According to the state's Healthcare Resource Tracking System, area hospitals had 51 ICU and 236 acute care beds available, as of 5 p.m. Thursday.

To find candidates for the open jobs, Shelby County Schools is hosting a virtual hiring fair from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14. 

While local sports fans are in high spirits, we're looking at saliva testing, two long-time community buildings about to be demolished and a hiring spree. 

Frayser Community Schools decided this summer to start the year with all-virtual classes due to increasing COVID-19 cases in Shelby County over the past several months. 

Memphis police officer LaTica Bennett has been assigned to patrol David Carnes Park in Whitehaven during the pandemic. She took it upon herself to personally greet those in the park every day. 

Our scorecard of commission votes includes a possible swap of some CARES Act funding as well as the first rejection of a move to get past county government's hiring freeze.

Legislation making camping on restricted state property a felony is “ludicrous,” state Sen. Raumesh Akbari said as the Legislature wrapped up a special session designed, in part, to stop “lawless” activity and send protesters packing.

Gov. Bill Lee’s press briefing is scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13.

The Tennessee Department of Human Services is reminding parents the deadline is approaching to apply for a program to help provide food for their children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pool testing the city is doing through Poplar Healthcare is now aimed at teachers and students.

The reported total in Shelby County is now 24,347 coronavirus cases, including 20,063 recoveries, 316 deaths and 3,968 active cases. 

“However, it is our expectation that they show up to school appropriately dressed,” Maria Stewart, the district’s director of policy, said of the virtual learning rules. 

The city has also signed a letter of intent with Capstone Development for two hotels on the Central Avenue frontage. The founder of Capstone sees a different kind of recovery from the pandemic for the hospitality industry — one led by the families that travel regionally to the sports tournaments that are the financial engine for Liberty Park's public and private uses.

Collierville has canceled its Labor Day fireworks celebration scheduled for Sept. 5.

It's Thursday, Aug. 13, and college students are beginning to move back into their dorms. We're also thinking about possibilities on Union Avenue and how to become better soccer players. 

At Christian Brothers University, modeling indicated campus would lose more than $4 million if all learning was conducted remotely. 

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Tennessee lawmakers passed legislation Wednesday, Aug. 12, setting a "higher bar" for people to sue businesses, schools and healthcare facilities accused of making them sick through negligence.

This week on The Extra Podcast, Elizabeth Cawein, executive director of Music Export Memphis, joins Eric Barnes to talk about how local musicians are dealing with the coronavirus shutdown.

Legislation to toughen penalties for protesters around the Capitol passed the Legislature Wednesday, including a provision making illegal camping on state property a felony offense.

Those 119 newly reported cases come from 1,047 tests, giving the day a positivity rate of 11.4%.

It's Wednesday, Aug. 12, and we're talking about a "Swiss Army knife" of a player, a far-flung soul festival and Birds banned — at least for a short while. Also, is this a banner year for mosquitoes? 

Democratic lawmaker called the House’s Republican leader a “liar” for saying those who voted against a legislative crackdown on protesters support spitting on law enforcements officers.

Tennessee Department of Human Services Commissioner Danielle Barnes said 450,000 kids have been approved to receive EBT as part of pandemic food insecurity programs.

The Congressmen, in their respective districts during Congress’ recess, say they are prepared to return to Washington if Democrats and Republicans can reach an accord on pandemic relief and stimulus funding. 

Many salons have reopened, but the business model looks drastically different including reduced occupancy, said Shelby County Commissioner Mickell Lowery.