The AM/DM

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]

A visit to Hernando's Hide-A-Way

Brand USA was established in 2010 to market the U.S. as a tourist destination. Think the Las Vegas strip, Mount Rushmore, the Smithsonian and even Whitehaven's Hernando's Hide-A-Way. Joining us today is new business reporter Noah McLane, who took us to Whitehaven to talk about the historic bar. Plus: * The Memphis Safe Task Force faces a lawsuit over First Amendment rights and high arrest numbers [https://dailymemphian.com/article/63650/memphis-safe-task-force-faces-aclu-lawsuit-over] * The tax season drumbeat grows louder at City Hall [https://dailymemphian.com/article/63643/tax-season-drumbeat-grows-louder-at-city-hall] * The LUCB is considering four planned developments [https://dailymemphian.com/article/63642/lucb-considering-four-planned-developments] * A Memphis advisory board finalizes 11 community priorities for a $3 million AI fund [https://dailymemphian.com/section/business/article/63608/memphis-advisory-board-finalizes-11-community] * North Memphis is about to have Jazz and Blues [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businessreal-estate/article/63593/memphis-jazz-residential-neighborhood] * The extension of Nail Road in DeSoto County is open [https://dailymemphian.com/section/suburbsnorth-mississippi/article/63613/desoto-county-nail-road-extension-mississippi-olive-branch]

Flyway, budgets and 'The Birdcage'

Newsletter editor Bianca Phillips joins us in the studio today to prepare for the week ahead [https://dailymemphian.com/article/63540/this-week-in-memphis-budgets-season-memphis-flyway-city-pools-open?utm_source=site_search&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=site_search]. Plus: * A former Memphis news anchor starts a PR firm to help clients "command the moment" [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/business/article/63599/former-memphis-news-anchor-richard-ransom-starts-public-relations-firm] * Another 201 Poplar inmate dies [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metropublic-safety/article/63582/another-201-poplar-inmate-dies] * The City of Memphis is beginning to connect vacant lots in a North Memphis neighborhood to form a pattern of redevelopment [https://dailymemphian.com/section/businessreal-estate/article/63584/memphis-affordable-housing-development-north-essential] * Kuhn launches her congressional bid at a Cordova gas station [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metro/article/63580/memphis-democrat-heidi-kuhn-launches-bid-for-8th-congressional-district] * Former Evolve bank CEO is sentenced in a child sexual abuse material case [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/business/article/63550/memphis-bank-robert-hartheimer-sentenced-child-pornography]

Pizza witches, Filipino fest and Pride

Newsletter editor Bianca Phillips is here with all sorts of information about what to do this weekend [https://dailymemphian.com/section/arts-culturethe-to-do-list/article/63431/memphis-to-do-list-midsouth-pride-cemetery-cinema]. Plus: * Two Memphis restaurants are adding multiple locations [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businessreal-estate/article/63478/memphis-food-files-taco-prime-petals-peony-peach-cobble-factory-farm-table] * Central BBQ launches new breakfast items [https://dailymemphian.com/section/food15-deals/article/63554/memphis-restaurant-deal-central-bbq-brisket-burrito] * The renovated Bickford Aquatic Center makes a splash [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metrocity-of-memphis/article/63594/renovated-bickford-aquatic-center-makes-a-splash] * Ed Scott reveals how much Memphis spends on basketball and football [https://dailymemphian.com/section/sportsmemphis-tigers-basketball/article/63539/ed-scott-memphis-tigers-athletics-spending-budget] * County commissioners consider keeping the property tax rate at $2.69 [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metroshelby-county/article/63561/shelby-county-budget-property-tax-rate-board-of-commissioners] * The U of M board approves a tuition increase and bonus for the president [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/metroeducation/article/63546/u-of-m-board-approves-a-tuition-increase-bonus-for-president] * Ducks Unlimited raises billions for waterfowl protection [https://dailymemphian.com/section/business/article/63541/ducks-unlimited-raises-billions-for-wetland-protection]