A week for Hope?

Friday, May 29, 2026

Saturday, May 30, is going to be busy. There's the Memphis Italian Festival , a laser light show at Shelby Farms Park, dragon boat racing, a huge record sale and an Italo Disco night. There's also "Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Betties," a play that centers around Betty White, Bette Davis, Betty Ford, Betty Boop and Betty Friedan. And, then on Sunday, you can walk around and see the cats of Cooper-Young. Unfortunately, The AM/DM podcast encountered a technical problem this morning, and our conversation about all the wild, wonderful and just plain weird things happening this weekend [https://dailymemphian.com/section/arts-culturethe-to-do-list/article/63272/memphis-to-do-list-italian-festival-wiseacre-italo-disco-night] did not meet our sound standards. However, there is still plenty of news. Including: * Chef Flavas' Bartlett location caught fire but its Downtown location is ready for business [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/business/article/63330/chef-flavas-bartlett-caught-fire-but-downtown-moves-ahead] * DA sues over state laws requiring Task Force reports [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metroshelby-county/article/63320/mulroy-sues-state-laws-requiring-task-force-reports] * Blackburn says Trump's $1.8B weaponization fund needs a revisit [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/metro/article/63297/marsha-blackburn-tennessee-anti-weaponization-fund-memphis] * Memphis-area speller was eliminated in quarterfinals of national bee [https://dailymemphian.com/section/suburbsgermantown/article/63327/josh-verma-memphis-area-scripps-national-spelling-bee-eliminated] * DeSoto County vets start a club for fellow disabled former service members [https://dailymemphian.com/section/suburbsnorth-mississippi/article/63306/desoto-county-disabled-american-veterans-the-veteran-mississippi]

A career that began on the air

On Friday, May 22, CBS Radio News ceased broadcasting after nearly a century [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/article/63142/cbs-radio-news-memphis-wrec-wlyx-whbq-signs-off-ends-broadcast?utm_source=site_search&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=site_search]. At its highest, the news network provided reporting to more than 1,000 radio stations in the U.S. But this story is as much about Bill Dries is it is CBS Radio. Today, we're joined by Dries, who spent almost a quarter of a century in radio news, to talk about what it was like back then and how journalism has changed over the years. Plus: * AutoZone earnings climb as new mega-hub stores beat sales expectations [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businesstransportationlogistics/article/63269/autozone-executives-point-to-new-megahubs-and-growth] * Judges uphold the map in a state redistricting lawsuit [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metrostate-government/article/63303/judges-uphold-congressional-map-tennessee-redistricting-lawsuit] * Sexton adds to McNally's takeover appointees and taps an education-policy leader [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metrocity-of-memphis/article/63270/mcnally-sexton-mscs-takeover-board-appointees] * MSCS approves a final budget before takeover oversight begins [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metroeducation/article/63302/memphis-shelby-county-schools-board-of-education-approves-budget]

How the Grizzlies draft lottery chances could change

Last week, NBA fans learned about a new detail within changes to the draft lottery rules. The new language would prohibit NBA teams from having a top 5 lottery pick in three consecutive years — and it would also apply to picks acquired in trades. That rule would also be applied retroactively to 2025. Those three factors taken together would mean the team that could be most directly impacted by that particular rule would be the Memphis Grizzlies — even though Memphis hasn't picked in the top five since 2019. Tomorrow, the NBA is scheduled to vote on the new guidelines [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/sportsmemphis-grizzlies/article/63308/memphis-grizzlies-await-vote-restrict-future-draft-pick]. Before they do that, though, we've got Grizzlies beat reporter Drew Hill joining us today to walk us through it. Plus: * Le Bonheur's next pediatric chief bows out weeks before start date [https://dailymemphian.com/section/businesshealth-care/article/63092/incoming-memphis-le-bonheur-pediatrician-in-chief-houston] * MPD officer is cited for a crash on Saturday that sent three to the hospital [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metropublic-safety/article/63267/mpd-officer-cited-for-saturday-crash] * SpaceX buys a data center building for $185 million [https://dailymemphian.com/section/business/article/63250/spacex-buys-data-center-building-for-185-million] * No Comment is staying '80s-themed but with a twist [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/foodfood-news/article/63175/no-comment-rebrand-midtown-memphis]

Setting up the short week

With Memorial Day now behind us, you might think we've started the summer season. But, not so, newsletter editor Bianca Phillips tells us. It just means the start of the grilling season. Is that true? It might be in the eye of the beholder as both the Shelby County Board of Commissioners and Memphis City Council continue their budget season. And for others, it's Memphis Italian Festival season. Join us as we set the agenda for the short week ahead [https://dailymemphian.com/article/63136/this-week-in-memphis-memorial-day-italian-fest-south-main?utm_source=site_search&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=site_search]. Plus: * Most suburban school districts are seeing flat funding from municipalities despite rising property values [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/metroeducation/article/62929/memphis-suburban-school-districts-flat-funding] * A Memphis kid has performed in "Michael" [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/arts-cultureperforming-arts/article/63146/jaylen-hunter-memphis-briarcrest-marlon-michael-jackon-lion-king] * The former Immaculate Conception high school buildings are being demolished [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businessreal-estate/article/63206/cathedral-of-immaculate-conception-midtown-memphis-demolished] * TBI is investigating a second fatality involving the Task Force in a week [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metropublic-safety/article/63162/tbi-investigates-second-mstf-shooting-in-week] * A federal judge denied an injunction against TN's new congressional map [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metrostate-government/article/63212/why-federal-judge-ruled-against-tennessee-redistricting-injunction] * County primary election results have been certified but there may be a challenge [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metroelections/article/63213/shelby-county-primary-election-results-certified-possible-challenge-2026] * The Melting Pot returns to East Memphis [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businessreal-estate/article/63143/memphis-food-files-melting-pot-pyros-zio-matto-the-lobbyist]

May traditions, old and new

Two longtime Memphis events [https://dailymemphian.com/section/arts-culturethe-to-do-list/article/63046/memphis-to-do-list-great-american-river-run-sunset-symphony-lemon-drop-festival] return this weekend, right in time for Memorial Day. The first is the Great American River Run, which is hosted by Memphis in May International Festival and starts and finishes Downtown. The second is the Sunset Symphony, now held at the Overton Park Shell, with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. In between, there's a show you can't bring your phone to and a festival for lemon-drop-lovers. Newsletter editor Bianca Phillips joins us today to talk about what you might want to do. Plus: * A Memphis man is granted a 1-year stay after his execution was called off [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metropublic-safety/article/63170/tennessee-halts-mans-execution] * The Memphis Airport is in the early planning stages of a new rental-car facility [https://dailymemphian.com/section/businesstransportationlogistics/article/63163/memphis-international-airport-board-2027-budget] * Novel bookstore workers approve a union [https://dailymemphian.com/section/business/article/63147/novel-bookstore-workers-in-east-memphis-approve-union] * An immigrant rights group sues the Tennessee Highway Patrol over traffic stops in Memphis and Nashville [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metropublic-safety/article/63151/tennessee-immigrant-and-refugee-rights-rights-coalition-sues-highway-patrol] * The Lakeland School System approves the 2026-2027 budget [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/metroeducation/article/63088/lakeland-school-system-approves-2026-27-budget] * The Tsunami building goes on the market [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businessreal-estate/article/63123/memphis-restaurant-tsunami-building-for-sale-cooper-young]