Southwest Memphis center reopens, re-anchoring community
The Riverview Community Center got a $2.3 million renovation that includes more natural light in the gym and rooms for exercise, games and computers along with a new exterior.
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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May 2024
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City of Memphis -
City of Memphis City Councilwoman resigns parks job amid ethics complaint
Amid an ethics complaint into her employment, Memphis City Councilwoman Michalyn Easter-Thomas has resigned from her job at Memphis River Parks Partnership.
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Shelby County County Commissioners add $10.7M for education, homelessness and more
Most of the amendments to the budget approved in committees would be funded out of the county’s general fund and throw Mayor Lee Harris’ proposal out of balance if the full commission approves them.
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Metro Senators and Congressmen react to Trump conviction
The city’s two U.S. senators and two congressmen had very different reactions to the former president’s conviction Thursday, May 30, in New York on all counts of falsifying business records.
Related content:
New York jury finds Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts
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Update
Shelby CountyHalbert ouster trial set for August, move to suspend gets June hearing
A judge set a trial date for Wanda Halbert during the first court appearance in her ouster suit. She’ll also be back in court in June for a hearing on whether she should be suspended pending the outcome of the August trial.
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June 2024
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Metro Political Roundup: Pearson’s first regular election; Taylor on Trump; McKinney opens school board campaign
Justin J. Pearson opens his third campaign for the state House in a year and a half. State Senator Brent Taylor reacts to the Trump conviction, and Natalie McKinney opens her challenge of MSCS board chairman Althea Greene.
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Shelby County County Commission has several hitches on way to ending budget season
The Shelby County Commission is unlikely to wrap up its budget season Monday, June 3, despite having an agenda with final votes scheduled on the budget and the property tax rate.
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Shelby County Commission votes down call for mediation in juvenile detention center dispute
Commissioner Mick Wright said the sheriff and Juvenile Court judge need to talk about who will run the juvenile detention center. But his nonbinding resolution suggesting arbitration got voted down Monday.
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City of Memphis City Council starts to adjust budget, whittling down 75-cent tax hike
The council will take a final vote on increasing the solid-waste fee by nearly $7 a month — and it will vote on management for four Memphis museums, including the Pink Palace.
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Shelby County County Commission postpones budget vote, says Regional One, new schools may have to wait
The County Commission delayed final votes Monday on every part of the budget process including setting the tax rate. Several commissioners are saying the three big capital projects in the budget might have to be prioritized.
Related story:
Commission votes down call for mediation in juvenile detention center dispute
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City of Memphis City Council delays budget; moves ahead on Crosstown Mound, museums
In addition to delaying the budget, Memphis City Council approved the sale of the Crosstown Mound. And it approved a management agreement for four city museums.
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South Memphis Leaders, lawmakers applaud xAI plans for Memphis as ‘historic’
Reaction to word of an AI supercomputer coming to southwest Memphis drew bipartisan support from elected and other officials in the city and the region.
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On the RecordShelby County could fund 6% raises by cutting sheriff’s office position
Shelby County Budget Director Michael Thompson talks about the 2024 budget season — and the savings found in vacant county positions — on The Daily Memphian’s “On The Record” podcast.
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DowntownConstruction begins on Tom Lee Park’s boardwalk
The flyway is a boardwalk that will lead to a view of the Mississippi River from an overlook where Tom Lee Park becomes Ashburn-Coppock Park.
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Behind The Headlines What we don’t know about xAI, what we know about Elon Musk and the space between the two
The known and unknown about Elon Musk’s xAI supercomputer in Southwest Memphis dominated the conversation in a reporters roundtable on “Behind The Headlines.”
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Shelby CountyPolitical Roundup: Gov. Kristi Noem heads to Memphis, xAI and more
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is coming for the GOP’s Lincoln Day Gala. She was booked when it looked like she might be Donald Trump’s running mate, but much changed between the booking and the announcement.
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Shelby CountyState Supreme Court rules against Henri Brooks in adoption scandal suit
The Shelby County commissioner sued the state after learning, at age 72, that she was among the children adopted through the old Tennessee Children’s Home Society led by Georgia Tann.
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City of Memphis Election on gun control in Memphis delayed to November
The five ballot questions to go on the Aug. 1 ballot didn’t make the deadline for public notice. There was no City Council vote to move them to November.
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City of Memphis City Council discussion on MATA red ink gets muted
Last month, MATA acknowledged it has a $60 million deficit. A City Councilwoman tried to talk specifics, but the discussion was abruptly halted after the head of the council staff talked with her privately during a public meeting.
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City of Memphis City budget season moves to amendments
City Council budget committee chairman Chase Carlisle plans to push for votes on proposed amendments in a Wednesday, June 12, committee session. The fiscal year begins July 1. Final budget votes by are scheduled for June 25.
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City of Memphis No decision yet on whether City Council will campaign for charter amendments, chairman says
Now that five city charter referendums have moved to the November ballot, the Memphis City Council will probably consider whether it wants to spend city money on a campaign for the set of five proposals.
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State Government Gov. Lee says state not part of Memphis’ pursuit of xAI
The governor also discussed education after the passage of the third-grade retention law during a Wednesday, June 12, visit to Winchester Elementary School’s summer-learning academy.
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South Memphis ‘It’s about transforming lives,’ mayor says, as he cuts ribbon on latest South City addition
The ribbon-cutting Thursday, June 13, of a new senior-citizen apartment building at the former Foote Homes was also a look back at the longer timeline of the city’s move to mixed-income communities.
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Elections County voter registration numbers up, as early voting approaches
Shelby County Elections Administrator Linda Phillips talks on the “On The Record” podcast about the upcoming August elections and voter turnout.
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City of MemphisHere’s what’s going on with MATA’s gaping deficit
Though MATA is expected to have a shortfall for the second year in a row, local leaders say bus service must continue to run.
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