Month: July 2025

Categories
News News Blog News Feature

MATA Board Responds To Financial Misspending Findings

Photo: Justin Fox Burks

The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA’s) Board of Commissioners voiced their commitment to addressing internal financial problems, following the release of a monetary audit.

Earlier this week, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a management consulting agency, released an audit on the transit authority. The report detailed several financial failures by the agency, including incomplete invoices, unchecked spending, and operation “without a defined budget.”

“MATA was unable to consistently provide documentation requested by PwC for selected transactions,” the report said. “This includes required approvals, certain financial documentation (e.g. purchase orders and invoices) and other supporting  documentation (e.g. contracts) to assess business purpose and/or proof of performance for payments to vendors.”

The report recommended the agency “establish a strong internal control environment” to improve public trust and viability.

Ana McQuiston, a MATA commissioner, used Wednesday’s board meeting to address the findings with the public.

The board issued the following statement:

“The MATA Board of Commissioners acknowledges receipt of the Financial Lookback report prepared by PwC. We take the findings and recommendations in the report very seriously. As a public agency, MATA is committed to upholding transparency, accountability, and adherence to all established policies and procedures. We will conduct a thorough review of its contents and collaborate with the city of Memphis to assess any opportunities for strengthening internal control and improving financial oversight. Focus remains on serving the public responsibility and restoring trust through continuous improvements and responsible stewardship.”

McQuiston clarified that the spending detailed in the report was made under former employees, and was not a reflection of the current board or leadership. She also assured the public that the board was working with the city to strengthen protocol and operational standards.

The board announced that they had filled the position of chief financial officer (CFO). The agency had operated without one since 2023. The agency will officially introduce the candidate in August.

MATA has also begun the search for a permanent CEO, following the dismissal of former interim CEO, Bacarra Mauldin. John Lewis, TransPro consultant, is currently assuming the role.

McQuiston said the board is prioritizing transparency, fiscal responsibility, and community trust for the position.

“We appreciate the community’s patience as we complete this turnaround and restore public confidence in MATA,” McQuiston said.

While the board sought to ensure the community of its commitment, some members of the public expressed dissatisfaction with the commissioner’s handling of current affairs.

“I don’t see the board or MATA working toward any kind of long-term goal,” Susan Morris said. “You don’t have a plan of what you’d like transit to be like in 15-20 years. I really don’t know what you want.”

Morris said while she’s aware the audit does not reflect the current board or leadership, she believes the board should pursue criminal charges against those responsible.

Other used the meeting as an opportunity to encourage the choosing of a CEO candidate that has a relationship with the ridership and seeks public accountability.

“The last two CEOs have been off the chain,” Sammie Hunter, co-chair of Memphis Bus Riders Union said. “They didn’t have any kind of relationship with these bus riders and turned their nose up at us like we weren’t nothing — but we’re people.”

Hunter added that the public was integral in urging Memphis City Council to hold the agency accountable. The public’s concern, he said, combined with that of city officials, has resulted in increased reporting from MATA.

Categories
Flyer Video News News Feature Politics Special Sections

Memphis Flyer Podcast July 31, 2025: Covering Crime in Memphis

Toby Sells and Chris McCoy discuss this week’s cover story on covering crime in Memphis and discuss the Memphis Flyer’s philosophy of public safety reporting.

Categories
Food & Drink Hungry Memphis

FOOD NEWS BITES: Chef Branon Mason Leaving Ciao Bella

Branon Mason in the Ciao Bella Italian Grill kitchen. (Credit: Michael Donahue)

Tonight will be the last time you can get Branon Mason to personally prepare his chicken Marsala, shrimp boscaiola, or smoked chicken ravioli as executive chef at Ciao Bella Italian Grill. Mason, who has been with Ciao Bella for 17 years, is leaving after dinner service July 30th at the restaurant at 5101 Sanderlin Avenue Number One in Sanderlin Centre.

His “quality of life needed to change,” says Mason, 41, who says it’s been “nothing but nights and weekends” since he began.

“I wanted to have a career where I can also benefit from being an executive chef, but also move up and in a more corporate role while also working on my art, my creative outlet.”

He and Akil Davis, a former Memphian and a longtime friend who has been living in New York City, are going to open Once in a Blue Moon Supper Club.

It won’t be a brick-and-mortar building, a least for now, but, rather, “an immersive event that incorporates performance, such as singing, dance, spoken word, all while combining whatever theme that we decided to put out.”

Blue Moon, which will feature food prepared by Mason and cocktails during the three-hour-or-so event, is “like a catered show. More of a showcase of talent that’s local.” 

It will be an event that travels to various locations that have a kitchen. “We don’t have a residency yet.”

The first Blue Moon event is slated to take place in late fall, Mason says.

It was “extremely difficult to leave” Ciao Bella, Mason says. “I’ve been attached to the Tashie family. David, Judd, and the late Paul Tashie. We’ve gotten really close over the years.”

And, he says, “They brought me in without any management experience. They saw how eager I was to become a chef. They put a lot of faith in me. That’s the reason I’m able to do what I’m doing now.”

Mason never went to culinary school. Instead it was “books and internet.” But, he says, “I was able to learn tons and tons of things working with Ciao.”

In addition to Blue Moon, Mason is taking the executive chef position at Robin Wood Resort in  Bartlett. The luxury retirement community is a nationwide organization with more than 60 properties, Mason says. “This provides me with weekends and evenings off. And it’s a more controlled environment.”

Mason will be sad to leave his regular Ciao Bella customers. “A lot of my reputation comes with just having great clients. That’s how the reputation grows. I’ve got good people that come in and eat with me. And it’s been a wonderful, wonderful time.”

Categories
Food & Wine Food & Drink

The Return of Hotel Pontotoc

Photo: Michael Donahue

It was fate that Joseph Lewis and Tony Kuhn would one day own Hotel Pontotoc. The boutique hotel and bar/restaurant The Dame will open mid-August at 69 Pontotoc Avenue.

For years, Lewis and Kuhn, lifelong friends and fellow soccer players, loved the circa 1906 building known as Hotel Pontotoc in Downtown Memphis. They just didn’t know they both loved the same building.

“This building was my favorite building in Memphis,” says Lewis, who also owns The Medicine Factory, an event space housed in a 1916 building. He even told his wife, “Some way, we’re going to own the Pontotoc hotel building.” 

“I’ve always loved this building,” says Kuhn, a former Memphian who now is president of Flywheel Group, an urban redevelopment group in Charlotte, North Carolina. “My grandmother was born in Pontotoc, Mississippi. I fell in love with this building the first time I saw it.”

The century-old hotel is set to reopen with renovated rooms. (Photo: Michael Donahue)

Several years ago, Kuhn told Lewis, “Hey, I’ve got a project for us to do together. This old hotel in Memphis.”

Then, Kuhn added, “This is a historic building Downtown on this street called Pontotoc.”

Lewis responded, “Is this a joke? You know about this building?”

Kuhn responded, “Twenty years ago I put a card on the door and asked them if they were ever willing to sell.”

In 2021, Kuhn discovered that the building, which was owned by Leigh Davis, was for sale. “I found out a contract for it fell through. She might be willing to sell. I started talking to her.”

Other people were interested in the building, but Davis sold it to Lewis and Kuhn in 2022.

They learned it was built in 1906 as a small upscale hotel with Turkish baths. It catered to the riverboat men and railroad workers from nearby Central Station. It had several names, including the Amanda and Belmont, before becoming the Pontotoc in 1916.

In later years the building housed a bordello, which, Lewis believes, was a nicer version of a brothel. The Pontotoc is said to be where Elvis lost his virginity. And it was purportedly the brothel depicted in William Faulkner’s novel The Reivers and the 1969 movie based on the book.

“Then in the ’30s, the Touliatos family bought it. George Sr. And under their ownership they made it back into a family-style hotel. Apparently, it was a pretty big Greek gathering place here in Memphis.”

The Touliatos family also owned the old Front Street Theatre, which was not far away in the basement of the old Hotel King Cotton.

The Pontotoc building was vacant for a while until the Davises bought it as their residence in 1980. They also owned a recording studio which was housed in the basement, where The Dame is now located.

The building was in “very, very bad shape” when they bought it, Lewis says. “It was in far worse shape than we thought.”

They had to remove asbestos and lead paint, raise the basement ceiling, and replace flooring, which was sitting on rotted sill plates that made the floors “all crazy, uneven and buckled.” 

Some floors didn’t even have boards. “There were parts of the floor upstairs you wouldn’t have wanted to put a toe on.”

Lewis and Kuhn wanted to keep as much of the original building as possible, like the plaster walls, though architects told them to “strip out everything.”

“That’s not what we wanted to do,” Lewis says, adding, “We tried to keep as much of this building as we possibly could.”

It took them three years to renovate the place. “Almost the first year was putting this thing back together where it was structurally sound enough to get in there,” Kuhn says.

“It was new windows, new floors,” Lewis says. “Putting Humpty Dumpty back together.”

But, he says, “The idea was always to make this into a boutique hotel, bar/restaurant, and a cool outdoor patio.”

The spacious patio area on the west side of the hotel includes room for a stage as well as a grassy area. It also features towering shade trees. “What we call ‘big nature trees.’ You don’t have big trees in an urban setting.”

The hotel had “up to 30 rooms” at one point, but Lewis and Kuhn wanted a more intimate hotel. Hotel Pontotoc now includes seven suites and three studios. 

They both knew Ann Parker of Parker Design Studio was going to be Hotel Pontotoc’s designer. All three shared the same vision.

There were “so many layers of visual history” at Hotel Pontotoc, Parker says. “We had already had some conversations about what range of decades we were going to focus on. And how are we going to hone in.”

The wallpaper peeling off the walls was one of the inspirations, she says. “Seeing layers behind it, that kind of spoke to us.”

Each room has a different theme, which is indicated by the room number. For instance, the number “1906” refers to when Hotel Pontotoc was built.

“We were subtle,” Lewis says. But, he adds, “There are a lot of nods to Memphis.”

The wallpaper is purple and orange, which is “a nod to FedEx.” And, he says, “One of the room’s wallpaper has this ivy looking feel to it. And that’s a nod to what the building looked like when we bought it.”

The building was covered with ivy, he says.

They kept a lot of items, including an old organ that may or may not have originally been in the lobby, a pinball machine, a picture of a woman, and a wooden bed that they converted to a chandelier. “A cool conversation piece,” Lewis says.

The new outdoor sign for “The Dame” hangs on an original post from the 1900s. A sign bearing the hotel’s name was originally attached to the post.

They also wanted a bar/restaurant in the basement, where a venue called the Cellar Club was housed in the 1970s. They named their bar/restaurant “The Dame” as a homage to when the Pontotoc was a bordello, Lewis says. “It was kind of an edgy, sexy name. A takeoff of a ‘madam.’ A woman of the night.”

He says, “It is underground so it kind of has this speakeasy feel.” It has a “sexy feel to it.”

All of the Jacobean-colored, sapele mahogany woodwork from the back bar all the way up the stairs was shipped over in a container from Ireland. Their friend, DJ Naylor, owner of Celtic Crossing Irish Pub, Bog & Barley, and Maeve’s Tavern, introduced them to a woodworker from Ireland who was intrigued with the stories about the Pontotoc. He gave then a good deal on the woodwork, Lewis says.

They plan to serve charcuterie boards with “some meats, cheese, nuts, and some twists on popcorn,” but the emphasis will be on the drinks and not the food at The Dame. “There are so many great restaurants around here you can walk to,” Lewis says.

They don’t want to get “too tricky” with the bar menu, Kuhn says. They want “really good standard classics,” like Manhattans and old-fashioneds.

But, under the curatorship of general manager Norbert Mede, The Dame will feature craft cocktails, including “The Hip Shaker” and “(This Is Not) a Bordello.”

Lewis and Kuhn are ready to open Hotel Pontotoc doors to the public. “As a homecoming for everyone who has ties to Memphis,” Kuhn says. 

“People are wanting to get inside and see it,” Lewis says, adding, “We feel we’ve done it justice, and given something back to Memphis that we’re proud of. And that Memphis deserves.” 

Categories
Astrology Fun Stuff

Free Will Astrology: Week of 07/31/25

Dario Bronnimann | Unsplash

ARIES (March 21-April 19): For many bamboo species, nothing visible happens for years after the seeds are sowed. Beneath the surface, though, the plants are developing an extensive underground root system. This is referred to as the “sleep” or “creep” phase. Once the preparatory work is finished, the above-ground growth explodes, adding as much as three feet of stalk per day. Dear Aries, I sense you have been following a similar pattern. Soon you will launch a phase of vigorous evolution and expansion. It might feel unsettling at first, but I predict you will come to adore it.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You are very close to uncovering interesting information about yourself — some new, some forgotten. But you will have to be brave and strategic to actually find it. If you manage to pull off this demanding-but-not-impossible trick, a series of breakthroughs may stream your way. Like what? Here are the possibilities. 1. A distorted self-image will fade. 2. An adversary’s hex will dissolve. 3. An inhibition will subside, freeing you to unite with a fun asset. 4. You will knock down a barrier that has been so insidious you didn’t know how strong it was.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): In medieval music, “organum” refers to passages that feature two voices. One is sung in long, sustained notes, and the other performs intricate, faster-moving melodic lines above it. This is an apt metaphor for the roles I invite you to take on in the coming weeks, Gemini: both the drone and the melody. One way to do it is to hold steady in one realm as you improvise in another. Another is to offer your allies doses of stability and inspirational dreams. Welcome the duality! You are capable of both deep-rooted rhythm and visionary risk; both fortifying truth and playful fun.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Cancerian author Ernest Hemingway had a reputation for bravado, but he was adept at wielding the protective, self-nourishing skills your sign is renowned for. He was sensitive about his works-in-progress, refusing to discuss unfinished stories. He understood that raw creative energy needed to be sheltered from kibitzing until it could stand on its own. “The first draft of anything is shit,” he said, but he also knew that defending the right to write that mediocre first draft was essential for him to thrive. Hemingway’s ability to channel his emotional vulnerability into moving prose came from establishing firm boundaries around his generative process. I recommend you do all that good stuff in the coming weeks, dear Cancerian.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In ancient China and ancient Greece, the lion was not the king of beasts, but the guardian of gates. The threshold keeper. The one who asked, “Are you ready?” Now is a good time to bring this aspect of leonine symbolism to your attention. You may soon feel a surge of leadership radiance, but not necessarily the stage-commanding kind. It will be more like priest and priestess energy. Gatekeeper presence. People and situations in your orbit are on the verge of transformation, and you can be a midwife to their transitions — not by fixing or moralizing, but by witnessing. So I invite you to hold space. Ask potent questions. Be the steady presence ready to serve as a catalyst.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The love-fakers and promise-breakers and delusion-makers are no fun, but I think you will ultimately be grateful they helped you clarify your goals. The reverse healers and idea-stealers and greedy feelers are perilous to your peace of mind in the short run, but eventually they will motivate you to create more rigorous protections for your heart, health, and stability. In conclusion, Virgo, it’s one of those odd times when people with less than pure intentions and high integrity can be valuable teachers.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is built into a Norwegian mountain near the Arctic. It’s humanity’s backup garden. It stores over a million seed varieties from all over the world, serving as a safeguard for biodiversity. In accordance with astrological omens, Libra, I invite you to imagine yourself as resembling a seed vault. What valuable capacities are you saving up for the future? Are there treasures you contain that will ensure your long-term stability and security? Which of your potentials need to get extra nurturing? Bonus: Now is a good time to consider whether you should activate any of these promises.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): There’s a myth in Gnostic traditions that Sophia, the Goddess of Divine Wisdom, split herself apart and dispersed into the material world. She became embedded in every stone, plant, and drop of blood. And she’s still here, murmuring truth from within every part of the material world. In Sophia’s spirit, Scorpio, here is your message: Wisdom isn’t elsewhere. It’s embedded in your body, in your grief, in the wood grain of your table, and the ache behind your eyes. More than ever, you have a mandate to celebrate this gift. So for now, refrain from thinking that spirituality is about transcendence and ascendance. Instead, greet the sacred in the dust and mud. Listen for Sophia in the ordinary. She speaks in sighs and sparks, not sermons.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): When I do tours to promote the books I write, the range of encounters can be wide. On one trip, over 300 people came to see me at a bookstore in New York City. They listened raptly, posed interesting questions, and bought 71 books. In Atlanta three days later, I was greeted by nine semi-interested people at a small store in a strip mall. They purchased three books. But I gave equal amounts of energy at both gigs. The crowd in Atlanta got my best, as did the audience in New York. I invite you to regard me as a role model, Sagittarius. Proceed as if every experience deserves your brightest offerings. Express yourself with panache no matter what the surroundings are.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In ancient Egyptian cosmology, ka is the vital essence and the double of a person that lives on after death. But it also walks beside you while you live. It drinks, eats, and dreams. It is both you and more than you. Dear Capricorn, I invite you to tune in to your ka in the coming days and any other spiritual presences that serve you and nourish you. Be alert for visitations from past selves, forgotten longings, and future visions that feel eerily familiar.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): “Dear Rob Brezsny: I wonder what you are like in person. Sometimes I get a Gen X vibe, like you wear vintage T-shirts from obscure bands, are skeptical but not cynical, and remember life before the internet but are tech savvy. Other times, you seem like a weird time-traveler visiting us from 2088. It’s confusing! Are you trying to be a mystery? When’s your next public appearance? I want to meet you. — Aquarian Explorer.” Dear Aquarian: I’m glad I’m a riddle to you. As long as I avoid being enmeshed in people’s expectations and projections, I maintain my freedom to be my authentic self, even as I continually reinvent my authentic self. By the way, I recommend you adopt my attitude in the coming weeks.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): In Norse mythology, the god Odin plucked out one of his eyes and hung himself upside down from the World Tree for nine days. Why would he do such a thing? The ancient stories tell us this act of self-sacrifice earned him the right to learn the secret of the runes, which held the key to magic, fate, and wisdom. You don’t need to make a sacrifice anywhere near that dramatic, Pisces. But I do suspect you are primed for a comparable process. What discomfort are you willing to endure for the sake of revelation? What illusions must you give up to see more clearly? I dare you to engage in an inner realignment that brings metamorphosis but not martyrdom. 

Categories
Fun Stuff News of the Weird

News of the Weird: Week of 07/31/25

Weird in the Wild

Say you’re trekking through the Namib Desert in Namibia and you get a little thirsty. No problem! According to Oddity Central, about a 20-minute drive from the main road crossing the desert is an unexpected oasis: a pink solar-powered refrigerator full of cold drinks and a little table with two chairs. Drinks are provided free of charge, and the fridge is restocked several times a day. The government’s tourist board installed the fridge in the spirit of hospitality, the website reported on June 16. So friendly. [Oddity Central, 6/16/2025]

Irony

At Difficult Campground in White River National Forest near Aspen, Colorado, camping is taking on a new look: The U.S. Forest Service has banned camping in tents or other soft-sided structures, The Aspen Times reported. Blame it on a black bear. During the night of June 9, a “curious” bear pawed at a tent with two children under age 12 inside, puncturing the material but failing to get inside. The children didn’t tell their parents, who were sleeping in a tent next to them, until the next morning. “The kids were totally fine,” a campground host reported. “They were not traumatized.” Campers using tents were relocated to other campgrounds. The order was to remain in place for two months. [Aspen Times, 6/12/2025]

Questionable Judgment

The York Catholic District School Board in Vaughan, Ontario, has relieved a bus driver of their duties after inappropriate behavior, CP24-TV reported on June 17. It all started with a video posted to social media of a parent confronting the driver, who had placed a sign in the bus’ front window that said “Lolita’s Line.” “Why do you call your bus ‘The Lolita Line’?” the parent asked the driver, who was dressed in a schoolgirl’s uniform. (Lolita is a 1955 novel about a professor who kidnaps a 12-year-old girl.) The bus driver responds that they “do this every week. And I don’t think there’s any problem.” The school board, however, did perceive a problem and brought the incident to the bus company’s attention, assuring parents that “the driver will no longer provide busing to and from the school.” [CP24, 6/17/2025]

That Rule Doesn’t Apply to Me

A 42-year-old man sustained a gunshot wound in his back on June 15 as he and friends rode bikes through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve in Singapore, AsiaOne reported. Nobody was hunting him; he was riding in an area restricted to the public and reserved for the Singapore Armed Forces live-firing activities. Several large signs read “Do Not Go Beyond This Point — Living Firing Area — Keep Clear!” and “Danger,” illustrated with a skull and crossbones. At the time of the shooting, the SAF was conducting an authorized live-firing activity. The man underwent surgery to remove the slug and is in stable condition. [AsiaOne, 6/16/2025]

Wait, What?

The South China Morning Post reported on June 25 that a 64-year-old man underwent surgery in Anhui province to remove a toothbrush that he had swallowed when he was 12 years old. Mr. Yang had begun to feel a strange sensation in his stomach, so he sought medical help; he told doctors he had been too afraid to tell his parents at the time of the incident. He also thought the toothbrush would dissolve on its own. But 52 years later, the nearly 7-inch-long brush was lodged in his small intestine, and doctors worked for 80 minutes to remove it. Dr. Zhou said the brush was stuck in a crook of the intestine and hadn’t moved for decades. [South China Morning Post, 6/25/2025]

What’s in a Name?

Police in Portland, Oregon, finally caught up with a man who had fired gunshots at them and led them on a high-speed chase on June 20, KATU-TV reported. The Milwaukie Police Department said they took Loony John Franklin Toon, 42, into custody on June 23 and charged him with first-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, and fleeing from the police. That’s all, folks! [KATU, 6/23/2025]

NEWS OF THE WEIRD
© 2025 Andrews McMeel Syndication.
Reprinted with permission.
All rights reserved.

Categories
We Recommend We Recommend

Join the Metal Museum for Whet Thursday

Warm up your vocal pipes for this month’s Whet Thursday. (Photo: Courtesy Metal Museum)

If you’re looking for a fun and relaxing time after you get from work, Whet Thursday at the Metal Museum is the place to go. A summer tradition at the Metal Museum for eight years, Whet Thursdays are filled with art, music, community, and free admission to the museum. 

This month’s Whet Thursday event is Karaoke on the Bluff. A full karaoke setup with top hits, pop, rock, and other genres will be open to all to sing along to. Entertainment will be provided by Karaoke of Love with Tevin, a local DJ that frequents Young Avenue Deli in Midtown. As special events manager Nina Allen-Johnson says, “Come out for a good time to sing and watch people sing while enjoying the view of the bluff.” 

Prizes will be awarded for the best performances with gifts from the museum gift shop. Hands-on activities such as wire wrapped guitar pick jewelry and beaded hair pins will also be available to do. Everyone is welcome to come as they are or dressed up for the event. 

There will be delicious food from Bay’s Wings and Things food truck and drinks from The Tipsy Tumbler. Plus, attendees will be able to enjoy metalsmithing demonstrations and explore the museum’s exhibitions and permanent collection. On display now are “Light As Air,” which illustrates ways in which artists defy gravity using metal, and “Leah Gerrard: Longline,” featuring works by the museum’s latest “Tributaries” artist. 

If you can’t make this Whet Thursday, don’t fret; the Metal Museum has two more Whet Thursdays this summer. On August 28th, the museum will host Beats on the Bluff, promising a thrilling DJ battle experience. Then, on September 25th, the museum will host a themed event inspired by the spirit of Memphis, called 901 on the Bluff. For more information on Whet Thursdays, visit metalmuseum.org/whet-thursday.  

Whet Thursday: Karaoke on the Bluff, Metal Museum, 374 Metal Museum Drive, Thursday, July 31st, 5-8 p.m.

Categories
News The Fly-By

MEMernet: TigerLeaks, Celebrity Look-alike, and Preach

Posted to X by On3sports

Memphis on the internet.

TigerLeaks

It’s the screenshot heard ’round the Memphis sports world. Former University of Memphis defensive back Tahj Ra-El sent an opposing quarterback the Tigers’ defensive playbook. He also told which player was hurt, the “weakest link in the defense.” 

Ra-El transferred to Purdue University. A spokesman there told Sports Illustrated it was no big deal. 

Celebrity Look-alike

Posted to Instagram by Memphis Flyer

We started a new social media game show last week called, “Memphis City Hall Hall of Mayors Celebrity Look-alike.” We show you a past mayor. You tell us what celebrity that mayor looks like. We pick a winner. Fabulous prizes spill forth.

Preach

Posted to TikTok by @thespecialmagnolia

When somebody’s all like “mEmPHis iS SoOo danGeRouS,” send them a link to this TikTok. Search “Memphis vs. errrbody.”

Categories
News News Feature

Safeguard Your Financial Life From a Natural Disaster

Make sure you financially prepare in case of a natural disaster. (Photo: Nikolas Noonan | Unsplash)

Most know it’s important to prepare for a natural disaster. But fewer realize that in addition to stockpiling flashlights, bottled water, and emergency medical supplies, they also need to be financially prepared. These tips can help. 

1. Build an emergency fund.

Maintain at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses in a liquid account that’s easily accessible. In an emergency, this can help cover short-term expenses until you’re able to access insurance payouts and other less-liquid funds. 

2. Safeguard critical documents.

In an emergency, you may need to leave your home quickly. Your priority will probably be to ensure your loved ones and sentimental possessions make it out safely, and you may not have time to track down important personal and financial documents. It’s wise to make a plan for how to access what you’ll need.

Start by collecting, copying, and storing the following records:

• Driver’s licenses
• Birth certificates
• Passports
• Social Security cards
• Marriage and divorce papers
• Home deeds and titles
• Vehicle registrations and titles
• A room-by-room inventory of your possessions

Keep these in a bank safety deposit box or a waterproof, fireproof storage box that’s easy to access in a hurry. It’s also wise to save copies at a different location, such as in cloud storage, on an external hard drive, or with a relative or friend. 

It’s also important to ensure you can access your financial records in an emergency, including investment accounts, payroll files, insurance documents, estate planning records, and income tax info. 

3. Keep some cash on hand. 

In a disaster, you may not be able to access your bank or an ATM. It’s wise to keep some cash on hand to pay for necessary expenses, such as food, lodging, gas, etc. until you’re able to access your accounts. 

4. Review your insurance policies. 

Take time to make sure you have adequate coverage in place. Consider the following:

• Homeowners insurance — It’s important to note there are two types of homeowners policies: those that cover the cost to rebuild or replace your home, known as the replacement cost, and those that only cover the current value of your home, known as actual cash value. Be sure the type of policy you have continues to meet your needs. Also, be aware of any limits or gaps in your homeowners coverage that you may need to fill. 

• Renters insurance — If you rent, make sure you have adequate renters insurance coverage to cover the cost of replacing your personal possessions. 

• Flood insurance — Most standard insurance policies don’t cover damage from floods. If you live in a flood-prone area, you may need to add flood insurance to your existing coverage. 

• Comprehensive coverage — This can help pay for losses caused by flooding and other natural disasters. This is in addition to the liability coverage most car owners must carry. 

5. Don’t fall for scammers.

Unfortunately, scammers often use natural disasters as a way to target distressed victims. Be wary of any contractors selling repairs door-to-door, especially if they promise a discount for up-front payment. Remember that no government aid program or benefits department will charge you an up-front fee to receive a service or benefit. And keep in mind that insurance agents will never sell you a policy to cover damages after a natural disaster occurs. If someone offers you insurance to help pay for your damages, it’s likely a scam. 

Katie Stephenson, JD, CFP, is a Private Wealth Manager and Partner with Creative Planning. Creative Planning is one of the nation’s largest registered investment advisory firms providing comprehensive wealth management services to ensure all elements of a client’s financial life are working together, including investments, taxes, estate planning, and risk management. For more information or to request a free, no-obligation consultation, visit CreativePlanning.com.

Categories
We Recommend We Saw You

WE SAW YOU: Asian Night Market

Legend, Laura Sullivan, and Wisdom (Photos: Michael Donahue)

Asian Night Market was a success, says Nhu Quynh Tran, president of the Vietnamese American Community (VAC), which has organized the market since 2023.


Soren Johnson and
Coleman Russell

Mayor Paul Young and
Zoe Young

Jonathan De Jesus and Claudia Chisolm

John Dinh, Thomas Truong, Meghan Bayani, Eliza Mahinay, and Iris Mahinay

“I think it was a great success,” she says. “And it was heartwarming to see Memphis show up to support us despite the extreme heat.”


Kelly Daniele, Alessandra Daniele,
Justin Soffer, and Tony Daniele

Trey Jones, Andres Raffety, and
Lenny Guy

Jimmy “Sushi Jimi” Singh

Quynh Tran

Eric Heo

Meaghan and Marcelo de Oliveira

Nancy, Jim, and Brittney Hagmaier

Temperature was in the 90s at the event, which was held July 19th outside at Agricenter International. “We had about 8,000 attendees.”


Kristy Glassman, Hal Glassman, Justin Taylor, Lauren Taylor, Mary Catherine Moore,
and Zack Moore

Miller Sykes and Sophie Chertow

Cameron Petersen and Hailey Micic

Annika Ekstrom, Vivian Ekstrom, Averell Mondie, and Mersadies Burch

More than 100 vendors took part in the event, which included martial arts demonstrations, live music, and cultural dances from multiple backgrounds. “This year featured more vendors and activities for kids than the previous two years.”