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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 :
Trustee Regina Newman has “unposted” inaccurate revenue figures from County Clerk Wanda Halbert. The revenue figures, including those for last year’s wheel-tax hike, are needed to build next year’s county budget.
Early voting in the presidential and General Sessions Court clerk primaries ends Feb. 27. Super Tuesday early voting in Shelby County was almost three times higher among Democrats four years ago than it is currently.
County Mayor Lee Harris has nominated Meggan Kiel to be the first county appointee on the board of the city bus system. But the MATA board hasn’t been expanded yet. County Commissioners balked at moving ahead without an agreement by the city to expand the board.
Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert sent a memo Monday, Feb. 26, blaming the bad revenue numbers from her office on the county’s bad system for reporting the financial numbers.Related story:
“The evidence of incompetence and willful neglect by management in the Shelby County Clerk’s Office is overwhelming,” Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower wrote in a letter to Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and the Shelby County Commission.
On Tuesday, Clerk Wanda Halbert submitted revised revenue reports to County Trustee Regina Newman, who said they were wrong. Meanwhile, a state audit team is due in Memphis to begin a review for the Tennessee comptroller.
The 12-day early voting period saw Democratic primary turnout drop to less than half what it was four years ago while Republican primary turnout was off by almost 1,500 from 2020.
If Memphis Mayor Paul Young had any doubts that crime is the most prevalent issue with Memphians, those doubts didn’t last long Tuesday, Feb. 27, at his first in a series of “One Memphis” town hall meetings.Related story:
The meeting at Gaisman Community Center focused on the Latino community in the area who complained that they are being targeted by criminals and ignored by police.
The city’s new director of Youth Services Brian Harris wants to see more after-school programs in communities as well as some different ways of handling the city’s annual summer jobs program.
Lizzette Reynolds, who discussed school vouchers, drew criticism. Other speakers included Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy, MPD Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis and Mayor Paul Young.
Two state senators, both from the Memphis area and both members of Tennessee’s Senate Judiciary Committee, agree on many aspects of the city’s crime problem even though they see different paths for solving it.
The new dollar thresholds for council oversight of contracts and pay come as the council considers a $200,000 annual salary for the utility’s new vice president of corporate communications.
The Super Tuesday set of 16 presidential state primary elections means polls are open Tuesday, March 5, in Shelby County. None of the presidential contenders have campaigned in the county ahead of election day. But there has been some action in the Democratic primary for Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk. Ballot Basics: How to vote on the Super Tuesday election dayRelated story:
Here is everything you need to know about voting in the Tennessee Presidential primary and the Shelby County primary for General Sessions Court clerk.
Former County Commissioner Tami Sawyer meets Republican Lisa Arnold in August in the general election race for General Sessions Court Clerk. The presidential primary results mirrored the state.
Council chairman JB Smiley Jr. is proposing lower dollar figures for contracts and pay contracts that must be voted on by the council after they are approved by MLGW’s board.Related content:
The lineup of the inaugural Riverbeat festival in Tom Lee Park this May features more than 50 acts and two music showcases on five stages.
An MLGW board member is coming with a resolution urging the Memphis City Council to put a city charter change on the ballot later this year that would expand the board to seven voting members. The two suburban appointees now on the board do not have voting power. The issue is a volatile one.
The 112-page report outlines numerous strategies for Mayor Paul Young’s four-year term of office, including several sets of crime strategies from ‘drones as first responders’ to cooperating with the Justice Department investigation of the MPD.
Less than 24 hours before what was expected to be a pointed question-and-answer session, Halbert emailed commissioners, saying she wouldn’t be able to attend and asking to put it off for a month.
Perception and fear have to be part of the conversation when political leaders are weighing solutions for Memphis’ crime problem, they say.
Plus, a look at primary vote totals for President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
Corrected revenue figures suggest last year’s wheel-tax hike is generating less money than originally expected, at the same time the cost of two new high schools has doubled.
The Junior BBQ League founded by Memphis in May barbecue grand champion Melissa Cookston is also coming to the rival barbecue contest in Tom Lee Park along with a barbecue boot camp.