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 3902 articles by Bill Dries :
Mayor Jim Strickland said an outside review of MPD’s special units will likely determine if police culture needs to change or if more training is the answer. Reaction to charges in Tyre Nichols case echo calls for justice Here’s what’s closing early Friday ahead of Tyre Nichols footage releaseRelated stories:
President Joe Biden and local officials speak ahead of the release of police video of the arrest of Tyre Nichols. Much of the reaction followed the filing of second-degree murder charges against five Memphis Police officers.
In a recorded statement released late Wednesday evening, Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis said other MPD officers, besides the five already fired last week for violating department policies in Tyre Nichols’ death, are under investigation.
Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis, who generally attends the council’s biweekly public safety committee, was not present for the Tuesday, Jan. 24, morning meeting.
Environmental activist Justin J. Pearson followed up his Tuesday victory in the District 86 Democratic primary with a 9-0 county commission vote Wednesday, appointing him to the open seat in the Shelby County delegation.
In his first race for elected office, Pearson easily beat attorney and former Shelby County Commissioner Julian Bolton in the Democratic primary. Pearson will be running uncontested in the general election.
Proposals include keeping data on police traffic stops and renewing plans to increase police training.
The council votes on the Memphis in May measure at its first meeting in February. The council delayed several other matters, including a possible new name for Audubon Park and a decision on the Dream Hotel. Memphis facility should reduce cancer-causing emissions, City Council saysRelated story:
The unanimous Shelby County Commission vote Monday for the moratorium came despite county attorneys warning the commission might be overstepping its authority. Winner of District 86 primary to get an extra day’s jump on appointmentRelated story:
The Memphis City Council is also expected to take up the Dream hotel project on South Main and a damage deposit proposal for Memphis in May’s return to Tom Lee Park.
Less than 24 hours before the partial closing begins, the Shelby County Clerk says it is to “stay ahead of February’s anticipated rush.”
The County Commission will vote Wednesday on a move to make the primary winner of the District 86 special election the appointee until the uncontested March election results are certified.
The moratorium on the Monday, Jan. 23, agenda is the latest indication that commissioners want to reexamine land use and property transfers in blighted areas.
With an empty Republican primary on Tuesday’s ballot and no independent candidates, the winner of the 10-candidate Democratic primary will be the de facto winner of the seat after the token March special general election.
Russell Wigginton, president of the NCRM, says on “Behind The Headlines” the museum’s expansion includes digitizing 11,000 items not currently on display.
Van Turner and Paul Young talked about returning to Memphis after college and the role that’s played in their campaigns at separate fundraisers Saturday, Jan. 14.
The joint statement from Mayor Jim Strickland and Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis Tuesday, Jan. 17, came as the funeral of Tyre Nichols was underway. ‘Tyre was a man': Loved ones of Tyre Nichols demand transparency from MPDRelated story:
The effort will comprehensively map the condition of all 6,714 lane miles of Memphis’ streets.
MLGW president and CEO Doug McGowen says his priority is finding ways to accelerate the $1.2 billion, five-year plan to upgrade the utility’s infrastructure.
Republican David Kustoff sees the prolonged balloting for the new Speaker as a healthy sign for Republican unity. Democrat Steve Cohen says Republicans will remain unified in the short term, but not in the longer term.
The council vote comes the day after the Shelby County Commission approved the same resolution. The funding is spread across four projects, including new affordable housing in Uptown and rehab of existing homes for legacy homeowners.
The review comes partly in response to Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division’s decision not to apply for $109 million worth of water infrastructure grants from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
The council approved the changes in the first of three votes on the ordinance Tuesday, Jan. 10. The changes are part of a larger group of animal ordinance amendments.
The County Commission acted on several fronts at its first meeting of the year Monday on the broader issue of the rules for tax sales and other transfer of parcels by the county. Low turnout in special elections draws questions, complaints from County CommissionRelated story:
The State House District 86 primaries have drawn 275 early voters through the weekend, out of the 45,000 in the district, which has raised questions.