The Commercial Appeal
St. Jude CEO reflects on 13-year tenure
Dr. James R. Downing, president and CEO of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, sat down at a shiny conference table in his office on a warm, rainy day in mid-june. h The walls of the high-floor office held no plaques, no awards. On a table near the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Lighthouses in Tennessee?
Built to warn sailors of danger and guide vessels safely to shore, lighthouses are most often associated with the coast. But in landlocked Tennessee, these distinctive landmarks have found an unexpected home. The Volunteer State is home to several...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
How Memphis compares to other cities on data center regulations
In 2026, it is difficult not to read a headline with the words “data” and “center” in succession. With a surging number of data centers popping up nationwide, communities are navigating challenges associated with the tech developments. Several local...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
City discussing how to spend XAI taxes
The City of Memphis during the last fiscal year collected just over $12 million in property taxes from Spacexai, and is now having discussions about how to spend a quarter of it. Per an ordinance passed last year, a quarter of Elon Musk’s xai’s...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Volunteer this summer at these 10 Shelby County organizations
With summer in full swing, it’s the perfect time for students on break and adults alike to volunteer their time around Memphis and Shelby County. Opportunities are everywhere you look such as homeless shelters, community kitchens, animal shelters and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Shining light on Newport
The new movie from Memphis filmmaker and author Robert Gordon focuses on the years 1963 to 1966, but its lessons and applications are as timeless as the music of Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and its other featured players. h “I’ve been describing it lately...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Ocasio-cortez, top Dems back Pearson
Rep. Justin J. Pearson, D-memphis, stood on stage with a trio of prominent progressive Democrats — U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-cortez of New York, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Summer Lee of Pennsylvania — at New Direction Church in Southeast...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
From New Deal to next era, TVA’S greatest power is still expanding in 2026
Franklin Delano Roosevelt came into the nation’s highest office with priorities he believed would push the United States forward. Almost immediately, he set his eyes on the South. In his first 100 days, FDR advanced a project to create what in 2026 is...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Featuring Robert Fuller, other ‘classic’ stars
Among the several hundred female fans of Robert Fuller in town this week to see — ogle? — the 92-year-old veteran cowboy actor at the Flashback Film & TV Festival is at least one particularly hirsute and, in fact, four-legged individual. Jessie, a...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
IDA B. WELLS PLAZA DOWNTOWN REOPENS
City officials cut the ribbon to the newly renovated Ida B. Wells Plaza in Downtown Memphis on July 16, commemorating an activist who Memphis Mayor Paul Young called “an essential part of Memphis’ story.” “History should be very visible,” he said. “It...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
New PILOT approved for Downtown hotel
Revitalizing the former Doubletree hotel in Downtown Memphis took another step forward July 14. The financial board of the Downtown Memphis Commission passed a 20-year tax incentive plan for the proposed renovation of the historic former Doubletree by...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
A sunny future for new data center
Google’s West Memphis data center is set to be powered by the “nation’s largest solar project.” Cypress Creek Energy held July 14 a ceremonial groundbreaking for its Steel River Energy Center in Wilson, Arkansas. The solar project will combine solar...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
President: U.S. aims to control Strait of Hormuz
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said the United States is reinstating a naval blockade on Iran and will seek operational control of the Strait of Hormuz after several days in which he declared the ceasefire over, and the United States and Iran...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Princeton James celebrates ‘decade of intentional storytelling’ in Memphis
Seemingly ubiquitous and apparently indefatigable, Princeton James is a Memphis “playwright, producer, director, actor, and vocalist,” according to his website. He specializes in what he calls “participatory storytelling” for all ages. For adults, he...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Mayor
around 8 points ahead of the runner-up, Memphis City Councilman JB Smiley Jr. Deberry has a long history in Memphis, and the “word on the street” is that Deberry has a lot of support from local ministers, Carson said. Deberry has long served as the...
Read Full Story (Page 3)
Study: TN cities among nation’s worst for renters
Tennessee cities rank among the least renterfriendly places in the country, according to a recent Wallethub study. Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville all placed near the bottom of the rankings, making them some of the least desireable cities nationwide...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
OUT LOUD
July 8 marked the 250th anniversary of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. h To celebrate, people in cities across the nation — including Memphis — read the Declaration of Independence contemporaneously on Wednesday. h The...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
RECLAIMING HIS VOICE
Exactly 13 years after Randy Travis was hospitalized due to the stroke that took his voice, the country music superstar was back in a hospital, this time to reclaim it. Joined by his wife, Mary Travis, he appeared on July 7 in front of young patients...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Fresh off the VINE
Tucked away on a former residential turned scrap tire lot on Knight Arnold Boulevard, sweet summer tomatoes are ripening on the vine on a modest half acre, soon to be enjoyed by Memphians at select grocery stores. Grown by VINE Foods, the inaugural...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
AI can lead to false arrests and wrongful convictions
In Baltimore County, Maryland, on Oct. 20, a 17-year-old student named Taki Allen was sitting outside his high school after football practice when an artificial intelligence-enhanced surveillance camera falsely identified the Doritos bag in his pocket...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
WHAT IS ALL THE BUZZ?
On the way to his 12th consecutive “Jeopardy!” victory, Adam Remsen of Memphis made a mysterious and puzzling wager. h Going into the “Final Jeopardy!” round on June 29, Remsen, with $27,395, was $18,795 in earnings above his nearest challenger, who...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
What is Memphis’ impact on American sports?
The tale may well have been told in Atlanta, at the 1996 Olympic Games. h But a significant portion of the story of America’s dominance there was written in Memphis. Thirty years later — as the United States celebrates its 250th birthday — the four...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Founders show ability to disagree, still work for common cause
Like Americans today, the people living in the United States in 1826 were preparing to celebrate a milestone for their country. July Fourth of that year marked the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. As what was known as the “Jubilee”...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Fireworks 3D glasses bring surprise to July 4 celebrations
Independence Day is a big one, the nation’s 250th anniversary, and a Bartlett optics company is bringing new light to fireworks shows across America to make them even more spectacular, the owner says. To give the celebrations extra gravitas, American...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Advocates breathe ‘sigh of relief ’ after birthright citizenship upheld
The United States Supreme Court’s decision to uphold birthright citizenship was a “massive victory” for the country, said Rachel Campbell, the chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party, in a June 30 statement. “Today, the Court upheld a cornerstone of...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Ja OUT
Ja Morant caught the ball at the top of the key, already turning toward the basket. h Anthony Edwards had overcommitted and had become a spectator, just like the 17,794 people crowded into a raucous Fedexforum to watch the Memphis Grizzlies take on the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Driving connection in East Memphis
Whether you’re leaving a counseling appointment, heading to a presentation or just want to relax in a rocking chair on a porch with a hot cup of coffee overlooking a sprawling green lawn, The Front Porch is dedicated to creating a welcoming...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘It’s up to Senatobia to protect this family’
Kohen Wiley, a 1-year-old from Senatobia, was memorialized on June 27 following a fatal police-involved shooting two weeks prior that still has many looking for answers. Over 200 family members, friends, and supporters gathered in the small town of...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
WEEKEND GETAWAYS
“Memphis in June.” The song was written by Hoagy Carmichael and Paul Francis Webster, and introduced to audiences by Carmichael in “Johnny Angel,” a 1945 crime film. Croons Carmichael: “Brother, take my advice/ Nothing’s half as nice/ As Memphis in...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Dolly’s truck stop
Dolly Parton’s new truck stop is several hours away from Memphis, but still within driving distance for any dedicated fans who want to make a pilgrimage to the southern icon’s latest business venture. Parton cut the ribbon to the new Dolly’s...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
ROSTER CRUNCH
NBA rosters, at their core, are a numbers game. Right now, the Memphis Grizzlies’ numbers are telling a pretty clear story. The NBA draft is complete. They added three young prospects, highlighted by Cameron Boozer, and strengthened their frontcourt...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Lights, Cameron, action!
Memphis has been buzzing for Cameron Boozer for weeks. The second the Grizzlies landed the third overall pick in the NBA draft lottery, fans began picturing life with Duke’s superstar power forward. More than 1,500 of them flowed into Fedexforum on...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
LONE STAR LESSONS
Tennessee Republicans, including Gov. Bill Lee, who signed legislation authorizing the state’s takeover of Memphis-shelby County Schools, have cited Texas’ intervention with Houston Independent School District, the Lone Star State’s largest school...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Independent autopsy sought for baby killed by police
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump called for justice and asked the Senatobia Police Department to release body camera footage from an incident outside a Walmart that left a 1-year-old dead. During a June 22 press conference, Crump said the police...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Chair of state-run MSCS oversight board named
The first meeting of the state appointed oversight board for Tennessee’s largest school district saw the election of its chair and some developments on a state funded forensic audit. Billy Orgel, current president and CEO of Tower Ventures, a wireless...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
THE EROSION OF LOCAL CONTROL
When Tennessee Democrats found out about the special session to redistrict the state’s only blue U.S. House seat, they had just buried a colleague. h State Rep. Jesse Chism, a Democrat from Memphis, told community members gathered at Breath of Life...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Memphis Zoo celebrates orangutan’s half birthday
The Memphis Zoo’s youngest orangutan, Ruhana, celebrated her half-birthday on June 16. Ruhana is six months old. Zoo workers set out signs and decorations, a gift bag filled with food and a cake created by the zoo’s nutrition department. Jahe,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Their museum’
The opening date is Dec. 6. But here’s the big news: The museum will offer free admission to all Shelby County residents, not just on opening weekend but — to quote city officials — forever. Those were the key announcements delivered by Memphis Art...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium updates expected for 2026 season
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium is almost ready to fully reopen. Memphis football’s home stadium has been undergoing renovations for the past two years, but the project is scheduled to be completed before the Tigers’ 2026 home opener against Arkansas...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SAWYER CHARGED
Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk Tami Sawyer has been arrested and is facing federal charges. Sawyer, a former Shelby County Commission member, appeared in federal court on the afternoon of June 15. Sawyer faces six federal charges,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Will state takeover of MSCS mean more school closures?
The state takeover of Memphis schools could lead to more school closures as seen in other seized local districts Tennessee lawmakers are using as a blueprint. A state-appointed board of managers is set to take control of key decisions for...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
NEW VIEW
Six years after the renovation plans for Tom Lee Park were unveiled to the public, the final piece of the puzzle has been completed. The Memphis Flyway, an elevated walkway on the south side of the park, officially opened during a brief ceremony June...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
How three court cases helped shape the city as we know it
For 207 years of America’s 250-year existence, Memphis has been a key city located on a vital trade route: the Mississippi River. h After being acquired by the U.S. government in 1818 through a treaty that saw the Chickasaw Nation cede its territory in...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
HELPING DOGS IN NEED
xjordan’s Way founder Kris Rotonda speaks with participants during a live Facebook fundraising event to raise money for medical care, food, training, transportation and second chances for dogs in need on June 10 at the Germantown Great Hall &...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Farewell to 495 Union
From the District of Columbia to the City on the Bluff, sometimes it feels like America is being reduced to rubble. Buildings that brought people together are replaced by vacant lots and “Empty Sky,” to borrow the title of a song that Bruce...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Memphis-shelby Co. Airport Authority board to be replaced
The Memphis-shelby County Airport Authority is undergoing major changes after a new state law requires the current board of commissioners to be replaced and operate under more state oversight. MSCAA operates Memphis International Airport (MEM). House...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Israel, Iran halt retaliatory attacks
Israel and Iran said they would halt strikes on each other for now but warned of forceful responses to any future aggression – ending, at least temporarily, an exchange of missile attacks over the weekend that put a fragile ceasefire and diplomatic...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
SALES OFF THE RAILS
For nearly two years, Downtown Memphis has been missing a core component of its identity — the historic trolley line. Locals and visitors alike might have noticed a quieter South Main, absent of trolley cars rumbling down the tracks and ringing their...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Memphis celebrates its musical history while aiming for new growth in the city
At 87 years old, Pastor Juan Shipp – dressed in pressed purple silk pants and shirt – listened with narrowed eyes to the soul-gospel strains of one of Memphis’ oldest groups tuning up beyond a recording studio window. h Members of the Jubilee...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
GERMANTOWN CHARITY HORSE SHOW JUMPS INTO ACTION
ABOVE: Danielle Grice and Morpheus R jump over a hurdle on the course in the Welcome Stake jumper class competition at the Germantown Charity Horse Show on June 3. The annual horse show kicked off June 2 and ends June 6. TOP RIGHT: Natalee Haggan and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘Opportunity Knocks’ for Memphian on reality show
A Memphis-area woman’s “real-life transformation” from traumatized underdog to confident family hero is documented during “Opportunity Knocks,” a public television series that began its third season this week. h Kristina Bell, 34, is one of four women...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘HELPING MOVE AMERICA FORWARD’
Two long-time Fedex Freight drivers, or elite road captains, prepared for their first ride with the company as part of its new chapter on opening day June 1. Willie Baylor, driver of 37 years, has witnessed the company go through different stages and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
From GM to Spacex, more than 3.3B invested
With Tennessee’s three newly drawn congressional districts, one of Shelby County’s three districts has some of the largest economic investments in state history. Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District, which includes 17 full or partial counties,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
EYE OF THE STORMS
Tornadoes have become somewhat synonymous with the changing seasons in Tennessee, and this rise in storms is creating devastating circumstances for the state’s residents. Tornado Alley is a region in the central part of the United States that...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
VOTERS IN TENNESSEE’S SPRAWLING NEW DISTRICTS WARY OF EACH OTHER ‘I’m not happy about it’
Tersely licking bright blue ice cream from a waffle cone, Rhiannon Hogan excorciated Tennessee’s new congressional district maps in an aisle at Overholt’s Farm Market, an Amish-mennonite grocery in Humphreys County. “I’m not happy about it,” Hogan...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘THEY BUILT NASHVILLE’
The front side of Nashville City Cemetery is a who’s who of local historic figures. Five people who were the namesake for Tennessee counties have been, or still are, buried there. That includes John Mcnairy, one of Tennessee’s first federal judges and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Mcnally, Sexton make appointments to board
More names of those who will oversee the Memphis-shelby County Schools Board have been announced. Lt. Gov. Randy Mcnally, R-oak Ridge, announced his appointments to the board on May 26. Billy Orgel and Dedrick Brittenum Jr. will serve as the Senate...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
What is Memphis missing in big box retail, restaurants?
Although Memphis has a multitude of places to shop and top-class eateries, there still seems to be some options missing from Bluff City's retail and restaurant market. Whether it’s grocery stores, home goods, clothing or popular food chains, Memphians...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Reflections of a senator
WALLAND — Five years ago, when he walked out of the U.S. Senate for the final time, it was an open question whether Lamar Alexander’s legacy would be muddied by his refusal to vote to convict Donald Trump in his first impeachment. That decision −...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
‘This is my destiny’
At work, she appears to be a Jedi master, tapping into some unseen force to make magic with her hands. In fact, with purposeful and even virtuosic gestures, waves and gesticulations, she is manipulating a pair of electromagnetic fields. The magic that...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
81 STEP UP
The Memphis Police Department graduated its latest class of basic training recruits at a May 21 ceremony at Bellevue Baptist Church. h The 149th Basic Police Recruit Class is the largest in nearly 10 years, with 81 recruits, according to an MPD...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Elvis to Glorilla
As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, it’s also an opportunity to reflect on Memphis’ part in that story. Perhaps no city — and certainly no city of its size — has made as much of an impact on American music and culture as...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Graceland exhibit marks USA’S 250th
In its review of Elvis Presley’s evening show at the Midsouth Coliseum on March 16, 1974, the Memphis morning newspaper made note of a particularly powerful piece of stagecraft. As Elvis neared the end of “American Trilogy,” his signature...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Lakeland townhome project restarts after 5-year hiatus
The once abandoned townhomes project has been resuscitated at The Lake District in Lakeland after almost five years. Bulldozers are moving dirt and construction workers are building again on site at the previously dormant 160-acre mixed-use...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Collierville residents weigh in on 2050 plan, from walkability to housing
Collierville officials and residents heard a final report May 14 at Town Hall about how residents want to plan and shape the Town into the future. Topics included vision, land use, economic development, housing, transportation, connectivity and...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
RISING COSTS
Americans’ concerns about being able to afford electricity and home heating fuel have been elevated since the beginning of the Iran war. But recently released nationwide data shows that even before the war began, these concerns were widespread,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
INSIDE LOOK
A curious thing happened during the ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the National Civil Rights Museum’s new “Legacy Experience.” The event in the plaza near the balcony where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed had proceeded as...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
LOOKING AT ‘THE PERFECT CRIME’
At the edge of South Memphis — bordered by the Bunker Hill, Castalia Heights and Prospect Park neighborhoods — is Rose Hill Cemetery. h Hidden off Elvis Presley Boulevard, trash, clothes and tires litter gravel paths. Grass and trees have overtaken...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Whole Hog Harmony
Rhinestones, ribs and raw talent collided May 14 at the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest as the beloved Ms. Piggie Idol showdown returned to center stage at Liberty Park. Contestants unleashed their best diva-worthy...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
GRILLS, THRILLS & BODY SLAMS
Let’s get ready to rumble — in 100 gallons of barbecue sauce! It was a smackdown in the sauce pit, and no one was safe — especially spectators brave enough to wear their summer whites. The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
How will redistricting change Shelby County elections?
The Shelby County Election Commission is adjusting to recent redistricting despite an “aggressive timeline,” said Linda Phillips, administrator of elections for the commission, on May 12. The commission’s tech department is working to update the...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Sneak peek at good eats
The smoke is already filling the beautiful Memphis sky, an unmistakable signal that the 2026 Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is about to begin. Ahead of the big event, friends, family and members of the media were invited to...
Read Full Story (Page 1)
Vivian Gray’s ‘Obsession’
The actors say the lines, get most of the closeups, and enact the smooching, the screaming and the bloody violence that could make the new horror movie, “Obsession,” a hit. But a key attraction in the latest release from the vaunted horror studio,...
Read Full Story (Page 1)