All articles tagged with #shelby county
The Shelby County Health Department is urging residents to get tested for HIV and Syphilis as cases continue to rise, particularly among those aged 14 to 35. Since 2018, HIV rates have increased by 36% and Syphilis rates by 100%, with certain zip codes in Memphis showing higher incidence levels.
Bills that would change bail decisions in Tennessee, making financial status a non-factor, have passed their first hurdle in the legislature. The proposed constitutional amendment would allow judges to deny bail for more crimes, while the second bill aims to remove the consideration of the defendant's ability to pay. This comes amid a crime crisis in Memphis, with a recent carjacking leading to tragic consequences. Critics argue that the proposed changes could disproportionately harm Black individuals, while proponents emphasize the need for careful consideration when taking away someone's liberty.
MLGW has issued a boil water advisory for certain areas in Shelby County due to record-high demand for electricity and water, with CEO Doug McGowen emphasizing the importance of water conservation and recommending boiling water for at least one minute before consumption. The affected areas include Northwest Shelby Forest and Southeast Winchester, and residents are advised to stay updated for further information.
Shelby County, Tennessee, has been placed under a state of emergency due to heavy snowfall, with some areas experiencing over five inches of snow. Memphis Mayor Paul Young and Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris both signed declarations in response to the arctic weather and unsafe travel conditions caused by the frozen precipitation covering roads across the Mid-South.
A man suspected of attempted murder was shot and killed by Shelby County sheriff's deputies in Memphis after colliding with a van and opening fire on the deputies. No deputies were injured, but the driver of the van was taken to the hospital in non-critical condition. The suspect has been identified as 31-year-old Johnathan Bady, who was wanted for shooting a woman at a home earlier that morning. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has been called in to lead the investigation.
A 17-year-old girl from Leeds, identified as Lauren Dunn, was killed in a car crash in Shelby County. The incident occurred when her vehicle veered off the road and collided with multiple trees. The investigation into the accident is ongoing.
One person died and two others, including a child, were seriously injured in a crash involving a semi on US 36 in Shelby County. The driver of a Toyota Landcruiser switched lanes at an unsafe time and was struck by the semi. The SUV then slid off the road and overturned. The passenger in the SUV was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver and the child were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the semi was not injured.
Governor Kay Ivey announced three major interstate projects in Jefferson and Shelby counties, including the widening of Interstate 65 in Shelby County, the widening of Interstate 59 in the Trussville area, and the addition of an interchange on Interstate 459 in Hoover. The projects, totaling about half a billion dollars, are part of the Rebuild Alabama effort and aim to improve transportation infrastructure in the state. The largest project is the widening of I-65, estimated to cost $300 million, followed by the construction of a new interchange on I-459 costing $120 million, and the widening of I-59 costing $80 million.
COVID-19 cases have been moderately increasing in Shelby County since mid-July, with a weekly average of 559 positive cases reported. The recently detected BA.2.86 variant has not been found in Shelby County or other Tennessee counties, but the XBB.9.1 and XBB.1.16 subvariants of the Omicron variant are prevalent. New vaccines targeting the XBB Omicron variants are expected to be available by the end of September, and the Shelby County Health Department will offer the booster when approved. Testing and vaccines are widely available in the county, and the health department provides guidelines for isolation and symptom management.
Memphis-Shelby County Schools placed all their schools on a precautionary lockdown as police investigated a situation unfolding across Shelby County. The lockdown was lifted after the suspect was found, but no information about the situation has been released at this time.
Shelby County in Tennessee has declared a local state of emergency after severe thunderstorms on July 18 caused significant damage, including wind gusts of 80-90 mph, impacting homes, businesses, and public property. The storms also contaminated groundwater in the City of Germantown and resulted in over 130,000 MLGW customers losing power.
Many communities in Shelby County, Tennessee, are without power again after storms on Sunday evening, with over 31,000 homes and businesses affected. This comes just a week after power was restored to over 120,000 customers. The areas experiencing the most outages include Germantown, Cordova, Bartlett, Lakeland, and Millington. Last week, some residents went without power for several days, prompting community centers and libraries to extend their hours as cooling centers. The utility company, MLGW, had numerous crews working on restoration efforts, and the president of the company issued an apology for the inconvenience caused. It is unclear if the same crews will be back this week for power restoration.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris declared a local state of emergency due to extreme storms that caused widespread damage to trees and utilities, leaving 122,000 MLGW customers without electricity. By Tuesday afternoon, about 50,000 remained without electricity. The National Weather Service placed most of the area under an Excessive Heat Watch from Thursday morning through Thursday evening, with actual temperatures forecasted to hit 101 and 102 on Thursday and Friday. The county will open a Day Center and residents can visit AT&T locations to recharge mobile devices.
Joe Craig, an employee at the Academy of Future Leaders daycare in Memphis, has been charged with aggravated child abuse and neglect after a two-year-old child suffered life-threatening injuries. Craig, a former University of Memphis football player, was released on a $200,000 bond. The daycare is still licensed, but the Tennessee Department of Human Services has forbidden Craig from being on the premises when children are present. The daycare had recently entered a partnership with UT Health Science Center, but the contract was terminated on June 9 for unknown reasons.
A Shelby County Sheriff's deputy shot and killed a driver during a traffic stop near Rosswood Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee. The driver dragged the deputy approximately 100 yards before being shot by the deputy. The deputy is in the hospital with serious injuries, and the driver died on the way to the hospital. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations is investigating the incident.