County Commission takes final vote on county real estate department
The commission also considers a study of wages paid by economic development projects that get property tax abatements as incentives at its Monday, Oct. 30, meeting.
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 3972 articles by Bill Dries :
-
October 2023
-
Shelby County -
Behind The Headlines Behind ‘Community Conversations’ on crime and public safety
Beverly and Howard Robertson talk on “Behind The Headlines” about what they heard about crime from focus groups across the city as part of The Daily Memphian’s “Community Conversations” series.
Related content:
Memphis is in a ‘crime crisis,’ focus group participants say
Who’s responsible for reducing crime? For some, the onus is on the mayor
Like a weed, crime needs to be addressed at the root
‘Not willing to give up:’ What focus group participants said about crime
-
Elections Ballot Basics: Early voting is Oct. 27-Nov. 11
Here are the voting basics for the three Memphis City Council runoff elections during the early voting period that begins Friday, Oct. 27.
-
Elections Early voting opens for city council runoffs
Early voting in three city council districts runs Oct. 27-Nov. 11. Runoff Election Day is Nov. 16.
Related story:
-
City of Memphis Ricky Wilkins, passionate advocate for Black political unity, dies at 58
The attorney, congressional contender and former chairman of the Memphis Housing Authority Board died last week when his brain cancer returned. Wilkins charted a political course that called for greater Black political unity in recent years.
-
Shelby County D.C. Scorecard: Rep. Kustoff backs new speaker of the US House
The Daily Memphian’s D.C. Scorecard tracks the votes of the city’s two representative in the U.S. House as a new speaker was chosen Wednesday, Oct. 25.
-
City of Memphis Comcast clashes with City Council, rival company in broadband discussion
The council also moved closer to final votes next month on two ballot questions for next year that would change city elections, approved extra funding for the Cobblestones river landing restoration and was told it will take the National Ornamental Metal Museum longer for its renovation of Rust Hall in Overton Park.
-
City of Memphis City Council weighs election changes, including partisan primaries
Council members JB Smiley Jr. and Chase Carlisle want the council to choose either a return of the runoff provision or allowing partisan primary elections. Both referendum ordinances are up Tuesday, Oct. 24, for the second of three readings.
Related story:
-
Behind The Headlines Chase Carlisle says Memphis needs more state money for stadiums
City council members Chase Carlisle and JB Smiley Jr. on “Behind The Headlines” say they are ready for a more assertive city council in the new term that begins in January as well as a more collaborative mayor.
-
City of Memphis Mayor-elect taps former U of M prez, former MPD director to transition team
The 28 people named Wednesday, Oct. 18, will lead a team of more than 85 in making recommendations between now and Jan. 1, 2024, when Paul Young takes office as the mayor of Memphis.
-
Premium
ElectionsElection certification total adds 31 provisional ballots
The increase reflected in certified vote totals approved by the Shelby County Election Commission did not change the outcome of any of the races on the Oct. 5 city ballot. The commission also approved early voting locations and hours for the Nov. 16 runoffs in three city council districts.
-
Elections Memphis election results certified; council candidate says too many ‘red flags’
The Shelby County Election Commission may take a closer look at its procedures after a poll inspector’s car was broken into the day before election day. The commission voted unanimously Monday, Oct. 16, to certify the election results.
-
Shelby County Shelby County Commission moves closer to replacing land bank
A plan to replace the Land Bank with a county government Real Estate Division moved ahead on the second of three votes. The commission also delayed revisiting a link between EDGE board incentives and wages.
-
Shelby County Shelby County Commission to revisit linking wages to EDGE incentives
Shelby County commissioners kick off a new effort Monday, Oct. 16, to require a certain level of pay for companies getting property-tax incentives from the Economic Development Growth Engine.
-
Music History of Downtown music festivals holds plenty of off-stage drama
The music festival that began as an off-shoot of the Memphis In May International Festival 46 years ago has at times had a turbulent history as it has grown into a major attraction.
Related story:
Mempho producing a new music festival in Tom Lee Park in May
-
Arts & Culture Mempho producing a new music festival in Tom Lee Park in May
The group that started the Mempho festival is behind the effort and in recent years has branched out to booking a variety of other music events beyond the festival.
-
Music Beale Street Music Festival ‘paused,’ barbecue contest moves to Liberty Park
Memphis in May confirmed in a Thursday, Oct. 12, press release that, at least for next year, the music festival would be “paused” and the barbecue fest would move to Liberty Park.
-
City of Memphis Memphis City Council dives in to Smart City fiber-optic proposal
Opposition to the plan for a fiber optic network at 1 gigabyte surfaced from Comcast in council committee sessions Tuesday, Oct. 10.
Related story:
Memphis City Council introduces new referendums for 2024 election
-
City of Memphis Memphis City Council introduces new referendums for 2024 election
At the first city council meeting since the Oct. 5 Memphis elections, council members advanced two ballot questions for 2024 that could change future city elections if approved by voters.
-
On the Record A second look at city election results, council runoffs and next political steps
The Daily Memphian political reporters Sam Hardiman and Bill Dries go over some notes on the 2023 city elections and what the unofficial results mean in an “On The Record” podcast.
-
City of Memphis Post election council session discusses runoffs and primaries, broadband
Some of the newly elected city council members will likely be at the Tuesday, Oct. 9, council session to prepare for taking office January 1. The current council is scheduled to take first votes on two referendums that would change future city elections if approved by city voters.
-
Metro D.C. Scorecard: War in Gaza
The Daily Memphian’s D.C. Scorecard finds bipartisan support for Israel among the city’s representatives in the Capitol but disagreement on what if any role the U.S. unfreezing Iranian assets may have played Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.
-
Behind The Headlines Inside the unofficial vote tallies, mandates, margins and 2024 referendums
A reporters’ roundtable on WKNO-TV’s “Behind The Headlines” recaps the 2023 Memphis election result. Meanwhile, the next campaigns to come in the new year will include referendums that could change city elections.
Related stories:
Calkins: A new mayor and a new dog, too? Things are looking up!
Sanford: Young’s mayoral victory signals clear generational change
The runoff what-if and other takeaways from election night
On The Ballot: Memphis election recap, results and runoffs
With Young headed to mayor’s office, DMC looks to new CEO search
-
Music International firm hired to measure Memphis music’s economic impact
Part of Sound Diplomacy’s work over the next year will include an online map of the city’s “music ecosystem,” including teachers, school programs, church choirs, venues, festivals and music publishing.
-
Free access
ElectionsSeven City Council incumbents reelected; eighth heads for runoff
Of the eight council incumbents seeking re-election, Michalyn Easter-Thomas appeared headed to a Nov. 16 runoff with challenger Jimmy Hassan in District 7.
-