The Memphis-Shelby County Schools board last week voted to close five schools at the end of the current school year. About 2,650 students will be affected by the decision, either by having to attend new schools this fall or by having new classmates as a result of school mergers, according to enrollment data MSCS officials presented on the closures.

The district is expected to cut some 57 school-level jobs also. MSCS Superintendent Roderick Richmond and his administration have argued that the long-term benefits to the district are worth the five closures. A long-term facilities plan first reported by The Daily Memphian and approved by the school board earlier this month calls for 15 total school closures in the next three years.

A Memphis Police Department officer suffered critical injuries after he was shot last week during a traffic stop. The officer, Oscar Torres-Molina, was released from the hospital Sunday; the suspect in the shooting, Danell Maxwell, remains at large.

Memphis Light, Gas & Water CEO Doug McGowen told the Memphis City Council last week that the spike customers have seen in their most recent utility bills was equally caused by two factors: People used a lot more electricity and natural gas during the winter storm of late January and the price of the power and natural gas went up. 

Also, the May Shelby County primary ballot is set; local Republicans got what is likely to be the closest thing to a debate between two of the three top Republicans running for Tennessee governor at the party’s annual Lincoln Day event; and the county District Attorney’s Office said it’s implementing a local AI company’s evidence management system for prosecutors. 

— Metro editor Jane Donahoe

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