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 3905 articles by Bill Dries :
After no elections in 2021, Shelby County voters go to the polls three times this year in a series of elections with almost 200 races total and many more candidates in those races. Here is an overview of what’s ahead for voters.
Viking Cruises will begin traversing the Mississippi River in June, joining two other cruise lines docking in Memphis. The city plans a $62 million Waterfront District to meet the demand.
There are now five potential contenders in the Democratic primary for Shelby County mayor with about three weeks to the filing deadline to get on the ballot. Here’s a rundown of the latest filings and a few other campaign notes.
County election commission does its first extensive precinct realignment in two decades.
The Tennessee Valley Authority has to turn over material about the 20-year contract agreement it wants Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division and all the other local utilities in its system to sign.
The City Council Scorecard looks at how the votes lined up on the second rejection in three months for a convenience store with gas pumps at Broad Avenue and Tillman Street.
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton discusses the controversial redrawing of House district lines on The Daily Memphian’s “On The Record” podcast.
A Chancery Court lawsuit preserved the stalemate between the Shelby County Election Commission and the Shelby County Commission over a way forward in the controversy.
The first of the year’s elections is the May county primaries, with early voting starting in mid-April.
“The longer it takes, the more expensive it gets,” one Shelby County Commissioner said of the project last week.
In addition to the pay raises, Strickland again called for changes in state laws, particularly around gun crimes, and doubled down on his earlier declaration that the local criminal justice system is a “revolving door.”
Additional candidates have filed petitions for the upcoming May primaries.
The commission’s Democratic majority approved a $25,000 grant to fund a playground at the center in Midtown. People on both sides of the abortion issue had a lot to say before the vote.
Shelby County commissioners voted Monday, Jan. 24, to make a return of federal oversight of Memphis-Shelby County Juvenile Court a part of its legislative agenda in Washington D.C.
The current policy bars police car chases for misdemeanors including traffic offenses.
The Memphis Police Department doesn’t engage in high-speed car chases unless in pursuit of a dangerous felon. But one City Council member says the policy should change.Related stories:
Here are the basics of the MPD pursuit policy from the police manual.
The two key votes of the week in Washington D.C. were in the Senate. But the discussion among the city’s representatives in Washington included both U.S. House members who represent Memphis.
The podcast debut sets the stage for the interviews that are an integral part of The Daily Memphian’s coverage of politics and government.
As he filed his qualifying petition Friday, Jan. 21, Moody said he hopes the May Democratic mayoral primary remains a one-on-one matchup with incumbent Mayor Lee Harris.
Three county commissioners voted against the $1.44 million purchase of 180,000 tests in 90 kits with two tests a piece. One cited comments by Dr. Ben Carson on Fox News earlier this week complaining that more tests would mean a rise in COVID cases.
Shelby County commissioners meet in special session Wednesday, Jan. 19, to approve $1.4 million in funding to buy 15,000 COVID self-test kits at a unit price that comes to 180,000 tests.
The name change approved Tuesday changes the street’s name on city maps and as a mailing address.
Calling it a “terrible reality,” Memphis City Councilman Worth Morgan said that “people are not being held accountable for fleeing from police.”
The state has lowered the percentage it expects to make on investments that finance pension funds. By state law, the city of Memphis must lower its discount rate as well in the spring budget season.