Overall, the Health Department has reported 94,584 total coronavirus cases and 1,610 deaths, classifying 91,244 cases as inactive/recovered.

On The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast, Election Commission Chairman Brent Taylor talks about new discussions with county commissioners two months after the Election Commission voted to go to court in the simmering dispute.

Federal health officials decided that J&J’s one-and-done vaccine is critical to fight the pandemic — and that the small clot risk could be handled with warnings.

Gov. Bill Lee visited Journey Hanley Elementary, and while addressing education, he also discussed concerns about the permitless carry legislation that has concerned a number of local leaders.

The bill had bipartisan support among 29 co-sponsors. If passed, the legislation would provide fertility coverage to state employees.

The Shelby County Health Department reported 10 new coronavirus-related deaths and nearly 200 new coronavirus cases on Friday, April 23.

Memphis is getting a second chance with the Lawsons, a new restaurant focuses on a breakfast staple, and more trees have mysteriously disappeared near Martyrs Park.

Former Memphis lawyer George Skouteris Jr. faces a maximum sentence of 30 years and a fine of $1 million and five years supervised release. 

On a Wednesday afternoon, March 10, someone without permission cut down scores of trees on the publicly owned Mississippi River bank below Martyrs Park, a parks official says.

Leaders behind the walk are enthused by the strong community support during the first two events in Downtown Memphis and Whitehaven.

FEMA is expected to pack up and leave May 17, taking 21,000 extra doses of the vaccine with it. 

During today’s briefing, area leaders talked about the importance of the next four weeks in the local epidemic.

Shelby County’s reported coronavirus total is now 94,219 cases, including 90,943 inactive cases, 1,676 active cases and 1,600 deaths.

We’re hearing from our next police chief and horsing around. Plus, a hero is released from carbonite and we’re putting new incentives on paper. 

The Daily Memphian Scorecard on important commission votes reveals the votes are close for now when it comes to the idea of a property reappraisal for taxation purposes every other year. And it shows commissioners willing to give one more chance to resolve a long-running contract controversy.

Plans to build a 49-mile pipeline to transport crude oil from southwest Memphis to another pipeline at a connecting point near Byhalia, Mississippi, have run into delays on a couple of different fronts.

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris cited the ongoing impact of the pandemic in saying there would be no attempt to raise the tax rate after recertification. Harris also outlined a six-year, $32 million plan to beef up the county fire department.

The new cases and tests gave the day a positivity rate of 8.1%.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Wednesday it was investigating “the circumstances leading to a possible officer-involved shooting.”

In a recent interview, Memphis’ nominee for police chief talked about officer training, violence intervention, and why she initially pulled her application from the city’s search for a new head of police. 

The show will air on Bloomberg TV at 2:30 p.m. April 25 and May 2. 

We’ve got Plains speak about the Byhalia Connection pipeline, what Rhodes College is sending into space, where we’re going in 2024, and what’s going on with Memphis taxes. 

Meanwhile, the council delayed for two weeks a first reading vote on historic overlay district status for the Crosstown area.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland is proposing a $716 million operating budget and an $89 million capital budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. It also includes 2% pay raises for firefighters and police.

Local activists shed tears of joy after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted on murder and manslaughter charges in the death of George Floyd. 

Related story:

Ex-Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin found guilty on all charges