Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Dan Michael delivered his State of Court address Friday morning. He vowed to continue his work to improve the court despite critics. 

• Chris Jenkins named Saint Francis Hospital- Bartlett COO
• Airport board OKs surveillance, parking system contracts
• Amazon to fund computer science courses in seven Memphis area high schools

Gov. Bill Lee is proposing a $40 million investment in school safety to protect teachers and students and avert violence, mainly through funding for school resource officers.

The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee passed legislation this week stripping the subpoena power of police oversight committees, sidestepping opposition from Memphis legislators.

The city is taking 29 blighted properties to Environmental Court, and in some cases the defendant is the address of the property as the city seeks to find the real owner. The new provision in the state law allows the move, which sets the stage for the appointment of a receiver by the court.

Memphis in May International Festival's chief executive will seek alterations to a plan to redevelop Tom Lee Park, sharing his concerns about how its largest events will fit into smaller space in the new park. 

African-American students want a bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest removed from State Capitol, spurring a debate on the legacy of the Confederate general whose statue also created controversy in Memphis. 

House Criminal Justice Subcommittee sends measure dealing with violence acts to summer study.

The plan for multiyear MLGW gas, electric and water rate hikes was rejected Tuesday by the Memphis City Council. It's the second year the council has gone instead for smaller one-year rate hikes – this time a 3 percent hike in water rates starting next month.

Shelby County Commissioners hope to receive the final report on equal protection from the DOJ monitor within the next month. 

The Shelby County Schools board position vacancy will be filled by the County Commission at its meeting Monday. 

The Memphis River Parks Partnership plan for a redevelopment of Tom Lee Park got a close look and lots of questions as well as a few suggestions from city council members this week.

Early voting is underway in the special general election for state Senate District 32. The district covers eastern Shelby County and all of Tipton County.

The former head of a Memphis nonprofit river conservation group has been indicted on charges involving $1 million in improper reimbursement payments made to the agency over a six-year period. 

The Shelby County Election Commission will not appeal a state order barring the use of instant-runoff voting in the 2019 city elections. It is the last major decision of an election commission that is getting three new members.

State Sen. Sara Kyle of Memphis says she will concentrate on another term in the General Assembly in 2020 rather than seeking the U.S. Senate.

With the City Council vote Tuesday to de-annex South Cordova, a timeline begins toward its separation from Memphis. Here are some milestones of the process.

The Memphis City Council gave final approval to the de-annexation of South Cordova Tuesday.

Legislation sponsored by Sen. Raumesh Akbari and Rep. Karen Camper, both Memphis Democrats, would end the practice of chaining pregnant women and require prenatal, postpartum care.

Democratic Rep. Antonio Parkinson's bill requiring school boards to set rules governing visitors' actions and dress while on campuses narrowly escaped defeat in a House subcommittee Tuesday.

County Commission Chairman Van Turner spoke on unity between the commission and mayor's office and several other issues at Memphis Rotary Tuesday. 

Ten people are seeking appointment to an interim seat on the Shelby County Schools board. The District 2 seat opened with the departure of Teresa Jones to take an appointment as municipal court judge. 

The proposed elimination of the so-called "gym tax" could reduce state revenue by $10 million but save fitness clubs 10 percent on fees.

Efforts to preserve the birthplace of soul legend Aretha Franklin got another court extension Tuesday, with Environmental Court Judge Patrick Dandridge giving parties until April 23 to shore up plans.

A study commissioned by the environmental group Friends of the Earth charts a course for MLGW to sever its historic ties with TVA in five years without the cost of building new transmission lines for electric power from new sources.