Ursula Madden leaves City Hall for BlueOval City
Madden has been with Mayor Jim Strickland since he took office in 2016. She leaves City Hall next week to work with Ford’s BlueOval City joint venture.
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 3661 articles by Bill Dries :
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February 2024
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City of Memphis -
City of Memphis City Council moves up final vote on health insurance coverage to Feb. 20
In other action Tuesday, the council approved the reappointment of Robert Knecht as the city’s public-works director.
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Arts & Culture Withers Gallery joins Civil Rights Trail, Beale Street’s future explored
The archive of 60 years of Ernest Withers’ photographs joins the national set of historic places as the Beale Street entertainment district marks 10 years of operation and management by the Downtown Memphis Commission.
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City of Memphis City Council nears end of mayor’s appointees, delays health insurance vote
The City Council has a few more votes on Mayor Paul Young’s remaining appointees to his leadership team and some questions on the interim status of Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis.
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Elections Corey Strong is back to challenge Steve Cohen in August primary
The former local Democratic Party chairman announced his bid for Congress ahead of the Monday, Feb. 5, opening of the period to check out petitions to get on the Aug. 1 state and federal primaries ballot.
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Elections August ballot contenders begin checking out petitions as early voting nears
Tennessee Republican Party chairman Scott Golden talks in an “On The Record” podcast about the presidential primaries and general election races.
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Shelby County County Commission to tackle DA funding, extending solar farm moratorium
The commission may put off immediate funding for the prosecutors office until budget season. Meanwhile, commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. continues to threaten legal action against other commissioners — the second time in less than a week.
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Behind The Headlines Nonprofit leaders criticize Chamber’s call for help against crime
Leaders of two local nonprofits say on “Behind The Headlines” that business leaders are wrong in their call to the state to enact changes to bail reform and fund tourism safety measures to the tune of $50 million.
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City of Memphis Mack Weaver becomes Memphis in May CEO
Weaver has been with the festival for 25 years, most recently as chief financial officer. The MIM board announced the decision Thursday, Feb. 1, as longtime president and CEO Jim Holt officially retires.
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January 2024
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City of Memphis Gary Rosenfeld retires as MATA CEO
Rosenfeld’s retirement is effective immediately, with the MATA board announcing deputy CEO Bacarra Mauldin starts as interim CEO Thursday, Feb. 1. Rosenfeld has led the city’s bus system since January 2017.
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City of MemphisCity Council controversial health care proposal, explained
The City Council votes Tuesday, Feb. 6, on extending the city’s health insurance coverage for council members who serve two terms. The calculations are complex and the authority for such a move is controversial.
Related content:
Opinion: Council health care proposal ‘is as ludicrous as it is ... offensive’
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Shelby County New county real estate department vote delayed
The County Commission is considering switching the Shelby County Land Bank into a Shelby County Real Estate Department and giving the new office additional responsibilities.
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Shelby County Ford hints at possible commission recall
Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. said Monday, Jan. 29, that he plans to ask local election officials how to recall another county commissioner.
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Shelby County Commission approves juvenile court ‘reporting center’ for first-time offenders
Children selected for the center will be awaiting juvenile court decisions or adjudications of their cases; the minors will come in groups of 16, with six cohorts a year at the facility. The County Commission also approved a Citizen Law Enforcement Review Committee.
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Shelby County County Commission makes up for meetings lost to weather
Topping the commission agenda Monday, Jan. 29, are final votes on a review board to hear complaints of misconduct by Sheriff’s deputies and deputy jailers as well as changing the county Land Bank to a “real estate department.”
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City of MemphisWhat MPD Chief Davis’ interim status means
Memphis Police Department Chief C.J. Davis has gone from reappointment to interim status in a temporary compromise that is new ground in what is normally a smooth confirmation process before the City Council.
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Shelby County County budget retreat: missing figures, job vacancies and ‘gobbledygook’
Shelby County commissioners and about 40 other people including county finance and other division leaders met at Shelby Farms ahead of Mayor Lee Harris’ budget proposal.
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Shelby County Federal court ruling recalls tumult over expired COVID-19 vaccines
Judy Martin retired from the health department in 2020 after more than 1,500 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine expired; her lawsuit alleged Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris damaged her reputation with a social media post.
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City of Memphis Mayor Paul Young vetoes pay referendum, city council overrides
The referendum, which would allow the Memphis City Council to set its own pay and that of city division directors, will remain on the August 2024 ballot for city voters to decide.
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Council confirms 9 municipal chiefs, but Public Works on hold
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City of Memphis Council confirms 9 municipal chiefs, but Public Works on hold
The nine directors and city chiefs were approved without a single no vote Tuesday. Public Works director Robert Knecht’s reappointment drew some criticism from council members, prompting a two-week delay.
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City of Memphis MPD chief’s reappointment on hold at Mayor Young’s request
Memphis Police Department Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis would continue to serve in an interim capacity.
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City of Memphis Davis’ tenure as police chief faces critical City Council vote
MPD Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis was one vote short in a council test vote two weeks ago. The council also expects an update on winter storm recovery effort by MLGW during Tuesday, Jan. 23, committee sessions.
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Behind The Headlines Northside Square developers take on barriers to affordable housing
Roshun Austin and Archie Willis III of the Klondike Partners development group talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the financial hoops the adaptive reuse of Northside High School has had to jump through.
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City of Memphis Memphis Tourism buys Memphis in May HQ
The $1.5 million sale expands office space for Memphis Tourism, which keeps its office just 120 feet away and allows Memphis in May to remain in its headquarters after a year of big changes in the festival.
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Shelby County Young Griffin is new county deputy chief administrative officer
Dorcas Young Griffin will remain in an interim role as director of the county’s community services division in the move up to deputy chief administrative officer.
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