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Metro The city’s flood walls and other parts of its flood control system would be the responsibility of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under an amendment by U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Memphis to the federal Water Resources Development Act. -
State Government
Lee says virtual education parents could draw unemployment, but Labor Department uncertain
Tennessee parents who stay home with children for virtual education are eligible for unemployment and cash assistance, Gov. Bill Lee said this week. But the Department of Labor was unclear on the question.
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Coronavirus
Coronavirus: With 249 new cases, day’s positivity rate at 18%
The area's overall positivity rate is at 9.1% with the new cases.
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Education
To reopen schools, Tennessee plans to distribute millions of masks to teachers, students
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency last week began delivering 298,000 masks to school districts for the state’s 66,000 public school teachers and other school staff.
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The Early Word
The Early Word: A mural, some math and a magician disappears
It's Wednesday, July 15, and the 901 FC has its first (second) game today, Collierville is being sued, and a glasses company has seen a new opportunity.
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City of Memphis
Dick Williams’ long-running ‘Magicland’ set the record
Dick Williams has died at age 92. He and his wife Virginia hosted a television magic show for children and families each week for 23 years, a record.
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Business
About face: Bartlett firm makes shields to cope with COVID-19
American Paper Optics – best known for its solar eclipse and special effects glasses – is now making and marketing face shields as an added layer of protection, especially for students.
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City of Memphis
Council approves $113m CARES Act COVID-19 spending plan
The spending plan or budget was reconstructed several times in bargaining and changes in federal rules for how the grants could be used. Along the way, there was talk of animals moving out of the zoo and how to fund laptops and tablets for Shelby County Schools students.
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Metro
City Council delays move toward solid waste fee moratorium
The city administration says problems with garbage collection services aren’t solved yet but that the situation is improving. -
Public Safety
Collierville sued following 2019 officer-involved shooting
A civil rights lawsuit has been filed against Collierville following a June 2019 officer-involved shooting that killed one person.
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State Government
Lee rejects idea of statewide mask mandate or another economic shutdown
Gov. Bill Lee is not considering making a statewide mask mandate or shutting down parts of the economy again to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, even as cases surge.
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Public Safety
Both sides await decision in lawsuit seeking release of vulnerable inmates
A lawsuit seeking the release of medically vulnerable detainees from the Shelby County Jail because of COVID-19 has ended. Both sides now will wait to see how the court rules.
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Education
Trump administration rescinds rule barring foreign students from taking all classes online this fall
Harvard and MIT were the first to contest the policy, but at least seven other federal suits had been filed by universities and states opposing the rule.
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Premium High School Sports
Calkins: It’s time to move high school football to the spring
There are a lot of hard choices to make during this pandemic, but postponing high school football shouldn't be one of them. It's time to move the season to the spring.
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Education
SCS sets school year start date at Aug. 31, last day June 16
Under the 2020-21 calendar approved by the Shelby County Schools board, students and teachers will have a fall break in October and start the second semester in February instead of January.
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Metro Memphis Theological Seminary will move classes online this fall
MTS said it received CARES Act funding, which was distributed to students in small grants to help offset the costs of increased technological use at home.
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Metro
Haushalter says 700 new COVID-19 cases not reflection of a 24-hour period
Shelby County Health Department Director Alisa Haushalter said the 700 new coronavirus cases are from several days of tests and not reflective of a 24-hour period. It's imperative to bring the positivity rate of tests below 10%, she said.
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Coronavirus
Shelby County coronavirus cases hit new daily high
The Health Department reported 700 new cases July 14.
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Elections
Chancellor denies push for state to let first-timers vote by mail
The ACLU is asking a Davidson County chancellor to hold the state of Tennessee in contempt of court for violating an absentee ballot order by forcing first-time voters to cast ballots in person.
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The Early Word
The Early Word: Bar definition sparks legal battle; school plans call for prayer
Parents are getting an education this week as they try to learn more about local school district's reopening plans for the fall, and new details have been released about Brandon Webber's police-involved death last year. Plus, a "Ban the Box" provision gets bigger.
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Update Coronavirus
Suburban schools release reopening plans
Plans must be approved by the Tennessee Board of Education and Shelby County Health Department.
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Education
In-school or at-home learning: Parents face a tough question
They have until Saturday, July 18, to decide whether their children return to Shelby County Schools’ buildings or stay home to learn with the aid of a school-issued laptop or tablet.
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Elections
Shelby County Schools board races feature a majority of positions
A majority of the seats on the nine-member Shelby County Schools board are on the August election ballot. As voters make those choices, starting with early voting later this week, parents are making other choices around the new school year.
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Shelby County
County imposes hiring freeze and review to hold line on ‘tight’ budget
The proposal comes as County Mayor Lee Harris has 46 requests from other countywide elected officials to add positions two weeks into the new fiscal year. Harris also served notice Monday that next budget season he will be back with some kind of proposal to raise revenues to avoid layoffs and cuts in services that are a real possibility this fiscal year.
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Shelby County
County ‘Ban the Box’ proposal for ex-offenders gets more complicated
Some significant amendments to apply the program to private contractors pushed a final vote to July 21.
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