County Commission rejects contract for voting system
A $5.8 million contract for a new voting system in Shelby County failed Monday, Oct. 12, in a 6-5 vote by the Shelby County Commission.
Bill Dries
Reporter
Bill Dries covers city and county government and politics. He is a native Memphian and has been a reporter for almost 50 years covering a wide variety of stories from the 1977 death of Elvis Presley and the 1978 police and fire strikes to numerous political campaigns, every county mayor and every Memphis Mayor starting with Wyeth Chandler.
There are 3900 articles by Bill Dries :
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October 2020
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Shelby County -
Shelby County County Commission votes down police excessive force ordinance
Shelby County commissioners voted down an ordinance that would have required the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office to decertify deputies who use excessive force and to keep a record of officers who are fired or resign because of an excessive-force complaint.
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State Government Blackburn criticizes Democrats in Barrett confirmation hearing
The opening of hearings on the U.S. Supreme Court nominee included Democrats criticizing the timing of the nomination. Blackburn responded by calling the attacks on the process and Barrett as “paternalistic” and “disrespectful.”
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Shelby County County Commission to take final votes on police reform measures
The Monday County Commission agenda also includes a return to a $5.8 million contract to buy a new voting system for Shelby County and a moratorium on delinquent tax sales on property in South Memphis.
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Podcast
City of MemphisMLGW-TVA discussion must move faster, city council member says
Memphis City Council member Jeff Warren on The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast says there could still be an agreement on the next step in the MLGW-TVA issue. He also warns that the Tennessee Legislature could close the door on a possible MLGW exit from TVA if there isn’t a shorter timeline.
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video
Behind The HeadlinesBartlett, Germantown school leaders see more students returning soon
Germantown Municipal Schools District Superintendent Jason Manuel and Bartlett City Schools Superintendent David Stephens talked on “Behind The Headlines” about changing local health department requirements that require students in schools to wear masks and be 6 feet apart at all times.
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Metro First batch of absentee ballots in the mail
The Election Commission is getting 500 requests a day for the mail-in ballots in Shelby County ahead of the Nov. 3 election day.
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City of Memphis MLGW board won’t meet with City Council over stalled look at TVA exit
Attorneys for the utility board warned against a joint meeting with City Council members the day after the council rejected a contract to move ahead with a look at replacing TVA as MLGW’s electric power supplier.
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City of Memphis City Council Scorecard: MLGW, TVA and the GDS contract
Here is how the city council voted Tuesday on the GDS contract — a critical juncture in considering whether MLGW should leave TVA. And a few possible next moves including MLGW doing the consulting work in house or a move to reconsider at the council in two weeks.
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City of Memphis City Council rejects MLGW consultant contract
Memphis City Council members have rejected a Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division contract with a power industry consultant to explore what it would take for the utility to leave the Tennessee Valley Authority. The vote stops the two-year old process, at least for now. The MLGW board could have a response Wednesday morning at its regular meeting.
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City of Memphis Summer Avenue rezoning process for church preservation gets started
The resolution approved Tuesday by the Memphis City Council for two areas along Summer is designed to make it more difficult to demolish a set of four churches for other kinds of development. It’s similar to a recent rezoning of part of Lamar Avenue but with a slightly different motivation.
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City of Memphis Homicide record and MLGW-TVA top City Council agenda
The council discussion of the record number of homicides so far this year could venture into past discussions of police reform. The City Council also discusses a rezoning of Summer Avenue to preserve four churches along the busy thoroughfare after one was about to be demolished.
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State Government Sexton defines public health experts as ‘bureaucrats’
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton talked about his plan to strip away the autonomy of the Shelby County Health Department during a visit Monday to the county. He says public health officials should advise mayors, who would make the ultimate decision on pandemic and other health-related measures.
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Metro Absentee ballots set to go out
The first absentee ballots will be in the mail to Shelby County voters Wednesday, Oct. 7, according to the Shelby County Election Commission.
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Podcast
City of MemphisGibson outlines ‘front-loaded’ redevelopment plan for South Memphis
Business leader and developer J.W. Gibson talks about the South Memphis TIF taking in Soulsville, LeMoyne-Owen College and the old Metro Plaza on The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast.
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Elections Ballot Basics: Shelby County voters by the numbers
Monday afternoon is the deadline to register to vote in the presidential general election if you aren’t already registered. Here is a look at the demographics of the Shelby County voter base.
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Elections First balloting in presidential election begins this week
Voter registration drives are busy on the last weekend before the registration deadline. But more than 80% of Shelby County’s voting age population is already registered. The tale of the 2020 presidential election in Shelby County will be told by the voters on the rolls who show up.
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Shelby County Wright completes isolation period after testing positive for COVID
Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright said Friday he’d recently tested positive for the coronavirus and had just completed an isolation period. His wife was the only person exposed and has since tested negative for the virus.
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Video
ArlingtonCollierville, Arlington school leaders review summer of pandemic changes
The Arlington and Collierville school systems are using a similar mix of hybrid online and in person classes along with virtual options for elementary school students. The superintendents of the two suburban systems talked on “Behind The Headlines” about prospects for more change.
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Shelby County County Commission Scorecard: 2nd Reading of Police Reform Measures
The set of four ordinances cleared second reading this week on the Shelby County Commission with some shifts in votes and declarations since first reading. The third and final vote is in two weeks.
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September 2020
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Shelby County County Commission Scorecard: Voting machines, board of health and no more freeze
The County Commission Scorecard sorts out a quartet of items from this week’s session — some that have been on the commission’s plate for some time.
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Metro County health board approved
Shelby County Commissioners have approved a resolution creating a county board of health. -
Metro Shelby County hiring freeze ends
Under a compromise, Mayor Lee Harris and other county leaders will be allowed to fill positions in their budgets after a committee review.
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Shelby County County police reform measures move to final vote
A set of four ordinances affecting the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and the county corrections division advanced through second reading Monday, Sept. 28, at the Shelby County Commission. And the use of electric shields by deputies at a Downtown demonstration last week was part of the commission’s discussion. Final votes are scheduled for Oct. 12.
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Elections Funding for ballot delayed, could mean long November vote count
Shelby County commissioners put off a vote Monday, Sept. 28, on $5.8 million to buy a new voting system, a move that election officials say could mean it will take days to count all the votes in the presidential general election.
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