Metro
1968, 1978 and 2020: National Guard looms large in city’s history
The 1968 deployment of troops to Memphis during the sanitation workers strike stands out in the city’s history. But there have been other guard deployments in the city since.
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 4089 articles by Bill Dries :
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October 2025
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Metro Senate Judiciary, City Council hear different versions of crime task force work
The U.S. Justice Department wants to put as many of the charges stemming from the Memphis Safe Task Force surge through the federal system, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said this week.
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Shelby County Lowery wants a ‘change in culture,’ Pearson gears up fundraising, and Republicans want Sawyer to resign
Also in the political roundup: Congressional contender Justin J. Pearson campaigns. And General Sessions Court Clerk Tami Sawyer is asked to resign over a recorded courthouse confrontation.
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Real EstateArchitectural marvel in Frayser is up for sale
For the past eight years, Dana Gabrion says she has fostered the iconic Bauhaus structure on Highway 51 in Frayser. Now, she’s searching for someone to “take it to its fullest potential.”
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Behind The Headlines County commissioners split on whether to fight Harris’ veto
Shelby County Lee Harris’ veto of a resolution to move school board elections and the National Guard coming to town were hot topics on “Behind the Headlines.”
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City of Memphis City completes public-housing redevelopment after 10 years
City of Memphis leaders marked the opening of the sixth and final phase of South City, the 712-unit mixed income conversion of what was once the Foote Homes public-housing development.
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Metro Pearson challenges Cohen for US House
State Rep. Justin J. Pearson said he will challenge U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen in the 2026 Democratic primary. Pearson once worked for Cohen as a intern.
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Metro Former US attorney returns to Western District of Tennessee
The party-line vote included yes votes by U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty of Tennessee.
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City of Memphis City Council calls for meeting to rethink Regional One plan
The council passed a unanimous, but nonbinding, resolution asking for Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris to reconsider the current $1.9 billion plan.
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Shelby County County Commission approves fix for cash-flow crunch
Commissioners also began to talk Monday, Oct. 6, about the county’s other financial problem that prompted the Tennessee comptroller to bar approval of any new bonds for the next year.
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City of Memphis MPD to present crime numbers
MPD’s presentation to the Memphis City Council comes after the first week of a state and federal anti-crime surge in the city.
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Metro Michael Dunavant’s nomination for US attorney goes to Senate vote
Dunavant is part of a list of 108 nominations by President Donald Trump to be voted on Monday, Oct. 6, by the full Senate on the list as opposed to votes on individual nominees.
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City of MemphisMemphis mayor vows to ‘remain at the table’ as law enforcement makes its way into city
Mayor Paul Young made comments after a week that saw aggressive rhetoric about “unleashed” law enforcement. The same surge of state and federal law enforcement agencies is an issue in the race for Shelby County mayor.
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Health CareRegional One focuses on hospital while campus rebuild faces headwinds
When Regional One Health leaders and county elected officials marked the naming of the teams that will start design work on the new county-owned hospital this past week, some of the dollar figures had changed.
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Metro Bondi in Memphis: Trump wants ‘cops to be cops again’
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee met with local, state and federal law enforcement in Shelby Farms Park yesterday. The visit was the first presence by federal leaders in the city since the task force was formed in September.
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Metro How Tennessee’s US senators voted on the way to a federal shutdown
The D.C. Scorecard tracks the votes and rhetoric about the two bills that led to the start of Wednesday’s federal government shutdown.
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Shelby CountyAs federal task force arrives, Republicans focus ire on Steve Mulroy
The stark partisan lens that many Republicans have brought to President Trump’s crime-fighting efforts was on display during the Tuesday Senate hearing where state Sen. Brent Taylor spoke.
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September 2025
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City of Memphis The political life and times of Myron Lowery
Former Memphis City Council member Myron Lowery, who died Sunday, was also interim Memphis mayor and City Court Clerk during 40 years in the rough and tumble of local politics.
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MetroThe politics of the coming National Guard deployment
Here’s a look at the still-moving political developments in the federal intervention into Memphis’ crime problem.
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Metro March against guard deployment targets ‘occupation’ as well as Trump and Lee
A protest in Downtown Memphis was one of eight marches across the state decrying the coming National Guard deployment in Memphis.
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Downtown ‘Flash drought’ returns to Mississippi River at Memphis
The rain this week boosted the Mississippi River’s level at Memphis. But that is likely to change and return to the drought level driven by a dry August in the Ohio River Valley.
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Behind The Headlines Why aren’t there more starter homes in Memphis?
“Right now we’re at a point where the cost of constructing housing is so high,” the City of Memphis’ chief of infrastructure and development said.
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State Government Tennessee Supreme Court justice from Memphis to retire
Holly Kirby served as chief justice of the Tennessee Supreme Court for three of her 12 years on the state’s high court.
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City of Memphis City Council is on board with free MATA bus ride trial period
The Memphis City Council is asking MATA to figure out the details of a month-long trial run at no fares and reports on the impact it has on ridership.
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City of Memphis City Council votes down National Guard resolution
The resolution opposing the guard deployment as part of a larger anti-crime initiative by the Trump administration was defeated on a tie vote.
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