MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A Shelby County Commission committee voted in favor of two measures concerning the local court system that is facing an accelerated amount of criminal cases.
Former Vice President Al Gore voiced his opposition to the Byhalia Connection and put Memphis elected officials on notice during a rally against the pipeline Sunday afternoon.
A few hundred people were on hand for the event at Alonzo Weaver Park in South Memphis, which featured speeches from Gore, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, community activists and landowners that would be affected by the pipeline’s path.
The proposed crude oil pipeline, a joint venture from Plains All American and Valero Energy, would span 49 miles. On its current route, it would be constructed through predominately Black communities in South Memphis and over a Memphis Light, Gas & Water wellfield drawing water from the Memphis Sands aquifer.
Tennessee cuts Shelby County out of vaccine distribution; Memphis, hospitals and pharmacies will administer doses Micaela A Watts, Corinne S Kennedy, Katherine Burgess and Samuel Hardiman, Memphis Commercial Appeal
Vaccine expert anticipates vaccine distribution to improve, despite rough start
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Due to waste and inefficiencies, the state of Tennessee is cutting the Shelby County Health Department out of the vaccine distribution process and will instead send doses to the city of Memphis, local hospitals and pharmacies.
The Tennessee Department of Health said the county wasted a total of 2,400 doses across seven separate incidents over the month of February. Spoilage of that magnitude could also trigger a federal investigation, state officials said.