After 20 years holding federal office, Cohen drops out

Why would the City Council chair want to split the IT department?

Earlier this year, two draft Memphis City Council resolutions, both regarding the city's Information Technology department, appeared on the body's agenda. Both were quickly pulled from the city's website and the agenda without explanation. Now we know, based on emails and other documents, that the proposals were pulled after Memphis Mayor Paul Young's administration warned the City Council chair [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/metrocity-of-memphis/article/63358/memphis-city-council-jana-swearengen-washington-warned] that her behavior could violate the city charter. Joining us today is reporter Sam Hardiman to talk about the proposals, what the Young administration was concerned about and several City Council staffers being let go. Plus: * Germantown's Glasgow plan is stuck in limbo amid FEMA delays [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/article/63403/government-shutdown-delays-germantown-country-club-development] * UTHSC is investigating former employees after a racism claim involving a controversial instructor [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businesshealth-care/article/63412/midtown-memphis-uthsc-launches-investigation-into-former-employees] * The Horseshoe Tunica operator is closer to a $17B merger [https://dailymemphian.com/section/business/article/63372/caesars-entertainment-horshoe-casino-tunica-mississippi] * A long-vacant Holiday Inn and FedEx campus on Lamar gets a new owner [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businessreal-estate/article/63364/former-holiday-inn-and-fedex-office-property] * A longtime Tonica staffer starts a new bakery [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/food/article/63402/memphis-downtown-bobs-bakery-inside-tonica-restaurant]

Giddy-up and ring the bell

A new public company is ready to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners is discussing $18 million and the 77th Germantown Charity Horse Show rides again. That's what's up ahead this week [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metro/article/63319/this-week-in-memphis-fedex-freight-goes-public-germantown-horse-show]. Newsletter editor Bianca Phillips is here to talk all about it. Plus: * A Hernando High substitute teacher has been arrested for child pornography [https://dailymemphian.com/section/suburbsnorth-mississippi/article/63401/hernando-high-substitute-teacher-arrested-child-pornography] * The Hound Dogs think they have a product that will work [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/business/article/63359/memphis-hound-dogs-football-the-arena-league-indoor-team] * The Arlington mayor's shoplifting case is dismissed [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metropublic-safety/article/63314/arlington-mayor-wissman-shoplifting-case-dismissed] * State prosecutors and civil rights attorneys argue over a bail statute [https://dailymemphian.com/section/metropublic-safety/article/63354/tennessee-state-prosecutors-and-civil-rights] * The Memphis council chair was warned that her behavior could violate the city charter [https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/metrocity-of-memphis/article/63358/memphis-city-council-jana-swearengen-washington-warned] * There's an app to track sex offenders in DeSoto County [https://dailymemphian.com/section/suburbsnorth-mississippi/article/63369/desoto-county-sheriffs-office-sex-offender-tracking-app]

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]