The Shelby County Health Department elected to remain in Phase 2 of the Back to Business Framework yesterday. That keeps restaurants and retail capped at 50% of capacity. In a press conference, director Alisa Haushalter said there were several factors involved in the decision. For one, a record 256 cases were reported yesterday at a positivity rate of 9.9%, well above the rolling average of 6.9%. Secondly, the rise in cases was attributed to community spread rather than a specific event like Memorial Day. Third, there has been a change in tone by the hospitals partnering with the city to fight the coronavirus: They are feeling increased demand for their resources.
Yesterday’s press conference was a special one. The regular, twice-weekly press conference is still set for noon today. Best way to view it is to follow the City of Memphis on Facebook.
Protests shut down Flight at 6:30 last night, leaving those with reservations out in the heat. That is awesome, especially considering the protest organizer was only 21 years old. Let me know if you do it again tonight and maybe I’ll come join you! The DM reports that councilman J.B. Smiley will introduce a resolution today asking the mayor to hold in abeyance city contracts with Flight for street parking spaces and space on a public sidewalk used as a patio. Flight was hit with multiple accusations of racism and misogyny on Facebook and Twitter last week, along with its sibling restaurants Porch & Parlor, Southern Social, and Coastal Fish.
I’d like to ask a favor of my readers – go by Downtown Huey’s and grab a burger or some nachos or whatever your go-to item is there. Without the Redbirds, Memphis 901 FC, and conventions at the Peabody, it would really mean a lot for their Downtown neighbors to come in and show them some love.
Word on social media is that axe throwing is coming to a location in the South Main District.
Trump’s niece will release a tell-all book later this summer.
Watching a video of a cop illegally stopping local activist Hunter Demster… gotta go to work in a few minutes… back tomorrow.