Young says goal of 40% drop in crime met two years ahead of campaign promise
Memphis Mayor Paul Young talked about the 2023 campaign promise at Thursday’s Lowery New Year’s Day Prayer Breakfast Downtown.
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 4199 articles by Bill Dries :
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January 2026
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City of Memphis -
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City of MemphisMoney, MATA, xAI: Top Memphis City Council votes of 2025
The most important Memphis City Council decisions of 2025 were about the flow of city funds, the city-owned bus system, what to do with property tax revenues from xAI and the council’s relationship with the Mayor’s office.
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Metro After US topples Maduro, Memphis-area leaders react
The Memphis area’s representatives in Washington, D.C., reacted hours after the military operation that took Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro into custody for trial on federal drug charges in the U.S.
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Public SafetyWhat do Memphians think about Memphis Safe Task Force?
Some say the National Guard “shouldn’t be here,” while others say Memphis “got the message.” The Daily Memphian captured a snapshot of where Memphians stand on the Memphis Safe Task Force and its impact.
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Public Safety Trump claims Memphis crime drop due to Task Force
President Donald Trump linked Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s regime to the alleged presence of Venezuelan gangs in American cities, including Memphis.
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Behind The Headlines Two of the biggest Memphis stories of 2025 have a surprising connection
On Behind The Headlines, reporters discuss top local stories of 2025, including the link between the Memphis-Shelby County Schools ouster of Marie Feagins, and the arrival of the National Guard.
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Shelby County Top County Commission votes: MSCS board elections, budget, ethics
Many of the issues the current commission voted on will persist into a new year that includes county elections.
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December 2025
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Elections First five qualify as 2026 Shelby County primary field takes shape
Take a look at the latest list of who has a petition in circulation and who has gotten the 25 signatures required to get on the May 5, 2026, county primary ballot.
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Public Safety What to expect on Beale Street this New Year’s Eve
Memphis police are promising a noticeably heavier presence on and around Beale Street as 2025 becomes 2026. Here’s what else to expect Downtown.
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Behind The Headlines How clear is the line between immigration stops and MPD policy?
Activists responding to immigration police calls on behalf of those detained said on “Behind The Headlines” the lines look blurred at times as a police stop is followed by a federal presence.
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Elections More than 70 would-be candidates get petitions for 2026 elections
Most of those checking out qualifying petitions Monday, Dec. 22, are looking to run in the May 5 Shelby County Democratic primaries. There are already some interesting trends.
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Shelby County Services helping poor county residents are putting ‘Band-Aids on bullet wounds’
The leader of Shelby County’s Community Services Division talks about the safety net of programs and the balancing act that comes with uncertain money.
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Spirit of MemphisDowntown church’s rich history is intertwined with the stories of people it served
The present St. Patrick Catholic Church was built in 1905 but the congregation dates back to 1866 on the same property south of FedExForum.
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Elections Push cards, blue pens and big ambitions: 2026 Shelby County races get underway
The first day Monday, Dec. 22, of the period to get on the May 5 Shelby County primary ballot opened to a crowd of contenders Downtown and those who are already working on their campaigns.
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MetroGet your petitions: The 2026 election year is about to begin
Candidates in the May 5 Shelby County primaries start picking up the paperwork Monday, Dec. 22, to get on the ballot. Here’s what you need to know about the start of the 2026 election year in Memphis and Shelby County.
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North Memphis ‘Place of Grace’ apartments latest piece of Bickford housing renewal
The set of 10 apartments in the North Memphis neighborhood of Bickford took two years to renovate.
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Elections Former MSCS chief Marie Feagins opens bid for Shelby County mayor
Feagins kicked off her bid in the May 5 Democratic mayoral primary before a group of 100 people on Wednesday, Dec. 17, in Southwind.
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City of Memphis City Council shifts Leftwich funds to Audubon Golf Clubhouse, Jesse Turner Park renovation
Bellevue Tennis Center would also get renovation funds.
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Shelby County County Commission keeps tabs as Halbert cooperates with county auditors
While Halbert is now cooperating, County Commission Chair Shante Avant said she may call a special meeting of the body if the cooperation stops.
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Public Safety Memphis crime drops again, hitting lowest level in at least three years
Crime keeps dropping. Police say major offenses fell again in November, reaching their lowest level in nearly three years.
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Shelby County County Commission returns to County Clerk’s office problems
The commission votes on a resolution that asks County Clerk Wanda Halbert to cooperate with the regular audit of county finances. Auditors say Halbert isn’t cooperating as a Dec. 31 state law nears.
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City of Memphis ‘The very foundation on which this city was built’ finally renovated
Memphis’ historic cobblestone landing formally opened Friday after at least 19 years of bureaucracy, red tape and the rise and fall of the Mississippi River.
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Behind The Headlines ‘Largest development in the history of Downtown Memphis’ faces hope and skepticism
A future cloud computing hub — at the site of a another development that never panned out — is among the topics on “Behind The Headlines” a reporters’ roundtable.
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ElectionsNo charges against Sawyer in courthouse dispute, DA’s office says
Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies and General Sessions Court Clerk Tami Sawyer clashed over whether her private security guard could carry a gun inside the D’Army Bailey courthouse.
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Food News ‘Grow, gain and gather:’ Raleigh Springs Civic Center farmers market breaks ground
The five-year-old development on the site of the city’s second shopping mall will likely be completed in 4-6 months.
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