As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise both locally and nationally, dealing with the surge became the focus of last week’s news.
The Shelby County Health Department issued a new directive that tightens up on some of the restrictions relating to restaurants, but restaurateurs were somewhat relieved that the restrictions were not tightened more than they were.
Meanwhile, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and the county’s suburban mayors met with other West Tennessee mayors to talk about a possible mask mandate in the absence of a statewide mandate. Nothing was decided, but Harris said he thought there would be some action.
Also last week, the Memphis City Council got a new chairman for the coming year, Frank Colvett, but the selection included an outburst from council member Edmund Ford Sr. that resulted in an ethics complaint against him. — Metro editor Ron Maxey
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No businesses will close in new health directive, but restaurants will see a new curfew and diners will face new masking rules.
Related story: The process behind health directives and importance of tripwires
By Jane Roberts, Jennifer Biggs
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The latest restrictions when warranted will be crafted by the Health Department and Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris as they work with legal experts to enact the health directives countywide.
By Omer Yusuf
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Frank Colvett won election as City Council chairman Tuesday over Martavius Jones. But Colvett’s selection did not come without some controversy.
By Bill Dries
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Council member JB Smiley is also seeking a change in council rules that would allow the chairman of the body to bar a council member who does what Ford did twice during Tuesday’s council meetings.
By Bill Dries
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No location has been decided on for the re-interment, according to SCV leader Lee Millar. But court documents suggest the remains and equestrian statue of Forrest removed from Health Sciences Park could be bound for a new National Confederate Museum in Columbia, Tn.
By Bill Dries
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The Boy Scouts of America began accepting girls in 2019 and this achievement is historic.
By Linda A. Moore
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New kits allow up to 20 family members to self-test at home, so we tried it.
By David Waters
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Mayors from the West Tennessee counties outside Shelby County heard a pitch from Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and others Thursday for a regional mask mandate. Harris says Gov. Bill Lee is unlikely to order a statewide mask requirement. The regional effort will move to one-on-one talks.
By Bill Dries
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Update
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From 450 contact tracing interviews last week, the Health Department sees transmission is happening when people take masks off in restaurants, in gyms and in small social gatherings.
By Jane Roberts
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