The FedExForum lease agreement between the Memphis Grizzlies and Memphis/Shelby County is on the cusp of a tricky new phase, even though all parties are more concerned right now with what everyone else is: Those COVID rates keep rising. 

Activists have painted Black Lives Matter on sidewalks surrounding the site where the statue of Nathan Bedford Forrest stood for decades before it was removed in 2017. 

PRSA Memphis and Memphis Association of Black Journalists emphasize in "Media and Racism" webinar how diversity at all levels in media help organizations paint a true picture.

Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova is replaced by Briarwood Church among the 26 locations that open for July 17 for the early voting period in advance of the Aug. 6 election day. State and federal primaries as well as county general elections are on the ballot. And more than 5,000 citizens have applied so far to vote by absentee ballots in the election.

Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich's office is launching a restorative justice initiative called the Community Justice Program. 

The civic group calling for MLGW to cut ties with TVA says TVA's estimate this week of hundreds of millions of dollars in expenses in the switch is wrong. And it says the draft report's recommendation of local power generation by MLGW is wrong too.

Shelby County Schools mostly relies on district-employed school resource officers as security staff. They do not carry guns but have pepper spray, the district said. 

The State Board of Education approved an emergency rule on Monday requiring districts and charter leaders to submit plans for how their school communities will teach students in 2020-21 while navigating the pandemic.

The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that it will not block a judge’s order offering a by-mail voting option to all eligible voters while the state continues to appeal.

Attorneys in Memphis march against racism in the community and legal system during a "unity march."

In the past two weeks, the county reported at least 100 new cases 11 times and the three highest day-over-day increases to date. The record increase being 385 new cases reported Saturday, June 20.

Superintendent Joris Ray’s lowest score was in his relationship with district staff, especially in implementing a “rigorous, accurate” employee evaluation system. 

The U of M has hundreds of students from 72 nations. Due to travel bans, many of them are unable to return home for summer break.

The 191 newly reported coronavirus cases come from 1,342 tests, a positivity rate of 14.2%.

Shelby County officials give local theaters a path for reopening, while the proposed gas station on Broad Avenue hits another roadblock. Meanwhile: Patios and masks for everyone. 

QuadJobs had been looking to get into the Memphis market for some time.

The federal agency’s formal response to the draft report released last month says Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division could lose $260 million a year if it drops TVA to go with another electric power supplier. 

Over the past eight days, Shelby County recorded its three highest day-over-day increases since the pandemic began locally in March. Saturday’s report of 385 new cases from the health department being the high point.

The number of fireworks complaints in Memphis between June 18 and June 22 jumped from just eight complaints last year to 238 this year. 

The nonbinding resolutions approved by the Shelby County Commission call for adoption of “8 Can’t Wait” use of force measures for law enforcement and call racism a pandemic with associated health issues for people of color. 

Shelby County Property Assessor Melvin Burgess Jr. said the $1.4 million tax abatement Comcast received wasn't what such incentives were intended for. It’s the second time Burgess has criticized EDGE tax incentives.

Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter attributes the increase in cases among young people to carelessness as the community moves into Phase 2, more people going out in the warm weather, and too few people wearing masks.

According to the state’s Health Resources Tracking System, as of June 22, 82% of acute care beds and 76% of ICU beds in Shelby County were being used. Those figures are not for coronavirus patients only, but overall hospitalizations including COVID-19 patients.

Auction item include a custom replica of the 1965 World Championship Shelby Daytona Coupe, an autographed Gibson guitar, exclusive national golf event excursions and more at stjude.org/stjudejam. The bidding continues through 6 p.m. June 30.

What was already a challenging budget year was complicated in county government by the pandemic's economic damage and a decision by the County Commission to reject the budget proposal by County Mayor Lee Harris. The commission rejected a proposed 8-cent property tax rate hike.