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 :
For the past 13 weeks, city solid waste crews have been combining recyclables with other waste in a single collection because of the large number of crew member out with the COVID-19 virus or those in quarantine for possible exposure to the virus.
The Daily Memphian City Council Scorecard tracks three council decisions this week on major issues including what to do with the 100 North Main Building, a state law that would allow police and firefighters to live outside Shelby County and how, or if, to judge the Health Department as the city takes over vaccine distribution.
During this week’s council discussion, sponsor Worth Morgan asked for a list of pet breeders used by the Wolfchase store franchisee. When he didn’t get it but an offer of a guided tour, Morgan compared it to inspecting a nuclear facility in Iran.
On “Behind The Headlines,” Memphis Tourism president Kevin Kane and Downtown Memphis Commission board chairwoman Deni Reilly assess the heavy toll the pandemic has taken on the local industry in the last year.
On The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast, City Council member Chase Carlisle talks about bargaining with TVA for a new contract with MLGW without a specific plan for an alternative, his call for the resignation of the Shelby County Health Department’s embattled leader and the 2022 race for Shelby County mayor.
Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty pushed the narrative that Republican-led states were getting less money in the relief bill at the expense of Democratic led states.
Nearly $30 million in federal pandemic assistance for the city and county governments is being pooled for what city Housing and Community Development Director Paul Young calls a “game-changer.”
The regular Monday session of the commission will be followed by a special Friday meeting with Tennessee Health commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey on problems that led the state to shift control of COVID vaccine distribution from the county to the city of Memphis.
The bill in Nashville would outlaw partisan primary elections in Shelby and Davidson counties – the state’s two biggest concentrations of Democratic voters.
State Health commissioner Lisa Piercey said she won’t have a completed report by Friday, March 12.
Commission also approves a goal of giving locally-owned small businesses 20% of county government contracts and purchases.
The four senior centers operated by the City of Memphis will reopen Monday, March 15, on a limited basis.
MLGW resumed disconnecting customers for overdue bills this week. But there are so many, the utility has had to phase the cutoffs in, giving customers more time to work out payment plans over the next year.
The notices are drawing fire from a county commissioner after the commission approved $180,000 more in funding last month for the direct mail piece. The assessor’s office says it is Melvin Burgess’ way of “owning” the process.
The city’s two representatives in the U.S. House were on different sides in the Wednesday, March 10, vote to approve the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief act known as the American Rescue Plan Act.
Strickland also commented on his operating philosophy for public officials with whom he disagrees during comments Thursday, March 11, at the Frayser Exchange Club.
On “Behind The Headlines,” City Council member Worth Morgan and EDGE President Reid Dulberger urge caution in the latest cycle of civic discussions about how and what kinds of economic development get tax incentives.
On The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast, council member Rhonda Logan says the police force needs more officers but also needs to change the way those officers are used with a return to community policing.
The County Commission Scorecard tracks votes on a piece of legislation in Nashville that would change the way county commissioners are elected and final approval of a share of county contracts for locally owned small businesses.
The Memphis Zoo’s leader says for now he will proceed as if the parking deck won’t be needed. Meanwhile, a new parking by app program begins Monday, March 15, on Front Street by the Mud Island entrance and on Monroe Avenue in the Edge District.
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton toured several of the city’s natural hair salons and schools Friday, March 12, with state Rep. Antonio Parkinson. Deregulation of the industry has been a contentious issue in the Tennessee General Assembly in recent years.
Three MPD deputy chiefs and four police professionals outside the MPD are among the candidates being considered to succeed retiring Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings. Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland will make the decision and take it to Memphis City Council for confirmation.
About two-thirds of the new property values, done once every four years, have been mailed. The reappraisal starts a complex and political process across all of the local governments in Shelby County that ends with setting new property tax rates.Related story:
The council could take the first of three votes Tuesday, March 16, on a ban of retail sales of dogs and cats as a national pet store chain has moved into Wolfchase. The council could also try to regulate where pipelines are located as a first step toward stopping the Byhalia pipeline project.
The 15-page report obtained by The Daily Memphian details a nearly year-long investigation that initially faded for lack of corroboration but came back to life as paperwork confirming the grant emerged. Ford has contended he recused himself since he left the room during the vote on the grant. The report says that doesn’t resolve the conflict of interest and could lead to his removal from office.