Maverick doesn’t speak. Nor does he perform heroics worthy of his ancestor, the TV star of “Lassie.” But the crisis response dog can listen, as he did for Kroger employees after the recent mass shooting in Collierville.

Exclamations of “Opa!” could be heard throughout the crowd Friday and Saturday at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church as community members celebrated the return of festival.

Shelby County Schools reported 140 new COVID-19 cases among students and 24 among staff at its public and charter schools this week. This week’s case count is the lowest since school started, Aug. 9, 2021. 

The lawsuit, filed in federal civil court, in Tennessee’s Middle District, alleges the scheme between Methodist and West Cancer executives cost Medicare and Medicaid more than $800 million in fraudulent payments. 

Lee and Schwinn gave few details about whether or how much the state would increase funding for schools. But Lee said he suspects the state will increase funding, and will have the proposal ready for the state legislature when it meets in January.

Tony Allen and Toney Armstrong are both in the news this morning, we’ve got totally SFW video of a chainsaw massacre and the area’s mask mandate will probably stay in place for a bit longer. 

Surveillance video shows a five-man crew with chainsaws and other equipment in Martyrs Park on March 10. That’s the day that a 200-yard-wide swath of trees were cut — without permission — from the public riverbank.

The leaders of the two housing and community groups talked on “Behind The Headlines” about a larger scope and plan for affordable housing in a city that needs about 40,000 new units of the housing.

Artist Theaster Gates talked Thursday about the installation having the same impact “The Bean” and the Tamir Rice Pavilion – both in Chicago – have had with the public finding the ultimate uses for them to make them destinations.

Shelby County Schools is revisiting the idea of a “peace force,” an internal police department reporting directly to the district, following last week’s shooting at Cummings K-8 Optional School.

Memphis Health Center aims to use its new mobile health clinic to travel through ZIP codes that are flagged by the Shelby County Health Department for having the lowest COVID-19 testing numbers and highest positive test rates.

Shelby County Schools has announced that employees can receive up to 10 consecutive days of paid sick leave while in isolation following a positive COVID-19 test. 

The county clerk is appealing for a county audit of how her office is funded a week after the Tennessee Comptroller ended a similar investigation, saying he found no evidence of fraud and that revenue in Halbert’s office was going where it was supposed to go.

The next step for Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis is creating a strategic plan best utilizing the department’s current resources and ultimately leads to crime reduction – and a safer city.

The Shelby County Health Department is giving Pfizer doses at its offices at 814 Jefferson.

Watch the COVID-19 Task Force Briefing live now.

Former Memphis Tigers player Chris Douglas-Roberts among those charged with conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud totaling nearly $4 million.

Pfizer asked the U.S. government Thursday to allow use of its COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 5 to 11.

We’ve got Instagram moments, an idea sure to make a splash in Germantown and a new blue plate special for Tennessee. 

Germantown is beginning the process of providing its water services to residents in the southernmost portion of the city.

Pre-pandemic, many clergy were exhausted. The pandemic has only heightened the challenges. A workshop featuring psychologist Dr. Tony Headley will give faith leaders tools to take care of themselves, their families and their flocks.

The County Commission Scorecard highlights the commission’s choice of a new judicial commissioner and a call for U.S. Justice Department review of Juvenile Court and possibly a return to the federal oversight of the court that ended three years ago.

“Even though Memphis may seem like a smaller city or less important in the world of art, I think that the project is one of the most significant opportunities for me,” the artist said. 

Last month, more than 300,000 Tennesseans chose from four new license plates designed by Memphis-based digital marketing agency Speak Creative. We now know the winning selection.

Police said five people were in the home when three to four men kicked in the front door and ordered those in the home not to look at them.