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Bill Dries covers city and county government and politics. He is a native Memphian and has been a reporter for more than 40 years.
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The Daily Memphian’s “On The Record” podcast takes a closer look at the numbers in the certified vote totals from August, previews the nearly complete November ballot and features a few political notes.
The unaudited Memphis in May annual report shows a loss as sponsorships and contributions dropped along with revenues from the record 2019 month-long event. The cost or expense of putting on the events was also up due to relocation.
The City Council Scorecard tracks the council votes that killed a bid for city primaries and sent a One Beale financial backstop to the mayor’s office even though the mayor says he won’t act on it.
With the funding, MATA is looking to add “service in the streets,” but it also hopes to move to a new headquarters within three years.
The saga of Willie Herenton’s 1979 selection by the school system has influenced the pick of every superintendent since.Related story:
Here’s a look at key players at Memphis-Shelby County Schools as the system investigates allegations of sexual misconduct against Superintendent Joris Ray. Here’s a look at the changes MSCS has seen over the past decadeRelated story:
Crews working on the $62 million redesign are on seven-day-a-week schedule. The Memphis River Parks Partnership is hosting events next month to field proposals for events in the park as well as food and beverage vendors.
The Freedom Awards will be held Oct. 20 at the Orpheum.
The goal was to set new boundaries for the District 4 special election in November but the map, released just ahead of the Tuesday vote, featured changes to other districts. The council appeared likely Tuesday, Aug. 23, to reopen and redraw the map next year ahead of regular October 2023 city elections.
The results show 23.6% of Shelby County’s registered voters cast ballots.
The Tennessee Comptroller’s office confirmed Halbert’s vacation to Jamaica with Comptroller Jason Mumpower calling her “AWOL.”
The council sets the district lines for the Nov. 8 ballot special election in council District 4. Meanwhile, the council plans to appoint someone to the seat in the interim to serve until the special election winner is certified.
Until recently, the building housed a Memphis Fire station and headquarters for the department.
Here is The Daily Memphian’s guide to who is who in the 31 contested judicial races, including endorsements and polling by the city’s two bar associations.
A look at some key dates in a 12-year period that has seen historic changes in the structure of public education in Memphis.
Dr. Michelle Taylor, on “Behind The Headlines,” talks about the the local health department’s relationship with state health officials after the Tennessee General Assembly stripped the local health department of its autonomy.
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland says the city’s population grew by more than 15,000 people between 2010 and 2020 instead of a loss of 13,000 reflected in the most recent U.S. Census.
At least some of those who qualified for the Nov. 8 ballot by the noon Thursday, Aug. 18, deadline are expected to seek the interim appointment the Memphis City Council makes at a special Sept. 1 meeting. Germantown, Lakeland mayoral candidates unopposed as ballots are set in suburban electionsRelated story:
The Tennessee Comptroller’s office plans to meet with other state officials about assisting or providing oversight of the Shelby County Clerk’s office and its distribution of license plates and the renewal of car tags. County Clerk’s office limits number of car title drops for auto dealersRelated story:
The Shelby County Clerk’s office will put in place new procedures for auto dealers, including a one packet limit for car title applications, during its closure next week.
“Probably the most problematic thing about Mud Island is that it exists,” said a member of the Mud Island task force, which met Wednesday via Zoom. “To a lot of people, the solution is slap a coat of paint on it and reopen the monorail. It’s not that simple, and we need to figure it out in modern times.”
Whoever gets the appointment would serve approximately two months until the winner of a special election on the Nov. 8 ballot is decided. Meanwhile, the deadline to file for the special election race on the November ballot is Thursday at noon.
The race for the vacant Memphis City Council District 4 seat has already drawn four contenders, including the sister of a council member who gave up the seat following her victory in the August county elections.
C.J. Davis said on “Behind The Headlines” she is optimistic so far about reforms that were a major part of the hard-fought campaign that saw Steve Mulroy upset incumbent Amy Weirich. But she says the reaction from the police ranks is more mixed.