The AM/DM

The Standard could have been Germantown's first TIF, or tax increment financing, district. Located at Poplar Avenue and Kirby Parkway, the development is slated to replace the Carrefour at Kirby Woods. The Carrefour shopping center has already been demolished, and in its place, developers planned to build a hotel, 40 luxury condos and 150,000 square feet of office space. But earlier this week, the Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted against tax incentives for the project.

Today, we're joined by suburbs reporter Abigail Warren to talk about what happened with the vote and what happens now.

Plus:

• A company with two Memphis offices was hit in a suspected Iran-based cyberattack
• The Memphis Amateur Sports Hall of Fame is adding new members
• 'Homes not Hedge Funds' passes in the state senate
• Mississippi regulators approve xAI's turbines in Southaven
• A state lawmaker visits the ICE facility where a local student is detained
• MSCS plans to update certain processes

In February, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that tariffs enacted by President Donald Trump's administration, and using the International Emergency Economic Power Act, were illegal. In light of the ruling, the president quickly enacted other tariffs, but the Supreme Court's decision did not go unnoticed. Several international companies, such as Costco, Nintendo, Dole Fresh Fruit Co. and Memphis' own FedEx, want refunds on the billions in duties they've paid over the past year.

Today we're joined by business reporter Steve Bohnel to talk about what the companies are doing to get their money back and what it might mean, way in the future, for the American consumer.

Plus:

• 'Homes not Hudge Funds' passes the state senate
• The Tradition plans to serve Houston's-inspired chicken tenders
• The County Commission fills Ford's former seat
• The NAACP says Mississippi is moving too fast on the xAI permit decision
• Memphis is moving on from women's basketball coach Alex Simmons
• The Standard's tax incentive fails

Before this weekend, Ja Morant, the Memphis Grizzlies star point guard, hadn't spoken to the media since January. That also meant he hadn't spoken publicly since after the NBA's trade deadline — when he notably wasn't traded and Jaren Jackson Jr. was. But there's a story there about him talking to the media now, and it involves the injury he sustained to his left elbow on Jan. 21.

Today, The Daily Memphian's Grizzlies reporter Drew Hill returns to the show to talk about Morant, his recent conversation with him and NBA rules about injuries.

Plus:

• Tennessee passes on federal help that would feed more children
• Overton Park Shell will celebrate 90 years in four days
• Noem touts the Memphis Safe Task Force on her way out at DHS
• BlueOval SK will see 150 layoffs
• Petra Cafe reopens near its old Carrefour location
• MSCS pitches an "accountability plan" alternative to a state takeover

This week begins with a flurry of government activity. Bianca Phillips is here to talk about all of it and help us prepare for the coming work week.

Plus:

• The Jerry lee Lewis Ranch Experience is now a fixture in Mid-South music tourism
• Millington hopes to break ground on a Lone Sailor monument by July 4
• A former county director and his wife could face federal charges
• Collierville could get a third McDonald's
• A Tennessee court mulls the legality of the National Guard

If this weekend has a theme, it's food competitions for a good cause. There are also Elvis Tribute Artists in town to perform and roller derby lessons, so one might be able to skate, rattle and roll.

Newsletter editor Bianca Phillips is here to tell us all about them.

Plus:

• The Tennesee Board of Education is preserving its two-credit world-language requirement
• A councilmember urges the administration to make a plan for regulation of short-term rentals
• Tigers projects a deficit in men's basketball
• Filipino bar opens Downtown
• Mid-South Chinese Chamber buys the historic Cordova School

The Memphis Area Transit Authority has struggled in recent years, with funding, misallocated resources, bad bus schedules and questionable spending. Now, the beleaguered public transportation agency is headed by an operations trustee, Rodrick Holmes, who used to MATA's general counsel.

Mary Cashiola is joined today by enterprise reporter Samuel Hardiman, who recently got an inside look at the MATA trolley barn and information about the future of the transit authority.

Plus:

• Memphis musicians were recognized by the Tennessee Legislature
• Michael Drake is the new CEO of Christ Community Health
• Memphis continues to see a drop in crime in 2026
• Two buildings could fill out Germantown's medical corridor

Last year, a U.S. District judge finalized a settlement permitting university athletic departments around the country to distribute up to $20.5 million annually in revenue to student athletes. This past week, for the first time ever, the University of Memphis disclosed it paid $11 million to student-athletes under revenue sharing. Today, the U of M Board of Trustees will hear a presentation on that program, and we're asking sports editor David Boyd all of our questions about how this all works.

Plus:

• Brent Taylor faces a potential Democratic challenger in the August state primaries
• Two former Medtronic buildings are for sale
• Teachers may soon have have to pass a civics exam to earn their license
• A family files a $35 million wrongful death suit against Youth Villages
• A British pub is coming to Overton Square
• A UK-based sports retailer is coming to East Memphis

The Shelby County primaries are fast approaching. The official primary election day is Tuesday, May 5, but early voting starts Wednesday, April 15. Moreover, there are all kinds of seats up for grabs, including county mayor, 13 Shelby County Board of Commissioners districts, county sheriff, probate court clerk, county clerk and circuit court clerk.

Joining Mary Cashiola today is longtime political reporter Bill Dries to talk about how it's all shaking out so far.

Plus:

• Shelby County residents share thoughts on MSTF and immigration arrests
• A pro women's tennis tour brng the Memphis Classic to Leftwich
• An incident with a visitor leads to damage at the Memphis Zoo bonobo exhibit
• Memphis trucking leaders back Trump's crackdown on unqualified drivers
• The bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis has submitted his resignation
• The cause of an inmate's death at 201 Poplar has been released

This is the week when the Banana Ball Championship League (finally) comes to Memphis. The Savannah Bananas are not coming to Memphis, but two other teams from the league — the Party Animals and the Indianapolis Clowns — will be at AutoZone Park with their signature take on baseball.

And this week marks the next step in who might replace Edmund Ford Jr. on the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.

Today, Bianca Phillips joins Mary Cashiola to talk about it all as we prepare for the week ahead.

Plus:

• A bipartisan effort to study DA pay disparities moves forward
• Tony Salvaggio will run for Germantown mayor
• The Univeristy of Memphis has publicly divulged revenue shared with their athletes
• The man accused of killing a Campbell Clinic doctor will face a hearing

Another week is in the books, and it's time for the weekend.

There's a "Heated Rivalry"-themed dance party at Minglewood Hall, the Memphis Coin Club Show at the Landers Center and more tulips blooming in East Memphis than you'll see anywhere else outside of the Netherlands. Well, actually, don't quote on us on that last bit. But a lot of tulips. Suffice it to say, this weekend isn't for wallflowers.

Newsletter editor Bianca Phillips is in the studio, so she and Mary Cashiola discuss all that and more.

Plus:

• Democrats boot five and Republicans strike three from the May primary ballot
• U of M marks the launch of $90M upgrade of business school
• Cohen reacts to Trump's speech
• FESJC head Joe Tomek steps down
• East Memphis momentum spawns a new mixed-use development along South White Station Road