money The 901: Waiting for your plane at Memphis International Airport just got a whole lot better
Good morning, Memphis, where we are starting to see Memphis Tigers as an NCAA team after last night’s win against Cincinnati — extending their win streak to six.
But, first, Memphis International Airport officially opened its $245 million revamped Concourse B Tuesday.
The renovation had been in the works for about 10 years and now features an abundance of natural light, wide-open spaces and other amenities modern travelers look for, our Corinne Kennedy reports.
“(It’s) a space that’s larger and more expansive. It’s comfortable, functional and desirable in every way,” said Pace Cooper, the former chairman of the Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority.
Within Concourse B, it features five works of art that totaled more than $500,000 to commission.
Two of those projects include “heartbeat” and “soul,” created by Memphis artist Jamond Bullock and his friend from Philadelphia, artist Eric Okdeh. I followed the two artists last summer as they completed the projects, which show travelers what Memphis is truly about.
“Our biggest thing is we wanted people to see in this mural ‘OK, this is capturing the essence of Memphis — what it feels like. Not just barbecue and music, but this feeling you get.’”
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Several Memphis City Councilmembers object to state preemption
Many members on the Memphis City Council voiced their discontent as a bill that would outlaw the requirement of Memphis police officers and firefighters to live in Shelby County works toward passage, our Samuel Hardiman reports.
Councilwoman Michalyn Easter-Thomas described the bill as “meddling” in Memphis’ affairs.
However, the bill was supported by Memphis Police Chief CJ Davis, who went to Nashville last week while the bill was being discussed by the Tennessee General Assembly.
Memphis man heads to trial over alleged role in Capitol riot
Memphis business owner Matthew Bledsoe will likely head to trial for his involvement in the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
According to court filings, Bledsoe rejected a plea deal from the U.S. government on Jan. 31. Court documents did not detail the conditions of the plea agreement, our Micaela Watts reports.
His attorney has requested a trial date in August.
Mayor Jim Strickland wants to study how to avoid widescale electrical outages
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland proposed a study commission to examine how to avoid widescale electrical outages in the future, our Samuel Hardiman reports.
The commission will also discuss selling Memphis, Light, Gas and Water, Strickland said.
MLGW CEO J.T. Young presented a detailed report to Memphis City Council Tuesday on how the utility company restored power in the aftermath of Winter Storm Landon.
"I apologize. I know we can do better and we will," Young said.
Who to blame for Memphis’ massive power outage?
Crumbling infrastructure, not geriatric trees, makes cities like Memphis more vulnerable to extreme weather, our Tonyaa Weathersbee writes.
Here’s an excerpt from her latest column regarding the massive power outage thousands of Memphians experienced.
Let’s not scapegoat the trees.
During Winter Storm Landon, the recent ice storm that plunged much of Memphis and Shelby County into darkness and cold, a chief cause of it, officials said, was the city’s aged trees. The ice that amassed on them was too much for their feeble branches to bear.
So, trees collapsed on power lines. The outages left people scrambling to stay warm, and to see at night – some for nearly 12 days.
But the problem isn’t simply that many of Memphis’ areas, areas like South and East Memphis, and Midtown, have too many old trees. In fact, as climate change threatens to turn Memphis into a heat island during the summer, one of its best defenses is the tree canopy that covers much of it.
Memphis’ problem is that it has too much old infrastructure.
How gastric bypass surgery led to a healthy lifestyle for people in Mid-South
Dr. Robert Wegner, a bariatric surgeon at Saint Francis Hospital Memphis, solely performs gastric bypass and gastric sleeve surgeries — attending to the needs of people in the Mid-South.
Wegner and his team do upwards of 500 bariatric surgeries a year, our Corinne Kennedy reports.
"I'm not glad that there's a huge need for our program, but I'm glad that we are here because there is such a big need," said Leslie Albers, a bariatric program manager who has worked with Saint Francis patients for 19 years.
"We can reduce their risk of having a heart attack or their diabetes getting out of control."
Corinne introduces us to former patients of Wegner’s and how the couple’s lives have changed for the better since their surgery in her story for subscribers.
Bounty on Broad has a new chef and menu
Bounty on Broad is entering its third chapter, this time with chef Andrew Armstrong at the helm of the kitchen, our Jennifer Chandler reports.
Since the opening of the restaurant in 2014, Jennifer has always been a fan of the restaurant located in the Broad Avenue Arts District.
Now, with a new menu and Armstrong’s arrival in the kitchen, Jennifer takes us to her table and describes her experience. She tells us what we can all expect if we plan to visit.
Memphis Tigers are looking like an NCAA Tournament team
When the NCAA Tournament brackets are revealed this week, the Memphis Tigers are likely to be included, our Mark Giannotto writes in his latest column for subscribers. Memphis is now closer to a successful Selection Sunday than perhaps it has ever been during this ignominious NCAA Tournament drought.
Here’s an excerpt:
The answers to what Memphis basketball perceived as disrespect came in a variety of shots and sizes.
A couple transition 3-pointers by guard Tyler Harris. A driving layup by junior Lester Quinones. A bank shot by freshman Josh Minott. Three-straight buckets inside by freshman Jalen Duren. A cold-blooded 3-pointer by guard Landers Nolley II. A layup by senior Alex Lomax off a sweet extra pass by Nolley. And finally, clutch foul shots by Nolley, Harris and Quinones.
It won’t be remembered as the best 20 minutes Memphis played this season. Heck, it wasn’t the Tigers’ best 20 minutes during their 81-74 win at Cincinnati on Tuesday night. But Memphis (15-8, 9-4 AAC) never looked more like an NCAA Tournament team this season than that second half at Cincinnati (16-9, 6-6).
Think you know everything about Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant?
Sometimes, it seems like the entire world is marveling over Ja Morant's latest highlight-reel dunk, block, pass or layup.
For that reason, our John Beifuss decided to get specific and focus on Morant himself, who arguably has brought more positive attention to Memphis than anyone since Elvis or Al Green, in his revival of our Memphis Trivia Quiz.
Take the quiz and find out exactly how much you really know about the Memphis Grizzlies’ star.
The 901 was written by Ray Padilla, the digital producer for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at raymond.padilla@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @Ray_Padilla_.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: The 901: Remodeled Memphis International Airport Concourse B opens
