Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How much money will college football pour into Memphis hotels this winter?

And check out Super Saturday - Winter Solstice Lanterns on the Memphis Patch calendar

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Saturday December 20th Patch AM
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Hi there, Memphis! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How much money will college football pour into Memphis hotels this winter?
  • Why Southwest Memphis neighbors are still battling xAI’s supercomputer turbines
  • How did your child’s Memphis school score on new state report cards?

Also on today's calendar: Super Saturday - Winter Solstice Lanterns and 5 more events.

Find out what's happening in Memphisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: Last night I had a dream. 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Find out what's happening in Memphisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: Mostly sunny; windy, warmer, with a high of 62 and low of 40 degrees.
  • Sunday: Clouds and sun, temps: high: 53, low: 39.
  • Monday: A couple of showers, with a high of 57 and low of 54 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. CFP game in Oxford, AutoZone Liberty Bowl mean big score for Memphis (commercialappeal.com) — Memphis hotels and tourism are gearing up for a lucrative stretch, with Tulane fans booking 500–700 local rooms for the College Football Playoff game in nearby Oxford and the AutoZone Liberty Bowl set to follow on Jan. 2. Tourism leaders say the Liberty Bowl alone typically brings $25–30 million in annual economic impact, filling major hotels from Downtown to East Memphis.
   

2. Community organizers continue pushback against xAI (actionnews5.com) — Memphis residents near xAI’s Colossus One supercomputer in Southwest Memphis are continuing to fight turbine use they fear will worsen air quality, even after the Shelby County Air Pollution Control Board denied their appeal. Community organizers say board members don’t live in the affected 38109 ZIP code, while the City of Memphis cites third‑party testing that found minimal pollution risks.
   

3. Memphis schools move up in state letter grade ranking (wreg.com) — Memphis-Shelby County Schools just logged a big academic win, with 61 schools improving their state letter grades and nearly 30 jumping from Cs and Ds to As and Bs. Leaders credit stronger instruction and fewer teacher vacancies, though they note achievement rates still lag below 30% in tested grades. Families can now look up their school’s new grade on the state report card site.
   

4. Memphis lobbyist arrested for theft of $73,000 Mercedes (wreg.com) — Memphis readers should know that a local lobbyist has been charged with stealing a nearly $73,000 Mercedes that police say was taken from a Texas dealership and later found parked downtown near Gayoso and South Main. Investigators report the man claimed financing and identity theft problems, but officers say he had the keys, documents in his name inside the car, and appeared on crime camera footage before being jailed on a $40,000 bond.
   

5. Tony Allen pleads not guilty in AR drug case (wreg.com) — Memphis readers will recognize former Grizzlies standout Tony Allen, who has pleaded not guilty after being arrested during a November traffic stop in Poinsett County, Arkansas, where deputies say they found marijuana and cocaine. Allen, who says he didn’t know about the drugs and was just getting a ride, is cooperating with authorities as his case heads toward a March 2026 trial.
   

📸 Around Memphis

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Memphis

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📣 Memphis Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • At age 75 (in a few weeks), I have gone through a lot of Christmas holidays.
    The changes from the time of my childhood to now are just phenomenal. We were poor people who lived in a small, rural area of Mississippi. Everyone… (Nextdoor Raleigh Hills)
  • My latest digital painting.
    It’s called, Love Light Creation. We are all connected through the power, resonance and vibration of unconditional love. (Nextdoor Central Ave)
  • Graceland, Inc. posted a job opening for Dishwasher/Steward/Food Prep - FULL-TIME - The Guest House at Graceland Hotel in Memphis. Apply here.
  • TIBCO Software, Inc. posted a job opening for Senior Logistics Manager in Memphis. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Memphis here.

Ok Memphis! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I dreamed I was swimming in a pool of orange soda, but it was just a Fanta-sea.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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