City paves the way for more outdoor restaurant dining
The city says restaurants can expand outdoors in private space right away and can expect cooperation if they have a good plan for expansion to sidewalks or even street seating.
COVID-19 cases, positivity rate rising while hospital capacity tightens locally
Shelby County, from July 8-22, averaged 342 new cases a day, 2,350 test results and a 14.6% positivity rate, according to Shelby County Health Department data.
Brightest comet in 20 years blazes path over Mid-South
The 3-mile ball of ice will make its closest approach to the Earth on Thursday, July 23.
Analysis: What the Justise Winslow injury means for the Memphis Grizzlies
For the second time in five months, the debut of forward Justise Winslow in a Grizzlies uniform has been delayed. This time, it's a new injury for a player who can't seem to stay healthy. What does it mean for the Grizzlies, this summer and beyond?
TSSAA approves 8-game contingency plan for high school football
The board also approved several policies designed to mitigate COVID risk for the fall season.
LeMoyne-Owen College to offer students free laptops, a new Methodist Le Bonheur clinic on campus
The college will open for virtual classes Aug. 12, and will monitor coronavirus case numbers to decide whether to reopen the campus after Labor Day.
Collierville Alderman Tom Allen dies at age 84
Alderman Tom Allen has died at age 84. Allen was recently diagnosed pancreatic cancer.
210 units for Nylon Net Building, Oakhaven warehouse approved
The current plan for the adaptive reuse of the Nylon Net Building is to build 199 apartments and a two-level parking structure with 230 spaces.
Hargett draws fire in U.S. Senate committee on state’s resistance to expanded absentee voting
Hargett called for more federal funding for election procedures in the pandemic without Washington putting any conditions on state election officials in the process. Lawmakers questioned him closely on the state's opposition to expanded absentee balloting even after it was ordered by a state court.
Lunch duty, P.E., class size: School systems seek hundreds of waivers from state mandates
The state Board of Education will consider the first round of requests Friday. That vote will offer an early glimpse of how far Tennessee will go to help schools navigate COVID-19 at the expense of statewide policies aimed at improving the quality of public education.
Pinnacle touts mortgage business in Q2 affected by COVID-19
Pinnacle granted payment deferrals on $4.4 billion in loans and issued $2.2 billion in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans to customers affected by the pandemic.
Frayser CDC hires new executive director
Memphis native Damon Williams, who succeeds longtime director Steve Lockwood, has worked in nonprofit housing for the past 15 years.
The Grizzlies get bad news
In the latest Daily Memphian Grizzlies podcast, beat writer Drew Hill and columnist Chris Herrington discuss the first bit of bad news to come from the NBA bubble for Memphis.
No proof MMR shots mitigate COVID-19, but stream steady at shot clinics
Argument continues on the value of live vaccines to stimulate the immune system in the fight against COVID-19; there is no randomized study yet to prove it.
Opinion: What it means to be an ally in Memphis
As a brown American living in a Black and white city, I have often felt like I am standing on the median. I have watched my Facebook friends slowly show their stance on the Black Lives Matter movement: Some have remained quiet ... some are willing to speak up and support the movement.
Absentee ballot count stands at about 11,000, Phillips says
So far, the return by voters of the unusually high number of the mail-in ballots hasn't shown up in the early voting turnout figures. Shelby County Elections Administrator Linda Phillips told county commissioners Wednesday, July 22, that some absentee voters may not complete their ballots because they are expecting to see the presidential general election that is on the November ballot.
Metro
Main Street will soon get new banners
Four designs will be displayed on the Main Street Mall and will highlight and celebrate the city’s identity.
Shelby County Lakeland’s Wesley Wright won’t run for Shelby County Commission
City of Memphis Cohen questions FBI leader about National Guard in Memphis
Spirit of Memphis Businessman, entrepreneur Walker Uhlhorn dies at 88
Business
XAI subsidiary subleases 550+ acres for solar panel project
The solar panel project is expected to include up to 100 megawatts, possibly more.
Business Main Street will soon get new banners
Real Estate The latest on Google’s West Memphis data center? It could add water recycling.
Movers and Shakers Movers & Shakers
Sports
Two Tigers lean on old bond to lead Memphis offense
When receiver Cortez Braham Jr. was deciding on which school to transfer to, Brendon Lewis’ pitch was simple: Choose the team with the quarterback you already know.
High School Sports Jeremiah Jordan brings grit and grind to Memphis football
Premium High School Sports Week 5 high school football preview: Germantown-Lausanne will be star-studded and physical
High School Sports In a ‘defining game,’ Houston puts seven goals past Briarcrest
Food
Table Talk: Remembering Jennifer Biggs with the mahjong ladies
MahJ Squad 901 started meeting for weekly games years ago,making every fourth meeting a luncheon that started by checking out one of Biggs’ recommendations.
Suburbs
Collierville Schools to improve cell service at high school, hears site purchase updates
Collierville Schools is hoping cell service is soon improved in the high school area. District leaders also heard an update on two sites they are purchasing.
Arts & Culture
The Daily Memphian pops up at Cooper-Young Fest
The Daily Memphian hosted a booth at the event, talking to community members and giving out swag. Did you see us?
Opinion
Calkins: Memphis has a rich history of playing the SEC. Is it coming to an end?
For almost exactly 60 years, SEC teams have been traveling to the Liberty Bowl to play Memphis in football. Saturday might be the beginning of the end.
Podcasts
The AM/DM podcast: How a new MPD position rankled the department
In the wake of Tyré Nichols’ death, the Memphis Police Department decided it had an absence of supervision in the field, and set out to fix that problem by creating a new position — the second lieutenant. But that solution caused a string of other problems.