The New Tri-State Defender

07/31/2025

SneakFest brought heat to the Agricenter this past Saturday as sneakerheads, creatives, and vendors from across the region packed the venue for Memphis’ premier sneaker and streetwear convention.

With rare kicks, local brands, and bumping beats, the event was a full-on celebration of 901 culture and community. One highlight? A live tie-dye station run by Memphis native Luke Cowan, who also sold sports trading cards.

“I’ve been tie-dying for six years — it started during the pandemic,” said Cowan. “But my love for sneakers and cards? That began with Penny Hardaway — our hometown hero.”

Sneakerheads, creators and vendors from across the region filled the Agricenter Saturday for the 19th edition of SneakFest, Memphis’ premier sneaker and streetwear convention. With music bumping, rare kicks on full display and vibrant local brands lining the walls, the resale marketplace celebrate...

07/31/2025

A new state law could cut current terms short and force a full Shelby County School Board election—but not without pushback.

House Bill 1383 would place all nine seats on the ballot next cycle. To take effect, it needs approval from the Shelby County Commission—a step that hit pause on Monday, July 28, due to legal and constitutional concerns.

Stay tuned. 👀

A state law that could shorten the terms of sitting school board members and trigger a full election for the Shelby County Board of Education is facing pushback in Shelby County, where commissioners have stalled the process over legal and constitutional concerns. The law, House Bill 1383, would plac...

07/29/2025

A resolution to limit Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education members to two terms passed its first test Wednesday, July 23, with a 5-1-1 vote by the Shelby County Commission’s Education Committee.

The move aligns with a new state law and also calls for all school board seats to be on the 2026 ballot.

A resolution that limits the terms of members of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education cleared an initial hurdle Wednesday, July 23, with a 5-1-1 vote by the Shelby County Commission’s Education Committee. The resolution is the county’s effort to align with a new state law that li...

07/29/2025

On Saturday morning, July 26, over 100 people gathered in Hooks Hyde Hall at the National Civil Rights Museum to honor the life and legacy of Karanja Aidoo Ajanaku — former executive editor and associate publisher of The Tri-State Defender — who passed away on July 7 after a battle with liver cancer. He was 70.

I didn’t take notes. I didn’t record anything. I simply came to bear witness. On Saturday morning, July 26, over a hundred of us gathered inside Hooks Hyde Hall at the National Civil Rights Museum to celebrate the life and legacy of Karanja Aidoo Ajanaku, the former executive editor and associat...

07/28/2025

It’s 7 p.m., Friday, 95 degrees” — the perfect setting for a Memphis homecoming.

GloRilla closed out her 21-city Glorious Tour with the first-ever sold-out GloRilla & Friends: Glo Bash at FedExForum. The high-energy night celebrated her birthday, her rise, and her Memphis roots — all in front of a roaring hometown crowd.

Read more here: https://tri-statedefender.com/glo-bash-coronation-of-memphis-rap-queen/07/28/

07/28/2025

Tickets are now on sale for the FedEx St. Jude Championship, happening August 6–10, 2025 at TPC Southwind in Memphis, TN! Don’t miss your chance to experience world-class golf while supporting a great cause.

🎟️ Purchase tickets here: https://www.fedexchampionship.com/tickets

07/27/2025

Black-led nonprofits often do the hardest work with the fewest resources—meeting urgent needs, restoring dignity, and filling gaps where larger systems fall short. Yet many are overlooked by funders simply because they lack polish on paper.

In Memphis, where the challenges are great, can we afford to ignore the organizations making the deepest impact?

In 2023, the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis responded by launching the Black-led Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (BNLA)—a yearlong initiative born from a Black Philanthropy Month town hall where over 100 Black-led groups called for equity, accountability, and real change.

Groundwork: Mission Critical Black-led nonprofits often carry the weight of a community’s pain, potential and promise on shoestring budgets and with sheer determination. They tend to the wounds many prefer not to look at and offer hope where systems have failed. Too often, these are the very organ...

07/27/2025

Tennessee ranked 8th in the nation for economic growth in 2024, fueled by cities like Nashville and Memphis.

While Nashville built its brand on music and health care, Memphis is emerging as a tech hub. In 2024, tech contributed $2.5 billion to the local economy.

With the “Digital Delta” vision, Memphis aims to become a national leader in innovation and expand opportunity for all.

Tennessee is experiencing unrivaled economic growth. In 2024, our state ranked 8th in the country for our growth rate. Much of this growth has been driven by rapidly expanding populations in Tennessee’s leading cities, Nashville and Memphis. The growth is no mystery. Nashville has spent decades cr...

07/26/2025

Congratulations on an incredible show! The energy was unmatched, and we're already looking forward to the future of Glo Bash! 👏🏽🔥 Salute to Gotti for passing the torch in true 901 fashion.

What was your favorite moment from Glorilla’s inaugural Glo Bash? Drop it in the comments! 💬👇🏽

07/25/2025

The Old Daisy Theater is getting a revival. Memphis City Council voted 10-0 to begin lease talks with the Beale Street Development Corp., paving the way for a 50-year lease and a future as a cultural interpretive center celebrating Beale Street history.

Memphis City Council members gave the Old Daisy Theater at 323 Beale St. a new lease on life Tuesday, voting 10-0 to direct Mayor Paul Young’s administration to begin negotiations with the Beale Street Development Corporation (BSDC) on a 50-year lease for the historic venue. The consent agenda ite...

07/22/2025

While NBA Summer League lit up Las Vegas, two West Memphis natives were making global moves just off the Strip.

Dr. Tywanna Smith and Sonny Weems hosted the second annual Athletes Abroad Summit at the Bellagio, bringing together 100+ pros, players, and thought leaders to spotlight the power of American athletes thriving overseas.

More than a side event — it was a statement on success beyond borders.

Las Vegas in July is electric. NBA Summer League packs the stands, sports bettors swarm the casinos, and sneaker-clad fans flood hotel lobbies chasing glimpses of rising stars. Just off the Las Vegas Strip at the Bellagio Hotel, amid the chaos of basketball’s biggest offseason moment, two hometown...

07/22/2025

The St. Louis Cardinals looked close to home in the early rounds of the 2025 MLB Draft, selecting three Tennessee players—including Houston High School infielder Ryan Mitchell with the 55th overall pick in the second round on July 13.

Mitchell, a lifelong Cardinals fan, left for spring training in Jupiter, Florida, on Thursday and is expected to sign a rookie contract following a team physical.

The St. Louis Cardinals didn’t look far outside their Triple-A territory to find talent during the early rounds of the 2025 MLB draft. Cardinals leadership selected three players from Tennessee in the first three rounds, including Houston High School senior infielder Ryan Mitchell with the 55th ov...