New principals in the northeastern municipal districts open the school year with hope, promise and new direction.

Memphis City Council chairwoman Jamita Swearengen resigns, a zip line adventure park group wants a 30-year lease for Mud Island and the City of Memphis plans to transform an old Coca-Cola plant.

“I think the museum field has been going through this long, kind of traumatic, transition from being a place that was for a very small group of people, by a very small group of people, to a place that is very much a civic asset for a city,” said incoming Memphis Brooks Museum of Art executive director Zoe Kahr. 

The council vote Tuesday, Aug. 9, followed a Democratic sweep last week in county elections and a failed ballot question on extending city term limits.

The TV station’s chief meteorologist hasn’t appeared on air since May, after a controversial tweet following the Grizzlies’ Game 3 loss to the Golden State Warriors.

The body’s chairwoman issued a separate request for proposals — and other council members said they were oblivious to the request. 

The resignation comes as the council debates whether or not to make changes to district lines ahead of the special election .

Michael O. Harris is the new leader of the Blight Authority of Memphis and he has big plans to transform communities. 

Developers would like a 30-year lease with plans to open with the debut of the renovated Tom Lee Park next spring. 

Related story: 

Chicago company proposes zip line adventure park for Mud Island

The petition requests Barrett’s removal from the Hall of Fame based on her “public breach of the Honor Code.”

“Ralph’s impact on our institution and community is immeasurable, and we will forever celebrate his remarkable courage and legacy,” the University of Memphis wrote in a tweet. 

The health department is getting more monkeypox vaccine, Tuyen’s Asian Bistro is the new hotspot and Memphis-Shelby County Schools is under new, temporary leadership at the start of the school year.

Council members talk about new district lines a week after council chairwoman Jamita Swearengen was elected Circuit Court Clerk. She has 90 days, under terms of the county charter, to resign from the council.

The commission also approved Monday, Aug. 8, a resolution that urges local law enforcement make their lowest priority the enforcement of the state’s new abortion law that takes effect later this month.

The new court is expected to hold full hearings on bail requests; its creation was prompted by threats of a lawsuit over the way bail is handled in Shelby County and the success of a similar lawsuit in another jurisdiction. 

The resolution drew bipartisan support with four Democratic commissioners abstaining but none voting against the measure sponsored by two Republican commissioners.

Shelby County Health Department director Dr. Michelle Taylor kicked off Monday’s Shelby County Commission meeting with local updates on both COVID-19 and monkeypox. 

All but one charge against a man who threatened to shoot people leaving a FedExForum concert last month were dropped during a Monday appearance.

The group is scheduled to make a presentation Tuesday, Aug. 9, to the Memphis City Council for a Mud Island version of the “adventure park.”

Olive Branch is building a “wall” to monitor who is coming into the city, teacher vacancies are down at Memphis-Shelby County Schools and a South Main pioneer has a vision for Jackson Avenue. 

“This was not easy for me to run against Mr. Lamar because he has done so much good for our community,” Jonathan Dunn said of defeating Hugh Lamar for the Arlington Community Schools Position 3 board seat.

At the Monday, Aug. 8, commission meeting, the body also votes on a new bail courtroom. And it takes a final vote on a minority business contracting program as well as transferring Orgill Park and Golf Course to the city of Millington.

Olive Branch officials want to monitor who drives into the DeSoto County city, and has hired a Georgia firm to track license plates with cameras.