City Council approves financial ‘backstop’ for Grand Hyatt
The standoff over terms to start construction of the third of three hotels at One Beale remains despite Thursday’s council vote.
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 3909 articles by Bill Dries :
-
July 2022
-
City of Memphis -
Elections Ballot Basics: Early voting is July 15-30
Here is everything you need to know about Shelby County’s early-voting process, which begins Friday, July 15.
-
Elections Early voting opens with Shelby County’s ‘big ballot’
The “big ballot,” which comes once every eight years in Shelby County politics, features 163 races with 344 candidates. Here’s what to expect on the ballot and what has changed for voters.
Related story:
-
Shelby County Ford raises possibility of calling for county audit of MSCS
Ford raised the possibility at the end of a short special meeting Wednesday, July 13, of the Shelby County Commission on several unrelated matters. It came as the MSCS board was meeting on the same matter.
-
City of Memphis City Council takes up One Beale hotel financing at special Thursday meeting
The Thursday 4 p.m. session at City Hall comes after the city administration balked at a change in the terms of a city-funded backstop for the hotel project. The delayed Tuesday vote came as the administration got some expressions of concern from state officials.
-
Shelby County County Commission to vote on purchase of electric F-150’s
The Shelby County Commission meets Wednesday, July 13, in special session at 10 a.m.
-
City of Memphis Council blocks additional funding to enforce state abortion laws
The resolution by council member JB Smiley, who is also seeking the Democratic nomination for Tennessee governor, calls on county law-enforcement officials not to enforce state abortion law.
Related stories:
City Council approves Frayser expansion of manufactured housing
City attorney ready to make recommendation on energy consultant for TVA-MLGW debate
-
City of Memphis City Council approves Frayser expansion of manufactured housing
The decision was one of several by the Memphis City Council in a Tuesday, July 12, agenda that was heavy with planning and development items.
-
City of Memphis Council delays vote on backstop for One Beale debt
At stake is the financing for the last of three hotels at the One Beale development that together would serve as a second convention center hotel.
-
On the Record Mud Island review to look at park’s long-term place in larger riverfront
Chief Operating Officer Doug McGowen talks about the city’s study of a long-range plan for Mud Island River Park 40 years after it opened.
-
City of Memphis One Beale financing, Frayser flood plain housing top council agenda
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.
-
Downtown Tom Lee Park redesign will be ready to host 2023 Memphis In May
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.
-
Shelby County Auto dealers call for five-month drive-out tags
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.
-
Downtown What’s next for Mud Island River Park?
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.
-
Elections Here are the changes voters will be navigating when early voting begins
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.
-
Shelby County Commission delays vote on seven full-time positions for criminal court
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 County Commission plans new minority- and women-owned business program
Approved Wednesday were requirements to rotate architecture and engineering firms on smaller county projects and a joint venture requirement for large construction projects.
-
Shelby County County employees to get bonuses on top of 5% pay raises
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.
-
Update
Shelby CountyCar dealers call for state takeover of license plates, tags distribution
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.
-
Metro Hagerty doubles down on abortion ruling, calls insurrection hearings ‘show trial’
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.
-
Elections Weirich, Mulroy clash on abortion prosecutions and focus of DA’s race
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.
-
Elections Ballot Basics: Voter registration deadline and a look at Shelby County voters
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.
-
Premium
Shelby CountyCounty Commission Scorecard: The elusive final decision; balancing schools with Regional One
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.
-
-
June 2022
-
Shelby County Are your car tags coming? Clerk says 8,700 ready to go but backlog persists
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.
-
Premium
MetroCity Council Scorecard: MATA’s long haul, death of a car lot and the fine print of term limits
The latest edition of the Council Scorecard features a number of unanimous votes.
-