The Health Department also reported seven new deaths, and 738 people have died from coronavirus in Shelby County. An estimated 49,873 people have recovered and 4,318 cases in the county are active.

Faith leaders say this holiday season is less about the quest for a perfect Christmas or the best Hanukkah ever, and more about connecting with people as the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact, and take, lives. 

Parents have made decisions about their children’s education for the new year, but a lot of the logistics are still up in the air. Related article: Tennessee school districts share staffing concerns

The meeting, held at T.O. Fuller State Park, was led by community organizers, neighborhood associations and 38109 ZIP code residents not satisfied with responses to their concerns by those leading the Byhalia Connection project.

Last week’s budget retreat by the Shelby County Commission included word of a $27.5 million deficit and calls for the county to come up with a way to replenish its reserves and avoid short-term borrowing.

From Nov. 28 to Saturday, Dec. 12, the Health Department reported an average of 501 coronavirus cases and 4,493 test results a day with a 11.2% positivity rate.

The 930 coronavirus cases came from 8,187 test results, yielding a 11.4% positivity rate. Five new COVID-related deaths were also reported, bringing the total to 731.

“This is among the most important work in the history of our company, and we’re honored to be a part of the effort to help end this pandemic,” FedEx president and chief operating officer Raj Subramaniam said in a release.

They were about as close as brothers can be, having been forced to share a bed or bedroom through childhood. COVID-19 took the life of Donnell Cobbins on Friday, Dec. 11. And Darrell Cobbins now knows the meaning of a stranger’s message to both of them when they were teenagers.

The six-mile stretch through Orange Mound is changing, using the year-old Memphis 3.0 land use and development plan. Lots of other parts of the city want to follow the same path.

Nurses in hospitals are the most vulnerable, according to contact tracing interviews conducted in the last 30 days.

Granville T. Woods Academy was awarded a $320,000 grant from University of Tennessee’s Extension program. The STEM-based (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) school was one of two grant recipients in the entire state.

At the first Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon since social distancing became the norm, Robert Yates saw members tossing business cards across tables, but they did not touch them, they just took photos of the cards. 

The 29th awards ceremony was virtual this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The online video of past ceremonies covered the annual event all the way back to its 1991 origins.

“Red Tub Day” by the Memphis Family Connection Center gathers in red tubs gifts the children request. The gifts are given out at an annual holiday party. 

Rick Barlow, a sports broker who authorities said scammed $1.3 million from victims by promising tickets to sporting events, has pleaded guilty to theft charges. 

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander had commented during a Friday recording of NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that he didn’t see the basis for the lawsuit.

About 36% of area ICU patients were either COVID-positive or suspected of having coronavirus.

Officials say SCS won’t resume in-person learning until February as coronavirus cases continue to rise.

Developers are looking high and low for space in Cooper-Young, a local legend passes away, and we’ve got a giveaway to Wonders. 

The National Civil Rights Museum’s annual Freedom Awards Friday, Dec. 11, will be basically a “greatest hits” online moment in this year of the pandemic.

FedEx’s Air Line Pilots Association unit said on Tuesday, Dec. 8, that 292 pilots had tested positive for COVID-19. The number has doubled since late October.

U.S. Rep. David Kustoff of Germantown is among 106 Republican members of the House who signed an amicus brief Thursday, Dec. 10, in support of the Texas lawsuit seeking to overturn the outcome of the November presidential general election.

Part of the variable is the strain COVID-19 has placed on the funeral industry.

Haushalter: “As a health care provider and particularly as a nurse, I really value people having information to make an informed decision. So, our role collectively is to get information that’s accurate and timely to the public so that people can make informed decisions for themselves and their families.”