The Early Word
The Early Word: Brent Taylor’s sexts, Coach Huff rumors and ‘Asian Target’
Blackburn was missing from a gubernatorial forum, the County Clerk has new hours and fifth graders are creating public art.
Bianca Phillips
Bianca Phillips is a Northeast Arkansas native and longtime Memphian who’s worked in local journalism and PR for more than 20 years. In her days as a reporter, she covered everything from local government and crime to LGBTQ issues and the arts. She’s the author of “Cookin Crunk: Eatin’ Vegan in the Dirty South,” a cookbook of vegan Southern recipes.
There are 1415 articles by Bianca Phillips :
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October 2026
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Grizz are undefeated, and the Tigers have a big (man) wait
County Commission won’t ditch the MSCS lawsuit, Anthropic is sued for adapting Elvis songs and things are looking up Downtown.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Call him Ty JA-rome; plus, a Downtown law firm moves east
There’s still no plan to pay for a new Regional One, a Millington fugitive was found in Slovenia and we’ve got your Thanksgiving pumpkin pie recipe.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Tigers bounce back in OT, and Sunrise is rising farther east
SpaceX is facing penalties, cheese curds are coming to Lakeland and SmokeSlam may be smoked out.
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The To-Do List Dia de los Muertos, Irish autumn and a Southeast Asian anniversary party
This week, Collage Dance Collective opens its 17th season, the Broad Avenue Art Walk returns and “Monty Python’s Spamalot” opens at the Orpheum.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Big wins for the Grizz and two Memphis restaurants
The County Commission is running out of money for the MSCS suit, airport parking is getting easier and you can say goodbye to what’s left of Oak Court Mall.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Long data-center pause fails, but anti-ICE vote succeeds
The troubled Central Lofts have a new future, a Bartlett bar feels like “Cheers” and we’ve ranked the top 10 Grizz rookies.
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Arts & Culture Here for the boos: Guide to Halloween parties and trick-or-treating
Local haunts are hosting DJ nights, costume contests and even a hearse giveaway for adults. And there’s plenty of chances for the kiddos to stock up on candy all month long.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: School takeover back on hold; more Collierville Fire drama
The data-center moratorium vote is back, and council member Yolanda Cooper-Sutton is suspended from some duties.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: What could save the Sterick; plus a card game with cats
The Memphis Safe Task Force is a hot political topic, and we’ve got recs for ribs and fall coffees.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Developer goes to jail, and it’s last call at Crosstown Brewing
Takeover board could replace Richmond, Pearson sues the City Council and if you’re craving fluffy eggs, we’ve got you.
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The To-Do List Aliens, vampires and a market of monster-inspired oddities
This week, the Tambourine Bash is back with a new name, Cooper-Young Beerfest takes over the Midtown Autowerks lot and a music show lasts six hours with no breaks.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Local 110-year-old is full of life, but the Landers hotel isn’t
Millington puts the brakes on data centers, yoga pants are coming to Southaven and our food writer makes her own B-Dubs/Dunkin’ combo meal.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Early voting opens, and Penny didn’t spend his own coin
MSCS faces a staffing crisis, the vacant Falls Building gets another chance and an inclusive baseball field is coming to Tobey Park.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Pat Neely’s new show and Geoff Calkins’ new pod
The data-center debate continues in Shelby County and North Mississippi, and we take a deep dive into a Memphis music murder mystery.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Grizz lease is ‘very close,’ and the bones come home
Memphis Immigration Court is “mega” busy, SpaceXAI causes traffic problems and we ask if the zoo could bring pandas back.
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The To-Do List Mempho is back, Jazz Fest is new and we say bye (sort of) to Oktoberfest
This week, there’s a theater fest for kids, Opera Memphis celebrates 70 years and Modest Mouse “floats on” over to Satellite Music Hall.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Midtown water guy and takeover board are back to work
City Council’s data-center debate will be continued, and a new restaurant serves elevated comfort food for when you’re hungry AF.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Midtown water guy was jailed, and Alchemy will transform
Your MLGW bill may go up, a robot works at Kroger and we remember Joel Hobson III.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: AI fight shuts down City Council, and Ford heads to prison
John Beifuss retires from the CA, the old Ikea may be another furniture store and we look at why your September MLGW bill was so high.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: The takeover break’s over, and Kroger has the local meats
Changes are coming to the Land Bank, a Memphis couple fills an empanada need and Cam Boozer does everything.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: A terrifying tick story and the mintiest place in Memphis
Most of the money for the new Regional One hasn’t been approved yet, the Task Force is mum on police-pursuit policies and you can time travel in Arlington.
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The Early WordThe Early Word: Retro wine bar closes, while a new bar gets ‘gas station fancy’
A family opens up about a Task Force shooting, Blackburn wants the electric chair back and cops nab a truckload of kratom.
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The To-Do List Outdoor fests from Evergreen to V&E to Broad Ave; plus, a Tom Lee parade
This week, the Mid-South Fair opens in Southaven, and there’s a vegan fest at the Pink Palace.
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Arts & Culture Pumpkin to talk about: Your guide to gourds, haunted houses and more
This Holidays in Memphis guide covers where to pick pumpkins and all you need to know about corn mazes, haunted attractions, spooky movies and more Halloween fun.
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