District officials are also looking for community partners to help parents unable to be home with their school children. 

It’s Monday, July 27, and more bar owners are expected in federal court to fight a Health Department directive keeping them closed. The Shelby County Commission meets today, with a final reading of a "ban the box" ordinance.

DeCarcerate Memphis, a task force made up of criminal justice advocates and others, formed to demand transparency and accountability of the federal Operation Relentless Pursuit initiative launched in January in the city. The initiative includes a federal task force to fight violent crime. 

Also on the agenda for Monday, July 27, is a vote on creating a county health board that commission Chairman Mark Billingsley is seeking to delay. And the commission elects a new chair for the next year as it nears the two-year mark of its current four-year term.

Memphis Police were called to Golf & Games Family Park at 5484 Summer Ave. on Saturday after youths stampeded and vandalized the business. Large crowds led to the business closing early.

Memphis Bridal Show took place in Olive Branch Sunday. Brides met with vendors about their upcoming wedding and some are planning to go the altar despite the pandemic.

United in the fight against COVID-19, but divided by social and political issues, faith may offer America its best opportunity for community and shared healing. 

A protest about police funding moved from Overton Park to the steps of the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center on Saturday. When protesters attempted to move inside 201 Poplar, they were turned away by sheriff's deputies.

The Shelby County Health Department reports 430 new coronavirus cases and one new related death in the county. Plus, regional hospitals' intensive care units see a decrease in usage.

Dr. Jeff Warren says Shelby County now has "too many people who are sick to be able to randomly test people who aren’t." 

But citing the need for districts to adhere to social distancing guidelines, the board granted 56 requests to waive duty-free lunch breaks for teachers. 

Shelby County posted the second highest county total for the state through the first six days of early voting. Davidson County, including Nashville, has the highest turnout and, at least for now, is the bluest county in terms of early voters' choices of primaries. Of the state's 95 counties, 92 show Republican majorities in their turnout.

Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter's county health board proposal is drawing some resistance from suburban leaders who want to know more about its powers. The last county health board was abolished in 1909 and was no stranger to controversy.

On The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast, the County Commission chairman says the differences between the two don't appear to extend to the rest of the commission. Mark Billingsley also said he hopes to move to lift the county hiring budget freeze once there is a reconciliation of the budget approved by the commission last month after rejecting Mayor Lee Harris's original proposal.

New Health Department directive has a few new rules for full-service restaurants and allows a check of food versus alcohol sales.

EDGE awarded a $20,000 NEED grant to Summit Management Corp., which runs the annual Southern Heritage Classic. To date, EDGE has awarded $584,200 to 103 businesses; 83 of those (81%) are minority and women-owned businesses. 

Collierville is expected to make changes to its school reopening plan. The changes are based on recommendations from the Shelby County Health Department.

The virtual luncheon on Aug. 4 will be held from noon to 1 p.m. and focus on health equity.

On Friday, the Shelby County Health Department reported a daily positivity rate of 16.4%. 

It's Friday, July 24, and the theme today is eating, drinking and being merry. Or trying to be. 

Most diners are complying with Health Directive 8 and giving their names and numbers at restaurants, but Jiminy Cricket! Some just won’t do it.

We curse them, criticize them and (sometimes even) flip them the bird. On National Drive-Thru Day, let's hear it for the front-line workers who see us at our worst.

Two local leaders in the pandemic fight said on "Behind The Headlines" there would be a stronger-than-usual push for flu vaccinations. Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter also said the role of schools in the pandemic makes reopening them – virtually or in person – an important part of battling the virus.

The council's Glenview cell tower vote and a series of Black Lives Matter proposals setting the stage for some renamings of public places are the latest entries in our ongoing scorecard of council roll call votes.

The turnout totals from the Shelby County Election Commission also show the first indications of a massive absentee voter turnout as election officials expect to catch up to a backlog of absentee applications by Friday.