Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Bianca Phillips

The Early Word: Animal officer faces cruelty charge; Task Force gets sued

bphillips@dailymemphian.com (Bianca Phillips) — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 06:20:10 -0500

WK Kellogg Co. is cutting jobs, churches are organizing voters and there’s prime real estate for sale on Poplar.

The Early Word: Midtown's Viet Hoa expands, and the Blue Monkey shrinks

bphillips@dailymemphian.com (Bianca Phillips) — Mon, 8 Jun 2026 06:32:19 -0500

Local group makes plans for xAI tax revenue, a firefighter develops AI apps and a bar takes a stand against AI art.

The Early Word: Ardent hits a sour note, and two restaurants see double

bphillips@dailymemphian.com (Bianca Phillips) — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 06:22:51 -0500

Former bank CEO is sentenced over child porn charges, Morant Trade Watch is on and you can eat barbecue for breakfast.

LGBTQ+ Pride takes over Beale Street, and 'The Goonies' are in the cemetery

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Thu, 4 Jun 2026 12:09:32 -0500

In this week’s To-Do List, we’ve got your LGBTQ+ Pride guide. Plus, Elmwood screens a 1980s classic, Filipino culture is on display in Millington and there are Pizza Witches in Crosstown.

The Early Word: County taxes may stay the same, but Ja's future is uncertain

bphillips@dailymemphian.com (Bianca Phillips) — Thu, 4 Jun 2026 06:23:00 -0500

The feds make Memphis a model, U of M students are about to pay more and a local Broadway star heads to the Orpheum stage.

The Early Word: Death of a newspaper building and layoffs at Hollywood Feed

bphillips@dailymemphian.com (Bianca Phillips) — Wed, 3 Jun 2026 06:24:22 -0500

Elvis Presley Boulevard roadwork has years to go, the Aug. 6 ballot is getting longer and a new gas station is coming to Poplar/Highland.

The Early Word: Halbert isn't giving up, but Tony Allen's case is closed

bphillips@dailymemphian.com (Bianca Phillips) — Tue, 2 Jun 2026 06:15:46 -0500

New bill targets child predators, a Germantown man pushes for more disc golf and Hardaway is building chemistry.

Eat spaghetti gravy at Italian Fest, and dance to Italo disco at Wiseacre

awarren@dailymemphian.com (Abigail Warren) — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 15:07:03 -0500

In this week’s To-Do List, hear “weird music” at Crosstown, watch dragon boats race at Shelby Farms and see Olympic stars on ice in Southaven.

The Early Word: School takeover board comes to life, and a law firm is dead

bphillips@dailymemphian.com (Bianca Phillips) — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 06:21:14 -0500

UTHSC looks into racism claim, Holiday City has a new owner and we get a first taste of Josephine Estelle.

The Early Word: Slaps on the wrist for City Council chair and Arlington mayor

bphillips@dailymemphian.com (Bianca Phillips) — Fri, 29 May 2026 11:46:22 -0500

NBA passes lottery reform that could impact the Grizzlies, a Bartlett soul-food spot catches fire and you can stop worrying about Fred Smith Jr.

The Early Word: Mulroy sues over 'busywork,' and Boozer isn't a given

bphillips@dailymemphian.com (Bianca Phillips) — Thu, 28 May 2026 06:36:16 -0500

Germantown kid falls out of the Spelling Bee, Southern food goes swanky and it’s time to start making tailgating plans.

The Early Word: New voter map is upheld, and Grizz may get a raw deal

bphillips@dailymemphian.com (Bianca Phillips) — Wed, 27 May 2026 06:23:24 -0500

Three are appointed to the school takeover board, Blackburn questions Trump and the former Daily News building has a new owner.

The Early Word: New Le Bonheur exec pulls out; No Comment switches it up

bphillips@dailymemphian.com (Bianca Phillips) — Tue, 26 May 2026 06:26:57 -0500

A Midtown church is tearing down buildings, a Memphis kid stars in a new movie and we look back at what brought the U of M law school Downtown.

The River Run, the Sunset Symphony and lemon drops in the park

adrake@dailymemphian.com (Alys Drake) — Thu, 21 May 2026 19:25:32 -0500

In this week’s To-Do List, meet the artist behind Wiseacre’s cans, take a storybook tour of Tom Lee Park and get a taste of Cuba.

The Early Word: Anthropic's rent at xAI and how Mike Miller lets talent fly

bphillips@dailymemphian.com (Bianca Phillips) — Thu, 21 May 2026 06:31:20 -0500

Novel workers vote to unionize, an immigrants-rights group sues state troopers and Memphis names its first poet laureate.

The Early Word: Huff has a lot to say; Andrew Michael guys have a new place

bphillips@dailymemphian.com (Bianca Phillips) — Wed, 20 May 2026 08:44:00 -0500

Redistricting fight brings out the big guns, the ex-MATA CEO wants her job back and Novel workers may form a union.

The Early Word: Outdoors Inc. takes a hike; Memphians dance for a Grizz Girl

bphillips@dailymemphian.com (Bianca Phillips) — Tue, 19 May 2026 06:30:24 -0500

No Kings bodycam video is out, a Memphis voice remains on the education board and a 13-year-old is a barbecue champ.

The Early Word: Latest on the state takeovers of local schools and politics

bphillips@dailymemphian.com (Bianca Phillips) — Mon, 18 May 2026 07:19:38 -0500

Memphis hospitals get bad ratings, barbecue fest ended with back-to-back champs and we look back on the life of Monk.

The Early Word: Civil-rights activists rekindle as judge sides with voter map

bphillips@dailymemphian.com (Bianca Phillips) — Fri, 15 May 2026 06:46:27 -0500

Another suit is filed over redistricting, a Germantown restaurant will open ahead of schedule and The Artist Table is gone.

Brass band on the Wolf, Bigfoot on Beale and Birdcap's new book

bphillips@dailymemphian.com (Bianca Phillips) — Thu, 14 May 2026 19:59:56 -0500

This week, you can peep Cooper-Young backyard gardens, camp out with mushroom people and release your intentions into Hyde Lake.