Reporter
Don Wade has been a Memphis journalist since 1998 and he has won awards for both his sports and news/feature writing. He is originally from Kansas City and is married with three sons.
There are 589 articles by Don Wade :
Personal injury lawyer Corey B. Trotz has been on television and billboards for so long, he’s now sort of a Memphis institution − and probably not at all who you think he is.
The local personal injury law marketplace is not for the faint of heart, as legitimate firms spend millions of dollars on advertising and “bad actors” in the profession engage in illegal solicitation of clients that has triggered the attention of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Two women are leading the effort to stop Byhalia Pipeline from running its crude oil through South Memphis neighborhoods. The fight is reminiscent of the battle won decades ago by women who stopped a freeway from running through Overton Park.
The Citizens to Preserve Overton Park took its fight to stop a highway all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Playwright Virginia Ralph saw an imaginative children’s musical in that real-life story. Activists saved Overton Park; now they just may stop a pipelineRelated story:
Where the Shelby County Health Department failed, the City of Memphis is so far succeeding as the authority over the local COVID-19 vaccination process. It’s a combination of leadership, an effective command system that touches all levels of the operation and a resolve to be accountable.
From the use of fetal cell lines to concerns about equal access and equitable distribution, the COVID-19 vaccines have raised, and sometimes left unanswered, bioethical questions.
One day at a sports bar more than 20 years ago ended with one man losing his life and another, Jerald Trotter, spending almost 13 years in prison.
Statistically, COVID-19 is more likely to claim the lives of people 65 and older than any other age group. But apart from that, the pandemic has introduced layers of complications for seniors, especially those living alone and/or on fixed incomes.
Going forward, vaccinating the citizens of Shelby County against COVID-19 is under the authority of the City of Memphis after the state transferred custody of the vaccine and administration of the process away from county leaders. It took a dizzying array of missteps for this to occur, and Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright says: “The public deserves to know what happened.” Related story:
County vaccination timeline
Memphis comic LaToya Tennille finds humor in her hometown and in her own life. If that translates to making the “big-time,” great. If it doesn’t, well, maybe she’s cleared a path for somebody else.
From humble beginnings to home run king, Hank Aaron, who died on Jan. 22, left a legacy. He even found time for a brief stopover in Memphis and hit a home run in a football stadium.
Hutchison’s students and families wanted to be back in class despite the pandemic; the school had to ensure it was possible to do it safely.
Someday, the COVID-19 pandemic will be much less of a threat than it is today, and eventually it will be over. What will we do without the mask then? Toss it aside? Still wear it regularly? Or keep it nearby for emergencies?
As the public continues to voice its frustration with the local COVID-19 vaccine process, Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter says she understands the frustration and that the ‘buck stops’ with the Health Department. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris declined to comment.
Shelby County prosecutors have seen more violence in domestic violence cases during the pandemic and they worry about the number of post-pandemic disclosures of child abuse.
Related story: Pandemic a challenge for criminal justice system? Guilty as charged
Even under so-called normal conditions, the criminal justice system encounters delays and backlogs. The COVID-19 pandemic takes it to a whole new level.
It has been almost 11 months since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Shelby County, and we are tired. Even those who want to follow all the protocols and continue the good fight are more likely to ‘slip’ now and then. It’s called human nature and surveys show that across the country, Americans are weary of the pandemic.
Dr. Jon McCullers, a Memphis infectious disease expert, says greater ‘central control’ was needed at both the federal and state levels for a more effective response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Delivery and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine is just another step on the long road toward herd immunity. Getting there will require a level of effectiveness apart from the vaccine itself. History will judge leaders’ success as we all pursue a return to the “old” normal.
The COVID-19 pandemic might have grounded some local model airplane enthusiasts for a while, but it couldn’t stop them from building more Ringmaster model planes and being ready for Saturday’s 13th annual Worldwide Fly-A-Thon.
Less than 6% of Alpha Omega Veterans Services’ clients have contracted COVID-19 and only one has died with the virus. Nevertheless, the pandemic poses new challenges for veterans still trying to get grounded in civilian life.
The COVID-19 vaccines now becoming available offer the hope of curtailing the pandemic, but may not be available to the masses for months — and not all automatically trust that the vaccine will be safe.
While area nonprofits have felt the strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, Memphis has lived up to its reputation as a “giving” city and help also has come from national funding sources.
Faith leaders say this holiday season is less about the quest for a perfect Christmas or the best Hanukkah ever, and more about connecting with people as the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact, and take, lives.
If you’re a college student amid the COVID-19 pandemic, you’re having a different experience. With your studies, with your social life, applying for internships and hunting for a job. And if you’re a high school student, picking your college may mean going sight unseen. Related: Kids will face emotional challenges from pandemic for a long time