Future of Metro Plaza redevelopment up in the air
The Shelby County Commission postponed indefinitely a plan to buy the Metro Shopping Plaza, which is on the northwest corner of E.H. Crump Boulevard and Danny Thomas Boulevard.
Bill Dries
Reporter
Bill Dries covers city and county government and politics. He is a native Memphian and has been a reporter for more than 40 years.
There are 3660 articles by Bill Dries :
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April 2023
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Shelby County -
City of Memphis Memphis City Council reaches now-or-never moment on redistricting
The city council meets Wednesday, April 5, in special session to take the first of three votes on changes to its district lines for the October elections.
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State Government Rep. Justin Pearson says move to expel is ‘persecution’
Rep. Justin Pearson spoke at the Tuesday, April 4, ceremony at the National Civil Rights Museum marking the 55th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
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Shelby County Shelby County Commission appoints Wanda Halbert’s special adviser
The Shelby County Commission chose former city council member Janet Hooks to be Wanda Halbert’s special adviser.
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State Government White House: Tennessee Republicans ‘want to play politics’ with school shootings
The White House reaction to the threatened expulsion of three Democratic state Representatives by the majority Republican leadership of the Tennessee House includes calls for an assault weapons ban among other measures.
Related stories:
Rep. Justin Pearson says move to expel is ‘persecution'
General Assembly introduces resolutions to expel Justin Pearson, two other Democrats
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City of Memphis Memphis City Council delays first redistricting vote despite deadline
The Shelby County Election commission has set a hard April 15 deadline for any new district lines to be submitted to it. The council now plans to take its final vote on new district lines in May.
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State GovernmentWhat happens now that Justin Pearson has been expelled from his House seat
The Shelby County Commission has filled two vacant seats in the Tennessee General Assembly from Shelby County in the past year — one following an expulsion and the other resulting from the death of a legislator. Here is how the process works.
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City of Memphis May 1 hearing date set for city mayor residency legal dispute
Attorneys for the Shelby County Election Commission also renewed a motion to dismiss the residency lawsuit. And a notice that the commission would enforce a five-year residency requirement has been removed from its website.
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Shelby County County Commission to weigh reinstating Pearson to state House
“I have heard from my constituents, people across the county, and state as well as Republicans and Democrats, so I will be voting to reappoint Justin Pearson,” said one member of the County Commission.
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City of Memphis Police reform ordinances reach critical final votes at the Memphis City Council
Under an amendment, the consolidated police reform ordinance on the Tuesday, April 11, agenda would stand alongside separate ordinances on the same general reforms.
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City of Memphis Renovated Cossitt Library reopens Tuesday
The long wait ends with more than 10,000 books, an upstairs performance space, digital studios for podcasts and a cafe.
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City of Memphis Solid waste fee hike possible for Memphis
City solid waste services are projected to be about $7 million in the red for the fiscal year that ends June 30.
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City of Memphis Liberty Park ground lease draws Cooper-Young business concerns
City Council members got their first look Tuesday, April 11, at the city’s ground lease with Capstone for the commercial and multi-family frontage along Central Avenue. The council votes on the 30-year lease in two weeks.
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City of Memphis City council approves ‘Driver Equality Act,’ concluding police reform votes
The council vote was chaotic as activists pushing for the passage of the measure complained about the council banning those who spoke at previous council sessions for using profanity.
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State Government Several hundred march to Shelby County Commission
The march from the National Civil Rights Museum to the county building comes ahead of the Wednesday, April 12, county commission vote to appoint Justin J. Pearson to his District 86 seat in the state House of Representatives.
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Shelby County Adviser says more locations, temporary workers can end County Clerk’s problems
The new special adviser to Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert says she has some “concrete ideas” about how to end lines outside the office locations.
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State Government Justin J. Pearson appointed to House seat in 7-0 vote
The commission voted to return Pearson to the District 86 state House seat at a special meeting Wednesday, April 12.
Related story:
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City of Memphis Paul Young still has the most money in 2023 Memphis mayor’s race
Mayoral contender Paul Young has the largest campaign war chest across the last six months of campaigning. He also raised the most money in campaign finance reports covering the first three months of 2023.
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Metro Steve Cohen sees the possible return of Democratic majority in US House
“I’ve got more influence than I’ve ever had,” said Steve Cohen, who says he will seek reelection in 2024.
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Behind The Headlines Watch: The fight over terms for a TVA exit
The leaders of the group “$450M For Memphis” talk on Behind The Headlines about their problems with the ongoing RFP process and why they are phasing out the group.
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City of Memphis Energy activists question how MLGW worded power switch proposals
The group “$450 Million For Memphis” says the bids from rival power suppliers should be redone to include proposals that are outside the basic requirements set up by MLGW management.
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Analysis
City of MemphisDraft report on MLGW-TVA relationship draws fire from all sides
The civic group calling for MLGW to cut ties with TVA says TVA's estimate this week of hundreds of millions of dollars in expenses in the switch is wrong. And it says the draft report's recommendation of local power generation by MLGW is wrong too.
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City of Memphis Possible MLGW split from TVA draws questions over the right question to ask
Two leaders of the civic group backing an end to TVA ties say on "Behind The Headlines" that they want to hear more about how much it would cost MLGW to go with another electric power supplier without having to generate its own power as well.
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Premium
City of MemphisNew civic group enters MLGW-TVA skirmish
"$450 Million for Memphis" wants Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division to end its ties with TVA and start the move with a specific look at how much it would cost to sign on with the MISO network, the best known competitor for the city-owned utility that is TVA's biggest customer.
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Premium
Shelby CountyNew Cordova fire house, Kerrville solar array top county commission agenda
The Shelby County Commission votes Monday, April 17, on a contract for a new county fire house in a part of Corova de-annexed by the city of Memphis in 2021.
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