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The Week in Review

Metro
 
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Police reform and COVID-19 each played big roles in local news during the past week. On the COVID-19 front, it was a good news/bad news kind of week. The good news is that the state is easing nursing home restrictions, allowing more visitation and activities — as long as there are no new cases for two weeks.

The bad news is that the Shelby County Health Department last week reported the highest number of new daily cases — more than 300 — in more than a month, and the University of Memphis had to postpone plans to bring more students back onto campus because of two new COVID outbreaks.

As far as police reform, three county ordinances addressing reform got a chilly reception from the County Commission, with each falling short of the seven-vote majority needed for passage on first reading. The measures will still get a second reading next week, and Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner said he will form a civilian hiring committee to help in hiring deputies.

Also last week, Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Paula Skahan ordered DNA testing be allowed on crime scene evidence from a 1987 double homicide for which Pervis Payne is scheduled for execution Dec. 3. — Metro editor Ron Maxey

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The Health Department also reported five new related deaths on Thursday.

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Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner is forming a civilian committee to offer input on hiring of deputies as part of police reform efforts. 

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Tentative plans for a 2-mile stretch between Front and Cleveland include better pedestrian crossings, protected bike lanes and landscaping. A public meeting Thursday resumes a process that was paused in March for the pandemic. 

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While some churches nearby shrink or close, St. Michael Church on Summer Avenue will soon start construction on a new, $2 million parish office, has begun building two more soccer fields, and has plans for a new parish hall. 

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Criminal Court Judge Paula Skahan ordered the expedited DNA testing of crime scene evidence that has never been tested, including a knife used in the murders, eyeglasses and bloodstained clothing. 

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Democrat Gabby Salinas and Republican John Gillespie are getting feisty over an endorsement she received from the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, hinting at a lively race this fall for an open House seat.

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With cases declining statewide, Tennessee will allow nursing homes to lift restrictions for more visitation and activities as long as they show no new cases for two weeks.

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Torrey Harris isn’t making his sexuality the focal point of his political campaign, but he would be Tennessee’s first openly LGBT legislator if he defeats veteran Rep. John DeBerry in the race for the House District 90 seat.

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The Shelby County Health Department is investigating two coronavirus clusters with 36 total cases at the University of Memphis. 

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The trio of ordinances affecting the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and corrections officers advanced automatically in Monday’s first of three votes on the measures. A second reading will be held in two weeks and a third is tentatively set in October. 

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