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This is Executive Editor Mark Russell, and you're reading the Daily Briefing, our one-stop digital shop for the best Memphis stories from our award-winning Commercial Appeal team.
A Shelby County chancellor has denied a request for a temporary injunction filed in an attempt to halt construction of the new Memphis Brooks Museum of Art along Front Street in Downtown Memphis.
The ruling from Chancellor Melanie Taylor Jefferson comes months after a group of Memphians who trace their ancestry to Memphis' founders and Friends for Our Riverfront first filed the lawsuit to stop the Brooks from building a new museum, Lucas Finton and John Beifuss report in this story.
The group suing the city and Brooks Museum claims 200 years of previous legal precedent has been misunderstood and the city does not have the authority to build the structure on a specific piece of land.
End of an era in Public Works: Robert Knecht, director of public works for the City of Memphis, is retiring.
"Director Knecht has played a major role and leaves a legacy from his 23 years at the city of Memphis, moving from engineer to division Director in Public Works," Memphis Mayor Paul Young said in a statement Friday. "His work in sustainability and blight remediation will pay dividends for decades to come and his shoes will be hard to fill.
The announcement was sent to Memphis City Council members via email Friday afternoon, according to Councilwoman Jerri Green, Brooke Muckerman reports in this story.
Longtime United Way chief to retire: The Rev. Kenneth S. Robinson is retiring from his role as president and CEO of United Way of the Mid-South.
When reflecting on his decision to retire, Robinson said in a Wednesday release, "Today - it is a great season for UWMS, and also a great season for my family and me. (Forty-five) years of a marvelous marriage, our daughters’ weddings, grandchildren, and my evolving NextGen roles as family leader are now calling me to pivot. I appreciate the board’s graciously accepting my request to begin an executive transition.”
After over nine years as CEO and president and 25 years as a volunteer and board member, Robinson's impact on United Way is immeasurable, the group said, Nell Rainer reports in this story.
ICYMI: Meet Ed Scot: Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway was there.
Former Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland was, too. So were dozens of others — fans, donors, coaches, high-profile civic leaders — Friday for Ed Scott’s formal introduction as the University of Memphis’ new athletic director.
But it was Tia, Scott’s bubbly, precocious 5-year-old daughter, who stole the show. As the 44-year-old native New Yorker delivered his first public remarks in the lobby of the Laurie-Walton Family Basketball Center since being named AD, he laid out his vision for the Tigers athletic department. He addressed each elephant in the room: conference realignment; the looming ramifications of the landmark House v. NCAA settlement; the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium renovation project; the name, image and likeness (NIL) landscape; ticket sales; fundraising, and so on, Jason Munz reports in this story.
End of Luke Kennard era? In a surprising turn, the Memphis Grizzlies have elected to not pick up Luke Kennard’s $14.8 million team option, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnaroswki.
Kennard has been one of the NBA’s top 3-point shooters and made 48.3% of his attempts in 63 games with Memphis. He joined the Grizzlies in February 2023 via trade and gave the team a much-needed shooting boost, Damichael Cole reports in this story.
The report said both sides are interested in a restructured deal, which likely would need to get under the first tax apron.
Grizzlies in free agency: An interesting free agency period awaits the Memphis Grizzlies.
Memphis concluded the NBA draft by acquiring a center and two of the best shooters available, but those three players will be rookies. The fact that Memphis selected three players has brought even more intrigue to the rest of the summer, Damichael Cole reports in this story.
With Yuta Watanabe declining his player option and Lamar Stevens entering free agency, Memphis had two open roster spots. Guard Scotty Pippen Jr. and center Trey Jemison also are on two of the three available two-way contacts.
First-round pick Zach Edey will sign a standard deal, giving Memphis 14 players on the main roster.
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