‘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.
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 4043 articles by Bill Dries :
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September 2024
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City of Memphis -
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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Shelby County Wanda Halbert uses Donald Trump case as defense
“No law or rule that allows Shelby County to utilize taxpayer funds to circumvent the will of the people,” reads a memorandum defending Halbert from ouster. “The people voted for Ms. Halbert.”
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Shelby County Election Commission won’t add gun-control referendum in November
The Election Commission’s decision could set up a legal battle a day after the state’s Republican leadership came out against Memphis’ vote on gun control.
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Shelby County Mental health center, pay raises move forward at County Commission, but not without friction
Commissioners approved a design contract for the proposed mental health center on a second vote. The commission also redistributed the 6% pay raise budgeted in June.
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City of Memphis Carol Coletta leaving Memphis River Parks Partnership helm
Coletta’s tenure running the group that manages 6 miles of the city’s riverfront saw the $61 million redesign of Tom Lee Park and a push to better connect the riverfront to the rest of Downtown.
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State Government Local reaction to gun-control threat crosses party lines
State reps. John Gillespie and Justin J. Pearson were some of the Memphis-area legislators pushing for local gun-control measures on the Nov. 5 ballot after a threat from state Republican leadership.
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State Government Secretary of State won’t let Memphians vote on local gun control
“Common sense says local governments can’t override state law to give a 12-year-old a driver’s license, and they can’t override other state laws either,” Hargett said in a statement emailed to The Daily Memphian.
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TN Repubs threaten to withhold sales tax over Memphis gun votes
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Behind The Headlines County Commission leaders talk new schools, Regional One
The incoming and outgoing chairs of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners talked on “Behind The Headlines” about new Cordova and Frayser schools funding and rebuilding Regional One Health’s campus.
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Shelby County County Commission to weigh reworked pay-raise proposal
The commission meeting also marks the last for Miska Clay Bibbs as chairwoman of the body. Michael Whaley becomes chairman next month.
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ElectionsPolitical Roundup: Democrats rally; White-Nordstrom state House race, and a Whitehaven school district?
Democrats rallied in Memphis and three other cities across the state Saturday, Aug. 24, to kick off a get-out-the-vote effort for Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and other down ballot races in the Nov. 5 elections.
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