Memphis will be sitting out the NCAA Tournament yet again this year. Here’s a reason for hope (and some reasons to despair).

The social media company apologized that accounts tweeting the word “Memphis” were limited for a while on Sunday. 

The Tigers are battling Mississippi State and Ole Miss for one of Texas’ best.

Memphis is just the third team in the past 15 years to finish top three in KenPom.com’s adjusted defensive efficiency metric and not make the NCAA Tournament. Instead, Memphis will participate in the NIT as a No. 1 seed 

March 14, 2021: Thunder 128, Grizzlies 122

Related story:

Grizzlies fall to hot-shooting Thunder

The Grizzlies had a 12-point lead, but the Thunder’s proficient 3-point shooting was overwhelming.

The commissioner argued for the Tigers’ inclusion despite the AAC’s decision not to reschedule their regular-season games against Houston and Wichita State. 

A total of 212,724 vaccination doses have been administered in Shelby County. At least 147,540 people in Shelby County have received one COVID-19 vaccine dose; 65,184 have received both coronavirus vaccine doses, meaning they are fully vaccinated.

Thanks to funding from the COVID-19 relief bill, Amtrak is restoring daily service for 12 of its long distance routes. One of these is the City of New Orleans route, which travels between New Orleans and Chicago with stops in Memphis.

A top FedEx executive says the company will be ready to handle the extra load as COVID-19 vaccine distribution ramps up this spring and summer.

Ben and Jessica Jarratt long to have a child of their own. The road has been difficult and expensive, but a bill could provide help for families like theirs.

Victims of human trafficking would be allowed to use force in self-defense under a bipartisan bill making its way through the Tennessee General Assembly.

The County Commission Scorecard tracks votes on a piece of legislation in Nashville that would change the way county commissioners are elected and final approval of a share of county contracts for locally owned small businesses.

A mix of Black women music-makers from Memphis, past and present, honors both February’s Black History Month celebration and Women’s History Month in March. 

Paul and Debra Brantley started Memphis nonprofit BHW Estate with the goal of building permanent housing for homeless and at-risk veterans.

What is in front of the Tigers is an agonizing wait to see what the NCAA selection committee has in store.

March 13, 2021: AAC semifinal: Houston 76, Memphis 74

Related story:

AAC Semifinals: Memphis devastated by Houston — again

The Tigers came charging back in the second half, but their bad habit of turning the ball over stalled them. 

Related article:

Box score, AAC semifinal: Houston 76, Memphis 74

From Feb. 27 through Saturday, Shelby County Health Department reported 82,037 total doses administered, with 55,920 people receiving their first dose and 26,117 more received their second vaccination.

A&R Bar-B-Q has been around since 1983 and was one of 21 participating restaurants in this year’s Memphis Black Restaurant Week, which concludes March 13.

A look at the best images from this week. We met Memphis’ own answer to Dr. Fauci, a local music producer and a real estate prodigy. We also followed Arlington’s girls basketball team through their roller coaster week.

Sources say Simon, one of the Tigers’ best recruiters, was placed on administrative leave three weeks ago.

The Shelby County Health Department reported 130 new coronavirus cases and five additional virus-related deaths Saturday, March 13.

Due to glitches with the state’s VRAS vaccine signup program, Shelby County has reverted to SignUpGenius to schedule appointments, Mayor Jim Strickland announced.