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.
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 3977 articles by Bill Dries :
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September 2024
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Public Safety -
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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City of Memphis Chancellor sets hearing date for Memphis gun-control case
The Memphis City Council’s lawsuit to vote for citywide gun-control measures in November pushes on as the September deadline for the ballot approaches.
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Visual Arts Iconic Overton Park landmark starts major renovation
A midcentury building in Midtown is undergoing a transformation to become the new gallery and studio space for one Memphis museum.
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August 2024
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MetroMemphis v. Tennessee: A Republican majority meets a Democratic one
How do groups who disagree work together? They go to court, if the lawsuit filed by the City Council against the Election Commission about not including a gun-control referendum on the ballot is any indication.
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City of Memphis20-year-old case could impact gun control legal battle
The current path of the legal dispute over a multi-part city ballot referendum on gun control is expected to hinge on the outcome of the payroll tax ballot question’s 2004 controversy.
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City of Memphis Mayor Young calls gun control referendum futile
He said the city council’s lawsuit to get the referendum on the ballot could hurt efforts to work with Republican leaders of the legislature.
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Memphis City Council sues Election Commission over gun-control vote
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City of Memphis Memphis City Council sues Election Commission over gun-control vote
“We won’t back down and d--n sure won’t be bullied,” Memphis City Council Chair JB Smiley Jr. said, as council members announced the lawsuit.
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Elections Tami Sawyer takes oath as General Sessions Court clerk
The former county commissioner and a set of 15 appointed staff members formally take office Sept. 1 in the office that administers the day-to-day business of the largest court in the state.
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