Author: Flyer Staff

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Memphis One of TIME’s Annual “Greatest Places”

(Credit: Eight and Sand)

Memphis made TIME magazine’s annual list of “World’s Greatest Places” this year. 

The third-annual list “highlights 100 extraordinary travel destinations around the world.” On the list, Memphis joins cities like Bangkok, Berlin, Seattle, and Santa Fe. 

TIME polled its contributors to find places “offering new and exciting experiences,” according to Memphis Tourism. Contributor Jenny Peters visited Memphis this spring to research the brief travel story included in the list. 

Peters focused on new things in the piece. She noted Graceland “is in the midst of an exciting evolution.” She pointed to the newly renovated Central Station Hotel, noting the Eight and Sand “listening lounge” and Bishop restaurant, in particular. Also mentioned were Hyatt Centric Beale Street, Memphis Chess Club, and Bain BBQ food truck.   

“This is a great honor for our city and destination from a globally recognized media outlet,” said Memphis Tourism president and CEO Kevin Kane. “This accolade from TIME showcases our diverse culinary scene and new hotel development that combine to create an authentic and exciting experience for travelers.”

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Health Officials Urge Vaccinations on Rising COVID-19 Cases

(Credit: Dreamstime)

Health officials here are urging residents to get COVID-19 vaccinations, as they suspect the Delta variant has caused cases to spike recently.

In a statement issued Thursday, the Shelby County Health Department (SCHD) said the Delta variant is 50 to 60 percent more transmissible than the original COVID-19 strain. It said a list of evidence points to increased Delta activity in Shelby County: 

• The seven-day COVID-19 case average has more than doubled in the last six days, increasing from 26 on July 1st to 59 on July 6th.

• The reproductive rate of the virus is currently 1.22, the highest it has been since June 25, 2020.

• The seven-day average positivity rate is now 4.5 percent, increasing from 2.9 percent on July 1st.

• A total of 58 Delta variant cases have been identified in Shelby County as of July 7th, while another 26 cases are suspected to be Delta variant cases. SCHD has projected that the Delta variant could become the dominant strain in Shelby County by the end of July.

“All of the COVID-19 vaccines that have received emergency use authorization in the United States, including Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson, provide a high degree of protection against the Delta variant, as well as the other COVID-19 strains,” said Shelby County Health Officer Dr. Bruce Randolph. “Even the so-called ‘breakthrough cases’ that have occurred in fully vaccinated individuals are usually mild and rarely require hospitalization. The unvaccinated are the most at risk for serious illness from the Delta variant.”

COVID-19 vaccines are free and available at pharmacies, clinics, and public vaccination sites. The full list of vaccination sites is available here. 

The health department will also offer COVID-19 vaccinations to adults and children 12 and older at 814 Jefferson Avenue on Saturday, July 10th, and Saturday, July 17th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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Report: Shelby County Leads in Record-Breaking Surge of New Businesses

Credit: Tennessee Secretary of State

Shelby County led the charge of a record-breaking surge of people starting new businesses in Tennessee, according to new data from the Tennessee Secretary of State. 

New business filings in the first quarter of 2021 were “the highest in history,” said Dr. Bill Fox, director of the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research. In the first three months of the year, new business filings were up 55.1 percent over the same period in 2020. 

In the first quarter 19,652 entities filed papers to start new businesses, according to state data. It marks the largest year-over-year gain in the 28-year history of the collection of this data. State officials called it “astonishing” in a news release.

“This data is an encouraging sign and a strong vote of confidence by Tennesseans and people worldwide investing in our state’s business and entrepreneur-friendly environment,” said Secretary Tre Hargett.

The first quarter marked the third straight quarter of new business filings in the state. Officials said a strong annual gain in new business filings in any quarter is 15 percent. In the last three quarters, new businesses filing have been up 30 percent. “The record-breaking boom over the last three quarters has roughly doubled or tripled top quarters from the past,” officials said. 

The growth in new online businesses during the pandemic across the country “likely” explains Tennessee’s new business surge, officials said. 

Shelby County saw the largest number of new filings, followed by Davidson, Knox, and Hamilton counties. These four — the most populous counties in the state — accounted for 47.9 percent of new filings statewide.

“COVID-19 has complicated how we compare economic activity over the past year, but initial filings for new businesses during the first quarter of 2021 were the highest in history,” said Fox. “This strong rate of growth signals that Tennessee is experiencing a rapid economic rebound from the pandemic.”

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MEMernet: Nickel Bags, a Memphis Cat, and Proud Crosswalks

A roundup of Memphis on the World Wide Web.

Nickel Bags

Willie Melvin Atkins got a shock last week with his order of pancakes from a restaurant in North Memphis. Atkins said “folks done gave me five nickel bags of syrup.” As of press time, the post had been shared more than 3,000 times and had 363 comments.

Posted to Facebook by Willie Melvin Atkins

Cat Mane

“Rescued a cat from Memphis. Needs a home. He answers to Mane and eats his wings fried hard. #lemonpepper.”

Posted to Reddit by u/JugglingLobster

“Feeling Proud”

Mark Lambert said he was “feeling proud” as he shared some aerial photos and video of some of the city’s newest crosswalk art. One crosswalk across Cooper and Monroe now reads “Black Lives Matter.” The other is a tribute to the LGBTQ Pride flag.

Posted to Facebook by Mark Lambert

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Lee Declares Victory Over COVID; Revokes Local Mask Mandates

Governor Bill Lee

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has issued a broad statement that basically eliminates all COVID restrictions for Tennesseans and Tennessee businesses by the end of May. The order also revokes the right of counties and cities to issue mask mandates. The entire text of Lee’s order is below:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced the end of statewide public health orders and signed Executive Order 80 to address economic and regulatory functions. EO 80 also ends the local authority to issue mask requirements in the 89 counties directed by the state health department.

“COVID-19 is now a managed public health issue in Tennessee and no longer a statewide public health emergency,” said Gov. Lee. “As Tennesseans continue to get vaccinated, it’s time to lift remaining local restrictions, focus on economic recovery and get back to business in Tennessee.”

EO 80 contains the following provisions and is effective through May 31, 2021:

Removing Local Mask Authority

While Tennessee has never had a statewide mask mandate, EO 80 removes the local authority for county mayors in 89 of the state’s 95 counties to require face coverings throughout their jurisdictions.

Gov. Lee has requested counties with independent health departments – Shelby, Madison, Davidson, Hamilton, Knox and Sullivan – that have remaining business restrictions or mask requirements to lift all measures no later than the end of May.

Extending Deregulatory Provisions

EO 80 extends helpful deregulatory provisions to enable individuals, businesses and other organizations time to adapt their operations in anticipation of ending said provisions.

Maintaining Federal Funding

EO 80 maintains Tennessee’s access to federal funding, including SNAP benefits and cost reimbursements for the Tennessee National Guard’s testing and vaccination efforts.

In addition to EO 80, the following provisions are effective immediately:

Offering Walk-Up Vaccine Option

While the COVID-19 vaccine continues to be available to Tennesseans aged 16 and older by appointment, local health departments will now offer a walk-up option.

Retiring Optional Business Guidance

The Tennessee Pledge business guidelines issued at the start of COVID-19 have been officially retired.

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Report: MEM Busiest Cargo Airport In the World

FedEx aircraft at Memphis International Airport. Photo by Jon W. Sparks

Memphis International Airport (MEM) is back atop the rankings as the world’s busiest cargo airport. 

More than 4.6 million metric tonnes of cargo came through the airport last year, up 6.7 percent over 2019. It was enough to put MEM back on top of the ranking by Airports Council International (ACI), edging out Hong Kong International Airport, which earned the top slot in 2019. The last time MEM ranked first on the list was 2009.

Airports Council International

The FedEx Express World Hub at MEM is responsible for about 99 percent of the overall cargo handled at MEM. The hub sees about 450 combined arrivals and departures per day.

Global passenger traffic at the world’s airports decreased by 64.6 percent in 2020, according to ACI, as travel was reduced due to COVID-19 concerns. However, air cargo volumes decreased by only 8.9 percent. 

Air cargo volumes in ACI’s top 10 airports grew by 3 percent in 2020. The agency says the gain can be attributed to the increase in demand for online consumer goods, pharmaceutical products, and personal protective equipment. 

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Gun Crime Rises 30 Percent

Gun crime continues to rise in Memphis, according to the latest data from the Memphis Shelby Crime Commission.

Memphis Shelby Crime Commission

Crimes involving guns were 30 percent higher in the first three months of 2021 compared to the first three months of 2020. From January to March of this year, there were 1,576 reported incidents involving guns, according to data collected by the Memphis Police Department (MPD) and the University of Memphis Public Safety Institute. 

Memphis Shelby Crime Commission

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) data show 3,546 gun-crime incidents in Memphis for the first quarter. This is up nearly 53 percent from first quarter 2020. 

TBI reports gun crime differently. For that agency, aggravated assault with three victims is one incident involving three offenses. TBI gun-offense figures include nonviolent offenses, like felons in possession of firearms. So, TBI gun data will always be higher than that reported by MPD.  

Memphis Shelby Crime Commission

Police responded to 4,405 reports of shots fired from January to March this year. This is up from 3,891 reports in first-quarter 2020. Police responded to 530 reports of someone hit by gunfire, up from 429 in the same time last year.   

MPD said 357 guns were reported stolen from cars in the first quarter compared to 164 in the same period last year. The commission said if such gun thefts continue at the same pace, about 1,500 guns will be stolen from cars this year.  

Memphis Shelby Crime Commission

“As a community, we must have a sense of urgency about the level of gun crime,” said Crime Commission president Bill Gibbons. “It will take more than law enforcement and prosecutors making it a priority. All of us, including parents, teachers, and faith leaders, must also make it a priority.” 

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MEMernet: Beautiful Facebook, Sticker Shock, and a Complicated Restaurant

A roundup of Memphis on the World Wide Web.

Beautiful
Heartwarming beauty is rare on Facebook. But one thread last week overflowed with it. On the Buy Nothing Midtown/Downtown group, a transitioning woman asked for any unwanted clothes.

In less than 24 hours, the post had 503 comments. There were clothes offers, natch, but also an outpouring of support, pride, and congrats.

“I’m From Memphis”
Head over to Mari Beth’s Facebook page for a sticker that reads, “I’m from Memphis not Tennessee. Oh, and also fuck Bill Lee.”

Posted to Facebook by Mari Beth

It’s Complicated

A Shelby County Commissioner had a question on Facebook last week about the Complicated Pilgrim restaurant to open inside The Memphian Hotel: “I want to know the market research that said, ‘Name your flagship restaurant Complicated Pilgrim’ in the middle of damn Memphis, Tennessee, in a hotel named The Memphian? Please someone email me that study. Seriously. WTF is a complicated pilgrim?”

The restaurant gave, maybe, a hint of an answer in a December Facebook post that read, “muse mention: Dorothy of The Wizard of Oz.”

Posted to Facebook by Complicated Pilgrim

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Survey: About Half in State Willing to Get Vaccine

Photo by Alex Mecl on Unsplash

Just over half of Tennesseans polled about COVID-19 vaccines were ”willing but hesitant” to get the shot, according to new market research from state officials. 

The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) hired a third-party research firm for a survey of more than 1,000 adult Tennesseans “exploring sentiments around the COVID-19 vaccine.” All 95 Tennessee counties were included in the survey, though 82 percent of the respondents were white, 15 percent were African American, and 3 percent were Latinx. 

Here are the key findings from the report:

• 53.7 percent of all respondents are willing but hesitant to receive a COVID-19 vaccine  

• The main reasons associated with vaccine hesitancy are safety and unknown long-term or short-term effects.

• Physicians and medical staff were considered the most trusted voice for Tennesseans seeking information for vaccines. 

“The results are consistent with national trends and show that Tennesseans want more information from trusted sources as they make their decision,” said TDH Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey. “This market survey was an important step in identifying where we can be helpful in providing information about safety and effectiveness.”

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Indoor Dancing, Buffets Allowed Under New Order

Photo by Ulysse Pointcheval on Unsplash

A new health directive issued by the Shelby County Health Department opens buffets and allows indoor dancing, among other things. 

Here are the key changes in health directive No. 20:

• Emphasizes the eligibility of everyone 16 and over for the Pfizer vaccine and 18 and older for the Moderna vaccine

• Requires landlords to provide increased notice information to tenants about the availability of resources

• Opens buffets (but requires extra sanitary measures)

• Permits dancing indoors if dancers maintain six feet of separation from those who are not of the same family unit or close contact group

• States explicitly that event planners only need to submit a plan through the portal if the event involves more than 500 people.

Health department leaders said “while the COVID-19 virus remains a threat, these revisions are deemed allowable now as transmission is low.”

“We will carefully monitor viral activity over the next 30 days to determine if more preventive measures can be lifted,” said interim health director La Sonya Hall. “If community transmission remains low, we will welcome the opportunity to lift even more restrictions and return to more normal activities.”