City of Memphis
Ghana’s honored status at MIM fest draws criticism from LGBTQ groups
This is not the first time Memphis in May has chosen to honor a country with a questionable record on human rights.
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 3965 articles by Bill Dries :
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April 2022
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City of Memphis -
City of Memphis City Council Scorecard: Term limits, city primaries, Southwind, more
This City Council Scorecard tracks first votes on a three-term limit for the council and partisan city elections, along with a Southwind apartment complex that stirred some de-annexation resentment.
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Elections Two Republican primaries are already throwing sparks
The only two contested Republican primaries in August for seats in the Tennessee General Assembly representing parts of Shelby County could change dramatically with new challenges that could remove one of the contenders from each of the two-man races.
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Elections Early voting expected to increase in final four days
Almost 16,000 Shelby Countians had voted early through Saturday. Early voting ends Thursday and the final four days of the two-week voting period usually record the heaviest turnout judging by past elections in the same cycle.
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Elections The election backstory: Term limits
Here are the basics of how term limits work in Memphis and Shelby County, and a tumultuous history of the issue across both governments.
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Elections The election backstory: Primaries
Here is the backstory of how county primaries came to be in the early 1990s, called for by Republicans several years after Democrats splintered over a move in their ranks to take local elections partisan.
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Elections Changing who wins and how long they serve: A call for city primaries and extending term limits
Making its way through the Memphis City Council are a pair of ballot questions that could change the face of city government and the nature of city politics — if they get on the ballot and if a majority of city voters agree at the ballot box.
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The election backstory: Term limits
The election backstory: Primaries -
Elections People’s Convention selects endorsements for Democratic primary
After hearing candidates speak, the 100 people in attendance at the National Civil Rights Museum used their cell phones to vote for those they wanted the convention to recommend in Shelby County.
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Behind The Headlines MLGW CEO: First look at TVA alternatives due in May or June
MLGW President and CEO J.T. Young says on Behind The Headlines that a preliminary report on sealed bids to replace TVA as the utility’s electric power supplier should be ready in late May or early June for review.
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City of Memphis Riverfront tree planting begins on Earth Day
The trees planted along the riverbluff are the first installment of 1,000 trees pledged by Valero refinery and planted by volunteers from Valero.
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Metro Trump to hold June rally in Memphis area
The former president tops a bill of conservative figures who plan to hold a day-long conference in the Memphis area.
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Elections MATA providing free rides on last day of early voting
All MATA services will be free to ride on Thursday, April 28.
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City of Memphis MATA gets dedicated funding source in Strickland budget proposal
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland proposed a dedicated funding source for the Memphis Area Transit Authority as part of a $750 million operating budget proposal. The budget proposal also includes a team of 17 employees with heavy equipment to continually clear illegal dumping sites and raises the pay for city employees.
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Elections Council debates partisan city primaries and term limits
The two proposals were introduced during council committee sessions but appear to have been discussed among council members prior to that.
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City Council approves Southwind apartments, Liberty Park management contract, more
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City of Memphis City Council approves Southwind apartments, Liberty Park management contract, more
The apartment complex had persistent opposition from an area that asked for and received de-annexation from Memphis. One council member had harsh words for that idea.
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Elections Early vote turnout nears 4,000 mark with all sites open
With all 26 sites open Monday, April 18, for the first time in the two-week period, more than 2,800 of the 3,900 early voters in the first four days of the period cast their ballots in the Democratic county primaries.
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City of Memphis Mayor’s budget proposal expected to address taxes, discount rates, Grizzlies
Mayor Jim Strickland has been dropping hints about his budget proposal that include more of the unexpected adjustments the city budget has taken over the past two years because of the pandemic.
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Update
ElectionsEarly voting expands to all 26 sites countywide
Turnout soared Saturday with six early voting locations open and Agricenter and Glenview Community Center as the top locations by turnout. All 26 sites, including the 20 sites that opened Monday are open through April 28. Election day is May 3.
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Shelby County County Commission Scorecard: FedExForum, detention center, MATA and residency
The Scorecard attempts the math on the new FedExForum deal keeping the Grizzlies at the Forum and on the renovated Shelby Training Center that is to become the new juvenile detention center with more funding from the county.
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Elections Early voting grows to six Saturday sites
The five sites that open Saturday are in addition to the one open since this past Wednesday at the Downtown Election Commission offices. Early voting in the county primaries expands Monday, April 18, to all 26 sites across the county and runs through April 28. Election day is May 3.
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Elections ‘Black-Out’ protest boosts second-day voting turnout
Thursday marked the withdrawal deadline for contenders in the August election, with several developments in the nonpartisan judicial races that are a major part of that ballot.
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ElectionsDemocratic mayoral primary is contrast in leadership philosophies
Incumbent Mayor Lee Harris wants to continue a sea change in what issues the county mayor focuses on. His challenger in the May Democratic primary, Ken Moody, says that focus isn’t immediate or local enough.
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Elections Early voting starts slow at Election Commission offices
There are plans by several organizations to boost the turnout Thursday. Meanwhile, there is free parking around the only early-voting site Downtown open Wednesday and Thursday.
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Elections Ballot Basics: Early Voting Begins
Early voting for the Shelby County primaries is April 13-28. Here is everything to know the ballot, the basics of early voting and what turnout in this election cycle has looked like in the past.
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Elections Political Roundup: DA’s race goes critical, Skullduggery and August ballot shakeout
The Democratic primary race for district attorney is about to turn from general calls for change to who can upset incumbent Republican Amy Weirich.
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