Hunter Fan has launched its first lighting collection.

Good morning, and welcome to The Early Word. This is the Daily Memphian’s new a.m. digital digest, designed to help you find the news you need to navigate your day. 

Shelby County residents headed to Shelby Farms on Sunday for the Celebrate Shelby family event to salute the county's bicentennial.

Shelby County was formed 200 years ago Nov. 24 by an act of the Tennessee Legislature. The county took in more territory than it does today. The official designation touched off controversies that saw the county seat moved out of Memphis four years later as the city struggled before beginning to grow.

Seeking a seventh House term representing Shelby County’s District 83, state Rep. Mark White stands on his record of “education reform” and defends support of the governor’s education savings account legislation, which is set to take effect in 2020.

Santa Claus took a quick break from his hectic schedule at the North Pole to celebrate the beginning of the Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees fundraiser for Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

Marching bands, community leaders and dance groups paraded down Elvis Presley Boulevard. While Christmas cheer was abundant, neighborhood pride remained a prevalent theme among participants.

The chairman of the Legislature’s Joint Government Operations Committee is refusing to hold hearings about a $4 million rural grants pool some lawmakers are calling a “slush fund” designed to reward legislators who voted for the governor’s voucher bill.

On The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast, incoming City Council member J.B. Smiley Jr. said he would like to have a voice in the current council's decision about residency requirements. But he said he accepts if the referendum on the matter is approved by the current council before members leave office. He also said concerns about reliability if MLGW breaks ties with TVA might be a "scare tactic."

Barbara Zoccola, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney in Memphis, pleaded guilty to falsifying her time card records and faces up to a year in prison. She will be sentenced March 5. 

Shelby County is set to celebrate its 200th birthday with fun and fireworks at a free event Sunday.

A highly regarded veteran of Memphis journalism, government and marketing has joined The Daily Memphian to write and curate a news digest that will be emailed each morning to readers.

On Behind The Headlines, Memphis River Parks Partnership President Carol Coletta offered few clues about what the mediation over the redesign of Tom Lee Park will mean. 

State House members criticized Department of Human Services Commissioner Danielle Barnes this week for letting a reserve fund for needy services build up to $732 million and for putting out a plan to spend it without asking permission.

Will help train nurse practitioners and physicians assistants in practice of rheumatology.

All the makings for 2,000 Thanksgiving dinners were handed out to military veterans on Thursday at the Fairgrounds.

Mayor Jim Strickland officially unveiled plans Thursday for the naming rights of the Renasant Convention Center. The 10-year deal with renewals clauses should pay about half of the $2 million in the red that convention center operates at annually, according to Strickland.

The Department of Education released a statement Wednesday aimed at settling questions about the tax implications of receiving an education savings account under a new law championed by Gov. Bill Lee. 

Ed Stanton, the court monitor, provided updates Thursday to the court on the progress the city is making to comply with sanctions imposed by U.S. District Judge Jon McCalla over its violation of the 1978 Kendrick consent decree.

The Mexican Consulate is giving away educational books Thursday, Nov. 21, for Memphis students in grades 1-6 at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library.

Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association has been awarded a $5 million grant from the Day 1 Families Fund. 

Eight schools could be forced to accept fewer students next year or un-enroll some students if the Shelby County Schools board follows staff recommendations presented this week.

Team honored with Smithsonian's American Ingenuity Award for Life Sciences.

House Minority Leader Karen Camper will ask the Department of Finance & Administration about 50 to 60 “commitments” for rural grants to be awarded from a $4 million pool criticized as a “slush fund” to reward lawmakers for their voucher votes.

Convicted felon and former state senator John Ford has filed a petition to run for Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk, but state officials say a judge's order concerning his bribery conviction while in office bars him from running.