Planned Parenthood stops abortions, CHOICES Memphis continues

By On Jun 29, 2022

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Protesters hold signs outside of Planned Parenthood in protest of the reversal of Roe v Wade in Memphis, Tenn., Friday, June 24, 2022.

Good morning, Memphis, where hundreds of FedEx pilots lined Democrat Road to picket as contract negotiations continue for the logistics giant.

But, first, Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi is suspending abortion services in Tennessee, our Laura Testino reports.

“This decision was not made lightly, and is due to Tennessee’s legal landscape, which is extremely hostile to abortion access,” said Ashley Coffield, CEO and president, Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi. The clinic will still provide other reproductive health services.

A federal ruling allows Tennessee to enact a law banning abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy, the first of two abortion laws the state is poised to enact in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling to remove a person’s constitutional right to abortion.

CHOICES Memphis Center for Reproductive Health, another abortion provider in Tennessee, will continue providing abortions under the narrow legal restrictions now in effect in the state. It is the only abortion provider still taking new patients in Memphis.

FedEx pilots picket as contract negotiations stall

FedEx pilots picket as the Air Line Pilot's Association continues to negotiate a new contract with FedEx on Tuesday June 28, 2022, along Democrat Road in Memphis. The association is seeking adjustments to pilots’ pensions based on cost-of-living as well as benefits that enhance the quality of life of pilots as they work. “We would have preferred not to stand out in the sun in Memphis on a summer day, but our goal is to get this done,” said Capt. Chris Norman. “It’s time.”

Hundreds of FedEx pilots picketed as the Air Line Pilots Assoociation continues to negotiate a new contract with the Memphis-based logistics company, our Samuel Hardiman reports.

The picketing was one tactic the pilots’ association has adopted during ongoing negotiations with the company. The pilots are seeking enhanced cost-of-living adjustments to the pilots’ pensions and further quality-of-life benefits while on the job.

The current contract between the company and the pilots’ association remains in effect. Changes to the company’s defined-benefit pension plan for pilots appear to be the biggest sticking point in negotiations.

Downtown Memphis developers turn offices into homes

Raymond James building Downtown Memphis, Tennessee. on Thursday, June 23, 2022.

Even with recently completed and ongoing residential projects for Downtown Memphis, units are not coming online fast enough as the demand continues to increase. Now, developers are looking to repurpose large, unused office spaces to meet the current market demands for residential spaces, our Corrine Kennedy and Niki Scheinberg report in their story for subscribers.

Several former office buildings, in various states of occupancy and decay, are set to be transformed into residential or mixed-use facilities — like the 100 N. Main tower.

“The office market well, we’ve seen some challenges over the last couple of years due to the pandemic. We do believe that it will come back in Downtown,” said Paul Young, president of the Downtown Memphis Commission. “But we certainly understand the need for developers and property owners to be able to have their assets generate revenue.”

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Shelby county approves dedicated funding for MATA

Shelby County commissioners voted to create a special revenue fund to support the Memphis Area Transit Authority from expired county PILOT (Payment-In-Lieu-Of-Taxes) revenues, our Katherine Burgess reports.

The funding from expired PILOTs is estimated to start at $488,619 in fiscal year 2023, but in May Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. said the amount would grow to more than $15 million in 2031.

Where do Whitehaven’s biggest projects stand?

The past year has been one of growth for Whitehaven, from a thriving housing market to new businesses opening their doors, our Astrid Kayembe reports.

Some Whitehaven residents see it as a “renaissance phase” for the Memphis neighborhood, where a new YMCA, luxury housing development, film studio and more are in the works.

Astrid has compiled a list of key developments in Whitehaven, their current status and when we can expect to see them completed in her story for subscribers.

Golden State and Memphis are not rivals according to Ja Morant

Shortly after the Golden State Warriors won their fourth championship in eight years, Klay Thompson took the podium and expressed his unhappiness with Jaren Jackson Jr. tweeting ‘Strength in numbers” after a Memphis Grizzlies win in March, our Damichael Cole reports.

Thompson’s subtle jab led to a Twitter exchange between Ja Morant and Draymond Green — resulting in some late-night entertainment.

“That’s real estate, like I said,” Morant said. “Pretty much something we not worried about. Obviously they won a championship, congrats to them. But we just got to focus on what we do here for the Memphis Grizzlies and go get a ring.”

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