Katie Riordan

As the second graders at the STAR Academy Charter School in North Memphis settle into their weekly music class, one of their instructors, Carrington Truehart, quickly reminds them of expectations.

Rules related to the virtual classroom: keep the mics on mute unless called on, put comments in the chat box and make sure they’re relevant to class.  

Update, March 22, 5:40 - The City of Memphis announced that begining Friday, anyone 16 and older in Shelby County can sign up for a COVID-19 shot.  Until then, officials have broadened current eligibility to include those 45 and older and individuals in the state's third and final priority group.  

Opponents of a crude oil pipeline that would be routed under communities in southwest Memphis now have one of the country’s most prominent environmental activists in their corner. Former Vice President Al Gore came to the area on Sunday to promote their fight against the Byhalia Connection Project.

UPDATE (March 15) -- After introducing the new sign-up system Friday, city officials on Saturday decided it created too many additional problems for residents. They have returned to using the original sign-up portal for now. Read more here.   

A growing number of people in Shelby County will soon be able to receive their COVID-19 shots in a more conventional setting like their doctor’s office, while at the same time, the logistics of booking an appointment at mass vaccination sites could become easier.

As pedestrian fatalities rise nationwide -- 45 percent over the past decade -- Memphis stands out as a top offender. In a new report by the nonprofit Smart Growth America, the Memphis metro area is ranked as the third most dangerous city to be on foot.

As the lines for COVID-19 vaccinations grow, health leaders hope people still waiting their turn don’t ignore that other line -- the one for a COVID test. They say screening for the virus is still a vital strategy to eventually ending the pandemic, especially as more concerning variants spread.

The newly approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine will soon become another option in the war on COVID-19, as City of Memphis officials anticipate eventually increasing the number of shots given every week in Shelby County to between 40,000 and 50,000.