The AM/DM

Every day, 5,500 cars travel down Southern Avenue, the Cooper-Young's neighborhood's southernmost boundary. For many years, that stretch of road might have been described as neglected or even blighted, with broken glass and trash littering the area between the sidewalk and the street. And then the Cooper Young Garden Club got involved.

Today, The Daily Memphian's Nick Lingerfelt joins us to talk about how the garden club make an unappealing streetscape inviting.

Plus:

• Remains of three children have been found in Hickory Hill
• A woman has been convicted in the 2022 slaying of a Whitehaven leader
• This year's winter storm inspired a story to warm your heart
• Opponents claim a new child-custody bill treats kids like perps
• Mayor Young proposes a 2% raise for city employees and no tax increase
• The MSCS board votes to sue over the state takeover proposal
• Memphis plans to spend $100 million in state money on Beale Street

College basketball is over for the season, and the transfer portal -- that exciting period where the coaches were trying to get the best talent, the players were trying to find the best teams and the fans were trying to determine their team's chances -- closed yesterday. Sports writer John Varlas joins us today to talk about what this might mean for the Tigers' upcoming season.

Plus:

• Baptist Heart Institute marks 500th transplant
• The Memphis industrial market is rebounding
• A takeover plan would give state appointees sweeping power over Memphis schools
• OUTMemphis is building new headquarters in Midtown

Last week, the man charged with attempting to kidnap Memphis Mayor Paul Young pleaded guilty. But the Memphis court case raised as many questions as it answered. Today, public safety reporter Aarron Fleming is here to talk about the accused, Trenton Abston, his Alford plea and other interesting facets of the case.

Plus:

• A Tennessee bill allows anonymous applicants for director-level jobs
• $60M Mempis raceway reno is sitting idle
• County primary early voter turnout so far cracks 10k
• The DeSoto County district attorney reflects on his time in office and outlines a plan to speed up court cases
• Germantown schools is reviewing what may be its toughest budget in history
• Memphis gets another $50M for Downtown Memphis safety
• Memphis pinball bar is under new ownership

This week brings the beginning of budget season and also the kick-off party for the new Memphis FC United Soccer League Two team. And, not to give it all away, but at least one of those things makes an appearance on one of our bingo cards.

Digital director Holly Whitfield joins us today to talk about what's happening this week.

Plus:

• A teen has been arrested in the fatal Shelby Farms shooting
• International Paper buys a competitor in Washington State
• Muddy's Bake Shop is being sold to new local owners
• Charges have been dropped for No Kings protestors
• Tennessee lawmakers vote to stifle education lawsuits as MSCS takeover legislation advances

If there's one thing happening this weekend, it's food. More specifically, it's a bunch of food festivals. Today, digital producer Kelsey Bowen joins us to talk about what looks, and sounds, good.

Plus:

• Tennessee will expand the voucher program
• Hardaway hires Missouri assistant coach to Memphis' staff
• A transgender health care tracking bill passes the Senate
• A Lakeland board recommends a pay hike for elected officials
• A coalition urges tax hikes to fund social programs
• The Downtown Longshot space could be filled by a new cocktail bar

For the past three years, the civil suit brought by Tyre Nichols' family against the City of Memphis has wound its way through the court system. The trial is currently scheduled for November, and this week, the attorneys for the City of Memphis released new court documents including a list of potential witnesses and experts who could be called to testify.

Sam Hardiman joins us in the studio to talk about what the documents could mean for the case. We'll also talk briefly about xAI's paused water reclamation project.

Plus:

• A new FedEx St. Jude Championship leader has been appointed
• City Council wants answers on 'No Kings' march violence
• Caissa K12 is expanding at Clark Tower
• The new Audubon clubhouse is ready to tee off

Earlier this month, Memphis Grizzlies player Brandon Clarke was arrested in Arkansas for trafficking an illegal substance. Clarke's arrest was due, in part, to a natural botanical that originates from Southeast Asia and can either be a sedative or a stimulant, depending on the dosage. It's been illegal in Arkansas since 2016 but it is still legal in Tennessee. For now.

Joining us today is state house reporter Noah McLane to tell us all about kratom: What it is, where you get it, what the Tennessee General Assembly is considering doing about it and even how to say it.

Plus:

• A man charged with attempting to kidnap the mayor enters a plea
• Big Bad Breakfast is opening in Cooper-Young
• A historic building where Elvis trained in martial arts hits the market
• Mayor Lee Harris backs Harold Collins
• A more specific plan for a new jail and justice center could be on the horizon
• The Farm Table is opening Downtown
• Reams of new evidence are to be introduced in the Nichols' civil case

A historic Front Street property. An unleaseable shopping center. A signature Midtown music venue. Those are some of the buildings that have recently been sold or are currently for sale.

Today, commercial real estate reporter Andy Ashby is here to tell us not only what's going on with those transactions, but what makes commercial real estate such a fun and interesting beat.

Plus:

• Germantown invests in new snowlplow equipment
• FedEx begins the search for a new CFO
• FedEx pilots reach a tentative agreement with the company
• Townsend says his leave was his decision while a Memphis Chamber email suggests otherwise
• Lakeland passes new ordinances restricting smoking and vaping
• Ford revs up investment in West Tennessee communities

This week begins with a public question: How should AI-related property-tax revenue be spent? The Memphis City Council is asking citizens to weigh in Monday, April 13. There's also a Shelby County Commission meeting, a luncheon to celebrate Girls Inc. of Memphis turning 80, a fundraising gala for LeMoyne-Owen College and an award ceremony for realtors. Plus, the start of early voting and our first opportunity to see the new Memphis Tigers football team at work.

Newsletter editor Bianca Phillips joins us today to talk about another very busy week.

Plus:

• David Porter releases a new book
• Two more mass shooting victims file $15M lawsuits against Youth Villages
• Prince Mongo sells a historic Front Street building for $1.25 million
• Tigers will wear FedEx sponsorhip jersey patches
• Elon Musk gives a timeline on the water recycling plant

It's time to get your counter-culture on.

Some of the highlights this weekend include Tattoo Fest at Graceland Exhibition Center (with more than 200 tattoo artists from around the country), the Spirit Fest Metaphysical, Holistic, & Crystal Expo, a music festival featuring only tribute bands and a Shelby County "Star Trek" day celebration.

Newsletter editor Bianca Phillips joins us today to talk about all those events and more.

Plus:

• DeSoto County district attorney highlights plunging crime rates and stiff penalties at a chamber luncheon
• The Second Line reopens in Laurelwood
• A former office space will become a creative space for charter school kids
• The xAI water recycling plant is on an indefinite pause