The 901: Logistically, can Memphis in May events return to Tom Lee Park by 2023?

Good morning, Memphis, where we can expect to see the return of Alex Lomax as he gears up for another season with the Tigers.

But, first, the Memphis in May International Festival hopes to return to Downtown’s Tom Lee Park in 2023, but major issues remain in securing a contract to hold the events there, our Bob Mehr and Jennifer Chandler report.

Memphis in May President and CEO James Holt said the renovations at Tom Lee Park would not be completed by May, but that work would be paused to allow the festival to take place.

Still, after several months of discussions and negotiations with the Memphis River Parks Partnership, there has been no contract signed.

Until a contract for the venue is secured, Holt said the organization is unable to move ahead with booking acts for the music festival planning or for other logistics.

Next Memphis mayor could have to win a majority of the vote

The Memphis City Council could soon put a referendum on the Nov. 8 ballot asking voters if the next Memphis mayor should be elected with 50% plus one vote or have a runoff among the top two candidates, our Samuel Hardiman reports in his story for subscribers. 

The city of Memphis did away with runoff elections for citywide offices after a federal court ruling in 1991. Such a change to the city charter may require court approval.

If the referendum were to get on the ballot and pass voters on Nov. 8, it would upend the 2023 mayoral race by raising the threshold for victory.

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Alumni celebrate history of Brooks Avenue School with reunion

Brooks Avenue School was reported to have closed in 1958. But for about 30 years, the school served Black students in southwest Memphis, and now a group of alumni is ensuring its history is remembered by hosting a reunion for its graduates, our Astrid Kayembe reports.

The school was one of several Rosenwald Schools that once existed throughout Shelby County. Julius Rosenwald and Booker T. Washington partnered to open and fund schools that primarily served Black students in rural communities to improve access to education.

There were around 250 Rosenwald Schools in Tennessee alone, with 60 in Shelby County.

Read Astrid’s story to understand more about Rosenwald Schools and the legacy of Brooks Avenue School here in Memphis.

What’s being done to address Black homeownership rate lag in Memphis

There are nearly 40% of Black Memphians who own a home in the city — nearly 20% percentage points lower than white Memphians even though the city has a majority Black population, our Omer Yusuf reports.

Those pushing to increase Black homeownership in the city are hoping to see more success stories from homebuyer, but the same local realtors and organizations seeking to increase those figures know they are bigger factors at play leading to the current disparities between races.

Read Omer’s story to understand why there is a racial disparity between homeowners in Memphis and what is being done to address it.

Indie Memphis Youth Film Fest celebrates student filmmakers

A showcase for the work of Mid-South students is planned through the seventh annual Indie Memphis Film Fest, which takes place Saturday at Downtown’s Halloran Centre, our John Beifuss reports. 

"The important thing is, we're giving a platform to these students to express themselves," said Joseph Carr, Indie Memphis managing director, who oversees the Youth Film Fest with Amanda Willoughby, Indie Memphis mentor program coordinator.

Although some of the short films exhibit "silly goofiness," Carr said, "many of these students are making films about subjects that are important to them. They use film as an opportunity to take a deep dive into issues that matter to them."

How Houston’s Luke Needham became a pillar in Germantown football community

Houston High School football’s Luke Needham always knew he wanted to get into coaching and he’s now become a cornerstone for not only the program but in the Germantown community as well, our Wynston Wilcox reports in his story for subscribers.

Needham’s passion for wanting to teach the game started when he first played with the Germantown Football League back in 2013. It was his first experience with football in Tennessee and remains a core part of his love for the game.

“That really brought that joy for football I feel like and it made me, as I’ve gotten older and mature, I realize that made me want to spread more joy of football,” Needham said.

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What Alex Lomax’s return means for Memphis basketball

Many assumed Alex Lomax’s playing days as a Tiger were finished, but he isn’t going anywhere as he gets ready for a fifth season with Memphis, our Jason Munz reports in his story for subscribers.

The presumption is Lomax will primarily come off the bench given the presence of dynamic point guard Kendric Davis, who captured AAC Player of the Year honors at SMU last season. Whether that means Lomax's career usage rate (23.1 minutes per game) will drop remains to be seen.

Read Jason’s story to understand how Lomax’s return affects Penny Hardaway’s team.

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The 901 is written by Ray Padilla, digital producer for The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at raymond.padilla@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter at @Ray_Padilla_. 

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: The 901: Issues remain for Memphis in May return to Tom Lee Park