The AM/DM

Why North Mississippi's child predator problem may be perception

When Southaven police arrested a substitute Hernando High school teacher earlier this month for possessing child pornography, it raised some questions. Over the past year, several headlines out of North Mississippi have centered on child pornography, sexual assault and statutory rape, and members of the community have begun to wonder what is going on. Today, North Mississippi reporter Aarron Fleming joins us to talk about what the data shows [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/metropublic-safety/article/63692/desoto-county-child-predators-attorney-general-matthew-barton-mississippi-lynn-fitch] and how the area compares to Memphis and other parts of Mississippi. Plus: * Inspire Community Cafe is closing this month [https://dailymemphian.com/section/foodfood-news/article/63814/inspire-community-cafe-closing-this-month] * The man acquitted in the killing of Young Dolph is arrested again [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metropublic-safety/article/63808/memphis-man-acquitted-young-dolph-case-arrested-again] * Positive momentum in the area fuels the North Mississippi industrial development [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businessreal-estate/article/63806/hillwood-memphis-area-spec-building] * Mississippi officials prepare for the return to 2022 legislative maps [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/suburbsnorth-mississippi/article/63790/mississippi-secretary-of-state-prepare-return-2022-maps]

Juneteenth, local breweries and don't forget Dad

There's plenty going on [https://dailymemphian.com/article/63750/this-week-in-memphis-juneteeth-blue-monkey-closing] as we begin a new work week. Newsletter editor Bianca Phillips is here to discuss it all. Plus: * More than 100 images linked to a used cellphone lead to an alleged child predator's arrest [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metropublic-safety/article/63818/cellphone-pictures-lead-memphis-police-to-arrest-alleged-child-predator] * The Flyway completes the Tom Lee Park transformation [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metrocity-of-memphis/article/63826/flyway-complete-tom-lee-park-transformation] * Frayser high has a name but it won't be the only new school for the neighborhood [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metroeducation/article/63779/memphis-shelby-county-schools-mscs-frayser-high-school] * AutoZone extends a title-sponsorship agreement with the Liberty Bowl [https://dailymemphian.com/article/63756/autozone-extends-liberty-bowl-title-sponsorship-agreement?utm_source=site_search&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=site_search] * Soul & Spirits buys the Memphis Made trademark [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/business/article/63758/soul-spirits-brewery-buys-memphis-made-brewing-trademark] * The Memphis Redbirds reacted to the city council's pushback on funding [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metrocity-of-memphis/article/63778/memphis-redbirds-councilmember-tangle-over-autozone-park] * A New York firm acquires a former Memphis chemical manufacturer facility [https://dailymemphian.com/section/businessreal-estate/article/63748/new-york-firm-acquires-former-pmc-biogenix-north-memphis]

A deja vu kind of weekend

If you missed last weekend's record swap, Filipino Fest or the Drive-in Laser Light Show, you have another, or similar, chance this weekend. Bianca Phillips joins us this morning to talk about all that [https://dailymemphian.com/section/arts-culturethe-to-do-list/article/63640/memphis-to-do-list-wiseacre-beer-cruise-sweeney-todd-monster-club-museum] and to shepherd us through the weekend. Plus: * The state vows to speed up roadwork on Elvis Presley Boulevard [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metrocity-of-memphis/article/63791/state-to-speed-up-roadwork-on-elvis-presley] * A new Treadwell school project could be a county-budget casualty [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/metroeducation/article/63807/treadwell-k-8-school-memphis-shelby-county-schools-mscs] * SpaceX adds more turbines as a court fight continues [https://dailymemphian.com/section/business/article/63786/spacex-adds-more-turbines-in-desoto-county-mississippi-as-naacp-lawsuit-continues] * The City Council questions the need for AutoZone Park money [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metrocity-of-memphis/article/63740/memphis-city-council-balks-at-autozone-park-maintenance-funding] * Bartlett passes a mayor's pay increase, a property tax rate and budget [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/suburbsbartlett/article/63719/bartlett-mayor-pay-david-parsons-reaves-kevin-quinn-property-tax-rate] * The Olive Branch Planning Commission denies a new project that could have included a data center [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/suburbsnorth-mississippi/article/63746/olive-branch-planning-commission-denies-new-project] * A new Goodwill Bargain Barn location is coming to Southeast Memphis [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businessreal-estate/article/63702/cordova-creek-apartments-townsend-insurance-memphis-goodwill]

Ardent Studios goes silent as lawsuits get ugly

One of Memphis' most famous music studios, Ardent Studios, is in legal and financial limbo as an ugly legal battle unfolds. The studio has closed as lawsuits between the studio's owner, Betty Fry, and Mark Baranauskas, who also goes by the name "Mark Danger," play out. Reporter Jody Callahan has the story [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/article/63609/memphis-ardent-studios-lawsuits] and joined Eric Barnes to talk about what's happening. Plus: * The Overton Park Shell "shell-ebrates" 90 years with free fall shows [https://dailymemphian.com/section/arts-culturemusic/article/63734/anniversaries-festivals-fill-overton-park-shell-fall-2026] * The City of Memphis is confident that SpaceX will finish a water recycling plant [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metrocity-of-memphis/article/63701/xai-water-plant-update] * FedEx pilots get pay hikes and working condition changes [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businesstransportationlogistics/article/63705/fedex-pilots-ratify-new-contract] * The National Civil Rights Museum launches the Bayard Rustin Institute [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metrocity-of-memphis/article/63714/downtown-memphis-civil-rights-museum-launches-bayard-rustin-institute]

Harnessing art to overcome ADHD

During elementary school, James Jin's teachers warned his parents that if he wasn't placed in special education classes, he might not make it to high school. But in May, Jin graduated fifth in his class, with straight A's, from White Station High School, and he'll start at Yale University in the fall. In the interim, he started ArtFlow, a nonprofit that provides art programming and is now in more than 200 schools. Reporter John Klyce joins us today to tell us more about Jin and his journey [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/metrospirit-of-memphis/article/62974/memphis-teenager-art-focused-nonprofit-for-neurodivergent-youth] to help thousands of students with autism, dyslexia, ADHD and other forms of neurodivergence. Plus: * Funding for Audubon Park's splash pad and clubhouse moves forward [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metrocity-of-memphis/article/63700/audubon-park-golf-course-get-money-splash-pad-clubhouse] * Viet Hoa owners are opening a large international market [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/foodfood-news/article/63576/viet-hoa-owners-open-international-market-cordova] * Work starts on the $70M Smokey City Market in North Memphis [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businessreal-estate/article/63620/smokey-city-market-north-memphis-community-redevelopment-agency-cra] * The Blue Monkey is closing its doors in Midtown [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/business/article/63635/blue-monkey-closing-midtown-memphis] * Navy levels up recruitment efforts with an East Memphis esports facility [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/article/63315/us-navy-esports-facility-east-memphis-video-game-competition?utm_source=site_search&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=site_search]