The 901: Here's what St. Jude's $12.9 billion expansion means for Memphis

Good morning, Memphis, where early voting continues and we finally received some overnight rainfall. We'll get a break today from the extreme heat but the next seven days will bring the return of triple-digit temps and oppressive humidity.

But, first, we're digging deeper on what St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's expansion means for Memphis.

When St. Jude announced Wednesday it would be investing another $1.4 billion in expanding its campus and staff — on top of a previous $11.5 billion commitment — it wasn’t just an announcement about the future of the hospital. The hospital CEO and Memphis business leaders said it was an investment in the future of Memphis, our Corinne Kennedy reports i this story for subscribers. 

“It's yet another example of St. Jude's commitment to Memphis and seeing Memphis as their home for future growth,” said Ted Townsend, chief economic development officer   for the Greater Memphis Chamber.

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Workers' comp: Big hurt, tiny fines

Companies that handle workers’ comp claims in Tennessee can boost profits by denying health care. One firm has been punished 32 times. But the fines are miniscule, reports Daniel Connolly in CA investigation for subscribers. 

If you've been hurt on the job in Tennessee, you may soon find yourself in a state workers' compensation system that can be confusing and sometimes hostile.

But you can improve your chances of a good outcome by understanding how the system works. Daniel offers top tips on how to navigate the system.

Food insecurity, fed by inflation, hits Desoto County

In the past few months, inflation has hit a new 40-year high, and gas, food, and rent prices surged across the nation. As a result, food insecurity is on the rise in Mississippi and the United States, our Gina Butkovich reports.

The amount of people having food insecurity, defined by the Census Bureau as a person who has reported either sometimes or often not having enough food to eat, has always been higher in Mississippi than the rest of the United States. A 2019 study from the USDA’s Economic Research Service found that 15.7% of the state population experienced it- higher than any other state in the nation.

Yo Gotti concert, All-White Affair party

Rapper Yo Gotti's Birthday Bash packed FedEx Forum on Friday for a star-studded concert and celebration, our Bob Mehr reports.  Here's a photo gallery from our Christina Tannous.

And on Saturday event promoter Curtis Givens held his All-White Affair on Mud Island, drawing partygoers dressed in white attire for what is billed as the most anticipated party of the summer in Memphis, Omer Yusuf reports.

Ida B. Wells Plaza phase two

One year ago — on Ida B. Wells’ 159th birthday — a statue of the journalist, educator and civil rights activist was unveiled in Memphis at the intersection of Fourth and Beale streets.

On Saturday, people gathered to celebrate Wells’ 160th birthday with a large cake and cups of champagne as they looked ahead to fundraising for the second phase of Ida B. Wells Plaza, Omer Yusuf reports.

Rychetta Watkins, a member of the Ida B. Wells Memphis Memorial Committee, said the $300,000 renovation will include more educational placards to share Wells’ story and accomplishments with tourists. There will also be more greenspace and sitting areas that were shown in renderings to event attendees.

Is David Roddy a cultural fit with Grizzlies?

Some players just fit a culture. David Roddy is that with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Look no further than the end of the fourth quarter of Tuesday's Summer League game against the Brooklyn Nets for an example, our Damichael Cole reports.

Memphis 901 FC makes statement in loss

For Memphis 901 FC, its latest home game became a landmark occasion for what's taking place inside AutoZone Park, our Alexis Davis reports.

The city's professional soccer team played host to arguably its biggest regular-season match, an event that reinforced there's progress being made in its fourth season of existence.

Memphis lost to Louisville City FC, 2-1, Saturday night with first place in the USL Championship Eastern Conference standings hanging in the balance. But after making a run to the playoffs last season, 901 FC is continuing to build momentum – on the pitch and in the community, Alexis writes.

Is Jayden Hardaway ready to take next step?

Coach Penny Hardaway's son, Jayden, might be ready to take his best shot with Memphis, Mark Giannotto writes in this column for subscribers.

Here's an excerpt from Mark's column:

Demetrius Denzel-Dyson went right at Jayden Hardaway because everyone goes right at Penny Hardaway’s son on a basketball court in Memphis. 

This was at a Shelby County Pro-Am game the other night. Dyson, a Memphis graduate assistant who earned All-SoCon honors at Samford not long ago, kept attacking. Kept scoring. Kept forcing a response. He got the better of Jayden Hardaway.

And Hardaway loved it.

His team only had six players; he rarely left the floor. But his shot wasn’t falling. He had eight 3-pointers in one of these games last week with his dad on hand. 

“Last man standing,” Hardaway said, and it’s about time we acknowledge what that means beyond the latest confrontation in which a son had to live up to his famous father’s name.

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Mark Russell is executive editor of The Commercial Appeal. You can reach him at mark.russell@commercialappeal.com or 901/288-4509. You can also follow him on Twitter: @MarkRussell44

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: The 901: St. Jude expansion, Memphis jobs, economy, medicine