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 3660 articles by Bill Dries :
Local Democratic elected officials reacted to President Joe Biden’s decision to call off his reelection bid Sunday, July 21, and support Vice President Kamala Harris as the new Democratic nominee for president. Related content:
The museum is slated to become an immersive experience built around the riverboat models that were its centerpiece. It began with some high-tech touches when it opened, and Sidney Shlenker had plans beyond those touches.
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners will discuss a 6% pay raise for employees, could reopen a Land Bank ordinance and vote on a new lease for Millington office space for the Shelby County clerk’s office.
Interim CBU president Brother Chris Englert and board chairwoman Emily Greer talk about the university’s effort to rebuild its finances and grow enrollment.
Federal, state and local leaders gathered Thursday, July 18, by the river at the Metal Museum to talk about the path to the $800 million project.
The location at Mullins Station Road will continue to provide all other services.
County Commissioners found out Wednesday the ordinance they thought they approved last month — on changes to the Shelby County Land Bank — actually failed. But not before County Mayor Lee Harris vetoed it. The result is a confusing parliamentary mess.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, who is chairman of the Republican Governors Association, also endorsed Republican presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump as he talked about political unity by the nation’s Republican Governors in resisting Democratic policies.
The specter of 85,000 new Internal Revenue Service employees hired specifically to go after taxpayers surfaced again Monday as U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., gave her second speech of the day to the Republican National Convention.
The roundup also looks at postponed plans for a Democratic fundraiser.
The commission gave final approval to sweeping changes to the Shelby County Land Bank at its last meeting in June. Mayor Lee Harris vetoed the resolution saying it costs too much and is an unclear plan. The commission meets in special session Wednesday, July 17, to vote on overriding Harris’ veto.
“This unprecedented investment in Memphis marks the single-largest transportation investment in Tennessee state history and will be transformative for our infrastructure,” Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said.
A new plan for expanding the Memphis Light, Gas and Water board to include two voting suburban seats is still an uphill battle to get on the November ballot.
Memphis City Council will consider a November ballot question that will impact the city’s suburbs and separately, the future of Liberty Park.
The Political Roundup takes a closer look at your vehicle-registration certificate after the City Council raised a vehicle fee some are calling a Memphis version of the wheel tax.
The City Council Scorecard tracks the key council votes, which last month raised the city property tax rate for the first time in 12 years and raised the monthly solid waste fee as well as the city vehicle registration fee.
A feasibility study for a Memphis hip-hop museum is underway.
They want a public walkway along the bluff to continue at ground level. The museum’s plans call for a public area atop the museum that offers a view of the riverbluff.
In a historic 6-3 ruling, the justices said Monday for the first time that former presidents can be shielded from prosecution for at least some of what they do in the Oval Office. But rather than do it themselves, the justices ordered lower courts to figure out precisely how to apply the decision to Trump’s case.
The Commission Scorecard tracks votes on keeping a stable property tax rate and returning funding to more than 400 vacant positions in the Sheriff’s Department. It also includes dollar figures on the county’s three major capital projects.
A Friday court ruling denies a request by opponents of the museum’s construction who sought a temporary injunction last September to stop construction on the riverfront.
Memphis Public Works Director Robert Knecht is retiring from his post effective July 26 after 23 years with the city to take a job in the private sector.
Lee Whitwell, chief litigation attorney for the office, confirmed to The Daily Memphian in an email Friday night that he has hired Robert Meyers of law firm Glanker Brown to continue the proceedings.
Here are the budgets, budget amendments and the dollar figures including proposed financing for the Regional One campus rebuild and the construction of two new high schools.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young promises to “deliver more” with the tax increase. Related story: