Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region urges the Tennessee General Assembly to reject abstinence-only sexuality education and focus on improving the state’s dismal sexual health as conveyed in the report “Sexual Health of Young People in the U.S. South: Challenges and Opportunities,”  recently released by Auburn University at Montgomery’s Center for Demographic Research. 

Tennessee ranked poorly in all the metrics studied in the report, including teenage birth rates, infant mortality rates, sexually transmitted infection rates and condom use.

Now that the weather is warmer, local pet lovers want somewhere to run around with their pups. If you don't want to stay in your own backyard, go to one of the off-leash dog parks in the area.

There are several locations throughout the Mid-South where dogs can enjoy the freedom of being off-leash and owners don't have to fear their furry friends running out into the street.

Safe, fenced-in areas are available to the public, and the only necessity for most is that the dog be up-to-date on vaccinations.

1. Shelby Farms Dog Park: The most well-known and largest in the area. The park has recently finished updates to the area which includes water, a wooded area and large fields. There is a separate entrance for the dog area, located off of Trinity Road at Gate 12.

Information provided by Girl Scouts Heart of the South

Short and sweet - that’s the Girl Scout Cookie Sale in a nutshell.  Customers only have 2 weekends remaining to get those delicious flavors in 2012.  “Girls will continue to have booth sales throughout the area for the next 2 weekends, but after that, they’re gone,” said Jenny Jones, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Girl Scouts Heart of the South.

The 59-county council reports that sales have been very good this year and the organization is expecting a record-breaking sale just in time to celebrate their 100th Anniversary.