Good morning, Memphis, where Tigers basketball fans are shouting “We’re No. 1” after landing Emoni Bates (who originally said he wasn’t going to announce until Friday) securing Penny Hardaway the top 2021-22 recruiting class.
But, first, if Shelby County Schools has its way, parents in the district will have a virtual learning option again this year, our Laura Testino reports.
Currently, families in Tennessee can only do virtual learning through virtual schools, which are standalone academies that have separate instructors, disconnected from a student’s teachers and classmates at traditional or charter school buildings.
Some districts, like SCS, had the schools before the pandemic, and other districts, including neighboring Collierville Municipal Schools and Germantown Municipal School District, created their own virtual schools to have a virtual option this school year.
SCS “is also currently exploring ways to petition the (Tennessee Department of Education) and legislators to allow (Continuous Learning Plan) implementation,” district spokewoman Jerica Phillips said Tuesday.
Memphis loses theater icon
Noted Memphis playwright, stage director, songwriter and educator Erma L. Clanton has died, our Bob Mehr reports.
One of the truly influential forces in Black theater in Memphis, her work included the groundbreaking African American history “An Evening of Soul.” She was 98.
“You were such a big part of my Dad’s life and in turn became a large part of mine,” wrote Veronica Hayes, the daughter of the late soul star Isaac Hayes, who was close with Clanton. “You were so encouraging and always said what I needed to hear without mincing your words. I love you Erma L. Clanton May you R.I.P.”
Can unvaccinated be denied care?
Rising COVID-19 cases across the South are putting hospitals in distress and now some healthcare officials are considering whether vaccination status ought to be a factor when deciding who gets care and who doesn’t when hospitals are operating under so much strain, our Micaela Watts reports.
While social media commentary is hardly a scientific poll, scroll through the comment sections that follow articles about scarce hospital capacity, and it becomes clear that some Americans are wondering: Why should precious lifesaving resources go to those who refuse to protect themselves against COVID-19?
So, what does a person’s vaccination status mean for individuals severely ill?
Tigers land Bates
Penny Hardaway put the final touch on his 2021-22 basketball team as five-star recruit Emoni Bates announced his plans to attend the University of Memphis — after initially saying he would wait until Friday to make his decision known — our Jason Munz reports.
Bates gives Penny his second top-ranked recruiting class in the past three years. The 2019 class, of course, included James Wiseman, Precious Achiuwa and other blue-chip prospects.
In this column for subscribers, our Mark Giannotto writes that “Memphis has never seen anything like what coach Penny Hardaway just orchestrated before. Neither, perhaps, has college basketball.
It’s not just that Memphis now has two top-five prospects in the same recruiting class, including a 6-foot-9 player in Bates who graced the cover of Sports Illustrated as a 15 year old because he might be the next Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, LeBron James or Kevin Durant (the venerable magazine’s words, not mine).”
U of M outlines athletic priorities
Memphis athletic director Laird Veatch on Wednesday presented a strategic plan to guide the athletic department through the remainder of the decade, our Jason Munz reports.
At the top of the list of priorities is the Student-Athlete Success Center, which will serve as Tiger Park’s anchor, a complement to the already-planned student housing complex and work as an overall hub that will include a dining center, academic services and other support services. In addition, Veatch said his plan calls for further upgrades to the soccer/track stadium (including on-site locker rooms, room to seat 1,500 fans and a plaza for fans located between it and FedEx Park), as well as a revamp of East Circle Drive and the Gateway Entrance that serves as the entryway for the football program’s Billy J. Murphy Complex.
Noodle this
The culinary scene on South Main Street in Downtown got a new player this week as Good Fortune Co. opened in the former home of S.O.B., our Jennifer Chandler Reports.
Chefs Sarah Cai and Arturo Leighton created a hip Asian-inspired restaurant featuring dumpling and noodle dishes made from scratch. A cocktail bar reflects their food menu vision, featuring Asian-inspired cocktails and a broad selection of Japanese whiskeys and sakes.
Dann Miller is the senior consumer experience director at The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at dann.miller@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @dannmiller.
Credit: Source link
