Month: November 2016

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News News Blog

MPD Will Soon Be Watching at Pure Passion

CREDIT: Google Maps

Google Maps

A Brooks Road nightclub will close and re-open with security cameras that hook up directly to the Memphis Police Department’s (MPD) Real Time Crime Center.

Owners of Pure Passion reached an agreement with the city of Memphis and the Shelby County District Attorney General’s (SCDAG) office to close for 30 days, “in light of several recent shootings on and near the property.”

Here’s what the SCDAG’s office said of the move:

“When the club reopens, on Dec. 20, 2016, it will do so with new security measures including heightened security and an array of security cameras that have the capability to be monitored by MPD at the Real Time Crime Center.

“This closure and these improvements are meant to ensure the safety of the club’s patrons, surrounding community, and businesses. It is a consensual resolution and signifies the owners’ willingness to cooperate with authorities as well as this office and its partners’ interest in the operation of peaceful business for the citizens of Shelby County.”

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Fly On The Wall Blog Opinion

A Useful GIF of Andy Wise Saying, “We’re Here.”

WMC’s consumer investigator Andy Wise got an IKEA preview last week. Wise previewed that preview by tweeting this GIF, which really deserves an afterlife. Share it Memphis. Use it well.

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News News Blog

Infant Mortality Numbers Hit Record Low in Shelby County

CREDIT: Shelby County Health Department

Shelby County Health Department

The numbers of infants dying before their first birthday are now historically low, but for black women they are still too high.

This morning, the Shelby County Health Department announced that the infant mortality rate has fallen to the lowest number ever recorded by the health department, 8.2 deaths per 1,000 live births.

“We have made significant improvements and are encouraged by the decreased rate,” said Alisa Haushalter, DNP, RN, director of the Shelby County Health Department. “We will continue to collaborate with all partners; partners who work tirelessly to ensure all babies not only live to celebrate their first birthday but thrive in a healthy community.”

While this IMR number is the lowest it’s ever been in recorded history, the number still disproportionately affect non-hispanic blacks, who have 10.6 deaths per 1,000 live births. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention through Healthy People 2020 has established the national IMR at 6 deaths per 1,000 live births.

To be certain, this number is a vast improvement since 2003, when the IMR rate among black communities was a devastating 21 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2008, national attention turned to Memphis when ABC’s news show, 20/20, focused their attention on the staggering crisis happening in Memphis’ poorest, majority-black neighborhoods.

Over the years, experts from multiple organizations committed to combatting the problem routinely point to a lack of access to prenatal care and education for expecting mothers. This lack of critical resources is what results in low birth weights, birth defects, maternal complications during pregnancy, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Shelby County mayor Mark Luttrell said he is “pleased” with the dropping numbers, and directly attributes the decline to the work of the health department and various advocacy organizations that focus on educating expecting mothers, saying their work “has certainly assisted many mothers and their children at this critical time in their lives.”

Categories
Film/TV Film/TV/Etc. Blog

Danny Says Reveals Untold Story of the Punk Revolution

To a lot of America in the 1970s, it seemed like punk rock just appeared out of nowhere to challenge the content mediocrity of the status quo. But that’s not really how it happened. Punk did not spring forth fully formed like Athena from the head of Zeus. It was shaped and midwifed by a series of writers, hucksters, and hustlers, the most prominent of whom was a New York promoter named Danny Fields.

Fields is the subject of Danny Says, a new documentary directed by Brenden Toller, that will have a free screening at Studio on the Square on Tuesday, November 22 at 7:30 PM. The film explores the lasting impact the hype man had on American music, from his promotion of The Doors to his careful shaping of the rough public images of artists like Iggy Pop and The Ramones, whose song about Fields gives the film its name. Goner Records and Magnolia Pictures are sponsoring the screening, which, although it is free, does require a ticket to get in. Passes are available at Goner Records while supplies last.

Danny Says Reveals Untold Story of the Punk Revolution

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Film/TV Film/TV/Etc. Blog

Music Video Monday: P. Moses

Today’s Music Video Monday is fired up, ready to go!

When she’s not busy speaking truth to power, activist P. Moses spends her time dropping sick beats. For the Memphis rapper, marching for Black Lives Matter and cutting hip hop anthems are all a part of the same work of waking up the sleeping populace. Her latest, “We Rockin We Ain’t Stoppin” dropped late last month. The video includes footage of last summer’s BLM protests downtown, and serves as a rousing call to action in troubled times.

Music Video Monday: P. Moses

If you would like to see your music video featured on Music Video Monday, email cmccoy@memphisflyer.com

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From My Seat Sports

Giving Thanks for Sporting Events of 2016

This is my favorite column of the year, a chance for me to fill that mocking space on my screen with the sports-related subjects I’m most grateful to have in my club car on this train called life.

Gratitude. Give it a chance.

• I’m grateful for Year Seven of the Memphis Grizzlies’ “core four.” I wish we could come up with a more distinctive tag for our “fab four”: Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, Tony Allen, and Zach Randolph. They’ve earned that much, sticking together in one of the NBA’s smallest markets in an age when as many as five years with a franchise — for a single player, let alone a quartet — is considered lengthy. For some perspective, the Lakers’ great foursome of the Eighties — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, James Worthy, and Michael Cooper — played exactly seven seasons together. More recently in San Antonio, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Bruce Bowen broke up the band after seven years. Four years with one super-teammate (Dwyane Wade) was enough for LeBron James, and they won a pair of titles together. We won’t see another foursome like this at FedExForum.

Tubby Smith

• I’m grateful for Georgia Tech hiring Josh Pastner . . . and Memphis hiring Tubby Smith. Exhale. Last winter was excruciatingly uncomfortable for anyone in proximity to Pastner and the multiplying empty seats on game nights at FEF. And that contract(!) that made it all but impossible for the U of M to dismiss him. Thankfully, these kinds of divorces seem to unfold as they should. A good man is in a happier place. And a good program can aim to be great again under the wise watch of a man aiming to take a sixth program to the NCAA tournament.

• I’m grateful for an early look at Alex Reyes. The big righty appears to be on his way to stardom with the St. Louis Cardinals. It was nice to watch a few Reyes outings at AutoZone Park, the latest Redbirds coming attraction.

• I’m grateful for George Lapides and Phil Cannon and all they gave the Memphis sports community. Like days of the week, a sports community — its teams, its fans, its sponsors, its venues, its media personalities — has a “feel.” George and Phil brought a warmth — and distinct passion — to sports in Memphis. They live on in every one of us who attends a ball game now and then.

• I’m grateful for Mike Norvell’s energy and confidence. He’s the first Memphis Tiger football coach in generations to face an imposing task in filling his predecessor’s shoes. He has graciously saluted Justin Fuente’s achievements in building the program . . . while emphasizing it’s not where he and his staff want it be. Not yet. His prematurely gray hair gives Norvell the appearance of a man beyond his 35 years. So does his attention to detail and single-minded focus in making Memphis a premium program. It’s the hardest sports job in town.

• I’m grateful for my daughters’ continued commitment to team sports. One will play her senior high school softball season as an All-Metro outfielder, while the other played her first varsity soccer season as merely a freshman. They are bright, skilled, beautiful young ladies. And they know well the values that make a good teammate. Such is necessary in the wide world that awaits them.

• I’m grateful to be following in the footsteps — literally, and rapidly — of my 5K-running wife. Her commitment to not just running, but competing, is a healthy rebuke of any middle-age ceiling on athleticism. I’m especially grateful for her waiting for me at the finish line, one race after another.

• I’m grateful for you. And every one of the Flyer readers who give us a platform to share news, views, and analysis of the people and events that make Memphis such an extraordinary town. I appreciate your counterpoints, value your applause, and listen to your criticism. You give my job redeeming value.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Categories
Sports Tiger Blue

Tigers 99, Savannah State 86

Sophomore guard Craig Randall came off the bench and scored 21 points — more than double his previous career high — to lead Memphis to its third victory in six days, over another bunch of Tigers from Savannah State. The Tigers withstood several Savannah State runs fueled by long-distance shooting — the visitors made 16 of 48 shots from long range — to improve to 3-0 on the young season.

Six Tigers scored in double figures and sophomore forward Dedric Lawson became the 14th Tiger to have 20 career double-doubles. In scoring 21 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, and dishing out seven assists, Lawson fell three dimes short of the program’s fourth triple-double. K.J. Lawson scored 14 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to join his younger brother in the double-double category for a second straight game.

Larry Kuzniewski

Craig Randall

As his rotation begins to coalesce, Memphis coach Tubby Smith hopes to see more outbursts from role players like Randall. “I’m pulling for each kid to have great days,” said Smith after the game. “I couldn’t be happier for Craig. I’m impressed with what he’s doing. We needed him to do that. I expect players to make every shot, to be honest with you. He works very hard in practice. He and Jeremiah [Martin] have been in the Finch Center religiously. It’s paying off for him.”

Savannah State closed within four points at halftime on a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Kamil Williams. Casey Wells hit six of seven from three-point range before the break and finished the game with eight treys and a game-high 24 points.

The U of M started the second half with a 10-3 run and a Randall three-pointer gave Memphis a 67-52 lead with just under 14 minutes left to play. But Savannah State twice closed the gap within single digits, the last time at 86-77 with just under five minutes left on the clock. Memphis dominated its undersized opponent n the rebounding department, 55-33, and managed to hit free throws (18 for 25) three days after missing 10 of 12 against Milwaukee.

Jeremiah Martin continued his evolution into this team’s point guard, handing out eight assists (with three turnovers) in 33 minutes. Center Chad Rykhoek scored 10 points in 16 minutes, Markel Crawford added 14, and Jimario Rivers scored 11 points off the bench. Martin emphasized the scoring by committee is a result of the culture being established for the season ahead. “We don’t care about who gets the credit,” said the sophomore from Mitchell High School. “We don’t even look at the scorebook. If someone’s ahead of you, give it up to him.”

“Everybody eats,” added Randall. “Regardless of who scores, everybody’s gonna enjoy it. As long as we get the win, we’re fine.”

The Tigers will have Sunday off then one day to prepare for McNeese State (tipoff at 7 p.m. Tuesday at FedExForum). Smith acknowledged he doesn’t even know the Cowboys’ record, emphasizing that his teams practice the same way, with the same intent, no matter the opponent. “We’ve been logging a lot of minutes,” he said. “Thirty-two for Dedric today, 33 for Jeremiah. The key is consistency, continuity. We’ve got to keep them improving, with film study when we need to. That’s how we keep them focused.”

As for the improved free-throw shooting, Smith chuckled and said he gave the free-throw coach a raise. He then patted himself on the back.

Categories
Sports Tiger Blue

Tigers 34, Cincinnati 7

The Tigers clinched a third straight winning season by earning their seventh victory Friday night at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. Despite losing quarterback Riley Ferguson in the first quarter, Memphis rolled over their longtime rivals to improve to 7-4 for the season (4-3 in American Athletic Conference play).

Ferguson appeared to hit his head on the turf after being sacked on the Tigers’ second series of the game. Senior Jason Stewart took over at quarterback and threw his first touchdown pass of the season, a short strike to tight end Joey Magnifico early in the second quarter.

The Tigers reached a couple of significant scoring milestones. They surpassed 400 points for the third straight season after tallying such a figure only once before (2004). And senior kicker Jake Elliott reached 100 points for his third straight season. Elliott has already broken the program records for career field goals (78) and points (426).

Curtis Akins and Chris Morley each intercepted Cincinnati quarterback Hayden Moore in the first quarter, setting up short scoring drives that gave Memphis a 13-0 lead. The Bearcats punted four times and lost a fumble in addition to the two first-half picks, contributing to a 27-0 Memphis lead at the break.

Stewart hit Anthony Miller for a 22-yard touchdown early in the third quarter and the only remaining score came on a Moore-to-Devin Gray pass less than two minutes into the fourth quarter. The Bearcat touchdown ended a streak of 39 Cincinnati drives without reaching pay dirt.

Stewart completed 13 of 15 passes for 138 yards and the two touchdowns. Tailback Doroland Dorceus ran for 66 yards and scored two touchdowns, giving him 24 in his Memphis career (fourth in Tiger history). The Memphis defense held Cincinnati to 242 yards for the game as the Bearcats fell to 3-8 on the season (1-6 in AAC play).

The victory establishes a new high for any three-year period in Tiger football history. Memphis has now won 26 games since the beginning of the 2014 season.

Next for the U of M will be Senior Day, the regular season finale against Houston next Friday at the Liberty Bowl. (Kickoff time for the game will be determined late Saturday night.) The Cougars are coming off a huge upset of 3rd-ranked Louisville Thursday night.

Categories
Film/TV Film/TV/Etc. Blog

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Celebration Slated Saturday At Cossitt Library

Saturday evening at the Downtown Cossitt Library, the final Pandemonium Cinema Showcase event of the year will honor the 45th anniversary of a beloved children’s classic.

Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka

When Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was released in June 1971, it made money but was not a huge hit for Paramount and director Mel Stuart. But over the years of Sunday night TV reruns and home video rentals by parents of young kids, it would become a beloved cult film, eventually landing on the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry.

The 45th anniversary of the visually colorful but surprisingly darkly themed film comes at a poignant time, with the recent passing of Gene Wilder, the genius comic actor whose turn as Wonka would prove to be a warm up for his double shot of Young Frankenstein and Blazing Saddles.



The Pandamonium series, masterminded by Black Lodge Video’s Matt Martin and director Craig Brewer, was started to not only strengthen the cinema community in Memphis, but also increase the visibility of the long neglected Cossitt Library. The shows have been elaborate, interactive affairs, and this screening promises Oompa Loompas handing out candy in real time and much more. Best of all, it’s totally free!

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory will begin at 5:30 PM at the Cossitt Library. The movie is free, but seating will be limited to 100 people. Then at 7:00, a second film based on a Roald Dahl story, James and the Giant Peach, followed by an encore of Wonka at 8:45.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Celebration Slated Saturday At Cossitt Library

Categories
News News Blog

Weirich Responds to Added Charges, Denies Unethical Conduct

Shelby County District Attorney General (SCDAG) Amy Weirich never saw nor knew about a key witness statement in the Noura Jackson murder case because the Memphis Police Department “failed to deliver” it to her.

That’s the key takeaway from Weirich’s response Friday to a call for additional charges against her from the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Office of Professional Responsibility.

That office has charged that Weirich hid crucial evidence in the Jackson murder case from Jackson’s attorneys. Two weeks ago, the office called for additional charges against Weirich that said at worst, Weirich had actual knowledge of the witness statement and, at least, Weirich failed to fully familiarize herself with the Jackson case.

But Weirich’s response to the TBPR denied any ethical misconduct, denied that she had any actual knowledge of the witness statement, and that she did, indeed, fulfill her duty to know the case. The response said she never received the witness statement, “in as much as the Memphis Police Department failed to deliver to the prosecution” the statement.

The TBPR is also seeking additional discipline of Weirich because of her extensive experience in the practice of law. To this, Weirich “denies she is properly the subject of any discipline in this matter.”

Weirich’s response to the TBPR says she hopes all of the charges against her – old and new – will be dismissed.