Halbert asserts independence in response to county mayor’s ultimatum
Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert says she has a back-up plan to move the clerk’s office now at Poplar Plaza to an old bank branch at Quince and Perkins.
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 3663 articles by Bill Dries :
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March 2023
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Shelby County -
City of Memphis City Council redistricting votes scheduled for April
An ad hoc group is expected to recommend several maps to the council with a first council vote scheduled for an April 5 special session. There is no guarantee the council will change the current district lines ahead of October city elections. And the ad hoc group isn’t of one mind on how to redraw the lines.
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ElectionsPolitical Roundup: Conventions, a mayor’s race reshuffle and residency notes
As the People’s Convention begins this weekend, local Republicans will decide if they’ll stick with the party’s current leader. Plus, two contenders for the local Democratic party head, more on the mayoral residency issue and who could be waiting in the wings.
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Shelby County Halbert could face ouster if she doesn’t move Poplar Plaza office
If Wanda Halbert does not move the Poplar Plaza office location, Mayor Harris could make the case that she is derelict in her duty.
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City of Memphis Fire chief pushes Memphians to sign up for city emergency alert system
The “Memphis Alerts” program was launched a month ago and is still building its base of users. It’s designed for emergencies and can go citywide or just to specific areas.
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City of Memphis Memphis mayoral residency referendum clears first reading
A charter amendment that would require candidates for Memphis mayor and City Council to live in the city at least a year before election day could be headed to voters in 2024.
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City of Memphis Party bus rules pass first checkpoint
Memphis City Council members advance an ordinance for party buses. Supporters of the ordinance cite a lack of regulations and public disturbance problems for Downtown patrons.
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Shelby County Regional One financing closer — but there’s a catch
A $350 million Regional One financing plan can move forward, but the county will need to get a committed funding match from either Tennessee, Mississippi or Arkansas.
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City of Memphis Party bus proposal to be reviewed by City Council
The ordinance would require a permit for the drivers of the “entertainment transportation vehicles.”
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Elections Memphis City Council eyes one-year residency requirement for mayor
The proposed ordinance comes up for council consideration as two contenders in the 2023 race for mayor have filed lawsuits over the current residency requirement.
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Shelby County Tyre Nichols’ death inspires new county timeline for use of force investigations
County commissioners approved the “Tyre Nichols Transparency in Policing Policy” resolution, delayed votes on two other police-reform ordinances, and approved TikTok use limits for county employees.
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Public SafetyA primer: How Shelby County Juvenile Court works
In this installment of “Minor Offenders, Major Offenses,” we answer some of the basic questions about Juvenile Court and its basic responsibilities. Because, despite it being a court of record, “there is little standardization in juvenile court size, case management procedures and court administrative practices” across the state.
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Public SafetyWhen the Justice Department came for Shelby County Juvenile Court
Much of the current framework of the Memphis and Shelby County Juvenile Court is the result of a 2012 agreement between Shelby County elected leaders and the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department.
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Shelby County Regional One, new schools plans face critical moment at county commission
A majority of the commission could greenlight a restructuring of the proposed capital budget County Mayor Lee Harris takes to the commission in April.
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City of Memphis City Council Scorecard: Not-so-final votes on Tyre Nichols ordinances
The Council Scorecard tracks final votes on a set of five ordinances with a vote one other one delayed.
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Behind The Headlines Behind The Headlines: The gap in juvenile justice
A discussion about juvenile justice reform on “Behind The Headlines,” months after reform candidates were elected district attorney general and juvenile court judge, finds a gap between juvenile detention and releasing juveniles to keep them out of the system.
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Elections Turner files second mayoral residency requirement challenge
Turner’s lawsuit is likely to be combined with a similar challenge of the five-year residency requirement filed Monday by Sheriff Floyd Bonner.
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Elections Political Roundup: Mayoral candidates discuss police director’s future at forum
Two contenders for Memphis mayor say they have already decided they will not keep Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis as Memphis Police director if they are elected.
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City of Memphis Preservation groups call for Council review of plans to keep Coliseum
The call comes as Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland has called for a $52-million, 10,000-seat soccer stadium to be built on the city-owned land where the Coliseum now stands.
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Elections Floyd Bonner Jr. contests residency requirement in Memphis mayor’s race
Bonner is seeking to stop enforcement of the city charter’s residency provision for candidates running for Memphis mayor.
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Shelby County County Commission Scorecard: Wanda Halbert’s adviser and reparations
The Daily Memphian’s County Commission Scorecard looks at the Feb. 22 commission meeting that was moved and covered two controversial topics, racial reparations and a special adviser for County Clerk Wanda Halbert.
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City of Memphis Strickland wants criminal data posted to court websites, not the city portal
Strickland says his call Friday for more public data about court decisions on bail and sentencing would be part of existing websites outside of the city government’s data hub.
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ElectionsThe city’s residency requirement to dominate the race for Memphis mayor
A line added to a page on the Shelby County Election Commission’s website the last day of February has turned this year’s race for Memphis mayor upside down.
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State Government State House District 86 special election outcome already decided
The special election to fill the vacancy for the state House seat held by the late Barbara Cooper was decided with the January primary. Democrat Justin J. Pearson is running unopposed on the Tuesday, March 14, ballot. He’s already serving in Nashville by appointment.
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On the Record Shelby County ‘green fleet’ goals will get more specific
As a final Shelby County Commission vote nears on a move toward a “greener” fleet of government vehicles, there are a lot of questions about the county administration’s timeline for meeting its goals.
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