Gubernatorial candidate faults Lee, state Legislature for DNA test delays
During a campaign stop Thursday, Sept. 15, in Memphis, Dr. Jason Martin pointed to low funding levels for the TBI crime lab despite a state surplus of $2 billion
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 4305 articles by Bill Dries :
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September 2022
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State Government -
Public Safety Blackburn and Hagerty cite Memphis violence in call for federal funding to fight violent crime
The proposed “Restoring Law and Order Act” would include federal grant programs for more police and detectives focused on violent crime as well as a General Accounting Office examination of delays in processing rape kits.
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Elections Nine make qualifying deadline for City Court judge special election
The Shelby County Election Commission also approved two new polling places for the Nov. 8 election day.
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State Government Weirich pushes back on criticism of 2020 Kelly plea deal
Former Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich talked to The Daily Memphian about the 2020 plea deal for Ezekiel Kelly that Gov. Bill Lee called an example of “soft-on-crime plea deals.”
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Gov. Lee calls for changes in plea deals during Memphis visit
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Public Safety City Council wants 50 Highway Patrol troopers to support MPD
In wide-ranging discussion about violent crime, the Memphis City Council voted to ask the state for at least 50 more state troopers for at least six months and a digital messaging system similar to Amber Alert.
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Elections Deadline is noon Wednesday to file petition for City Court judge
The election will fill the vacancy left when Tarik Sugarmon resigned last month to become Juvenile Court Judge.
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Public Safety Gov. Lee calls for changes in plea deals during Memphis visit
Gov. Bill Lee was in Memphis Friday, Sept. 9, touting stricter laws targeting violent repeat offenders passed during his tenure.
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Shelby County Henri Brooks returns to commission, proposes changes to office that investigated her
The ordinance would take the power to appoint the county ethics officer away from the county attorney’s office. It comes eight years after that office investigated whether Brooks lived in the commission district she represented, and concluded she didn’t.
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Shelby County Commission weighs forming public safety committee in wake of recent violence
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Shelby County Shelby County Commission weighs forming public safety committee in wake of recent violence
The committee proposal is a reaction to last week’s violence in the city, with more discussion to come at committee sessions later this month before a vote.
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City of Memphis City Council talks crime after a violent week puts new urgency in discussion
The council’s monthly crime update from Memphis Police brass could be more than a regular check-in. Last week’s violence has renewed a long-running civic discussion. And it has moved swiftly to questions about the criminal justice system.
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City of Memphis City Council Scorecard: New face, runoff reprise and One Beale deal
The scorecard looks at two special meetings this month that filled an open council seat, shut down another city charter change ballot question and approved a compromise on One Beale.
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Shelby County New Shelby County Commission gets down to business Monday
The agenda is light Monday for the body of 13 that includes six new commissioners and seven returning. The commission has a nine-member Democratic majority following the August county general elections.
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Update
Behind The HeadlinesCity shaken by week of violence seeks comfort and answers
Leaders of the local Justice and Safety Alliance talked about the week of violence that has shaken the city on “Behind The Headlines.”
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Police find no threats to the public despite various reports
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Update
Public SafetyShooting suspect seems to have charges stemming from 2020
According to the Tennessee Department of Correction, one Ezekiel Kelly was released March 16, 2022.
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Public Safety Criminal Court Clerk staffer indicted on theft charge
The former principal court clerk was fired two years ago for taking nearly $62,000 in cash from evidence boxes starting in 2018. He was indicted on the criminal charges last month.
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Metro Senate confirms Andre Mathis to federal appeals court
The Butler Snow law partner becomes the first Black man from Tennessee to serve on the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
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Real Estate Council approves key $10 million financing for One Beale Grand Hyatt
Council members had questions about whether the financing sets a precedent now that the owners of the Downtown Memphis Sheraton have plans to add several hundred rooms to the original convention center hotel.
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Downtown board proposes One Beale resolution for $95M in bonds
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MetroNewest City Council member sees role as ‘resourceful connector’
Teri Dockery was appointed to the vacant District 4 council seat last month. She isn’t a candidate in the Nov. 8 special election for the council seat but is eyeing a full four-year term on the October 2023 ballot.
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Premium
MetroMid-South Coliseum’s future uncertain despite Liberty Park transformation
The Fairgrounds transition to Liberty Park began with a 2003 fire that brought down a 1920s landmark. What followed was a complex, political and at times contradictory path to change.
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Shelby County County Commission Scorecard: Funding Regional One and an ouster move
The Commission Scorecard tracks a trio of important decisions made at the end of the term of the commission that left office at the end of August. All three could be on the plate of the new commission.
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City of Memphis City Council to vote on One Beale financing compromise
The special meeting is the second in a week for the council. The compromise involving $10 million was announced by Mayor Jim Strickland before the Labor Day weekend.
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Premium
City of MemphisCity leaders to take ‘deeper dive’ into MLGW recommendation
The recommendation Thursday, Sept. 1, from MLGW CEO and President J.T. Young will likely not be the last word on the issue.
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Elections Council votes down adding mayoral runoff referendum to November ballot
The item would have required the winner of the 2023 Memphis mayor’s race to get a majority of the votes either on election day or in a runoff.
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Elections Turner opens campaign for Memphis mayor where Forrest statue once stood
The two-term Shelby County Commissioner opened his bid in Health Sciences Park with calls for equal opportunity in the city and expectations the race to the October 2023 election day could be crowded.
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City of Memphis City Council makes interim pick for District 4 vacancy
Teri Dockery, a counselor at the YMCA, is the newest Memphis City Council member.
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