After being laid off from her writing job, Sami Harvey used her newfound free time to rack up the 200 hours of training need to become a certified rehabilitator and open her own nonprofit, Out of the Woods Wildlife Rescue & Rehab. 

Since March, Shelby County Health Department has reported 82,428 total coronavirus cases and 1,254 deaths, classifying 77,021 cases as inactive/recovered. 

The City Council’s most recent session featured a rare motion to table an item that didn’t have seven votes to pass, at least for now, and a vote to close a street even though the council could very well vote down the development that will follow the street closure.

Before Shelby County Commissioners and Memphis City Council members get together to talk about changing the most used tax incentive in local economic development, they want to do more than watch PowerPoint presentations on PILOTs – payments in lieu of taxes.

J&J said its vaccine works consistently in a broad range of people: A third of participants were over age 60, and more than 40% had other illnesses putting them at risk of severe COVID-19, including obesity, diabetes and HIV.

Issues still vexing at Pipkin, but the road to vaccine has been so long, few giving up.

Related story: Third day goes smoothly at Appling vaccination site

The city auto inspection station on Appling City Cove bustled with volunteers Friday, three days into giving second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Those scheduled for vaccinations were urged to come no more than an hour before their scheduled times. 

Tennesseans will be vaccinated against COVID-19 faster beginning early next week after President Joe Biden announced a massive purchase of doses, an increased weekly allocation to states and other moves to manage the pandemic.

The 270 new coronavirus cases come from 2,837 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 10.5%.

Education commissioner Penny Schwinn says the Tennessee Department of Health is recruiting schools as vaccination sites and school nurses to give the shots “wherever feasible.” 

SCS students won’t go back to school on Feb. 8.

Eleven Walmart stores are participating in Shelby County.

We’re talking about depression, what’s the next play for schools at the state level and Memphis mailboxes being full of mashed potatoes. Just your typical Friday. 

With help and creativity, children as young as 7 can think about adult careers and becoming an entrepreneur.

People are asked to not come hours early and have proof of their appointment, but the lines were long once again at the Pipkin Building on Thursday.

On “Behind The Headlines,” the Republican and Democratic legislators from the Shelby County delegation to Nashville also agreed on mandatory summer school or tutoring to help students who have slipped academically during the pandemic.

Starting Monday, fans, students and cheerleaders in Tennessee once again will be able to support their favorite teams in person.

The family of Pandora Duckett, a Shelby County woman missing since 2019, has raised $20,000 for information about her whereabouts. 

Award will be presented virtually via Zoom on Friday, Jan. 29, beginning at 11 a.m.

Dr. Joseph V. Simone, a clinician who helped lead the first curative treatment for childhood leukemia, died Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, at the age of 85.

Appointments at big-box stores will be made through the Health Department.

The location is expected to open late next week.

As of Jan. 26, just over 6% of people in Tennessee have received one vaccine dose versus 2.76% in Shelby County.

According to the latest data available from the Shelby County Health Department, more than 50,000 people have been vaccinated against the novel coronavirus.

We’re bowled over at our options on cold, winter days; the Snuff District is trying to avoid surface parking; and residents are questioning Collierville High’s in-person plan.