Shelby County commissioners meet in special session Wednesday, Jan. 19, to approve $1.4 million in funding to buy 15,000 COVID self-test kits at a unit price that comes to 180,000 tests.

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said the raises approved this month for 200 corrections center guards are being funded in part by fees the Justice Department is paying the county as it closes down a privately run federal prison. And he said more raises and bonuses are coming for others.

The former county commissioner has pulled petitions to seek a return to the County Commission or to run for Juvenile Court Clerk. 

The Tennessee Department of Education released a draft of its new education funding framework Tuesday, Jan. 11, the same day lawmakers began this year’s regular legislative session.

The money will mean raises of up to 20% for guards working at prisons run by the county administration.

Edmund Ford Jr. said he was “sort of offended” after an executive from The Commercial Appeal complained to the commission over Ford’s treatment of a reporter. 

Shelby County Health Department director Dr. Michelle Taylor also complained about employers requiring a test for workers who have quarantined for the recommended five days to return to work after initially testing positive for COVID.

The decision comes eight days after the board did not vote to implement universal masking in schools despite Superintendent Gary Lilly’s concerns about staffing issues.

County commissioners will get their second briefing from the Health Department in a week about the effect the new Omicron variant is having on local hospital capacity.

 The top five include property taxes, redistricting, pay raises, a takeback on critical race theory and the strategic battle for a new commission chairman.

The area is under a winter weather advisory, from early Thursday until Thursday evening, with total snow and sleet accumulations of up to two inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Shelby County Health Dept. Director Dr. Michelle Taylor told Shelby County commissioners Wednesday, Jan. 5, that state health officials are also watching the strain on hospitals and public health institutions closely. 

The assistant to Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland is expected to formally get into the race starting with the May Democratic primary. 

Between the vocal debate on police residency at its last meeting in 2021 and the Tuesday, Jan. 4, session, Police Chief C.J. Davis has come out in a Daily Memphian op-ed in favor of a broader residency requirement for police. 

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The Shelby County Health Department reported a new record of 3,394 new COVID-19 cases Sunday, Jan. 2. The health department reports there are a total of 18,970 active cases and 3,657 active pediatric cases.

The Shelby County Commission Scorecard tracks the votes at the final meeting of 2021 that approved pay raises for the commission, county mayor and sheriff. Also approved: Giving $6.7 million toward the redesign of Tom Lee Park.

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris expects numbers at six public COVID-19 testing locations to remain high going into New Year’s. 

Some Memphis restaurants are temporarily shutting down because of staff members who’ve tested positive for coronavirus, and at least one is going to takeout only for now.

Shelby County Commissioners approved $6.7 million in capital funding Monday, Dec. 20, for the Tom Lee Park redesign.

The commission being elected in August with at least six new members will get a 19.9% pay raise. The mayor and sheriff elected on the same August ballot will get 21% raises.

Shelby County Health Department director Dr. Michelle Taylor told Shelby County Commissioners Monday, Dec. 20, that caution is recommended for holiday gatherings.

The votes at the last meeting of 2021 will determine if the commission itself should get a pay hike and whether the mayor and sheriff also get raises. If approved, the raises would take effect after next year’s county elections.

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County Commission approves Tom Lee Park redesign funding

Starting Monday, Dec 20, candidates in the May 3 Shelby County primaries can begin filing qualifying petitions to get on the ballot. And there are some changes in the partisan primaries this year.

Pianist who survived being shot five times holds recitals in hopes of inspiring people to see something positive beyond the violence in the city. 

Shelby County Health Department Director Michelle Taylor said the holidays could be to blame.