Amid a decreasing threat of COVID-19 infection, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave most Americans the green light Friday, Feb. 25, to ditch the mask indoors.

Harris joins state Rep. London Lamar and nonprofit leader Rhonnie Brewer in seeking the Senate seat, which has been vacant since Feb. 2.

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Memphis had a front-row seat Thursday, Feb. 24, for Russia’s political defense of its invasion of Ukraine.

During an hour-long online town hall Wednesday, Feb. 23, City Council member Worth Morgan and MLGW leaders fielded questions about recent increases in utility bills and the ice storm repairs.

Memphis Light, Gas & Water confirms it is reviewing its failure to post financial disclosure forms on the Internet — just as City Council members begin asking critical questions.

The commission could set dates Wednesday for interviewing applicants for the state Senate District 33 seat and the Memphis Shelby County Schools board seat.

Steve Lockwood, who led the Frayser Community Development Corp. until his retirement in 2020, will serve as interim director.

Hernando DeSoto Bridge vulnerabilities could have been detected four decades ago, ArDOT officials say.

Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Chris Craft issued the ruling after hearing testimony from psychologists.

“We see a lot of bad things happening on the roadways nowadays from excessive speeding to people texting and driving or either distracted on their phones.”

Memphis and Southaven have been in court over Mayor Jim Strickland’s plan to end any new sewer connections to North Mississippi in 2023. 

The Safe Community Action Plan is aiming for a reduction in violent crime and property crime over the next five years.

“I built those houses,” said Henry Turley. “There’s nothing wrong with those houses that should cause the residents to have to move out.”

Speaking Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Frayser Exchange Club, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said the city’s chronic power outages during frequent storms is mostly about the trees that dominate the city’s landscape. Strickland says any solution to the continuing outages will be expensive.

Mired in a separate controversy involving a perceived conflict, MLGW commissioner Carlee McCullough takes a rare step and abstains from voting on a nearly $400,000 contract involving a proposed disparity study.

The vote for cashless payments to get cars impounded by towing companies was unanimous.

Two weeks after a news investigation found that MLGW isn’t honoring a 2007 pledge to post financial disclosure forms on the Internet, the city-owned utility remains silent.

The most recently appointed commissioner saw his term expire more than 18 months ago. The other four commissioners also remain seated, despite last being appointed nearly six years ago.

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MLGW stays silent on failure to post financial disclosure forms on the web

MLGW says power has been restored for all customers who lost it following the Feb. 3 ice storm. 

The community development corporation bought and fixed up a home, incorporating it into its tenant savings program to help a resident save for a future home purchase.

Also Tuesday, the council will consider opposing a bill in the Tennessee General Assembly that would outlaw any kind of residency requirement for police and firefighters. 

Memphians have voted twice to use ranked-choice voting, also known as instant-runoff voting, although it hasn’t yet been implemented. 

In his weekly email, Strickland said he isn’t recommending action at this point, but all options should be explored to cure how the city has been crippled by 14 major storms over the past 19 years, not counting the 1994 ice storm.