Ice storm advisory team begins work
The 51-member panel held its first meeting Thursday, March 17.
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 4213 articles by Bill Dries :
-
March 2022
-
City of Memphis -
City of Memphis Three council members call for review of MLGW proposals
Letter questions the validity of the process being used to determine what it would take to get a new electric power supplier and build a new system for MLGW to break its 80-year relationship with TVA.
-
Metro College Park, Uptown transition to affordable housing program begins
Seven public housing sites across the city have been sold as part of a new plan to renovate and complete deferred maintenance on the units.
-
Metro Shelter to get help reuniting pets and owners
The city’s animal shelter is hiring a “pet reunification specialist” with a $50,000 grant from a national animal welfare nonprofit.
-
Elections Crime Campaign: The search for simple answers to a complex issue
The issue of crime — violent crime in particular — is center stage in the race for Shelby County Mayor, where the first stop is the May Democratic primary.
-
Behind The Headlines Watch: Reviewing the different plans to end Overton Park Greensward parking
A Reporters Roundtable on WKNO’s Behind The Headlines reviews the new agreement for Overton Park to end overflow parking on the Overton Park Greensward in two years.
-
Metro Memphis 200 Part 4: People, institutions, events shaped city
The fourth part of our series marking the bicentennial of the city's founding takes us to some of the more complex chapters of Memphis history, a few sports legends, artists, corporate innovators and two years of profound change.
-
Elections Luttrell to fill vacancy on Shelby County Election Commission
The former sheriff and county mayor was the choice of Republicans in the Shelby County delegation to the Tennessee Legislature. The recommendation still must be ratified by the Tennessee Election Commission.
-
Metro Zoo to turn over Old Forest, leave Overton Park greensward intact
The multi-part deal between the Memphis Zoo, the City of Memphis and the Overton Park Conservancy includes a new North Parkway entrance for the Memphis Zoo as well as 300 parking spaces.
-
Metro County Commission Scorecard: Appointing a new state senator
The County Commission Scorecard explores the rough road to seven votes.
-
Update
Shelby CountyFormer Shelby County Sheriff Gene Barksdale dies at 99
Barksdale served as sheriff from 1976 to 1986.
-
Elections Coalition says limiting first days of early voting to one site is unfair
The Election Commission’s decision not to open early-voting sites at churches during the Easter weekend is renewing charges of voter suppression.
-
On the Record Listen to Strickland discuss Memphis Zoo, Overton Park deal
On this week’s On The Record podcast, Bill Dries is joined by Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland.
-
Premium
City of MemphisHow an 8-year standoff led to new Zoo parking, the return of Old Forest acreage
The agreement, which also preserves the Overton Park greensward in its entirety, draws on a lot of the ideas that have been proposed individually during the years-long controversy.
Related story:
Zoo to turn over Old Forest, leave Overton Park greensward intact
-
Elections Former court clerk eyes state Senate bid in wake of Kelsey’s withdrawal
Former Probate Court Clerk Paul Boyd says he hasn’t made up his mind on filing his qualifying petition for the August ballot.
-
Metro Deputy Treasury Secretary fields inflation questions on ARPA anniversary
While Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo was in the city, the state’s two Republican Senators in Washington remained vocal critics of Biden administration economic and energy policies.
-
Update
ElectionsLamar appointed to open state Senate seat
Second term state House Democrat London Lamar moves to the Senate chambers after winning an appointment over nonprofit leader Rhonnie Brewer.
-
Elections Moody, Harris go different ways in mayoral primary
Ken Moody has got the one-on-one challenge of incumbent Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris he wanted in the May Democratic primary.
-
Business Memphis mail problems affect businesses and bills
Months after a Postal Service slowdown in first-class mail delivery, the USPS estimate of 2.7 days to deliver parcels and letters doesn’t match what we heard from readers.
-
Update
ElectionsBrian Kelsey calls off reelection bid
Kelsey announced the decision in a Twitter post Friday, March 4. The end of the current legislative session in Nashville will mark the end of an 18-year run in Nashville for Kelsey, who first came to the General Assembly as a state House member.
-
Metro Rudd talks managing crises at U of M, and Liberty Bowl’s future
On Behind The Headlines, the outgoing University of Memphis president said none of the crises were in academia. He also discussed leveraging sports to fund academic growth and said a Liberty Bowl decision is coming.
-
Elections Seven apply for vacant school board seat
The Shelby County will commission fill the vacancy at its March 21 meeting. Most of those who applied for the appointment plan to run for a full four-year term in the August elections.
-
Shelby County County Commission picks from six to fill state Senate vacancy
Most of the six people who have applied to fill the vacancy plan to be on the primary ballot in August, seeking a new four-year term past the appointment.
-
Elections Taylor moves closer to August primary challenge of Kelsey
Brent Taylor resigned as chairman of the Shelby County Election Commission this week but didn’t mention a bid for the state Senate.
-
Update
State GovernmentLee announces funding for 20 state troopers in Shelby County
The increase in THP officers for the city’s interstate system and state highways has been a goal of Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland.
-