And, at local private schools, students give each other ‘air hugs’ and each lunch at their desks, as everyone tries to adjust. 

Tennessee’s senior Senator ended a Sunday of speculation about where he would stand on the move to fill the vacancy with a written statement Sunday afternoon.

The Shelby County Health Department reported 120 new cases from 2,131 tests. Three new deaths bring the total to 445.

Torrey Harris isn’t making his sexuality the focal point of his political campaign, but he would be Tennessee’s first openly LGBT legislator if he defeats veteran Rep. John DeBerry in the race for the House District 90 seat.

Even with declines in the poverty rate for Memphis and Shelby County, there is not much movement on who is poor and where they live.

From Sept. 5 to Sept 19, the Health Department reported an average of 148 new coronavirus cases each day. That’s similar to the 146 new-case average from the preceding 14-day period.

Overall, the Shelby County Health Department reports 30,135 coronavirus cases, 442 deaths, and 28,111 cases classified as inactive/recovered. The active case count stands at 1,582, a slight increase from the 1,567 reported Friday.

Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner is forming a civilian committee to offer input on hiring of deputies as part of police reform efforts. 

Tennessee officials call the state’s 11-year-old TNInvestco program a “sham” that needs to be investigated and ended because of poor return on a $200 million investment.

All 650 respondents were residents of Shelby County and DeSoto County in North Mississippi, spanning more than 40 ZIP codes.

Health officials were evasive about why they had made the guidance change in August.

Amazon plans to hire 1,000 full-time employees at its future facility at 4055 New Allen Rd. Permanent jobs at the new Amazon facility start at $15 an hour with benefits. It will be the first one in Tennessee to use the company’s Robotics Technology.

The Shelby County Health Department also reported 160 new coronavirus cases on Friday, Sept. 18.

Happy Friday! We’re talking about a new venue for street food, how the coronavirus pandemic hasn’t slowed down two local museums and how the rates are changing (and changing us). 

Three police reform measures cleared the Shelby County Commission on the first of three readings this week. But it amounted to a test vote with more votes in play than were committed. Our commission scorecard shows where the division is on the specific issues.

On “Behind The Headlines,” Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. also said he sees an “appetite” for reform among law enforcement in general but has some hesitation about trying to codify reform measures he’s taken to apply to future sheriffs.

Tentative plans for a 2-mile stretch between Front and Cleveland include better pedestrian crossings, protected bike lanes and landscaping. A public meeting Thursday resumes a process that was paused in March for the pandemic. 

While some churches nearby shrink or close, St. Michael Church on Summer Avenue will soon start construction on a new, $2 million parish office, has begun building two more soccer fields, and has plans for a new parish hall. 

Poverty rates have fallen overall for both Memphis and Shelby County.

Gov. Bill Lee ordered the Economic and Community Development Department to go after private Chinese investment, especially in the electric car sector, the state’s commissioner said.

Watch Gov. Bill Lee’s briefing, with Tennessee updates, starting at 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17.

With cases declining statewide, Tennessee will allow nursing homes to lift restrictions for more visitation and activities as long as they show no new cases for two weeks.

The average number of new cases has risen from 121 to 164 in the early days of this week. 

The Health Department also reported five new related deaths on Thursday.