Should classes resume in school buildings, officials are considering the logistics necessary for social distancing, such as staggered school days where certain grades would go on certain days, splitting classes into half-day sessions and running more bus routes. 

The second phase of reopening the Memphis area economy began Monday, May 18. It will go for 21 days before a much more ambitious third and final phase of the reopening plan.

Shelby County Schools superintendent Joris Ray outlines the district’s long-term strategy for reopening schools.

New Memphis music focuses on love after loss and John Malmo weighs in on the power play between MLGW, TVA and others. Plus, with summer almost upon us, what are we going to do about pools? 

The Shelby County Election Commission picked new voting machines earlier this month without the public knowing the name of the company or the price. But it has done little to settle the ongoing debate about changes to how Memphis voters exercise their right.

Here are some of the terms being tossed around and process issues being explored in the move to a new voting system for Shelby County that has joined hands with some other balloting issues.

'Despite our financial soundness, everyone in Shelby County soon will be paying more in property taxes unless my colleagues on the County Commission embrace a serious reality check regarding the shortfall in the county’s general fund.'

Leaders of Shelby County Youth Advocacy Center say they will continue to "move forward" even though Shelby County may not extend its contract with the center. 

Tennessee Department of Health reported 100 new cases of COVID-19 Sunday for a total of 17,388. Three new deaths were also confirmed.

Graceland is reopening with mansion tours reduced to 25% of capacity. Operators bill it as an opportunity to "walk in Elvis' footsteps like never before."

City hopes self-reporting figures continue to rise as the Census Bureau prepares to resume field activities on June 1. 

When state lawmakers return to Nashville to grapple with the state budget in a flagging COVID-19 economy, they'll have an incomplete picture of the state's economy because state revenue is trickling in and business tax collections have been delayed until July.

The $2 million “Develop901” system was in the works before the COVID-19 pandemic. Planning and Development division Director John Zeanah talked about the extensive overhaul on The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast and a slight drop in permits that may be cyclical and not pandemic-related.

Still short of the goal of 2,400 tests per day, a record-breaking week of tests finds continued decline in positivity.

Both Methodist and Baptist hospital systems are coping with COVID-19 physically so far, but money is becoming a problem.

Deer and social distancing are no discouragement for toilers at the Shelby County Community Gardens. The distances don’t impact the sense of community, either.

Will it be safe to swim at community pools this summer? The Shelby County Health Department has not yet issued reopening guidelines for swimming locations. 

With more than 12% of Tennessee prison inmates testing positive for COVID-19, an inmate advocate is raising questions about the cleanliness of facilities while challenging the state's numbers and policies.

The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Tennessee, and Dechert LLP filed a lawsuit Friday, May 15, seeking to make absentee voting available to all eligible Tennessee voters during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patrons will be asked to wear masks, practice social distancing and may have to wait to get in. 

With the spread of COVID-19 appearing to weaken, the state’s Economic Recovery Group announced Friday, May 15, it will lift capacity restrictions on restaurants and retail in areas not covered by local directives, such as Shelby County.

A large group of Memphis-area faith leaders has made and just released a video promoting the continued delay of face-to-face worship until conditions improve with COVID-19.

The Economic Development Growth Engine has $862,500 left to distribute in Neighborhood Emergency Economic Development grants after approving 24 grants totaling $137,500 over the past three weeks.

A Phase 2 reopening of the Memphis area economy appears imminent after Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter said Friday, May 15, she sees no significant barriers to a continued loosening of restrictions.

The latest COVID-19 data is consistent with the trend the pandemic is stabilizing in Shelby County.