The Rajun Cajun Crawfish Festival and Art in the Loop are planning for thousands over the weekend in distanced events.

Joris Ray previewed his Reimagine 901 plan, which will include higher teacher salaries, smaller class sizes and new educational programming.

The 183 cases come from 3,457 cases, giving the day a positivity rate of 5.3%.

 The goal is to receive commitments for 500 gifts in 24 hours.

We might be at the beginning of a fourth coronavirus surge — or we might not. Plus, why the Germantown schools legislation is on hold and how we learned Steve Harvey has bought a house in Memphis. 

Proposals by Memphis City Council members and Shelby County commissioners emerged during a second joint meeting Thursday of the two bodies. But other elected officials expressed concern that just talking about changes in economic development incentives could put the city and county at a disadvantage.

The Shelby County tax assessor said on “Behind The Headlines” that Germantown homes reflect an increase in values in this year’s reappraisal despite 2019 flooding in some parts of the city. He also discussed a change in the valuation of commercial property and his call for a reappraisal every other year.

Eight of the 19 members sign letter asking for workers to be reinstated.

A Mississippi tree service owner says Steve Harvey’s wife, Marjorie Harvey, told him she had permission to remove the two large magnolias, even though they were on public land.

Students at Robert R. Church Elementary School in Whitehaven can now exchange points for prizes after a $10,000 donation funded their new incentive store. 

If the numbers do not decline, another health directive could be out in two weeks instead of a month, and it likely will not include the ease in masking restrictions Dr. Bruce Randolph alluded to on Tuesday, April 13.

The Shelby County Health Department reported its highest new COVID-19 case total in two months Thursday, April 15.

The new cases yielded an 8.1% positivity rate.

Legislation impacting ownership and operation of Germantown’s legacy schools is on hold. It may be reconsidered in the 2022 legislative session.

Plus, a really uplifting story, a hearty (and heart-warming) breakfast from Byrant’s and a top cop retires. 

The permit is a critical juncture in the $60 million project. In an update for donors and potential donors Wednesday, April 14, park planners said the Tom Lee statue in the park will not be moved and will be a focal point of the park. 

The second joint meeting of the County Commission and City Council includes several proposed changes to economic development incentives used locally to grow the Memphis economy.

Police would be required to record their interrogations of juveniles under a bill passed unanimously by the Tennessee Senate Wednesday, April 14.

The COVID-19 jail lawsuit has been settled but a recent jail inspection still found some issues at the facility at 201 Poplar. 

Most resistance to getting vaccinated is among rural, white people who identify as conservative, the survey found.

Indoor dancing and buffet lines will be back on Saturday, April 17.

The 148 cases come from 1,609 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 9.2%.