County Commission approves $10M for jail repair
Commissioners and county administration found $10 million of the $16.4 million Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner said he needed, and said the rest will have to be paid out of the sheriff’s budget.
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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September 2024
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Shelby County -
City of Memphis Traffic cameras, softball fields and big dollar figures on City Council agenda
The council will review Tuesday, Sept. 24, a camera system for police to respond to traffic tie-ups and crimes in real-time as well as a plan for a family shelter on the old Manassas High School site.
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MetroPolitical Roundup: Friction surfaces among local Democrats
Also in this roundup: U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn writes op-ed for right-wing media outlet accused of conspiring with Russian state media and accused of making untrue statements; how Tennessee’s congressional delegation voted on the spending bill.
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City of Memphis County Commission reviews funding source for emergency jail repairs
Shelby County Commissioners will also vote at their Monday, Sept. 23, meeting on a consulting contract to assist with the master plan for the city’s hip-hop museum.
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Elections State won’t appeal ‘Memphis’ mistake,’ Tenn. attorney general says
“These ballot questions are a fraud on the voters of Memphis,” General Jonathan Skrmetti said in a statement his office released about its decision to not challenge a court’s ruling allowing the gun-control referendum to continue.
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Behind The HeadlinesSmiley: Gun-control referendum will be on November ballot
On “Behind the Headlines,” Memphis City Council Chairman JB Smiley Jr. said the body would likely sue if the Tennessee Legislature attempted to withhold sales-tax revenue from the city.
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ElectionsMemphis Mayor Young, Tennessee Gov. Lee not happy with gun-control referendum
Mayor Young says he still thinks the referendum is not the best approach, but told The Daily Memphian he understands the sentiment. Gov. Lee says the referendum is about finding a way to “circumvent the law.”
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Public Safety Following Senate confirmation, Ritz resigns as U.S. Attorney
Ritz’s resignation follows his confirmation by the U.S. Senate Monday, Sept. 16, as a federal appeals court judge.
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City of Memphis Young talks MATA, crime, consultants at One Memphis forum
Memphis Mayor Paul Young met with around 150 people at his latest town hall at the McWherter Senior Center in East Memphis.
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Shelby County Judge in Halbert ouster complaint weighs second dismissal
Circuit Court Judge Felicia Corbin-Johnson plans to make a ruling in writing “in a week or so” on whether to dismiss or hear the ouster complaint filed last month against Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert.
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Metro Memphis attorney Kevin Ritz confirmed to federal appeals court
U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz was confirmed as the newest judge on the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court Friday, Sept. 13, with both of Tennessee’s U.S. senators voting against him.
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ElectionsPolitical Roundup: Hagerty responds to Trump’s pet-eating claim, more
Tennessee’s abortion ban comes up in discussion of Memphis’ gun-control referendum; Sen. Blackburn uses old stats to talk crime, and remembering Jim Sasser, the former U.S. senator who was instrumental in bringing pandas to the zoo.
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Shelby County Judge denies motion that would’ve ousted Wanda Halbert from office
All sides are back in court Tuesday for a hearing on Halbert’s attorney’s motion to dismiss the case entirely.
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Metro State elected officials react to presidential debate
The city’s Democratic elected officials thought nominee Kamala Harris successfully baited nominee Donald Trump. Republicans thought Harris was changing her tune on key issues.
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Downtown Will the Mississippi River hit record low for third year?
As low water season begins, the Mississippi River is currently 4 feet higher than the record low of 2023.
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City of Memphis City Council gives thumbs down to two convenience stores with gas pumps
The Memphis City Council voted down or delayed all but one proposal in a meeting dominated by planning and development items.
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City of Memphis ‘Someone is lying’ at MATA, Memphis City Council member says
The transit authority’s latest check-in with City Council saw some skepticism that MATA’s financial troubles were a surprise to those running the city’s bus system.
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Shelby County County Commission delays vote to fund sheriff’s ‘emergency’ jail repairs
Sheriff Floyd Bonner wants $15.5 million for jail repairs that’s already planned for a mental health diversion center. The County Commission is sending the problem to committee for a possible Sept. 28 vote.
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Shelby County County Commission backs City Council lawsuit over gun control referendum
The vote was along party lines with a discussion before the vote that mirrors past discussions about “building relationships” in Nashville versus “standing up to bullies.”
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City of MemphisMATA, Midtown Whataburger on City Council agenda
The parks committee also takes up funding for repairs to the Mud Island river museum building.
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Shelby County County Commission to weigh in on Memphis gun control
Shelby County commissioners will vote on a move to support the Memphis City Council’s lawsuit against the Shelby County Election Commission. The body also considers allocating millions in proposed emergency jail repairs.
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ElectionsPolitical roundup: Cohen on Gaza, Kennedy Day and Reagan Day
Steve Cohen meets with diplomats from Middle East countries and said discussions could include the possibility of a peacekeeping force in Gaza. Meanwhile, local Republicans and Democrats hear about voting’s importance in a non-battleground state.
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Shelby County Sheriff asks for $15.5M for ‘emergency’ jail repairs
More than 630 jail doors as well as light fixtures, a walk-in freezer and access-control systems damaged in a power surge this past March are said to need to be repaired or replaced.
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Shelby County Second Halbert ouster suit gets hearing next week
All sides in the ouster lawsuit are due in Circuit Court next week to sort out various motions including one seeking to declare Wanda Halbert in default for not responding directly to the complaint.
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Elections Questions that made it on the Nov. 5 ballot so far
While Memphians might not vote on gun control, they will vote on runoffs for future mayor’s races, residency requirements for mayoral and City Council candidates and if the council can set its own pay.
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