The Tennessee House of Representatives overwhelmingly backed legislation Thursday prohibiting abortion procedures once a heartbeat is detected.

Supporters and opponents of Lee's proposal for education savings accounts are mobilizing for likely the biggest battle of the legislative session.

Six months after being sworn in as Shelby County Commissioner, Tami Sawyer announced Thursday she is launching a campaign to be the next Memphis mayor. 

Memphis and Shelby County elected officials and fitness center owners are urging state legislators to repeal the amusement tax or “gym tax,” a 10 percent hike on fitness centers across the state.

Legislation requiring Gov. Bill Lee’s administration to seek a federal block grant for funding TennCare advanced in the House this week in spite of Shelby County lawmakers’ efforts to attach guidelines.

The last day of early voting in state Senate District 32 is followed by the March 12 election day for the seat covering eastern Shelby County and all of Tipton County. Early voter turnout appears to be about where it was in the January special primary elections.

University of Memphis students can gain protection from tuition increases if they graduate within four years under a Guaranteed Tuition Rate plan approved by trustees Wednesday.

• Sticky problem 
• Home sales rise in February
• Nine Memphis women to be honored at Women of Achievement awards

The United Campus Workers put a strong Memphis presence to work Wednesday, rallying for higher wages for adjunct faculty, who teach a third of the courses at Tennessee colleges and universities.

A proposed policy would require Shelby County Schools' 8,700 second-graders to meet eight of 12 points the district tracks to be promoted to third grade. 

The bicentennial observance includes the world's longest picnic table, fireworks, skydivers, an airshow and a parachute team.

Memphis City Council members looked for a quick bottom line in the Memphis 3.0 plan during their first discussion of the 400-page proposal Tuesday.

Enough is Enough is calling out state Rep. David Byrd for alleged sexual misconduct with high school girls basketball players he coached in 1980s. Memphis lawmakers have supported calls for an investigation. 

Memphis music producer, recording engineer and artist James Dukes has started a petition drive to change the name of Main Street to Mane Street. 

Forrest Avenue residents file an application to change "Forrest" to "Forest" to end any "perception" that their street honors Nathan Bedford Forrest.

Legislation by state Sen. Katrina Robinson of Memphis would require detention facilities to make hygiene, healthcare products available to female inmates for free.

• AgLaunch Initiative earns $50,000 award for work at Agricenter
• Applications open for Summer of Acceleration
• First Tennessee partners with BrightBridge on capital access

The city and Graceland appear to have an agreement that allows the Graceland master plan to move ahead in some form beyond litigation over an arena that has been a part of the plan.

Catholics in West Tennessee have a new leader almost five months after Bishop Martin Holley was ousted after a tumultuous two years leading the Catholic Diocese of Memphis.

A new exhibit on the city's bicentennial combines some elements of the city's history in a display that is also about what is means to be a Memphian. The exhibit at the Memphis Pink Palace Museum runs through October.

Charging police who turn off body cameras: What state lawmaker G.A. Hardaway, the Memphis Police Association and the ACLU say about the proposed bill under which officers statewide would be charged with a felony.

• Carolina Watershed launching adult sports league
• Fogelman College to offer five-day business program for high school students
• Arlington Animal Clinic to move locations 

The Catholic Diocese of Memphis is set to make "an important announcement" Tuesday morning after several months of turbulence in the diocese.

Gov. Bill Lee proposes putting $25 million into education savings accounts, a program that would affect low-income students in Shelby County Schools.

Tamika Mallory comes to Memphis after the third Women's March in January drew criticism and allegations of anti-Semitic comments by Mallory and other march organizers.