Need a break from COVID-19 news? Here are the most-read Memphis stories in 2020
Micaela A WattsThe year 2020 has become synonymous with grief in Memphis and across the country.
The loss of 821 Shelby Countians and counting from COVID-19 complications dominated headlines daily. And, secondary losses racked up as well.
Job losses spiked. Some of our most cherished spaces began to close. And hundreds took to the streets almost nightly at the height of anti-police brutality protests that followed on the heels of the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
Such a deluge of somber moments might explain the preferences of readers this year.
Time and time again, Commercial Appeal readers sought information and storytelling about topics that were informative, but also served as a break from the daily realities of a pandemic that made life hell for so many.
Readers wanted to know about how FedEx would pivot to accomodate strains on the U.S. Postal Service, they wanted to know more about the case of Terica Ellis, the exotic-dancer indicted in a murder-for-hire-plot, and they wanted to learn more about the meteoric rise of Memphis rapper NLE Choppa.
Time and time again, some, but not all, of the most read stories seemed to revolve around a theme — readers wanted a break from the pandemic.
Below is a list of ten of our most read stories that had little to do with COVID-19.
Memphis woman, Terica Ellis, charged in 'Welcome to Sweetie Pie's' murder-for-hire conspiracy
Terica Ellis, an exotic dancer from Memphis, was accused of arranging a murder-for-hire that resulted in the death of 21-year-old Andre Montgomery, on March 14, 2016, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Authorities also pointed a finger at reality show star James "Tim" Norman, one of the central figures in the Oprah Winfrey Network show, "Welcome to Sweetie Pie's", accusing the Jackson, Mississippi native of arranging the hit on Montgomery.
Both Ellis and Norman are in federal prison awaiting trial.
Murder-for-hire:Memphis woman promised $10,000 to help 'Welcome to Sweetie Pie's' star kill nephew, detective says
Biggest ship ever seen on Mississippi would leave no wake, haul load of 2,375 trucks
In September, Miami-based ship line American Patriot Holdings LLC floated an idea to build what would be the largest cargo ship to ever travel in Mississippi River waters.
The company said each "liner," as they are called, would leave a low wake in its path even though the ship would be 595 feet long, 134 feet wide, sit 9 feet deep in the river and displace 17,500 tons of water.
Traditional, and much smaller, liners have been known to release powerful wakes that can quickly erode shores of river beds in confined straits of a river like the half-a-mile wide Mississippi in Memphis.
Evanoff:Biggest ship ever seen on Mississippi would leave no wake, haul load of 2,375 trucks
Memphis landmarks Graceland, Levitt Shell hit with 'Defund the Police' graffiti
On the eve of Sept. 1, known locally as "901 Day", a still-unknown person grabbed a few cans of spray-paint and hit the town. Actually, they tagged the town.
Two of the most recognizable Memphis landmarks — the Levitt Shell and Graceland — were tagged with "Defund the Police" and "BLM" (Black Lives Matter) graffiti.
The internet reacted with searing debate over the identity of the vandals, with some blaming leftist "thugs" and others claiming that "infiltrators" seeking to discredit the Black Lives Matter movement were responsible for the graffiti.
Happy 901 Day!:Memphis landmarks Graceland, Levitt Shell hit with 'Defund the Police' graffiti
Changes are coming to the US Postal Service. What could that mean for FedEx?
Reeling from billions of dollars in losses from the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S.Postal Service faced a year of uncertainty. That uncertainty extended to FedEx, Memphis' largest employer.
The company confirmed in early August the postal service was still the shipping company's largest client. The Memphis-based air cargo giant provides domestic airport-to-airport transportation services for the agency under a contract expiring in 2024. It also provides international transportation and delivery for the Postal Service.
The air lift contract is both a major expense for the Postal Service and a major boost for FedEx’s finances and operations.
Ripple effects:Changes are coming to the US Postal Service. What could that mean for FedEx?
Memphian Alice Johnson, who President Trump granted clemency, praises him as compassionate leader at RNC
Memphis grandmother Alice Marie Johnson had already spent 20 years of her life behind bars for a first-time, non-violent drug offense before she was pardoned by outgoing President Donald Trump.
The president learned of her story from reality star Kim Kardashian, who successfully lobbied for her release.
Johnson has expressed ample gratitude for Trump since her release and was invited to speak at the Republican National Convention, where she praised Trump as a compassionate leader who enabled her to start over.
Johnson flew on Air Force One with the president just days before he tested positive for COVID-19. Johnson tested negative.
CHEER EMPIRE: A for-profit company built competitive cheer, pays people who make its rules
The explosion of competitive cheerleading can largely be attributed to one Memphis-based company, Varsity Spirit.
The company helped turn cheerleading into a more athletic sport by raising the level of cheer competitions to include what the sport is associated with today. Less rah-rah-rah, more high-flying stunts that demand rigorous physical discipline.
Today, USA Cheer, the national governing body of cheerleading, has no employees of its own. All six of its staff members, including its executive director, are Varsity employees contracted to work for the regulatory body.
Cheeropoly:A for-profit company built competitive cheer, pays people who make its rules
Meet Memphis rapper NLE Choppa. At just 17, he's ready to build a hip-hop empire
2020 was good to Bryson Potts, also known as NLE Choppa.
In August, the 17-year-old topped off an 18-month-long rise to fame with the release of his first full-length album for Warner Music, “Top Shotta.”
Speaking to Commercial Appeal music writer Bob Mehr, Potts spoke about his efforts to produce an album that showed off his versatility as a performer.
“I was trying to make sure it was more of a different side of NLE. I wanted to have all types of songs. And I wanted to cause controversy too — for people to say, 'How he gonna go from making hype songs to trying to be more melodic?' I was mainly trying to show my versatility.”
Top Shotta:Meet Memphis rapper NLE Choppa. At just 17, he's ready to build a hip-hop empire
Activists call on Collierville to remove Confederacy relics on town square
It's been a little more than three years since public pressure reached a tipping point, and Memphis officials pulled behind-the-scenes maneuvers to bring the the statues of slave-trader Nathan Bedford Forrest and former Confederate States of America president Jefferson Davis down from their places of honor in Memphis' public parks.
Some might have been surprised when activists pointed out another, albeit much-smaller monument to the Confederacy was still positioned in a public park in Shelby County.
Memphis activist L.J. Abraham, who spontaneously stepped into the role of community organizer over the summer, led the charge to raise awareness about the marker put up by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
The marker still stands today, but the discussion among Collierville residents about the message it sends to Black Colliervillians is still ongoing.
Take 'Em Down Part 2:Activists call on Collierville to remove Confederacy relics on town square
The White House mixed up Rhodes College and Rhodes Scholar. Then, came the puns.
Rhodes College was briefly thrown in the news cycle after White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany inaccurately stated now-Associate Justice Amy Coney Barret was a 'Rhodes Scholar'.
Barrett attended the Memphis four-year liberal arts school, Rhodes College, in the 90s. McEnany was referring to the prestigious scholarship awarded internationally. Recipients of the scholarship attend the equally prestigious University of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England.
The mix-up produced ample mockery, followed by efforts from Rhodes alumna to raise concern about Coney's career before being nominated to a life-time appointment.
Teacher or Lawyer?:At Rhodes College, Amy Coney Barrett made a pro-con list for her future