After the Memphis Safe Task Force was deployed last fall, the Collierville Police Department did something unexpected. It increased the number of officers who were on patrol and paid them overtime to work the shifts. The idea was that the task force might push would-be Memphis criminals into Collierville and the other suburbs, where those individuals would be safe, so to speak, from the full 13-agency federal task force. But it hasn't worked out that way for many reasons.

Today, suburbs section editor Clay Bailey joins Mary Cashiola to talk the impact of the task force on places like Collierville, Germantown and Millington.

Plus:

• How a little girl from rural Louisiana became a research leader at UTHSC
• Clayborn Temple is set to be rebuilt
• One Memphis lawmaker wants to stop evictions from being livestreamed
• The convention center Sheraton could be redeveloped and rebranded by 2029
• A veteran Memphs judge is set to retire

This week brings us the NFL Combine and two Tigers tackles who get to attend, Memphis City Council and Shelby County Commission meetings, a deadline to not run for office and the annual Guns to Gardens drive, in which guns are donated and then melted down to be made into garden tools. Today, newsletter editor Bianca Phillips joins Mary Cashiola to talk about all of that to help prepare you for the week ahead.

Plus:

• Officials say the Task Force is driving down suburban crime
• St. Jude's CEO is stepping down
• The TN General Assembly votes to expand birth control access
• GXO Logistics will lay off 185 in Memphis

As the week winds to a close, newsletter editor Bianca Phillips joins Mary Cashiola to talk about the fun you can have over the next few days. There are plant sales, Bad Bunny-inspired events, Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy doing a monologue and a week's worth of Afro-Latino stories, music and dancing. They'll discuss all that and more.

Plus:

• A State House bill lets private businesses and citizens reject same-sex marriage
• Airport will double fees on taxis and rideshares for pickup
• Riverbeat Music Fest announces the 2026 lineup
• TN Governor wants a constitutional ban on state property tax
• A new cell tower will fix old Arlington's 'dead zone'
• Ja Morant is included in the latest NBA-licensed video game
• Collierville's Safe Haven baby box is Shelby County's first

As the Grizzlies head into the second half of the season, their focus seems to be locked onto next season — or beyond. In a bright spot for Memphis, NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently said team relocation is not on the table even as the league plans to expand. Today, reporter and columnist Drew Hill is here to walk us through all these developments.

Plus:

• Memphis' Hasan Abdul Hakim is dismissed from the program
• Officials want to hear from the public about Memphis 3.0
• Hundreds voice their opposition to a permit for xAI turbines in Southaven
• Memphis is in the middle of the AI boom

In the last few weeks, special deployments of federal law enforcement have been pulled back in Minneapolis, Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland. So what might happen to the Memphis Safe Task Force? If operations in other cities are ending, could Memphis be far behind? Public safety reporter Aarron Fleming talked to the White House last week to answer that very question. This morning, he shares his insights with us.

This week brings us three different holidays within two days: Presidents' Day, Lunar New Year and Mardi Gras. And if you want to run for county elected office, you have two different ways to go about it. But this week will be key.

Bianca Phillips joins us to talk about all of that. But we also have a special challenge: How to celebrate Lunar New Year and Mardi Gras at the same time?

Plus:

• Memphis airport adds a new nonstop flight to Austin
• TN Governor wants a constitutional ban on a state property tax
• Jaren Jackson Jr. is scheduled to undergo surgery
• A plea deal has been reached with the last Young Dolph gunman

If you're planning on doing something special this particular weekend, it'll help to have a significant other, a gal pal or a bromance going on.

Because Valentine's Day is on a Saturday this year and there are tons of events to commemorate it: You can run a 5K with your sweetie or paint portraits of each other or meet someone new at your own "meet cute" at Novel. Newsletter editor Bianca Phillips is here to talk about it all.

Plus:

• Memphis sets a goal of 10,000 units of new or renovated housing by 2030
• Rhodes' prison program adds a bachelor's degree
• MSCS has a new superntendent
• Snow freezes January home sales

In 1972, The Giant Rats of Sumatra — a local club — began in Memphis. But, what was the group about? Pest control? Animal husbandry? Carnival? The explanation lies in this clue: The answer is elementary, my dear Watson.

The Giant Rats are stans of Sherlock Holmes, the fictional detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Every year, though in varying numbers, the group gets together to celebrate Holmes' presumed birthday of Jan. 6. Today, reporter Jody Callahan joins us to talk about the club and really all things Sherlock Holmes.

Plus:

• Former State Rep. John DeBerry eyes the Republican primary for Shelby County Mayor
• Bartlett approves the purchase and new management for Quail Ridge Golf Course
• Two Memphis Tigers are invited to the NFL Combine
• Mayor Paul Young's 'State of the City' speech was met with hecklers
• Mayor Lee Harris says the county is owed millions for housing state prisoners
• FedEx and private equity partners announce a $9B deal with a Polish logistics company

In some ways, Memphis will always mean music. But there have been questions about Memphis' continuing role on the larger music scene as the industry's infrastructure -- labels, recording studios, A&R men -- is largely located elsewhere.

The Grammy Awards, arguably the music industry's biggest night, were held at the beginning of the month, and though there weren't any Memphians who won a Grammy this year, Memphis was a strong throughline at the ceremonies.

Today, arts and culture editor Elle Perry joins us to talk about Memphis' role on the national music scene.

Plus:

• Ikea will close after a decade-long run
• A man pleads guilty in a hit and run that left a 20-year-old woman dead
• Tennessee lawmakers advance mom-focused bills
• Germantown leaders raise the debt limit to $100M
• MoSH is searching for a new executive director
• A rare church-to-home conversion brings 4-bedroom 'sanctuary living' to Cooper-Young
• A judge rules that only four MSCS board seats will appear on the 2026 ballot