Stories

Feature Story Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis is training emergency room personnel to better assess, identify and respond to elder abuse through a curriculum it plans to share with all Shelby County hospitals. (Submitted)

Baptist-Memphis uses ER visits to assess and respond to elder abuse

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis is training emergency room personnel to better assess, identify and respond to elder abuse through a curriculum it plans to share with all Shelby County hospitals.


Feature Story Children pick out a book at Desayuno Con Libros held monthly at Gaisman Community Center. (Desayuno Con Libros)

Desayuno Con Libros connects Latino families over books and breakfast

Desayuno Con Libros is a monthly meeting that pairs breakfast, books, music and more to encourage Spanish-speaking families to spend time reading and celebrating the language. High school journalist Jonathan Rosales explores this fun and important event in his neighborhood.

Feature Story  Los niños buscan libros en Desayuno Con Libros en el Centro Comunitario de Gaisman. (Desayuno Con Libros)

Desayuno Con Libros conecta a las familias latinas con libros y desayunos

Desayuno Con Libros es una reunión mensual que combina desayuno, libros, música y más para alentar a las familias de habla hispana a pasar el tiempo leyendo y celebrando el idioma. El periodista de secundaria Jonathan Rosales explora este evento divertido e importante en su vecindario.

Feature Story Brooks Museum of Art (Submitted by POP)

What’s the future of Overton Park? Memphians have their say in final public forum

Memphis College of Art will be shuttering its main building, Rust Hall, in 2020 when the school closes its doors. The Brooks plans to relocate Downtown by 2024. Combined, the adjacent buildings offer 186,000 square feet of space, including gallery, classroom, food service, auditorium and event spaces.

Feature Story A sign on Davis Circle in the Nutbush area of Memphis. The entrance to the landfill would be located at the end of this street. (Cole Bradley)

Nutbush fights proposed landfill near homes, school and Wolf River

A proposed landfill in Nutbush has residents rallying against what they say would be a blight on their community and a risk to Memphis' greatest natural asset — its water. 

Feature Story food this one

En video: Un sabor del mundo de Summer Avenue

The Heights y el vecino Berclair son destinos para una increíble comida internacional. Con solo un rápido viaje en carro por la avenida Summer Avenue, cualquier persona con hambre puede escoger que platos exclusivos de diferentes países quieran comer , no se necesita un boleto de avión.

Feature Story Steven McKinney teaches math class to his students at Booker T. Washington High School. (Ziggy Mack)

Advocates of trauma-informed teaching call for greater support in Memphis schools

The loss of students to death and criminal activity brings a heavy toll to teachers who work in some of the poorest and under-resourced communities in Memphis. Students who grow up in these communities face adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, which can affect their behavior and educational outcomes. Groups close to this local issue are advocating for trauma-informed training for teachers and a district-wide culture of self-care to support teacher retention.


Feature Story Melrose Football

High Ground News video team receives two Emmy nominations

Forever Ready Productions has been nominated for two Regional Emmys through the National Academy of Television Arts and Science, Nashville Chapter, for their work on High Ground News' On The Ground program.  

Feature Story Trey Easter

"The people are the heart": Memphis transplants reflect on life in a new city

Memphis transplants who came to the city later in life bring a fresh perspective about the city's place in civil rights history, its faith community and what moves Memphis forward as a "big-small" city in Mid-South.

Feature Story Sariah Hudson, 12, Antonio McPherson, 12, and Jose McClellen, 14, hang out with friends and participate in programs after school at the Heights campus of STREETS Ministries. (Dawn Neuses)

STREETS Ministries combines play and empowerment in The Heights

STREETS Ministries empowers Heights youth to reach for their best selves. That support starts inside their multi-purpose space that's part gym, part choir room, part Sunday school and all love. 

Feature Story For 15 years Ric Morgan has helped serve a free community meal at Highland Heights United Methodist Church for an average of 75 guests. Once a month, he plans and prepares an original menu. (Cole Bradley)

A fascinating life, starting in The Heights

Ric Morgan is a 72-year resident of The Heights with a career that’s included Olympians, Reba McEntire and a water-skiing squirrel. He reflects on his lifetime of eclectic adventures and the past and future of The Heights.

Feature Story Homeowners  Mike and Nyasha Daniels in their Frayser home, which they purchased from the Frayser Community Development Corporation in 2018. (Houston Cofield/Daily Memphian)

To combat investment property swarm, Frayser CDC empowers residents to purchase their homes

In 2017, 90 percent of Frayser home purchases were from landlords or investors, most out of state. Frayser CDC's new Home Ownership Campaign is reversing that trend by helping residents buy homes for half the cost of renting.

Feature Story Early arrivals mingle at United Way of the Mid-South's 2018 Feast of Dreams. (Demarcus Bowser)

Breaking bread: Applied anthropology meets local journalism

On November 8, United Way held its Feast of Dreams to unite community leaders in a conversation on poverty reduction. High Ground sent its resident anthropologist with a question — can Unite Way inspire lasting, citywide change in just one night?

Feature Story Dwayne "DJ" Johnson's assistant welds security bars for a client at Johnson's shop at 2992 Summer Avenue (Ziggy Mack)

Last of the craft: The twilight of Summer Avenue's artisan culture

Since the 1800s Summer Avenue has been a place for artisans and mom-and-pop shops. Today, many of its master crafters are past retirement age, and there’s a need for new blood to continue the tradition of handmade hustle. 

Feature Story Crystal Bergman is the operations manager for Memphis-based Madison Line Records. (Submitted)

Crystal Bergman takes lead at Madison Line Records, takes on gender bias in music industry

Crystal Bergman has spent a lifetime making music and seen her share of gender-bias in the industry. As Madison Line Records' new operations manager she's using what she's learned to cultivate the next generation of tough and talented female performers. 

Feature Story With the Memphis College of Art closing in 2020, the future of its main building, Rust Hall, is up in the air.

Local arts organizers make a bid to take over Memphis College of Art's Rust Hall

With the Memphis College of Art’s May 2020 closure approaching, the fate of the school’s main building in Overton Park is up in the air. Local arts entrepreneurs are taking steps to secure Rust Hall and remake the eye-catching mid-century space into a mixed-use facility for artists and creative entrepreneurs.

Feature Story Layne Carden was inspired to open TransforMama, a play and co-work space for parents, based on her own postpartum experience.

A community center for new parents offers fitness classes, playgroups and coworking

Inspired by her own postpartum struggles, entrepreneur Layne Carden launched TransforMama to offer new parents resources and community support.

Feature Story Students socialize while enjoying a midday snack. (Cole Bradley)

Heights Boys and Girls Club earns national acclaim, trains Memphis musicians

The Heights’ Ira Samelson Jr. Club is the city’s top performing Boys and Girls Clubs, and it's receiving national recognition for its dynamic staff and state-of-the-art music studio that’s training Memphis’ next generation of music legends.

Feature Story Summer Avenue near National Street has been an important corner for commerce since the late 1800s. (Andrew Breig)

Summer Avenue to rebrand as an international district

The Heights-Berclair stretch of Summer Avenue is just three miles long but it represents business owners from over 30 countries. Now it’s getting the recognition it deserves with a campaign to brand it as the Memphis’ first international district.

Feature Story A customer looks around the store as he speaks with the owner of the Summer Outlet thrift store. (Natalie Eddings)

In photos: Memphis gets thrifty on Summer Avenue

For decades Summer Avenue in The Heights has been a destination location for Memphis' frugal shoppers. Photographer Natalie Eddings explores the chaotic beauty of Summer's most popular thrift stores.