 1,000 people gathering at Robert R. Church Park, but ended with police detaining protest marshals and spraying protesters with a chemical irritant, commonly referred to as pepper...
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Memphis Safe Task Force in action for 6 months
In the six months since the Memphis Safe Task Force was established by President Donald Trump, the law enforcement effort has been at the center of many conversations in the Mid-south. h Focus from GOP officials has primarily been on the thousands of...
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‘Trump slump’ hits tourism in 2025
With an upcoming FIFA World Cup being staged across the nation, 2026 was supposed to be a bumper year for tourism to the United States, driven in part by hordes of arriving soccer fans. And yet, the U.S. tourism industry is worried. While the rest of...
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Warnings preceded Trump’s Iran pause
DUBAI – President Donald Trump’s abrupt pause in his showdown with Iran followed warnings from Gulf states that the war was veering into a far more perilous phase and rising fears among officials in the region that Washington had misjudged Tehran’s...
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New Hilton hotel in the works at Lake District in Lakeland
A stagnant mixed-use development in a Memphis suburb could see activity soon with a major brand hotel project in the works. Eric Watts — a University of Memphis graduate — is the president of Dallas-based commercial real estate firm RREAF Holdings’...
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What did Trump do, say in Memphis?
The Memphis area recently received its first presidential visit in almost eight years to boost the achievements of the Memphis Safe Task Force. President Donald Trump touched down in Memphis the morning of the 23rd to discuss the Memphis Safe Task...
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Trump talks Iran, DHS funding at Memphis task force event
President Donald Trump, during a March 23 visit to Memphis where he was slated to tout the Memphis Safe Task Force, hardly spoke about the federal crimefighting effort. He started the visit by talking about the Iran war, saying he had ordered the U.S....
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‘It’s a vision that we believe is really important’
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee praised Ford Motor Company’s multi-billion-dollar truck plant during a March 20 visit to a nearby trade school campus, saying the development creates “once in a lifetime” opportunities for people in the region. Lee toured an...
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Miss. is giving away tax dollars
An agency that was created by the Mississippi Legislature has been giving away tax dollars. So far, it has given away $50 million. h What is this agency that’s giving away millions of dollars and what is Mississippi getting in return? h “It was created...
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ICE: Arrested reporter has no speech rights
The arrest of a Nashville journalist by immigration officials on March 4 has renewed debates over the First Amendment rights of non-citizens, as the reporter was recently released from custody despite being granted a release on bond. Estefany...
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Board opting to keep Richmond as interim superintendent
Memphis-shelby County Schools has an interim superintendent again. During a special-called meeting of the MSCS board March 18, the board voted 7-2 to keep Roderick Richmond in the interim position. The board made initial moves to appoint Richmond into...
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Candidates try to draw distinctions
Five Democratic candidates for Shelby County sheriff met on stage March 17 and fielded questions from community members. The crowded race will have the first ballots in the primary election cast in a matter of weeks. Anthony Buckner, Reginald Hubbard,...
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Definition of civic duty
Collierville Police Officer Aaron Faulkner knows to expect the unexpected on the job. In late February, the unexpected included delivering groceries. Officers with the Collierville Police Department responded to a reported stolen vehicle on the...
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Memphis is sticking with coach Penny Hardaway
Penny Hardaway will return for a ninth season as Memphis basketball coach. “Penny is deeply committed to this program and to the University of Memphis,” athletic director Ed Scott said in a prepared statement on March 16. “We have had productive...
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TSA workers struggle amid shutdown
As the partial government shutdown continues and Transportation Security Administration officers work without pay, many are struggling to stay afloat financially. The partial shutdown began in mid-february after Congress failed to pass funding for the...
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‘Everyone knows now’
In 2010, a man was convicted of a crime his attorneys — and now the Shelby County District Attorney’s office — say he didn’t commit. A jury found Andrew Hayes guilty of first-degree murder, finding he worked with a woman to kill Danny Harris in his...
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Loaded rifles and shotguns in parks?
Republicans gave first approval to a bill — opposed by law enforcement — that would allow people as young as 18 to carry loaded shotguns and rifles in public parks and on greenways. House Bill 2064, as amended, would allow adults legally allowed to...
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MDEQ board approves permit for turbines
On March 10, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Permit Board approved an operations permit for 41 turbines at xai’s Southaven power plant. The board rubber-stamped the permit — classified as a Prevention of Significant Deterioration...
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Matthew Szalaj to fill Ford Jr.’s seat on the Commission
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners is now officially a board of 13, again. During the board's March 9 regular meeting, members voted to place Matthew Szalaj in the District 9 seat after three rounds of voting. He was sworn into office after the...
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Decision coming soon on XAI permit for Southaven turbines
As Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company continues expanding in Memphis and North Mississippi, the company awaits a decision on a permit from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). On Feb. 17, the MDEQ held a public hearing...
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MSCS, local lawmakers draft alternative to TN takeover
Memphis-shelby County Schools and a collection of local partners are proposing an accountability plan to counter a potential state takeover. The school district, which has struggled with poor academic performance for years, came under fire last year...
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Former presidents honor civil rights icon Jackson
CHICAGO – Former presidents, music legends and thousands of people were celebrating the life of the Rev. Jesse Jackson on March 6, as mourners gathered to honor his vision of social justice and advancing civil rights. Jackson, one of the world’s...
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Trump ousts Noem as DHS secretary
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump announced March 5 he was firing Homelandsecuritysecretarykristinoem. He said on social media that Noem would be succeeded by Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-oklahoma, effective March 31. Noem will become special envoy for...
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Luhrmann talks Elvis, Malco
Whether attracted to the theater by Margot Robbie, Elvis Presley or an animated goat, Memphis moviegoers at many locations have been greeted by an unexpected celebrity: Baz Luhrmann. Luhrmann, the director of the new documentary “EPIC: Elvis Presley...
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United States’ foreign relationships strained
WASHINGTON – On the night he was elected to a second term, President Donald Trump tried to put to rest concerns raised by his critics that he would lead the United States into war. “I’m not going to start a war,” he said during his victory speech...
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IN SEARCH OF ‘A SILVER BULLET’
Members of The Sycamore Institute, a nonprofit research organization out of Nashville, traveled to Jackson to discuss the supply, demand and price constraints of housing in the West Tennessee region. Sycamore Institute President Brian Straessle opened...
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U.S. fighter jets crash in Kuwait; crews unhurt
Three American fighter aircraft crashed in Kuwait on March 2, with crews surviving “unscathed” and in stable condition, the Middle Eastern country’s defense ministry and the Pentagon said, as the congressional debate over President Donald Trump’s...
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Wings, wine and tumbling
The Shops at Carriage Crossing in Collierville continues adding to its mix of retail, restaurant and service options. An April 9 ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for the five new spots that are opening as part of Carriage Crossing’s Pop Local...
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‘To see it shut down like this is very tough’
American malls were once the mecca of commercialism. h They were once the destination for socializing for Gen Xers and older Millennials. h Now, venues such as Oak Court Mall in East Memphis are becoming footnotes in a city’s history — and will perhaps...
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Pothole problems?
As the winter storm that swept the Mid-south in late January has abated, potholes and poor road conditions have left some drivers with damage to their vehicles. “We’ve seen a pretty significant uptick in damaged wheels and busted tires,” said...
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Joe’s Records looks to bring ‘throwback’ mall experience
This week, St. Louis-based retailer Joe’s Records officially took over the property for its first Mid-south location, a 4,200-square-foot space inside Wolfchase Galleria in Cordova. Owners Joe Smith and his wife/business partner, Jennifer Seifrig,...
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Trump touts economic gains in speech
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump declared the country is booming, his opponents are “crazy” and his administration is engaged in unprecedented levels of “winning” in a marathon State of the Union address that comes as polls showed deep skepticism of...
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What Tenn. data says about crime and undocumented immigrants
As Tennessee lawmakers bring forward a sweep of immigration enforcement bills, a recently released statewide report offers a clearer view of how often people suspected of being in the country unlawfully are charged with other crimes. Most charges...
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How will SCOTUS strikedown of Trump tariffs affect state?
The Supreme Court determined that the president cannot impose broad tariffs on his own authority, delivering a significant setback to his economic plans. The court on Feb. 20 struck down the tariffs which are the centerpiece of Trump’s economic policy...
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Rev. James Lawson celebrated in new book
“What happened here in Memphis changed our world.” Those words were spoken Feb. 20 at the National Civil Rights Museum by former New York television news anchor Carol Jenkins, moderator of what was billed as “a national book launch event” that was...
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$253,761.30
Until Memphis Fire Department Chief Gina Sweat’s retirement in October 2025, the City of Memphis’ two highest-paid employees were women. Memphis Police Department Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis and now-former Memphis fire Chief Sweat were tied at the top,...
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Challenges persist for TN GOP despite control
As Republicans maintain a firm grasp on power across Tennessee ahead of elections this year, one Republican party trailblazer is questioning whether the single-party control that Tennessee has had for the last 15 years has resulted in quality...
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Wu-tang Clan to Dave Matthews Band: 2026 Riverbeat lineup
Veteran rock act Dave Matthews Band, hip-hop greats Wu-tang Clan and Alabama country combo The Red Clay Strays will headline the 2026 Riverbeat Music Festival. h Produced by Mempho Presents, the music festival will return to the Mississippi...
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Crowd voices opposition to XAI turbines in Southaven
For Southaven resident Angie Davis, the sound of xai’s turbines near her daughter’s Colonial Hills home is like that of a jet engine. “This is really rushed, and our safety is not part of this rush,” Davis said during a Feb. 17 public hearing...
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Civil rights icon ‘kept the dream alive’
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering civil rights icon who battled alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., negotiated global hostage releases and shamed corporations for their lack of diversity and failure to support voting rights, died on Feb. 17. He...
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Elvis back on the big screen
“The big man with the big voice deserves the big screen.” That sentiment — expressed during a recent interview in front of a 21-foothigh display of floor-to-ceiling Elvis jumpsuits — currently functions as both mission statement and marketing slogan...
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Richmond hired as MSCS superintendent
Memphis-shelby County Schools officially has a superintendent again. On Jan. 21, 2025, MSCS fired former superintendent Marie Feagins. Some members of the board said she violated eight policies in her employment contract which led to her firing. The...
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‘An open wound’
Filmmaker Suzannah Herbert was raised in Memphis. But her new movie focuses on what Herbert calls “the beauty and tension and sorrow” of a different riverbluff town. h Like the pilgrimage organizers and tour operators in its diverse cast of real-life...
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Federal health funding could hinge on reform
If Tennessee wants to accept about $1 billion in funding for rural health care over the next five years, the Trump administration says lawmakers have to loosen restrictions around what health care professionals in different practices can do, and...
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MSCS appoints Richmond as the next superintendent
The Memphis-shelby County Schools Board appointed interim superintendent Roderick Richmond to the permanent position, but his contract will still be in the works over the next few days. h During a rescheduled board meeting on Feb. 11, Richmond was...
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STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS
Mayor Paul Young delivers the State of the City address Feb. 10 at First Baptist Church Broad Avenue in Memphis.
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FORD’S OUT
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners accepted the resignation of Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. on Feb. 9, a week after Ford plead guilty to five counts of attempted tax evasion. The resolution recognizing Ford’s resignation passed...
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