Tennessee’s legislative session is likely to stretch for several months, with a special session called by Republican Gov. Bill Lee on tap starting Jan. 19 to address education challenges that have popped up amid the virus outbreak.

While Shelby County is resuming distribution of its limited supply of COVID-19 vaccine, surrounding Tennessee counties are out. 

While cases and hospitalizations remain higher than the benchmarks set by local health officials, the pandemic is plateauing following the Christmas and New Year’s surge, Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter said.

Thomas G. Carpenter, the 11th president of the university, also was the founding president of the University of North Florida.

Memphis musicians Garry Goin, TykeT, Karen Brown and Adajyo will perform. 

The Shelby County Health Department reported 508 new coronavirus cases and 10 new coronavirus-related deaths on Tuesday, Jan. 12.

As the Health Department resumes vaccinations, it reported just over 500 new coronavirus cases. 

District officials said they expect money they will get from the latest federal relief package could be about four times higher than last time, or about $190 million. 

The Trump administration is asking states to speed delivery of COVID-19 vaccines to people 65 and older and to others at high risk by no longer holding back the second dose of the two-dose shots, officials said Tuesday.

Could one of Memphis’ historic districts be under fire? We’ve also got our next round of coronavirus vaccinations beginning, hearty takeout, and a new club for golfers. 

Shelby County commissioners will meet in special session next week to vote on a transfer of $300,000 from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office budget to the county attorney’s office.

A proposal by Commissioner Tami Sawyer to require County Commission approval for any sheriff to acquire surplus federal military equipment was postponed.

Republican commissioners said their “no” votes were because of concerns about the use of county reserves to create the $2.5 million fund. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris is asking Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee to reimburse the county funding with state money.

A man from Nashville was charged Sunday for being part of the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol, federal prosecutors said.

State representatives from Shelby County want to clarify that authority for school operations lies with local district’s elected leaders. 

Through January, the Shelby County Health Department will be vaccinating in a drive-thru line at the Pipkin Building. 

It wasn’t much of a snow but it beautified the January landscape for a few hours as it fluttered across Shelby County and neighboring sections early Monday.

But the mayor says he is willing to work with the City Council and says the conflicting wording in two resolutions the council approved last month could “work together” to get more funding to public transportation, mobility and parking projects.

“It will give us the fuel to move our vision research forward,” said the director of the Hamilton Eye Institute. 

Jealousy might have been the motive in a slaying for which Memphis Police officer Patric Ferguson is accused, according to the brother of the victim. 

Victoria Robinson, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Education, said the job won’t be filled “at this time due to budget and other uncertainties.”

Watt’s up on Germantown Parkway, a model home in Binghampton, vaccines are back (if you can get an appointment) and snow no! 

Delivery and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine is just another step on the long road toward herd immunity. Getting there will require a level of effectiveness apart from the vaccine itself. History will judge leaders’ success as we all pursue a return to the “old” normal. 

The commission votes Monday, Jan. 11, on a $1.2 million relief fund for restaurant workers. The fund’s fate could point the way toward a greater change in the priorities of county government called for by the Democratic county mayor and majority on the commission.