But citing the need for districts to adhere to social distancing guidelines, the board granted 56 requests to waive duty-free lunch breaks for teachers. 

Shelby County posted the second highest county total for the state through the first six days of early voting. Davidson County, including Nashville, has the highest turnout and, at least for now, is the bluest county in terms of early voters' choices of primaries. Of the state's 95 counties, 92 show Republican majorities in their turnout.

Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter's county health board proposal is drawing some resistance from suburban leaders who want to know more about its powers. The last county health board was abolished in 1909 and was no stranger to controversy.

On The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast, the County Commission chairman says the differences between the two don't appear to extend to the rest of the commission. Mark Billingsley also said he hopes to move to lift the county hiring budget freeze once there is a reconciliation of the budget approved by the commission last month after rejecting Mayor Lee Harris's original proposal.

New Health Department directive has a few new rules for full-service restaurants and allows a check of food versus alcohol sales.

EDGE awarded a $20,000 NEED grant to Summit Management Corp., which runs the annual Southern Heritage Classic. To date, EDGE has awarded $584,200 to 103 businesses; 83 of those (81%) are minority and women-owned businesses. 

Collierville is expected to make changes to its school reopening plan. The changes are based on recommendations from the Shelby County Health Department.

The virtual luncheon on Aug. 4 will be held from noon to 1 p.m. and focus on health equity.

On Friday, the Shelby County Health Department reported a daily positivity rate of 16.4%. 

It's Friday, July 24, and the theme today is eating, drinking and being merry. Or trying to be. 

Most diners are complying with Health Directive 8 and giving their names and numbers at restaurants, but Jiminy Cricket! Some just won’t do it.

We curse them, criticize them and (sometimes even) flip them the bird. On National Drive-Thru Day, let's hear it for the front-line workers who see us at our worst.

Two local leaders in the pandemic fight said on "Behind The Headlines" there would be a stronger-than-usual push for flu vaccinations. Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter also said the role of schools in the pandemic makes reopening them – virtually or in person – an important part of battling the virus.

The council's Glenview cell tower vote and a series of Black Lives Matter proposals setting the stage for some renamings of public places are the latest entries in our ongoing scorecard of council roll call votes.

The turnout totals from the Shelby County Election Commission also show the first indications of a massive absentee voter turnout as election officials expect to catch up to a backlog of absentee applications by Friday.

State Rep. London Lamar is hoping a new emergency powers committee she is joining will look at the governor’s executive authority and decisions affecting everything from business closings to education amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even though Republican governors are mandating masks and President Donald Trump has begun calling them "patriotic," Gov. Bill Lee continues to decline requiring face coverings statewide.

We’ve had more time to prepare for remote learning than we had in the spring. But there are complications that our spring pause did not present: new teachers for most, new schools for many, and a first school experience for some. 

MATA has had nine employees test positive from the coronavirus since April.

The president says the university is lucky it doesn't have many classes with a large-lecture format. 

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased for the second consecutive month, falling to 9.7% in June from 11% in May.

Continuing unemployment claims dipped slightly both locally and statewide for the week.

City of Memphis COO Doug McGowen said the local COVID-19 task force is in search of a “testing czar” to look at coronavirus testing in Shelby County.

Shelby County’s overall positivity rate of coronavirus tests has increased yet again; the number is now 9.8%. Today's positivity rate is 18.4%.

The new EEG test can be set up in less than five minutes, while a typical EEG test takes between 20-30 minutes.