Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | David Waters

Health Department will assess community violence, mental health care, other 'unmet' needs

dwaters@memphis.edu (David Waters) — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 16:23:01 -0600

The evaluation is part of the Shelby County Health Department’s effort to gain national accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board.

Local faith leaders offer their colleagues 'A Time to Mourn'

dwaters@memphis.edu (David Waters) — Thu, 2 Feb 2023 13:43:05 -0600

The women who formed a grief group last summer are organizing “A Time to Mourn” — a special service of grief and lament at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 17 in the Church Health Community Room in Crosstown Concourse.

Local course fosters 'dementia-friendly' congregations

dwaters@memphis.edu (David Waters) — Mon, 16 Jan 2023 04:00:03 -0600

“With an aging membership in churches and the broader society, the need for compassionate care for those who have dementia is rapidly increasing.”

Sonia's gift: Retiring minister stands with living and dying

dwaters@memphis.edu (David Waters) — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 07:48:38 -0600

Sonia Walker is retiring as associate pastor of First Congregational Church.

Memphis-Shelby County Schools hires firm to conduct audit of COVID relief spending

dwaters@memphis.edu (David Waters) — Tue, 6 Dec 2022 08:58:08 -0600

An examination, conducted by the Institute for Public Service Reporting at the University of Memphis, found the district likely had overspent millions of federal dollars on HVAC upgrades that benefited one company in particular.

Dresden Tornado: A year later, devastated town strives, struggling to recover

dwaters@memphis.edu (David Waters) — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 10:50:09 -0600

On Dec. 10, 2021, a severe EF-3 tornado blew Dresden apart. Today, the Tennessee town is still putting its parts back together.

Dresden Tornado: Survivor grateful for 'God's Pit Crew,' new home

dwaters@memphis.edu (David Waters) — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 10:43:05 -0600

Gallimore was worried that night about her her 21-year-old granddaughter, who was at Gallimore’s house in Dresden, a small town about 120 miles northeast of Memphis near the Kentucky state line.

Dresden Tornado: A year later, devastated town strives, struggling to recover

Famous Indian guru to teach meditative breathing in Memphis

dwaters@memphis.edu (David Waters) — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 04:00:14 -0600

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, a world famous Indian yoga guru, has taught his SKY meditative breathing practice to millions of devotees around the world.

Autura's connections: Slain minister inspires help for traumatized women

dwaters@memphis.edu (David Waters) — Mon, 7 Nov 2022 09:19:32 -0600

“When Dr. Autura died, whoever knew her and had a covenant relationship with her, something died in them. We want to show what can be born out of trauma. That death and trauma aren’t the end of the story.”

MSCS manager fired for personal gains made on school construction contracts

dwaters@memphis.edu (David Waters) — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 10:47:54 -0500

A senior facilities manager for Memphis-Shelby County Schools was fired in late July for “gross misconduct” in connection with construction contracts awarded to a school district vendor.

From Memphis to Qatar: Neighborhood soccer program scores big again

dwaters@memphis.edu (David Waters) — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 09:14:08 -0500

Three Memphis girls are playing for Team USA in the 2022 Street Child World Cup.

Former KIPP principal backs first-gen college students

dwaters@memphis.edu (David Waters) — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 12:36:35 -0500

A new app, called backrs, started a year ago to connect under-resourced students to scholarships, internships, business connections and information — as well as a seed investment and monthly contributions.

Saving Memphis one teen mom at a time

dwaters@memphis.edu (David Waters) — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 10:43:12 -0500

A young mother, a community educator and a new social development firm work to unpack and defy grim teen birth statistics, build healthy families and ‘redesign’ the community.

For city's teenage peace corps, the future is now

dwaters@memphis.edu (David Waters) — Sat, 1 Oct 2022 04:00:08 -0500

BRIDGES, best known for its Bridge Builders program in local schools, marks its 100th year by expanding its membership and mission.

New laws, funding cuts raise concerns teen births will rise

dwaters@memphis.edu (David Waters) — Sun, 11 Sep 2022 04:00:08 -0500

Federal and state funds for local prevention efforts, including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education in schools, began drying up before the pandemic.

One day, one test: Keeping score isn’t as easy as 1, 2, 3

dwaters@memphis.edu (David Waters) — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 16:03:05 -0500

Even as Tennessee moves forward with a law that could hold back tens of thousands of third graders, there is widespread misunderstanding about what it even means to read at “grade level.”

One day, one test: How the new retention law overlooks children with learning disabilities

dwaters@memphis.edu (David Waters) — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 15:50:12 -0500

Many third-grade students who fail their reading tests have learning disabilities, but Tennessee’s new retention law fails to address that reality, putting thousands of kids at risk of being held back.

One day, one test: Here's why some children struggle to read

dwaters@memphis.edu (David Waters) — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 19:07:42 -0500

Critics worry Tennessee’s new retention policy fails to address most of the reasons children struggle to read, leaving tens of thousands of third graders at risk of being held back this year.

One day, one test: Learning from the Mississippi Miracle

dwaters@memphis.edu (David Waters) — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 05:44:26 -0500

Tennessee joins 36 states with laws that can result in underperforming elementary students being held back, but the results in other states have been mixed.

One day, one test: New third-grade retention law goes into effect

dwaters@memphis.edu (David Waters) — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 04:00:02 -0500

A new state law is raising the pressure on local public and charter schools. Third graders who “flunk” next spring’s TNReady reading test — and generally two-thirds of them in Tennessee do — are eligible to be retained in third grade next year.