City Council Scorecard: Grants vs. Buses
The Daily Memphian City Council Scorecard looks at a committee vote this past week on whether to send $2.6 million to the council grants program or the city’s bus system.
Bill Dries
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 3663 articles by Bill Dries :
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February 2021
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City of Memphis -
City of Memphis Chamber: Tax incentives remain crucial but other factors could lessen them
On “Behind The Headlines,” Greater Memphis Chamber President Beverly Robertson and Economic Development Chief Ted Townsend talked about a new round of PILOT reform discussions, “resiliency” and the local economy’s comeback from the COVID pandemic.
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Shelby County Haushalter resigns as Health Department head after more vaccine bombshells
The announcement by County Mayor Lee Harris came three hours after new bombshell revelation from state health officials about the mismanagement of vaccines in Shelby County. It also did little to quell a growing controversy about the leadership of Harris in the controversy.
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Update
City of MemphisCarlisle makes first call for firing of Haushalter in vaccine ‘fiasco’
The council can’t fire Shelby County Health Director Alisa Haushalter, but council member Chase Carlisle will propose the resolution at Tuesday’s council meeting. There could be more calls Friday, when Haushalter and County Mayor Lee Harris speak at a special meeting of the Shelby County Commission.
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City of Memphis City Council grants program offers preview of a tight budget season
One City Council member wanted to lock in $2.6 million for the community grants after the amount took a cut in the current city budget because of the pandemic’s impact. But another proposed doing away with the grants and sending the money to the city’s bus system.
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Update
City of MemphisMLGW lifts water boil advisory, effective immediately
The city’s boil advisory is being lifted immediately, according to Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division President and CEO J.T. Young.
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City of Memphis Request to end water boil advisory could come Thursday
The advisory could be lifted in stages for parts of the MLGW area, which is most of Shelby County with the exception of Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville and Millington. Even when it is lifted MLGW president and CEO J.T. Young said the utility will still be asking households and businesses to continue conserving water for some period after the full restoration.
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Shelby County Questionable secret meeting to be held in public Friday
The head of the Tennessee Coalition of Open Government says it’s “implausible” the Tuesday secret meeting was legal. And one of the county commissioners who attended said the “ton of information” presented should have been heard by the public.
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City of Memphis Boil advisory could end within days, MLGW says
State environmental officials are helping in the effort to find leaks and resolve water problems.
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Shelby County County Commission Scorecard: The two-way split and death by lack of second
The County Commission Scorecard looks at the big picture of a lingering contract for managing court cases and a complex amendment to a county purchasing goal for locally owned businesses that came to an abrupt end.
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City of Memphis City Council debates buying city’s tallest building
The council votes next week on the further use of a PILOT extension fund already being tapped for $62 million for four Downtown parking garages. Meanwhile, one of the banks involved in financing the garages wants some more loan guarantees, which includes a proposed TIF.
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City of Memphis Council approves nine-month ban on permits for smoke shops
The moratorium is a reaction to plans for a smoke shop on McLean Boulevard across from Snowden School in Midtown.
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City of Memphis Council votes to order car washes closed for duration of boil water advisory
The order doesn’t become effective until it is signed by the mayor.
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City of Memphis Final drag racing ordinance votes delayed
Legal questions prompt delay of consideration on three measures.
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Shelby County County Commission sets 20% goal for purchasing for locally owned businesses
Commissioner Tami Sawyer withdrew her resolution Monday to change grooming standards for county public safety employees.
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City of Memphis City Council reviews details of 100 N. Main sale
The Tuesday, Feb. 23, council session also includes final votes on a set of ordinances cracking down on illegal street racing and possibly a continuation of council discussions with MLGW about the city’s water crisis.
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Metro County Commissioners grill Health Department over vaccine missteps, confusion
County leaders also talked about battling social media misinformation that is crowding testing sites and leading some to book appointments at multiple sites.
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Update
City of MemphisCity, MLGW file motions to join lawsuit over access to TVA transmission lines
A group of smaller utilities that are also part of TVA want to be able to use TVA transmission lines if they break with TVA. MLGW is considering leaving TVA as well and filed along with the city to intervene in the lawsuit, saying the decision could affect its decision to stay or leave.
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Premium
Spirit of MemphisThe short life and long legacy of Memphis Mardi Gras
For a while, the good times rolled when Memphis had its own Mardi Gras. Then Yellow Fever happened. This year, as the pandemic takes a toll on Fat Tuesday, we look at 1870s images that recall a citywide celebration.
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City of Memphis Melting ice, snow reveal fresh crop of potholes
Potholes are popping up in the aftermath of last week’s ice and snow, but the City of Memphis has a plan in place to handle them.
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Shelby County Seven Downtown county government buildings closed Monday
The County Trustee’s office is the exception, staying open for the last week of county tax filing season. Some county employees will be working from home if possible as the administration decides on a day-to-day basis when to open the buildings.
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Premium
City of MemphisMLGW’s water crisis came after funding for infrastructure overhaul was delayed
When the city’s water system became a crisis last week, Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division was several months underway with a five-year $142.4 million overhaul of water system infrastructure.
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Shelby County Commission to get update on discarded vaccine, other pandemic developments
The commission is also slated to take up a resolution by Mick Wright that calls on the state of Tennessee to send the National Guard, with the assistance of logistics industry professionals, to oversee the vaccination process in Shelby County.
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City of Memphis Bottled water goes quickly in city giveaway
Long lines marked most of the eight sites the city operated Sunday, Feb. 21, to give families with no or slow-flowing water a case of bottled water per car.
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City of Memphis Parks master plan explores idea of fees for park programming
On The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast, city Parks Director Nick Walker says community centers would remain free but with fees for specific programs. He also talks about “open play areas” like David Carnes Park in Whitehaven.
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