Bartlett High’s Kaley Byrd and CBHS’ Noah Mullenix currently have the Memphis area’s top girls and boys cross country times.

Fairley and Covington are the highest-ranked Memphis-area teams in the Tennessee Sports Writers Association high school football poll.

The jury will begin deliberations soon. After three days of testimony in the trial for Justin Johnson, one of the men accused of killing rapper Young Dolph, the defense and the prosecution have officially rested their cases.

ESPN college football expert Paul Finebaum answers The Daily Memphian’s questions after Week 4 games. Tennessee championship hopes, Memphis Pac-12 decision addressed.

Steve Gaines, who has served as senior pastor at Bellevue Baptist Church for 19 years, is stepping down from the role to travel and minister as an itinerant preacher.

Standouts from Briarcrest, Collierville, MASE, Memphis Business Academy, Munford, Sheffield and Whitehaven are up for consideration this week.

“The future of the Grizzlies might be caught up in the ongoing fight over the gun referendum. For Memphis, it’s a dangerous game to play.”

This week’s jigsaw puzzle features an image from The Archives, a bar and restaurant opening in Downtown Memphis. 

Ready for today’s sudokus?

“He would be so overjoyed today. I feel his presence now,” Dr. Carol Loree Champion said of her late father, Dr. Charles Champion, who opened his pharmacy and herb store in South Memphis in 1981. 

Also happening this week: Nine new inductees will join the Memphis Music Hall of Fame.

The City of Memphis and the Grizzlies are eyeing widespread security enhancements and changes Downtown.

Shelby County Commissioners will also vote at their Monday, Sept. 23, meeting on a consulting contract to assist with the master plan for the city’s hip-hop museum.

The Tigers were ranked No. 23 and were the top Group of Five team in last week’s Coaches Poll, before suffering a 56-44 loss at Navy.

Memphis earned an impressive win over Florida State on the back of its defense on Sept. 14. It then allowed Navy quarterback Blake Horvath to compile 416 yards of total offense with six touchdowns in a 56-44 loss a week later.

Related story: 

Memphis no longer nationally ranked

There’s a whole lotta shakin’ going on in this week’s crossword puzzle, which draws from recent articles related to the late Jerry Lee Lewis.

“Life imposes enough stress on human beings without doing anything, so why add to life’s inevitable sorrows by worrying?”

A hospital team arrived at the Memphis Zoo with a full-size ultrasound machine to perform and interpret EKGs for two of the great apes, an endangered species.

“We don’t ask to be born and are given absolutely no say in the matter. We don’t get to choose our era, our families, our location of birth. One day, we’re just aware that we are and it takes effort to believe that all of human life and existence didn’t start the very same moment I did.”

Young Dolph was killed while visiting Makeda’s Homemade Butter Cookies in 2021. Now, three of the men charged in his death are set to go to trial.

Are you ready for today’s puzzles?

Cool Springs Park is envisioned to include a skate park, an 18-hole disc-golf course, a splash pad, a zip line and trails. The board also approved a goat yoga program at the city’s parks.

The Wolfchase Galleria store focuses on selling memorable moments. It’s a different emphasis from traditional shopping, where peddling products is primary.

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel won in his return to Oklahoma — the same school he quarterbacked to a national championship in 2000 and where he was fired as offensive coordinator after the 2014 season.

University of Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart threw two touchdown passes in the opening nine minutes and finished with four as No. 5 Ole Miss routed Georgia Southern.