Council votes to order car washes closed for duration of boil water advisory
The order doesn’t become effective until it is signed by the mayor.
Bill Dries
Reporter
Bill Dries covers city and county government and politics. He is a native Memphian and has been a reporter for more than 40 years.
There are 3664 articles by Bill Dries :
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February 2021
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City of Memphis -
City of Memphis Council approves nine-month ban on permits for smoke shops
The moratorium is a reaction to plans for a smoke shop on McLean Boulevard across from Snowden School in Midtown.
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City of Memphis City Council debates buying city’s tallest building
The council votes next week on the further use of a PILOT extension fund already being tapped for $62 million for four Downtown parking garages. Meanwhile, one of the banks involved in financing the garages wants some more loan guarantees, which includes a proposed TIF.
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Shelby County County Commission Scorecard: The two-way split and death by lack of second
The County Commission Scorecard looks at the big picture of a lingering contract for managing court cases and a complex amendment to a county purchasing goal for locally owned businesses that came to an abrupt end.
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City of Memphis Boil advisory could end within days, MLGW says
State environmental officials are helping in the effort to find leaks and resolve water problems.
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Shelby County Questionable secret meeting to be held in public Friday
The head of the Tennessee Coalition of Open Government says it’s “implausible” the Tuesday secret meeting was legal. And one of the county commissioners who attended said the “ton of information” presented should have been heard by the public.
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City of Memphis Request to end water boil advisory could come Thursday
The advisory could be lifted in stages for parts of the MLGW area, which is most of Shelby County with the exception of Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville and Millington. Even when it is lifted MLGW president and CEO J.T. Young said the utility will still be asking households and businesses to continue conserving water for some period after the full restoration.
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Update
City of MemphisMLGW lifts water boil advisory, effective immediately
The city’s boil advisory is being lifted immediately, according to Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division President and CEO J.T. Young.
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City of Memphis City Council grants program offers preview of a tight budget season
One City Council member wanted to lock in $2.6 million for the community grants after the amount took a cut in the current city budget because of the pandemic’s impact. But another proposed doing away with the grants and sending the money to the city’s bus system.
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Update
City of MemphisCarlisle makes first call for firing of Haushalter in vaccine ‘fiasco’
The council can’t fire Shelby County Health Director Alisa Haushalter, but council member Chase Carlisle will propose the resolution at Tuesday’s council meeting. There could be more calls Friday, when Haushalter and County Mayor Lee Harris speak at a special meeting of the Shelby County Commission.
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Shelby County Haushalter resigns as Health Department head after more vaccine bombshells
The announcement by County Mayor Lee Harris came three hours after new bombshell revelation from state health officials about the mismanagement of vaccines in Shelby County. It also did little to quell a growing controversy about the leadership of Harris in the controversy.
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City of Memphis Chamber: Tax incentives remain crucial but other factors could lessen them
On “Behind The Headlines,” Greater Memphis Chamber President Beverly Robertson and Economic Development Chief Ted Townsend talked about a new round of PILOT reform discussions, “resiliency” and the local economy’s comeback from the COVID pandemic.
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City of Memphis City Council Scorecard: Grants vs. Buses
The Daily Memphian City Council Scorecard looks at a committee vote this past week on whether to send $2.6 million to the council grants program or the city’s bus system.
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Shelby County Pandemic tech changes will endure, county chief information officer says
On The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast, Shelby County Chief Information Officer Sandra Perry talks about the lasting impact and the security challenges of work-at-home government services and what happens when one part of county government wants its own computer system and network.
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March 2021
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City of Memphis Eight Memphis community centers begin phased reopening
The city reopened the centers in a phased reopening of the 24 community centers across Memphis.
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Shelby County National search gearing up to find Haushalter replacement
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said the county will hire a national search firm to field the applications, which are due by the end of this month.
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City of Memphis City Council considers funding for city takeover of local vaccinations
The items added Monday evening to the council’s committee list include $1 million in funding for the city’s vaccine ramp-up. They join what was already a busy council day, including the 100 North Main building, street racing and sewer fees.
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Elections What Blackburn and Hagerty said at CPAC before Trump spoke
Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen’s tweets on Trump’s appearance offered a contrast to the social media reaction from Blackburn and Hagerty. Republican U.S. Rep. David Kustoff didn’t comment on CPAC but did post on his vote against the Democratic COVID stimulus package that passed in the House.
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Update
City of MemphisCouncil approves sale of 100 N. Main to city
The city plans to offer the property to developers once the sale from THM Properties of New York City closes. Demolition of the part of the city’s skyline is also an option.
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City of Memphis Council members make case for exempting city from state residency bill
Council member J.B. Smiley argues that if the city accepts police and fire applications from outside the city, more effort will have to be put into screening candidates.
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City of Memphis Council passes drag-racing ordinance, delays Byhalia decision again
Proposed rules delay action on the city adding a $2.6 million community grants program to its next budget.
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City of Memphis City Council approves $1M for vaccines, debates blame
Council member Chase Carlisle was sharply critical of health officials, the County Commission and county Mayor Lee Harris. The wording was later amended after a lengthy council debate.
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City of Memphis MLGW’s Young recommends putting talk of TVA split on hold
Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division President and CEO J.T. Young says spikes in bills and blackouts in other parts of the country show electric power isn’t a commodity but a necessity, representing a shift in the local debate that has been around getting a cheaper wholesale price for electricity.
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Shelby County Released emails show early vaccine questions between Memphis, county health officials
Transfer of vaccine distribution will likely leave some Shelby County Health Department vacancies unfilled, county leaders say, as email trails from last month show those now in charge of vaccine distribution had questions that weren’t being answered as vaccine miscues piled up.
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Education Rhodes president Marjorie Hass stepping down
Hass will remain president of Rhodes through mid-August.
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