Old Porter Junior High moves toward makeover
The old school building is undergoing a renovation to an early childhood center run by Porter-Leath, with a museum dealing with the rich history of the area to come in a later phase.
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 3909 articles by Bill Dries :
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October 2024
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South Memphis -
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Public SafetyHow have Memphis’ elected officials voted on state gun laws?
The Daily Memphian has compiled a review of the major pieces of gun-related legislation passed through the Tennessee Legislature since 2013.
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City of Memphis Gov. Bill Lee touts Tennessee funding for Memphis-Arkansas Bridge
Following a stroll down the narrow pedestrian walkway of the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge, Bill Lee and other elected leaders got a briefing Tuesday, Oct. 22, on plans for the $800 million bridge to be completed in 2030.
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Memphis-Arkansas Bridge’s political history goes back to Boss Crump
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City of Memphis Hickory Hill forum focuses on blight, absentee property owners
The Hickory Hill One Memphis forum is the seventh since Mayor Paul Young took office this past January.
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City of MemphisMemphis-Arkansas Bridge’s political history goes back to Boss Crump
Politics is nothing new when it comes to projects like “America’s River Crossing” in Downtown Memphis. The circa-1949 bridge it would replace saw plenty of it when it came time to consider its name.
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City of Memphis Meet Memphis’ 9 new MATA board members
People with backgrounds in finance, urban planning and “route optimization” were among those recently appointed to the reconfigured MATA board.
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City of Memphis Council approves next step in deal for Sheraton convention-center hotel
The Memphis City Council is also taking a look at the new building code that requires some schools buildings to have storm shelters to see if there are less expensive ways to meet the standard.
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City of Memphis New MATA board approved as city tries to avoid bus cuts
Mayor Paul Young told council members in a Tuesday, Oct. 15, committee discussion that the immediate task is to find short-term funding for MATA to avoid a set of bus route cuts and employee layoffs the old MATA board approved that take effect Nov. 3.
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City of Memphis Council gets first look at new MATA board
Mayor Paul Young says the board will not replace MATA leadership at least for now. Council members also expect Tuesday to consider a Frayser landfill expansion that was rejected seven years ago.
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Shelby CountyNew positions, pay raises in clerk’s office draw fire from county administration
The County Commission delayed action Monday on three of the four resolutions from Circuit Court Clerk Jamita Swearengen. But it advanced three ordinances on Juvenile Court conditions.
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Shelby County County Commission weighs Juvenile Court changes
A set of ordinances to change some practices at Juvenile Court are up for the first of three readings at the Monday, Oct. 14, County Commission meeting. The Circuit Court Clerk’s office is also seeking $674,000 in funding for more staff.
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Behind The Headlines Planned Parenthood leader says ‘stakes could not be higher’ on state’s abortion politics
Ashley Coffield talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the impact of the 2-year-old law and the political effort to flip seats in the Tennessee Legislature based on Republican votes on abortion access.
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Opinion: What happens in Nashville matters in Memphis, and it’s time we fight back
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State GovernmentPolitical Roundup: TN Republicans share misinformation after Helene
Also, all eyes are on the Gillespie vs. Huseth race, Tennessee Democrats get funding from DNC and remembering Winfield Dunn.
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Behind The Headlines Sheraton’s impact worth risk despite hotel’s volatile past, mayor says
The 39-year-old Sheraton hotel has a history of bond defaults, the first one a year after it opened.
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City of MemphisSteve Cohen asks for federal assistance in MATA ‘crisis’
Congressman Steve Cohen of Memphis says he is “disheartened” by the bus system’s “operational and fiscal crisis” after he helped secure $140 million in federal transit funding for MATA in recent years.
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Downtown Memphis Flyway construction offers rare river’s edge wilderness view
“This flyway provides (an) opportunity to get closer to the river, to see a natural habitat and to enjoy the quietness of this area of the park,” Memphis River Parks Partnership COO Art Davis said.
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City of Memphis City Council takes closer look at Sheraton purchase
Council members discuss the Sheraton convention center hotel deal in committees Tuesday, Oct. 1. They will also vote on new city-backed funding for the 100 N. Main mixed reuse project.
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City of Memphis Memphis City Council approves FedEx parking spaces, more
The Memphis City Council’s other-action items Tuesday, Oct. 1, included more money for affordable housing and more cameras.
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City of Memphis City Council approves alternate 100 N. Main bond funding in latest switch
The financing is a switch from another type of bond the city wanted to use but couldn’t to bridge a $10 million gap in the renovation and reuse of the city’s tallest building.
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September 2024
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Shelby County Judge in Halbert ouster case wants more information
Circuit Court Judge Felicia Corbin-Johnson wants briefs from both sides in the ouster attempt as she weighs a motion to dismiss it.
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Metro D.C. Scorecard: How city’s representatives voted on funding government
The Daily Memphian’s D.C. Scorecard tracks votes on two measure to continue temporarily federal spending into December — one that failed and the one that passed.
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MetroMud Island’s museum moves into steampunk ‘River of Time’
The old museum at Mud Island River Park is transitioning from a story about the Mississippi River to an immersive experience called “Baron Von Opperbean and the River of Time.”
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Behind The HeadlinesMarie Feagins outlines vision to transform MSCS
MSCS Superintendent Marie Feagins breaks down school closures and changes, including eliminating 600 vacant positions and reassigning those in other roles to decentralize the school system and refocus on what happens in the classroom.
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City of Memphis Memphis gets $9M for streetscape work near Graceland
The funding is for work on Elvis Presley Boulevard between Winchester and Craft roads, a stretch that takes in the segment of the state highway that borders Graceland and The Guest House at Graceland hotel.
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City of Memphis City Council burns Whataburger, gives RaceTrac green light
The Memphis City Council vetoed a fast-food restaurant development on Union Avenue, but allowed a hotel and townhomes to continue.
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