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.

The total is inexact but ahead of the pace for early voting in the last three presidential elections in Shelby County. Data includes details of who the early voters and absentee voters are and a batch of new voters registered in recent months. 

Paula and James Campbell know the appraised value of their Orange Mound home is far less than the $300,000 they spent to build it. But that’s OK. They intend to stay.

Gov. Bill Lee and Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn said the annual state tests, known as TNReady, will be administered as planned, but teachers and schools should be held harmless for the results. 

The White House quietly told Tennessee last week that “a statewide mask mandate must be implemented” to curb its growing spread of COVID-19.

Tennessee Department of Health reports 2,605 new cases, bringing the total number of cases since early March to 228,744. Six new deaths push the statewide toll to 2,909.

The Raleigh Springs Civic Center “unofficially” opened this spring when construction signs were removed following completion of the $45 million development’s initial phase. That included the 11-acre walking trail and lake, and a new skate park. 

Since a mixup in evidence at the Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk’s property and evidence room, a new verification procedure has been put in place to reduce the risk of such a situation occurring again.