Metro
The Making of a Hero: Who was Tom Lee?
A headstone in Mt. Carmel Cemetery shows Tom Lee was born Feb. 18, 1885, and died April 1, 1952. Between those two dates, Lee mostly lived in Memphis.
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 3895 articles by Bill Dries :
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May 2025
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Shelby County Political Roundup: Why Republicans want partisan school board primaries
The Shelby County Republican Party is hoping having partisan primaries in school board races will help them crawl back to relevancy in the Democratic-dominated county, even if they have little chance of winning some races.
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MetroThe Making of a Hero: 100 years ago, an engineers’ convention turned deadly
On May 8, 1925, about 100 years ago, a steamboat capsized in the Mississippi River — a disaster that forced dozens of men, women and children to fight for their life against the current until a brave Memphian, a veteran river worker, reached out to help.
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Behind The Headlines Mulroy said Brent Taylor’s latest move is ‘face-saving bit of window dressing’
“There never was a case for removal or even investigation in the first place, and you don’t have to take my word for that,” Shelby County DA Steve Mulroy said on WKNO-TV’s “Behind The Headlines.”
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Shelby County County GOP reverses course on school board races
The Shelby County Republican Party executive committee didn’t want partisan primaries in school board races two years ago, but Thursday’s vote went the other way.
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City of Memphis Clayborn Temple’s back wall collapses
The collapse complicates efforts to preserve some part of the historic church that went up in flames April 28.
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April 2025
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City of Memphis Clayborn Temple nonprofit leader said some of landmark may survive
Anasa Troutman, the leader of the nonprofit directing the restoration of Clayborn Temple, said the building may be considered a “complete loss” by the Memphis Fire Department, but she said she isn’t using the term.
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Downtown Clayborn fire investigation to be ‘thorough and detailed’
Firefighters will investigate the cause of the blaze but will also need to determine if any additional parts of the structure need to come down.
Related content:
Calkins: On Clayborn Temple’s final day, shaken Memphians came to pay their respects
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Shelby County JB Smiley Jr. touts ‘direct’ leadership style as he joins Shelby County mayor’s race
Memphis City Council member JB Smiley Jr. joins what could be a large field of contenders in the Democratic primary to succeed Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris.
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Elections Political Roundup: Shelby County Democrats stalled on chair, more
Local Democrats set a May 31 date to pick a chair, Patricia Possel is the newest Shelby County election commissioner and Congressman Steve Cohen says revoking student visas is causing problems on Memphis college campuses.
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City of Memphis Landmark Clayborn Temple total loss after pre-dawn fire
“If history teaches us anything, it’s this: Clayborn Temple will rise again, because its foundation was never merely physical. It was spiritual. It was communal. And that foundation cannot be burned,” said NCRM President Russ Wigginton.
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Shelby County Sheriff’s Office pegs ‘worst case’ cost of new jail
The multi-year dollar figure comes from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and would fundamentally alter the county’s annual capital budget now at $150 million a year for all capital projects.
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City of Memphis City Council takes another crack at ‘party houses’
Council Chair Ford Canale and Council member Philip Spinosa are working on a proposal they hope will not draw the attention of Airbnb lobbyists in Nashville who undid some of the regulations council members put in place in 2016.
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City of Memphis Memphis Zoo makes big plans as attendance dips
Although the capital and operating funds are separate, the new capital projects are expected to push attendance up, which raises more money for the zoo to operate.
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City of Memphis Downtown parking and liquor stores top City Council agenda
The council hears about a proposal to enforce standards for lighting and cleanliness of Downtown parking garages and votes on a move to extend the life of a temporary Downtown surface parking lot at Beale and Main streets.
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Shelby County County Commission weighs changes to embattled grant program
County Commissioner Britney Thornton said Wednesday the allegations against Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. shouldn’t be considered in deciding what, if any, changes should be made to the body’s grant program.
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City of Memphis Meet the City of Memphis’ new public safety adviser
Darren Goods is a veteran former Memphis police officer who, before his retirement, was part of the police brass, including leading several specialized units that focused on violent crime.
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Behind The Headlines Former DA wants to uncover ‘bottlenecks’ in Criminal Court system
Investigators behind a new criminal justice report talked about a way to change how cases move through the courts.
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City of Memphis Reconfigured Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium could bring back big concerts
The logistics of the concert business have changed dramatically since the city’s last stadium show 25 years ago, with more elaborate stages. The planned renovation announced last week would allow the biggest tours to again have a venue in Memphis.
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South Memphis Affordable new housing in Soulsville takes small step forward
Developers cut the ribbon Wednesday, April 16, on three new homes in Soulsville with plans for a total of 12. The Compass Circle developers aim to create affordable housing for first-time homebuyers.
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City of Memphis Cossitt Library marks 132 years on Memphis riverfront
Memphis Public Libraries marked the 1893 opening of the Cossitt on Saturday, April 12, with discussions of the history about public libraries in the city that touched on racial segregation and more.
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Public SafetyShooting death of teenager Downtown spotlights violent week
Sunday’s shooting underscored a troubling week for gun violence in Memphis. There have been nine murders over the past seven days, according to the city’s Weekly Crime Trends report.
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Shelby County ‘First Eight’ prekindergarten program expansion clears County Commission
The Shelby County Commission approved unanimously an expansion of universal prekindergarten services.
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Shelby County County Commission takes final votes on pay raise for next commission
The commission also takes a second reading vote Monday on a pay raise for the next Shelby County Sheriff. Final action on a pair of ethics ordinances has been delayed to next month.
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Behind The Headlines Church Health emphasizes local ties through Washington transition
Church Health CEO Jennie Robbins talked on “Behind The Headlines” about concerns that show up with the nonprofit’s patients amid national policy changes in Washington, D.C.
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