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 3662 articles by Bill Dries :
Responses to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling Friday, June 24, overturning the nearly 50-year old Roe v. Wade decision fall along party lines in Memphis and across Tennessee. Near-total abortion ban takes effect in 30 days, but a ‘heartbeat bill’ could come sooner The closest state to Memphis with abortion access? Illinois.Related Stories:
At one point Shelby County commissioners forgot they had allocated capital funding to the county’s seven public school systems as they debate how to fund $350 million ask by Regional One.
The agenda also includes $300,000 in funding for the Greater Whitehaven Economic Redevelopment Corp. Additionally, commissioners will consider a resolution urging the Tennessee General Assembly to change redistricting maps to reflect an accurate county line between Shelby County and Fayette County.Related story:
And with almost half of Shelby County Commissioners leaving office in two months, they have a firm deadline to find $350 million in funding, their share of the project’s funding, for the county-owned hospital. The Commission also has ambitious plans to revamp the county’s MWBE program. County Commission caught between capital funding for schools or Regional OneRelated story:
The 9-2 vote at the Monday, June 27, commission completes city and county action to create an ongoing tax revenue stream expected to total $30 million in the next 8 years. County Commission caught between capital funding for schools or Regional OneRelated stories:
The new system includes a paper trail along with updated touch screen machines and an option to vote hand-marked paper ballots.
The roundup includes the contenders for county mayor clashing over PILOTs and other economic development incentives, reaction to the Roe v. Wade repeal and early-vote strategies.
The June 28 Shelby County Commission session saw an attempt to bring back to life bonuses some elected countywide officials proposed three weeks ago.
A reporters roundtable on “Behind The Headlines” discusses the nature of change that might occur due to the major countywide races to be decided in the August election.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally held a ceremonial signing of the bill at City Hall in Memphis.
The latest edition of the Council Scorecard features a number of unanimous votes.
Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert says her office has been hand-stuffing envelopes, but she remains baffled by what caused the backlog. In the interim, county government has asked for a weekly inspection of the clerk’s license plate and car tag storage space.
The Commission Scorecard looks at a series of votes on a longer discussion about finding enough capital funding over several years for new schools construction as well as Regional One Health.
The deadline to register to vote the August “big ballot” is Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. Here are details and links on how to register to vote. Also included are some details about what the Shelby County base of voters looks like.
The two contenders for Shelby County District Attorney met on “Behind The Headlines” for a discussion on local enforcement of the state’s abortion trigger law, balancing reform with accountability, murder convictions overturned on appeal and dueling campaign ads.
Republican U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty spoke Tuesday, June 28, at the Memphis Rotary Club during a visit to the city that included a defense of former President Donald Trump and a prediction that 2022 midterm elections will produce a “sea change” in Washington. He also visited with the Republican nominee for Shelby County mayor.
A poll of dealers in the Greater Memphis Automobile Dealers Association showed their backlog of tags at more than 7,400 with some applied for as far back as April.
The $8.4 million item was approved by the Shelby County Commission in a special meeting on an 8-1 vote. The bonuses have some exceptions and caps and will go to more than 2,800 county employees.
Approved Wednesday were requirements to rotate architecture and engineering firms on smaller county projects and a joint venture requirement for large construction projects.
Clerk Heidi Kuhn cited the growth of the criminal courts from eight divisions to 10, with a goal of two clerks in each of those courtrooms.
Shelby County Elections Administrator Linda Phillips and Ian Randolph of the Shelby County Voter Alliance join the On The Record podcast to discuss the August and November elections.
Over the next four months, the Memphis River Parks Partnership aims to come up with four possible scenarios for the 40-year-old, city-owned park.
The Greater Memphis Auto Dealer Association sent a letter Thursday, July 7, to Gov. Bill Lee pushing for a takeover of car tags, plates and titles from County Clerk Wanda Halbert.
The president and CEO of Memphis River Parks Partnership says on “Behind The Headlines” that Tom Lee Park’s new look will debut next summer, but it will be available before that, for the Memphis In May International Festival.
The Memphis City Council meets Tuesday, July 12, at 3:30 p.m. Committee sessions start at 8 a.m. at City Hall. Items on the agenda include One Beale financing and Frayser flood plain housing.