Zoo parking lot reconfiguration begins
The parking lot is the first part of a broader plan to end overflow zoo parking on the Overton Park Greensward sometime next year and turn more than 17 acres of zoo land to the Overton Park Conservancy.
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 :
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July 2023
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City of Memphis -
City of Memphis Memphis City Council approves $22.6M in drainage, sewer projects
In addition to infrastructure, the council approved two more years on the Memphis Showboats contract and discussed a late-term reappointment to the MLGW board by outgoing Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland.
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City of Memphis City Council considers $22.6M in drainage, sewer improvements
The list of a dozen drainage and sewer projects come as the city is still repairing damage and restoring power lost in recent storms. The council also takes first votes Tuesday, July 25, on a pair of ballot questions for city voters in 2024.
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Elections Political Roundup: Bonner HQ opening draws protesters
Floyd Bonner responded to the protesters outside his headquarters and talked about changing state law if necessary to curb youth violence. Meanwhile, everyone’s talking about the field of 19 in the mayor’s race and its impact on who wins.
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Behind The Headlines Gibson says collaboration and compromise missing from city’s politics
Memphis mayoral contender J.W. Gibson talked on “Behind The Headlines” about crime, power outages, garbage pickup and the state of the city’s politics. The interview is the latest in a series of one-on-one conversations with contenders for mayor.
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Elections Memphis mayor’s field grows to 19 at filing deadline
Two council incumbents were effectively re-elected at the Thursday, July 20, deadline because they had no opposition. Two other council races drew fields of seven candidates.
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Elections Mayor’s race has 13 contenders as the October election filing deadline nears
As council contenders weigh their options, several races are filling up. Meanwhile, two former council members have filed their petitions to get back on the body and a third is considering it.
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Shelby County Wheel tax divide leads to stalemate in vote for county commission chairman
The wheel tax hike approved last month is a done deal. But the commission’s Democratic majority is still fractured over the decision.
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City of Memphis Political Roundup: Herenton opens HQ, Turner takes on Bonner and more
Also, Councilwoman Cheyenne Johnson calls off her campaign for a second term in favor of Janika White, a contender in last year’s Democratic primary for Shelby County District Attorney General.
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Shelby County County Commission will fill open MSCS board seat
Commissioners also elect leaders for the second year of their four-year term of office Monday. And the election of a chair and chair pro tempore could indicate what divisions remain among the commission’s Democratic majority after last month’s tumultuous wheel tax debate and vote.
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City of Memphis Jerri Green, Luke Hatler and Benji Smith among new faces in council races
Here’s a look at some of the newest names on the still-forming October Memphis election ballot. The deadline for candidates to get their names in the races for city council and mayor is noon Thursday.
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Behind The Headlines Camper says crime approach should be more than ‘tactical’
Mayoral contender Karen Camper says on “Behind The Headlines” the city’s public safety strategy is too focused on the “tactical” when it should include a longer-term approach to crime.
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Behind The Headlines Colvett says he would be ‘extraordinarily pro-development’ mayor if elected
Colvett said he would appoint a “housing director” if elected to move more Memphians toward homeownership.
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City of Memphis Paul Young tops Q2 fundraising in Memphis mayor’s race
Rival contender Floyd Bonner Jr. raised the second-highest amount but spent far less than Young, while J.W. Gibson topped the field in total spending.
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City of Memphis City Council approves August 2024 gun control referendum
Council members say they hope the question on city voters’ ballots will influence the Tennessee Legislature even if any of the measures would likely be challenge by the state if voters approve them.
Related story:
Police response time to priority calls down from 2022’s five-year high
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City of Memphis City Council to take final vote on 2024 gun-control referendum
The council also discusses two other ballot questions for next year including a residency requirement for city employees that reflects the state law to exempt police and firefighters from any requirement.
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Elections After last year’s try at DA, Janika White eyes council race
White finished second to Steve Mulroy in the May 2022 Democratic primary for Shelby County District Attorney General. Meanwhile, the official field for Memphis mayor stands at eight ahead of the July 20 qualifying deadline.
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Behind The Headlines State senator says change in bail guidelines more likely than ‘red flag’ law
State Senator Brent Taylor says he plans to change the state law on bail conditions. But on “Behind The Headlines” with Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo, Taylor said don’t look for major changes in gun laws in an August special session of the Legislature.
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North Memphis Hollywood splash pad marks fifth for Memphis Parks system
The splash pad opened Wednesday, July 5, to dozens of children in North Memphis putting it through its paces.
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Public Safety Strickland says juvenile curfew violation pilot program is underway
Strickland said children caught violating curfew are being detained at the Downtown precinct until a parent or guardian comes to pick them up. He also said the numbers of those detained are low.
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Premium
ElectionsPolitical Roundup: Summer strategies and council races take shape
The Political Roundup looks at campaigning in the summer heat, the most active council races and a growing field of possible contenders for Memphis mayor.
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Shelby County County Commission Scorecard: Resurrecting and passing the wheel-tax hike
The Shelby County Commission Scorecard follows the complex four-month path of the $25 wheel-tax hike, with a mix of the roll call votes and developments outside commission meetings that shaped the compromise.
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Premium
Shelby CountyWheel-tax compromise points to broader shift on County Commission
The $25 wheel-tax hike compromise approved by the Shelby County Commission broke a polite form of dysfunction on the body that could give way to a working majority crossing party lines on other issues.
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June 2023
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Shelby County Judge names special prosecutor to investigate Wanda Halbert
The Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office requested an outside prosecutor “due to the need to avoid a conflict of interest and any appearance of impropriety.”
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Shelby County County Commission gives final approval to $25 wheel-tax hike
The wheel-tax hike’s approval on a 9-4 vote ends the county’s budget season with the financing in place for three landmark capital projects.
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