Memphis

MEMPHIS — A federal judge lifted a ban that kept state Rep. Justin Pearson and five other people out of Memphis City Council meetings, and he did so hours before Tuesday's data center vote. The council had issued the ban notices after the Oct. 6 meeting, which ended with the chamber cleared and a fight in the lobby. The six sued, claiming a First Amendment violation. Council attorney Allan Wade had filed a new security plan with the court. The plan brought separate exits for members and a ban on backpacks and bullhorns. The council's administrator said staff had received threats and worried about their safety. Pearson, who is running for Congress, attended the six-hour meeting. Afterward he said the council had failed residents by passing a shorter pause than the year-long moratorium. The lawsuit itself has not been resolved.

SENATOBIA, Miss. — The Mississippi Department of Public Safety on Thursday released body-camera video of the June 14 shooting of 1-year-old Kohen Wiley outside a Senatobia Walmart, about 40 miles south of Memphis. Police were responding to a shoplifting call. The Mississippi attorney general's office has said the officers' actions were justified and will bring no charges against Sgt. Hunter Foster. Foster fired into a moving car. Police say the driver nearly struck officers. The video shows the car hitting at least three vehicles and heading toward officers, who jumped aside. Attorney Ben Crump, who represents the family, said the footage shows the shot came from the passenger side while Foster was not in danger. Crump called the officers' response reckless. The family learned of the charging decision from news reports. Lawyers said they would ask federal authorities to step in.

MEMPHIS — Britney Thornton did not seek re-election to her District 10 Shelby County Commission seat. She has since become chief of staff at Memphis Lift, a parent group that has long pushed for state control of Memphis-Shelby County Schools. As a commissioner she was the lone Democrat to back accountability measures for the school board. She cast a no-confidence vote in January 2025 after Superintendent Marie Feagins was ousted. In May she voted against funding the district's lawsuit challenging the takeover. Thornton now argues the elected board's conflict with the state has closed off funding. She also says the state-appointed oversight board opens a route to resources, and she cites about $1 million in state money for it. The district disputes the takeover. A federal judge cleared the oversight board to act last Thursday, but a Chancery Court judge paused it again Monday.

MEMPHIS — The Orpheum's events page now marks the Oct. 25 concert by Morris Day & The Time with The S.O.S. Band as postponed. The listing shows a date range running to Jan. 8, 2027. It does not make clear in that listing what the new date is. Ticket holders should check with the venue. The Orpheum's Saturday booking is unchanged. Sarah Jakes Roberts brings her Rogue Route Tour to the theater at 8 p.m., according to the Orpheum and Ticketmaster. Also Saturday, the Downtown Memphis Commission's free Día de Muertos parade and festival is listed on the Orpheum's calendar. Next up at the theater is the touring Monty Python's Spamalot, which opens a run Oct. 27 and continues through Nov. 1.

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — An R&B package tour of 1990s favorites plays the BankPlus Amphitheater, just south of the Tennessee line, on Saturday evening. Dru Hill headlines, with Ginuwine, Next and Troop on the bill. Show time is 7 p.m., according to the venue's calendar. Memphis Travel's listing points to songs such as In My Bed, Pony and Too Close as the sing-along material. The amphitheater is at 6285 Snowden Lane. The venue's own site sends buyers to Ticketmaster for tickets, and no price is published there. The show competes with a busy Saturday in Memphis. Hip-hop is at FedExForum, and the Día de Muertos festival is on Main Street. Rain or cold could matter at an open-air venue in late October, so ticket holders should check the forecast.

MEMPHIS — Two markets run through Sunday. Monster Market is at the Medicine Factory, 12 noon to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday, according to Memphis magazine's weekend list. Holiday Market Memphis, at Agricenter International Oct. 23-25, is a holiday shopping event that the Memphis Flyer says serves margaritas and mimosas. Admission prices were not listed. On Saturday, Choose901 lists a free, all-ages Fantasy Faire at the Cordova Library. It includes a swordfighting demonstration, costume and trivia contests, crafts and a teen writing workshop led by Memphis author Sheree Renée Thomas. Midweek, the Dixon Gallery & Gardens holds a Munch and Learn on bones and skeletons in art, Wednesday, Oct. 28, noon to 1 p.m. The University of Memphis theatre department's Rent runs Oct. 29 to Nov. 1.