Luttrell calls for an end to ‘insular’ county primaries
Former county mayor Mark Luttrell’s comments come as Memphis City Council members are weighing two referendum ordinances proposed for the August ballot for city voters.
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 3977 articles by Bill Dries :
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May 2022
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Behind The Headlines -
Elections Political Roundup: The general election campaign shift
The May county primary results are certified and the Democratic and Republican nominees who advanced to the August ballot are now seeking to appeal to a larger group of voters in that election.
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Elections Election Commission certifies Shelby County May primary results
The certified results show more than 100 additional votes than the election night unofficial totals in the one-candidate Republican primary races for Shelby County Mayor and District Attorney General.
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Shelby County County Commission Scorecard: Bare quorum returns from spring break
The County Commission Scorecard tracks commission votes on rounding the county property tax rate up or down, a fee for waiving the county residency requirement and whether to fill a vacant state House seat representing part of the city.
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Shelby County County Commission to begin critical budget discussions
“It’s likely that nearly all property tax payers will pay less next year than this year even with the higher property values we are seeing across the country,” the county’s new budget chair said.
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Shelby County Wolf River Greenway bridges gap to Shelby Farms Greenline
The one-mile section, which includes the Greenway bridge and a boardwalk, formally opened Tuesday, May 17.
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Elections Hardaway urges Shelby County Commission to fill State House vacancy
Democratic state Rep. G.A. Hardaway reacted after some county commissioners said Monday they didn’t see any sense in filling the vacancy in a Memphis district because the Tennessee Legislature’s session has ended.
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Elections Strickland calls ‘BS’ on critics of ‘truth in sentencing’ state law
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland went after critics of his backing of the state truth in sentencing law and his description of 201 Poplar as a “revolving door” for criminals during a lively interview on “Behind The Headlines.”
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Elections Local, state and national Republican strategist John Ryder dies
The former Shelby County Republican Party chairman and member of the Republican National Committee, as well as its general counsel, died over the weekend at the age of 72.
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City of Memphis City Council Scorecard: Keeping a quorum, term limits and city primaries
The City Council Scorecard tracks the latest moves on proposed August ballot questions that would extend term limits for council members and introduce city primary elections if approved by voters.
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Elections Certification of May county primary vote delayed to Wednesday
The problem that delayed the certification was combining tabulations from two different systems into a single statement of votes cast.
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Premium
City of MemphisStrickland: U of M would provide ‘lion’s share’ of stadium funds
Strickland said he left the decision about whether to renovate the city-owned stadium or build a new one on the university campus to the university.
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Shelby County Luttrell is new chairman of Shelby County Election Commission
Former Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell is the new chairman of the Shelby County Election Commission.
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Shelby CountyGatewood to contest Gordon’s Court Clerk win
Stephanie Gatewood, who finished third in the clerk primary, says Janeen Gordon should never have been allowed to run on the ballot as “Janeen Fullilove Gordon” — using the name of her mother, outgoing clerk Janis Fullilove.
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City of Memphis TVA report meets with council skepticism
Tennessee Valley Authority officials got a hostile reception when they took an economic development study to the Memphis City Council Tuesday.
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City of Memphis City Council advances two questions for August ballot
The two issues could be up for a citywide referendum in August.
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Memphis City Council moves closer to hiring energy consultant
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City of Memphis Memphis City Council moves closer to hiring energy consultant
MLGW is currently requesting proposals from various providers for a possible move to a new electric power provider.
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City of Memphis Council begins property tax votes Tuesday, moves ahead with ballot question decisions
The council will mix a first vote on the city property tax rate Tuesday with more discussion and votes on two ballot questions for the August ballot — one on expanding term limits and the other allowing for partisan city primaries.
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Shelby County Cohen, Kustoff offer different views of Supreme Court leak
U.S. Reps. Steve Cohen and Michael Kustoff commented at separate events Thursday in Shelby County, elaborating on earlier reaction to the leaked opinion draft on the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the U.S.
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Shelby County County Commission debates filling open State House District 91 seat
Some Memphis Democrats in the Legislature say they want a replacement appointed even though the Legislature is out of session. The commission put off a decision on the matter until its May 23 meeting.
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Behind The Headlines What it took to make a diversion of children away from Juvenile Court a reality
Leaders of county government’s effort to bridge gaps in the local juvenile justice system and move children with non-violent offenses away from contact with the system talked about the approach on “Behind The Headlines.”
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Shelby County Barretville General Store gets green light for expansion despite ‘family squabble’
The Shelby County Commission approved an expanded kitchen, an outdoor pavilion and more parking at the Barretville General Store.
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Spirit of Memphis New generation of poets find familiar in legacy of Tom Lee
The story of a man who rescued 32 people from the Mississippi River 100 years ago inspires three high school seniors who won the first Tom Lee Poetry and Spoken Word Contest.
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Shelby County Commission delays decision on adjusted county property tax rate
The rate of $3.399 advanced Monday, May 9, on first reading with uncertainty ahead for the second of three votes on May 23.
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Barretville General Store gets green light for expansion despite ‘family squabble'
County Commission debates filling open State House District 91 seat
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Shelby County County Commission takes up lower property tax rate dilemma
The commission, at its Monday, May 9, meeting, also decides whether to fill a vacant state House seat in the Shelby County delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly.
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