Commission starting budget season early
The early start to county budget hearings is an attempt to resolve some of the friction between county elected officials and the Mayor Lee Harris’ office.
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 3803 articles by Bill Dries :
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January 2025
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Shelby County -
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MetroD.C. Scorecard: What Memphis’ elected officials are saying ahead of Trump’s second term
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, has called on the Senate to reject several of Trump’s appointees, including Robert Kennedy Jr
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Shelby County County Commission OKs no-confidence vote in MSCS board
The no-confidence resolution, aimed at board members who voted to fire Marie Feagins, also includes a “governance plan” to improve the school board’s relationship with the superintendent. The commission voted not to hold up funding for a new Frayser high school.
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Shelby County County Commission rewrite of no-confidence school board resolution tops agenda
Shelby County Commissioners are being drawn into a political brush fire over the attempt by some MSCS board members to fire Superintendent Marie Feagins. The commission is moving from a “no-confidence” resolution to a governance plan designed to put out the fire.
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Behind The Headlines City Council deciding how to enact gun-control measures
The Nov. 5 referendums on a set of three gun-control measures that would apply to Memphis were just a first step toward a local ordinance that would counteract current state gun laws.
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EducationHouse speaker talks state’s ‘nuclear options’ if MSCS board fires Feagins
“You cannot accept anymore that the lowest performing school system in our state is in Shelby County,” State House Speaker Cameron Sexton said while in Memphis. “There’s too many people. There’s too many new jobs coming in. It’s too important for our success.”
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State Government Tenn. Gov. Bill Lee tours Memphis’ xAI facility
Lee was joined on the tour by Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton — but not xAI founder Elon Musk.
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Shelby County ‘Let’s get our school system in order,’ county commissioner says
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners is moving toward creating a “governance plan,” which would set goals for both the elected school board and Memphis-Shelby County Schools Superintendent Marie Feagins.
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City of Memphis Gun-control ordinance, ironically a ‘trigger’ law, clears first vote at City Council
None of the provisions can take effect until or unless state laws are changed to permit the provisions in the ordinance.
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City of Memphis Memphis Parks Director leaving the city
Nick Walker has been the head of Memphis Parks since 2019.
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Public SafetyAfter French Quarter attack, Beale Street safety means bollards, barriers and beyond
In the wake of the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans that killed 14 people, questions about Beale Street security are the latest concerns for those who try to plan for the worst.
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City of Memphis City Council takes next step for Memphis gun control
The ordinance, which is up for the first of three votes, would make a set of gun-ownership limits a part of the city code of ordinances.
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Behind The Headlines Reporters dig into crime, Mulroy ouster attempt, other top 2024 stories
Violent crime and efforts to battle it were among the top stories of the year as discussed in a reporters’ roundtable on “Behind The Headlines.”
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Metro Blackburn says Senate priorities are Trump nominees, immigration, tax cuts
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee talked with reporters online after taking the oath of office Friday, Jan. 3, to begin her second six-year term in the upper chamber.
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Shelby County County Commission to weigh ‘no confidence’ vote on MSCS board
A connected resolution would also hold up funding for the new Frayser school project for three months and urges school leaders to work through a mediator.
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City of MemphisOuster attempts, off-the-ballot action and other highlights: 2024 Political Roundup
The year in politics was topped by the presidential general election and several local election races that warmed political fires left untended by the distant campaign for president. The top political stories of 2024 also include the transition from elections to governing for other leaders.
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City of Memphis Young: ‘Turn down the drama and the foolishness’
Memphis Mayor Paul Young marked the first year of his four-year term as mayor at a New Year’s Day prayer breakfast where he talked about “turmoil” in schools and other “drama” locally.
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December 2024
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MetroJimmy Carter’s journey to and from Memphis
The former president, who died Sunday, Dec. 29, came to Memphis at the height of his political power and after losing to Ronald Reagan. His visits were a snapshot of how his political fortunes changed and his pursuits after the White House.
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Spirit of Memphis Celebration planned for 100-year anniversary of Tom Lee’s heroism
This coming May will mark 100 years since the 1925 river rescue, when Tom Lee saved 32 people from the Mississippi River south of Memphis after their boat capsized.
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City of MemphisTaxes, guns, cops and schools: The top City Council votes of 2024
Here’s a review of some of the major decisions the Memphis City Council made in 2024, including tax hikes, gun referendums and more.
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Shelby CountyBudget, balancing and timing: The top County Commission votes of 2024
The top votes by the Shelby County Commission in 2024 revolved around the budget season and balancing funding for big projects.
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Behind The HeadlinesState senator has sights set on DA
State Sen. Brent Taylor says on “Behind The Headlines” he is ready to make the case for the ouster of Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy when the Tennessee Legislature returns to session in January.
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City of MemphisPolitical Roundup: The school board’s bad night, tracking D.C. votes and new council meeting time
The MSCS board has a history of lots of citizens showing up at its meetings in a bad mood. The political roundup also tracks how the city’s D.C. representatives voted on the plan to keep the federal government open. Meanwhile, the city council will meet at 4 p.m. in the new year instead of 3:30 p.m.
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EducationFeagins-school board dispute may be more than two-way skirmish
In a “Behind the Headlines” interview that will air Dec. 27 on WKNO, State Senator London Lamar talked about her Facebook post about Tuesday’s emotional school board meeting.
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State Government Gov. Lee pardons 43 including Memphis software engineer
All of those pardoned by the governor have been out of prison for at least five years.
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