Local News

Mixed emotions circulated the Frayser Exchange Club on Thursday as community leaders deviated from their scheduled agenda to focused on the events that had transpired in their community less than 24 hours before. Just blocks away, 20-year-old Brandon Webber...
Governor Bill Lee on Tuesday morning announced that FedEx Logistics was making it's global headquarters in Downtown Memphis. The Gibson Guitar building will be the home of Memphis-based FedEx Corp.'s specialty services and trade unit. The announcement was made at the...
The ground-floor portion of the sanctuary at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church-Westwood swelled to capacity, yielding the overflow to ascending rows of seats. Such was the turnout for the homegoing of The New Tri-State Defender’s publisher, Bernal E. Smith II. Mr....
Hugs and smiles filled the room as family and friends gathered at the Stax Museum Monday night to celebrate with Evvie McKinney, the winner of Fox's “The Four.”  The Soulsville Academy alumni happily greeted guests, who shared her joy as...
The Shelby County Schools board voted unanimously Tuesday to close a northeast Memphis charter high school. Board members Joyce Dorse-Coleman, Stephanie Love, Michelle Robinson McKissack, Scott McCormick, Shante Avant, Billy Orgel, and Kevin Woods, Miska Clay Bibbs voted in favor of...
Evvie McKinney was her absolute at-home best during a welcoming reception at Handy Park on Beale St. Thursday afternoon. Fresh off of her winning performance on the finale of Fox's "The Four," McKinney strode onto the stage at Handy Park...
For Rainbow PUSH Coalition President Joseph Kyles, a recent trip accompanying Rainbow PUSH Coalition Rev. Jesse Jackson to the hurricane-devastated island of Puerto Rico was extremely humbling. Fifty-one deaths had been associated with the destruction as of Tuesday (Oct. 24)....
Memphis mayoral candidate Tami Sawyer has enlisted the help of Angela Rye, CNN commentator, national political strategist and activist, who says, “I don’t support campaigns, fundraisers or endorsements unless I really feel it.” Rye is spending several days in Memphis...
Mayoral contender Dr. Willie W. Herenton on Thursday picked up the endorsement of IBEW Local 1288, which also announced its support for a slate of other candidates running for city council, county clerk and municipal judge seats in the...
by Lee R. Watkins Special to The New Tri-State Defender “I Ain’t Got To Love Nobody Else” put The Masqueraders on the map in 1968 but the soul and gospel music group struggled to find consistency after producing that hit record. Fast...