Plus, a Memphis chocolatier has an Olympic deal.

Early voting opens Friday, July 12, in an election cycle that was much different four years ago due to COVID-19. The pandemic is over, but it’s still complicating turnout predictions for the Aug. 1 ballot.

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Ballot Basics: Early voting July 12-27

As early voting opens Friday, July 12, here is a look at the primaries for the two Congressional districts that cover Shelby County and the race for one of the state’s two U.S. Senate seats.

Take time for a quick break!

Memphis Mayor Paul Young made the appointment announcement at a Thursday night meeting of his administration with more than 35 animal advocates from across the area.

At a reception celebrating her honor, retired judge Bernice Donald pointed out the significance of the street sign that will hang within what was once known as “Cotton Row.”

Hernando Mayor Chip Johnson says construction should be finished by the time DeSoto County Schools starts back on Aug. 1.

The historic alleyway runs east from Second Street now to Fourth Street between Court and Madison avenues. Stuart Harris, a developer who spearheaded a renaming effort, said the “in-between” place holds “a lot of possibility and magic.”

Longtime service worker apparently killed over food order argument.

The Walk, a 29-acre development on a vacant strip of land between AutoZone Park and FedExForum, still has big plans.

Mary Oglesby and Paul Gilliam discuss all things tropical drinks, plus dive into the reason the two seasoned bartenders decided to open their own bars.

GG Jackson has set a high bar for himself. He is hoping for a better showing at summer league in Las Vegas than he had in Salt Lake City. 

“They bring crime. People hanging out, shootings, killings,” one board member said. However, the applicant says he wants a family business in the neighborhood.

“There have been moments in my life when my concept of barbecue is irrevocably altered henceforth. And that’s exactly what happened to me at Mande Dibi.”

This week, Wilson, Arkansas-inspired art comes to Memphis, a Richard Linklater classic screens at Crosstown and the Goo Goo Dolls still won’t tell ’em your name.

Federal agents seized 938 grams of meth, 541 grams of fentanyl, 200 grams of psilocybin mushrooms and about 26 pounds of marijuana during the course of their investigation, according to the office.

Despite a pair of silver medals in high-caliber meets, the former Whitehaven standout doesn’t get the call from Liberia. 

“There is federal investment coming in, but we need local talent and especially diverse entrepreneurs to step in and take advantage of this historic time,” said the deputy administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Early voting starts Friday, July 12, at 26 polling sites throughout Shelby County. And the stakes could not be higher for local Republicans.

Longtime Tennessee Sen. Sara Kyle faces a Democratic primary challenger on the August ballot — Erika Stotts Pearson, a perennial candidate for higher office.

The Republican primary winner is likely to face a spirited general-election challenge. State House District 97, which includes parts of East Memphis and Bartlett, is among the most competitive in the state. 

The Cordova-based state House seat is the only Shelby County seat with no incumbent. With no Republican or independent contenders, the August Democratic primary will determine who gets the seat.

With the sale of The Half Shell, Danny Sumrall looks back at the restaurant and his more than 40 years as a part of the restaurant community, having opened or purchased several of Memphis’ popular dining spots. 

The organization helps preventchild abuse by helping parents deal with their frustration and counseling them through triggering events.

Can you solve this week’s word search?