If you want to eat at RP Tracks, starting this week, you have to show your vaccination card or negative COVID test. The first day of the new practice went smoothly for the University area restaurant. 

The county-owned hospital is hiring to reopen 21 beds with $2 million in city funding approved last week. The county funding will also help over the next 13 weeks as Regional One competes with other hospital systems across the country to hire skilled health care workers to meet the demand from the latest COVID surge.

During the spring budget season, the commission opted for the one-time bonuses over a pay raise proposed by County Mayor Lee Harris. But after the fiscal year started, the move began to grant the pay raises as well as bonuses.

Last week, president M. David Rudd said he would pursue making shots necessary as soon as FDA lifted emergency-use approval.

Parents are expressing growing concerns about the safety of their children in schools. They want an option to send children back to school virtually.

The Shelby County Commission asked Gov. Bill Lee to rescind his executive order allowing parents to opt-out of school mask mandates. It also passed resolutions supporting a countywide mask mandate and spending funds on masks for all county public school systems.

Many of the missing live in the neighborhoods where the water rose the fastest, said Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis, who confirmed the 22 fatalities in his county and said 12 to 15 people remain missing.

“The Delta variant has hit children harder than any of the other variants since the start of the pandemic,” said Dr. Barry Gilmore, chief medical officer.

Out of the 1,826 COVID-19 deaths reported by the Shelby County Health Department since the coronavirus pandemic began, 10 were among vaccinated individuals. 

Jason Martin treats COVID-19 patients in a Nashville hospital and has been one of the biggest critics of Gov. Bill Lee’s handling of the pandemic.

Danton Barto, the all-time leading tackler in Memphis football history, has died of COVID-19. Before he died, he asked his wife to get vaccinated. The best way for Tigers fans to honor him would be to roll up their sleeves for No. 59. 

The vaccine made by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech now carries the strongest endorsement from the Food and Drug Administration, which has never before had so much evidence to judge a shot’s safety.

Former Memphis linebacker Danton Barto, 50, has died from COVID-19.

The U of M is hiring, a former Grizzlies’ player LOCs it in and the mask fight will only go away when they do. 

The 1918 influenza pandemic killed tens of millions worldwide, but 30 to 40 years later, it had evolved into a much less serious disease. COVID-19 will likely follow a similar path — never going away, but becoming less deadly over time.

Travel nurses filling the gaps make two to three times more an hour than staff RNs; it rankles, nurses say. But there are other reasons, including appreciation, exacerbating the nursing shortage.

The Monday, Aug. 23, county commission meeting also includes a resolution calling for a countywide mask mandate and another resolution calling on Tenn. Gov. Bill Lee to rescind his executive order that outlaws mask mandates in schools.

Flooding in rural areas took out roads, cellphone towers and telephone lines, leaving families uncertain about whether their loved ones survived the unprecedented deluge.

The state’s executive order banning mask mandates is taking fire from President Joe Biden as well as Biden’s education secretary Miguel Cardona, who this past week specifically questioned the legality of the executive order.

East Memphis pub has a bounty of board games for guests to play as they munch snacks and sip beverages.

Our photographers captured some classic Elvis Week images, and also made it to an unusual school, an iconic store and some sporting events. Cast your ballot for the best one.

At Baptist, they extend the reach of nurses from four to six patients and allow beds to open. 

Chauncy Black, now 20, who gained national attention when $300,000 was raised on GoFundMe for him and his family was found guilty of reckless endangerment in the fatal shooting of his neighbor, a by-stander, who was killed as Black and his brother were involved in a shootout with men they had an argument with over video games.