u/GotMoFans

On Wednesday, Aug. 19, the Memphis Light, Gas and Water Board of Commissioners approved amending and extending a 2001 agreement that sends $2.5 million from the utility annually to the City of Memphis. Since 2001, that money has paid the original debt for constructing FedExForum. 

The amended agreement, attached to the MLGW board documents, states that the money may not be used to pay future debt. It also needs to clear the Memphis City Council. 

“The funds from this PILOT payment shall be used exclusively for the maintenance and/or capital improvements of the facility located at 191 Beale Street Memphis, TN 38103,” the agreement says. 

MLGW does not pay taxes. Instead, it pays a percentage of the value of its assets to the municipalities where its infrastructure is located, known as a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes. 

Isaac Hayes Aug. 20, 1942 - Aug. 10, 2008

This was the original version of Fat Albert on NBC that inspired the more famous Saturday morning cartoon on CBS in 1972. It had been considered lost before being recently discovered in full.

Based on Bill Cosby’s stand-up.

The Memphis Area Transit Authority plans to resume trolley service Downtown in the fall with four trolleys, according to the trustee of the city-owned bus system.

Rodrick Holmes’ update for Memphis City Council members Tuesday, Aug. 4, drew praise from a group that has often been vocal in its criticism of the agency.

In MATA’s first update of the fiscal year that began July 1, Holmes said the free fares on all fixed routes that began in November will continue with an evaluation soon of continuing the practice advocated by several council members. Holmes said ridership is up 26% to 30% since the no-fare policy.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis mother is accused of shooting a man to death in Southwest Memphis after he was caught hiding under her daughter’s bed.

Kendra Scott is charged with first-degree murder and employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.

Officers say they responded to a shooting call at a home in the 3000 block of Travis Road. When they arrived at the scene, they said they found a man dead near the front porch.

The man, who has been identified as Rodderius Morton, was pronounced dead after suffering from a gunshot wound to the back of his head, police reported.

A woman, later identified as Kendra Scott, stated to police that she “saw a dude under my kids’ bed, and I did what I had to do.”

Officers said they then spoke with a neighbor who told them he heard banging, and when he came outside, he saw a man shot near the front porch.

The neighbor also said that he saw Scott standing in the front yard saying, “I shot him, I shot him,” while still holding a gun.

Scott was then detained and taken in for questioning.
A juvenile who was a witness at the residence in the 3000 block of Travis Road was also interviewed by investigators. The juvenile allegedly told them that Morton had been invited inside the home and came in through the back door at 1 a.m.

Investigators said the juvenile told them Scott came home around 1:30 a.m., knocking loudly at the front door and yelling, “Who’s at my house?”

The juvenile stated that she was scared of Scott because she had a gun in her hand, visibly angry, and that Scott previously told her, “if I see a boy in the house, then I will put a hole in his a**.”

When the juvenile finally let Scott in the home, Morton was found hiding under a bed in the juvenile’s room, investigators said.

As Morton was leaving the residence, he and Scott got into a verbal argument, with Scott yelling to him, “Get out of my house, b****!”

Once Scott and Morton made it to the front porch, the juvenile said she heard one gunshot.

Scott does not have a bond set and is scheduled to appear in court Monday.

Veteran actor Hal Williams, who is probably best known for playing Officer “Smitty” Smith on Sanford and Son, died this morning at his home in Rancho Mirage, according to his representative. He was 91.

As Smitty, Williams was one half of a crimefighting duo who appeared on 22 episodes of the classic show. His partner, Officer “Hoppy” Hopkins — played by Howard Platt — would often lead off a scene with an “official” stiff police explanation of their investigation. Smitty would then interpret in plain English for Fred and Lamont — played by Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson, respectively.

From 1985-1990, Williams was a key part of 227, on which he played Lester Jenkins. That show was a cultural touchstone as the only other Black middle class family series on at the time besides Coby. The star-studded cast included Helen Martin, Marla Gibbs, Regina King, Jackée Harry, Paul Winfield and others.

Throughout his 55-year career, Williams earned guest appearances on TV staples such as That Girl, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Cannon, Police Woman, Gunsmoke, Police Story, Quincy M.E, Good Times, Knots Landing, The Waltons, The Dukes of Hazzard, Webster, Hill Street Blues, Magnum P.I., Night Court, L.A. Law, Suddenly Susan, Moesha and Parks and Recreation.

One of the best meme music videos of all time.

If the Sox didn’t have a cheapskate owner, and instead had one who was willing to pay for a pitching star to play their career with the White Sox, which pitcher who was traded or allowed to walk over the last ten years would you like to still be on the staff right now?

And I mean a pitcher who never left so Chris Sale never was traded and has been with the team the past decade.

And if you keep Garrett Crochet, you don’t have the four players we got from the Red Sox.

The Shelby County Health Department ordered the Walter L. Bailey Criminal Justice Center at 201 Poplar Ave. closed Monday, June 29, due to an “imminent health hazard,” according to signs posted outside the building.

Signs on the doors of 201 Poplar say: “This building ‘must not be occupied’ until” the Health Department grants permission to reopen.

Earlier Monday, the General Sessions Criminal Court and Clerk’s Office announced its operations at 201 Poplar would be closed “due to unforeseen building issues.”
All General Sessions cases that had been scheduled for Monday were canceled, according to a press release from the clerk’s office.

The Memphis City Council approved $5 million in funding for AutoZone Park on Tuesday.

Less than two weeks ago, the council held off on approving the emergency request for $5 million in deferred maintenance need, something the Memphis Redbirds were unhappy with.

“The funding under discussion is not for luxury upgrades or optional enhancements. These are critical infrastructure, life-safety, and Major League Baseball compliance projects required to maintain a city-owned facility,” the team shared in part in a statement.

The funding will cover upgrades to the HVAC and fire protection systems and safety compliance.

NASHVILLE — He has a deep love for the city of Memphis.
Gov. Bill Lee said so Thursday morning, June 18th, so it must be true.

He reminded everyone he spent summers in Memphis growing up.

He recalled riding bikes off Getwell Road.

He talked passionately about what the new state-appointed board overseeing Memphis-Shelby County Schools will do for the children and the entire community.

And he did it at 8:45 a.m. from the convenience and/or safety of Nashville.

With love like that, who needs disdain?

But it’s official, my fellow Memphians.

The oversight board has convened.

The nine members of the controversial board flew, drove or otherwise transported themselves to Nashville bright and early to begin their work.

But if the hope is that the board can gain the support of conflicted Memphians — to lay to rest the notion that this is a hostile takeover — it sure was a bizarre way to start.

In Nashville?

At 8:45 in the morning?

It’s almost like they planned it so Memphians couldn’t attend.

Memphis Grammy-nominated record producer Tay Keith was found dead in his Nashville apartment on Thursday, police said.

Brytavious Chambers, 29, also known as Tay Keith, was found dead in his Martin St. apartment Thursday afternoon by Metro Nashville Police officers performing a welfare check.

Police said his death is unclassified at this time pending autopsy results.

The Memphis producer was nominated for Best Rap Song, “Sicko Mode” by Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk, and Swae Lee in 2019, along with “Rich Flex” by Drake and 21 Savage in 2024.

He also produced “Look Alive” by Drake and Memphis rapper BlocBoy JB, the song shouts out Memphis with the lyrics “901 Shelby Drive look alive, look alive.”
“901” is Memphis’s area code, and Shelby Drive is a known street in the city.

Tay Keith has also produced for artists Beyonce, Sexxyy Red, Pooh Shiesty, Moneybagg Yo, and G-Eazy.
He attended White Station High School in Memphis.

As 8Ball & MJG entered the NPR building and made their way to the Desk, I couldn't help but be captivated by their evolution into rap music elder statesmen. No scandal, no breakups — just two emcees in good health ready to get busy. These Memphis legends, steeped in the blues, capture the essence of Southern hip-hop.

Unlike many of their '90s peers who leaned heavily on beat machines and samplers, 8Ball & MJG incorporate live instrumentation into their music. That translates here, as the band kicks off the set with a few instrumental bars from "Pimps" before 8Ball goes straight into the title track off the 1993 debut album Comin' Out Hard. Then they fire off three songs from 2004's Living Legends and close with "Space Age Pimpin'."

It's uncommon for our favorite groups to maintain their unity; when they do, the bonds often fade, leading to a strictly business-oriented relationship. And, yet, 8Ball & MJG exemplify familial camaraderie, which radiates throughout their Tiny Desk concert.

SET LIST
"Comin' Out Hard"
"Memphis City Blues"
"You Don't Want Drama"
"Forever"
"Space Age Pimpin' "

I visited the old Fred’s HQ over a decade ago and it was one of the most rundown places I’ve ever been.

The fact it’s being sold for $25 million is ominous because there’s no way the property is actually worth $25 million.

Does that speak to the inflation in real estate prices or that this tech company was desperate for this property and did a “Godfather” offer?

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen has abandoned his reelection bid in the redrawn 9th Congressional District or any of Tennessee’s other congressional districts.

The Memphis Democrat made the announcement Friday, May 15, in Washington, D.C., two hours ahead of the noon Friday, May 15, filing deadline for the new districts.
“This is the most difficult moment I’ve had as an elected official,” Cohen said from his Washington office in a press conference carried by C-SPAN as he announced he had withdrawn his qualifying petition.

Tennessee’s new congressional district map — which state lawmakers enacted following a three-day special session last week — carves the Memphis 9th District into thirds. 
Under the new map, the 5th, 8th and 9th Congressional Districts take in parts of Memphis as well as counties in rural West Tennessee all the way to the Kentucky state line and into middle Tennessee, including Williamson County.
Cohen said he considered running in one of two other districts that include portions of the city. But he said, “There’s no commonality of issues and purposes between Williamson County and Orange Mound.”
Cohen will leave the House in January after 10 terms and 20 years. He won the congressional seat in 2006 after first running for it unsuccessfully in 1996. Before that, he served in the state Senate for 24 years after his 1982 election.
Cohen was locked in a Democratic primary duel with state Rep. Justin J. Pearson ahead of the redistricting.