Gov. Bill Lee’s Administration unveiled $50 million more Wednesday, Oct. 7, in federal COVID-19 relief funds, this time designed to help businesses owned by minorities, women and veterans.

Here is how the city council voted Tuesday on the GDS contract — a critical juncture in considering whether MLGW should leave TVA. And a few possible next moves including MLGW doing the consulting work in house or a move to reconsider at the council in two weeks.

The university is suffering from more than $50 million in losses from the spring and fall semesters.

The Election Commission is getting 500 requests a day for the mail-in ballots in Shelby County ahead of the Nov. 3 election day.

The Frayser CDC recently received $450,000 in state CARES Act funds. Eligible families can use the money for housing costs and utility bills.

Two local higher education institutions are the recipients of surplus lab equipment given in a long-term loan from the Health Department.

Attorneys for the utility board warned against a joint meeting with City Council members the day after the council rejected a contract to move ahead with a look at replacing TVA as MLGW’s electric power supplier.

For nearly two weeks, the number of COVID-positive patients in area intensive care unit beds has hovered around the 50-mark.

After finally getting through a coronavirus outbreak that caused two games to be postponed or canceled, Tiger Football seems to have things under control.

A Memphis business is looking at coronavirus ‘lollipops,’ a Grizz legend explains his Twitter handle, and is Summer Avenue ready for a comeback? 

Tommy Pacello died Monday, Nov. 16. Not long ago, he talked about his diagnosis, his city, his family and his gratitude. He wanted this column as a gift for his daughters. That’s the kind of wonderful dad he was. 

Poplar Healthcare joined the battle against the coronavirus late, but now it’s leading the charge to help Memphis reopen and stay open.

The resolution approved Tuesday by the Memphis City Council for two areas along Summer is designed to make it more difficult to demolish a set of four churches for other kinds of development. It’s similar to a recent rezoning of part of Lamar Avenue but with a slightly different motivation.

Memphis City Council members have rejected a Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division contract with a power industry consultant to explore what it would take for the utility to leave the Tennessee Valley Authority. The vote stops the two-year old process, at least for now. The MLGW board could have a response Wednesday morning at its regular meeting.

Gov. Bill Lee is taking President Donald Trump’s view of the pandemic, saying people should not fear COVID-19 but “respect” the virus and take steps to avoid it, even though the president has downplayed the importance of wearing masks.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Marquita Bradshaw is calling for a debate with Republican Bill Hagerty after their only scheduled event was canceled, saying she wants to face off, while his campaign accuses her of pulling a “political stunt.”

Though the in-person events around the Freedom Awards were canceled this year, 37 sponsors promised to continue their annual support, contributing a total of $725,500. 

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris announced a “901 Student Passport” program, which allows free admission to museums for students who cannot partake in their normal field trips because of the pandemic.

The county Health Department loosened some of the restrictions regarding COVID-19 precautions, moves that will benefit sporting events and restaurants.

The Shelby County Health Department reported 258 new coronavirus cases and two related deaths on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

It’s Tuesday, Oct. 6, and midwifery is a hot topic. Plus, an elected official is taking on appointed ones, Amazon is dropping another package in Cordova, and the U of M is planning a new housing facility adjacent to rapid transit. 

Almost every day, 15%-20% of the people in Shelby County who test positive do not respond to calls from the health department for contact tracing.

Jon McCreery and Brandon Musso both say they want to unify what’s broken in the city of Germantown. The two are facing off for Position 5 in the November election.

The council discussion of the record number of homicides so far this year could venture into past discussions of police reform. The City Council also discusses a rezoning of Summer Avenue to preserve four churches along the busy thoroughfare after one was about to be demolished.