Shelby County commissioners approved Monday, Dec. 21, the use of a PILOT (payments in lieu of taxes) extension fund to finance a five-part, $62 million Downtown parking project.

The delay in the final vote on requiring County Commission approval for the sheriff to acquire surplus military hardware came after Sheriff Floyd Bonner complained he hadn’t been consulted. County Mayor Lee Harris disputed that assertion.

Shelby County commissioners voted Monday, Dec. 21, to support a health department directive announced earlier in the day and, in a separate vote, to give the health department the authority to cite and fine business owners for violating the directive.

A revised health directive released Monday, Dec. 21, by the Shelby County Health Department is better than a draft leaked to the media earlier, suburban and county leaders say, but still causes some concerns. Related story: New, restrictive health directive out, effective Dec. 26

The numbers will be updated twice a week.

New health directive released Monday afternoon puts more restrictions on businesses. 

Related story: Suburban, county leaders still have concerns about revised health directive

FedEx Express workers describe how first shipment of Moderna COVID-19 vaccines moved through the Memphis world hub and beyond on Sunday, Dec. 20.

CBU also delays graduation ceremony, with plans to honor graduates of both 2020 and 2021 at the Renasant Convention Center May 29, 2021.

The 778 cases come from 6,934 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 11.2%.

The commission is taking final votes on an ordinance that would let Shelby County Health Department levy fines for COVID violations, and a requirement for Shelby County Sheriff’s Department to get commission approval to acquire surplus military equipment and weapons. 

Peak preparation expenses cost more and took longer to get set due to more restrictions and safety considerations surrounding COVID-19, FedEx Ground’s president and CEO said. 

While area nonprofits have felt the strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, Memphis has lived up to its reputation as a “giving” city and help also has come from national funding sources. 

A temporary $300 per week supplemental jobless benefit and a $600 direct stimulus payment to most Americans is part of the pact. 

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee again refused to order a statewide mask mandate Sunday, Dec. 20, instead ordering a statewide limit on indoor public social gatherings of no more than 10 people excluding homes and churches.

Shoppers grabbed holiday essentials and last-minute items as a Safer at Home order looms.

The first truckload of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine destined for U.S. administration sites rolled into the FedEx Express world hub in Memphis about 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 20.

Shelby County Health Department reported 510 new cases and an additional six deaths in Sunday’s daily coronavirus report.

From Dec. 5 to Dec. 19, the Health Department reported an average of 691 new cases and 6,093 test results each day with a 11.3% positivity rate. One hundred thirty-two coronavirus-related deaths have been reported since Dec. 1. That represents 16.4% of all pandemic deaths in Shelby County. 

Domestic violence has exploded this year locally and across the country since the novel coronavirus struck – a pandemic within a pandemic that’s filled police blotters with a spike in accounts of extreme brutality.

FedEx said Saturday, Dec. 19, it’s ready to start moving the Moderna vaccine for COVID-19.

The 21 deaths reported Saturday range from Nov. 11 to Dec. 15, according to the Health Department. This follows the 23 deaths reported Friday. With the 44 new deaths in the past two days, Shelby County has surpassed the 800 mark. 

A new health directive is looming – one that could significantly tighten restrictions for the upcoming holidays.

On Thursday, the Frayser Exchange Club awarded Steve Lockwood its 2020 Community Service Award. He’s credited in helping turnaround one of the city’s worst housing markets during the past decade. 

Several dozens activists and organizers working for Democratic candidates in the 2020 elections have drafted a “roadmap to renewal” for the state party. A Memphis organizer talks about the roadmap on The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast. The recommendations come as the party prepares to elect a new statewide leader in January.