Coronavirus live blog, May 18: Hybrid model likely for schools in fall
Shelby County Schools superintendent Joris Ray outlines the district’s long-term strategy for reopening schools.
Phase 2 reopening begins, expands waiting period to 21 days
The second phase of reopening the Memphis area economy began Monday, May 18. It will go for 21 days before a much more ambitious third and final phase of the reopening plan.
Commissioner has a plan to cut expenses
'Despite our financial soundness, everyone in Shelby County soon will be paying more in property taxes unless my colleagues on the County Commission embrace a serious reality check regarding the shortfall in the county’s general fund.'
Here’s what Phase 2 reopenings look like
A rundown of what's included in Phase 2 of the new Shelby County Health Department directive.
County officials want cloth face coverings to be required, not requested
The resolution urges Health Department officials to require Shelby County residents and visitors to wear masks when out and about.
Here are the people advising Memphis school leaders on fall return
Superintendent Joris Ray said a plan to return to school could be a mix of in-person and online instruction. It’s still not clear when the 2020-21 school year will start, but Ray said he expects to present a school re-entry plan in early July.
FedEx, Microsoft tag team to ‘revolutionize commerce’
FedEx and Microsoft have formed a strategic alliance that company leaders believe will "revolutionize" commerce by giving businesses more visibility into and control of inventories and supply chains.
West Tennessee prisons, Shelby County Jail hit hard by coronavirus
At least three prisons in West Tennessee and the Shelby County jail top the list of correctional facilities with inmates and detainees who have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Herrington: Government mask ordinances risk doing more harm than good
The elevation of mask-usage into a kind of political symbol is a drag — it’s flat-out dumb — but it’s happened, and I’d worry that a government requirement, even a loosely enforced one, would increase the political strife around the issue without a commensurate increase in compliance.
Strickland to close $26 million revenue hole in current budget from familiar sources
The $26 million in red ink is mostly from drops in sales tax revenue because of the closing of "nonessential" businesses in the pandemic. The plan for the current fiscal year, including more use of the city's reserves, was presented to city council members Monday with a vote possible at Tuesday's council session.
Shelby County tests far below goal, 42 new cases
Shelby County saw 42 new cases of coronavirus from only 688 tests reported Monday. The county's positivity rate overall is 7.2%.
Memphis adding scholarship kicker with class of 2021
The Memphis Tigers plan to add a kicker in the class of 2021 — two of their targets find their successful special teams history appealing.
Memphis Tigers holding simulation showdown between two historic teams
Memphis plans to hold a "simulation showdown" between two historic Tiger teams.
Lee tours new, $51M coronavirus care facility in former CA building
The hospital will open when numbers of COVID-19 patients make it necessary; they will arrive by ambulance in a drive-up bay off Beale Street.
Hopdoddy in Overton Square is closed for good
Count Hopdoddy in Overton Square among the restaurants in town that closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and will not reopen.
BCS taps Abraham as principal of Bartlett Ninth Grade Academy
The vice principal at Bartlett High School will take over the reins at the academy beginning July 1.
Raymond James files more allegations against landlord
Raymond James wants to go another legal round against its Downtown Memphis landlord. The company also reveals that six years ago it negotiated to be anchor tenant for what is likely the planned One Beale office tower.
When the Civil War siege of Corinth ended, the conquest of Memphis began
Even though Corinth was a small town of about 1,200, its location made it the key to controlling the western half of the Confederacy and its most important city, Memphis.
After canceling TNReady exams, state must pay millions for testing prep work
Decisions about payment and future tests are among scores of questions and adjustments that all states are dealing with after the pandemic shuttered schools nationwide before testing season got underway.
Election changes churn political waters
The Shelby County Election Commission picked new voting machines earlier this month without the public knowing the name of the company or the price. But it has done little to settle the ongoing debate about changes to how Memphis voters exercise their right.
Marathon day for County Commission fails to produce budget
The commission calculated cuts and additions to the $1.4 billion budget, which must be approved by June 30.
Metro
New U of M institute understands the importance of flower power
The university’s new unit, headed by a global expert in sunflowers, focuses on how to boost agriculture specifically in the Mississippi Delta.
Spirit of Memphis On Christmas Day, everybody eats at Brother Juniper’s
Business
Memphis wrap star, former St. Jude patient meet on reality show
After filming on “The Ultimate Gift Wrapping Challenge” wrapped in Pennsylvania, Vanessa West and Adrienne Myers met again — this time back home in Memphis over lunch at La Baguette.
Transportation & Logistics American Airlines briefly grounded flights on Christmas Eve
Sports
Net gains: Santi Aldama’s play once was ‘trash.’ Now the Grizzlies love it.
With inspiration from a book about tennis, sports psychology and more, Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama’s game has taken a huge step forward.
Premium Memphis Grizzlies Herrington: No Grizzlies for Christmas? The NBA’s loss.
Food
Table Talk: Holiday traditions, with food and family at the table
The holidays are about gathering with friends and family, with good meals as a centerpiece.
Suburbs
Public documents on Harvest plane crash released, final report imminent
Hundreds of pages of investigative reports on the 2023 plane crash that killed four members of Harvest Church in Germantown are now public, including official interviews, expert accounts on the aircraft and wreckage and more.
Arts & Culture
Memphis Movies This Week: ‘A Complete Unknown,’ ‘Babygirl,’ more
A quartet of very different, but quite notable, new movies open in Memphis on Christmas Day.
Opinion
Opinion: A call for solutions and community empowerment
“While I agree that our police department can and should improve, the real question for me is this: Will a Federal Government consent decree yield the true results our community is seeking — will it make Memphis better?”
Podcasts
Memphis mayor plans task force to address police reform
Paul Young offered more detail in a Behind The Headlines interview on what’s next for MPD after a scathing federal report into the department’s policies and practices.