Two groups of the historic community’s younger residents hope people have hung on to their property, will hang on a little longer because The Mound is about to be reborn.

Memphis hotel occupancy hit bottom at 31% in April before rebounding, while Downtown’s low point was 14.7% occupied in April, STR found.

Thursday marks one week to the end of early voting in the presidential general election. While turnout has slipped a bit after the weekend, it is still ahead of the early voting count at this point for the three previous elections in the cycle.

Pinnacle CEO calls current loan demand “near zero” given the uncertain economic environment.

The drugs are already approved for other uses in humans.

U.S. Attorney General William Barr said Wednesday, Oct. 21, that 5,500 arrests have been made nationwide, including 66 in Memphis, as part of Operation LeGend, an initiative designed to help curb violent crime in select cities.

A preliminary plan for the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines prioritizes vulnerable populations and areas hard hit by the virus.

The day’s positivity rate was above 11%.

We’re headed toward “peak peak” — but in packages and hopefully not coronavirus. Plus, two ambitious plans have been pitched for the Pinch and Germantown is excited about a new school project. 

The Memphis City Council is considering dropping the city residency requirement for business owners seeking COVID-related grants who live outside Memphis but have businesses inside the city.

U.S. Attorney General William Barr will be in Memphis Wednesday, Oct. 21, to discuss the federal Operation Legend initiative, which brought 40 federal agents to the city to work in conjunction with local police to combat violent crime.

Developers of a $180 million commercial mixed-use tower of hotel rooms and condos on the western edge of the Pinch District encountered some skepticism as they pitched the project to the Memphis City Council.

For two weeks, the state’s Emergency Management agency has been walking local leaders, including law enforcement, through such election surprises as voter intimidation, disruptions and even civil disorder in the event no one concedes in the contentious presidential race atop the ballot.

The violent crime task force is forming as Police Director Michael Rallings told City Council members Tuesday that more officers means less crime. The city has already this year set a record for the number of annual homicides.

On Tuesday, Oct. 20, the Shelby County Health Department reported the highest number of new coronavirus cases in a week. 

Three employees with Better Days Tax Service have been charged with wire fraud, accused of scamming $1.1 million from a COVID-19 loan relief program aimed at helping small businesses impacted by the pandemic. 

Since its inception in April, EDGE reports having awarded $751,000 in NEED grants to 134 businesses.

How the latest project proposed for the Pinch District is different, how AutoZone is doing during the pandemic (very well) and how football is a way into coronavirus reporting. Also, we’ve got Charlie’s Meerkats. 

The Tuesday city council session will also include a call for more information about the percentage of city contracts that minority-owned businesses get.

During a school board committee meeting, SCS Superintendent Joris Ray told board members that the timeline is dependent upon the data.

The firing was confirmed by an election commission spokesperson after state Rep. Antonio Parkinson posted about the change in personnel Sunday on social media.

The Shelby County Health Department reported 287 new coronavirus cases and two new related deaths on Monday, Oct. 19.

Welcome to the working week. Your regular Early Wordsmith, Mary Cashiola, is at a secure, undisclosed location and I’m taking a turn in the captain’s seat today.