Bartlett native is new TDOT head
When searching for a new leader of the Tennessee Department of Transportation, Gov. Bill Lee didn’t have to look far.
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 3903 articles by Bill Dries :
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July 2025
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State Government -
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State GovernmentD.C. Scorecard: The ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ and its many amendments
The D.C. Scorecard tracks the votes of Tennessee’s two U.S. senators on the spending bill and its several dozen amendments now bound for a House reconciliation process.
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City of MemphisTrump taps familiar face for U.S. attorney of Western District
Dunavant was the chief federal prosecutor for West Tennessee during the first Trump administration.
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June 2025
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Shelby CountyCounty Commission re-mixes budget on eve of new fiscal year
A special meeting of the Shelby County Commission Monday was delayed for two hours in a dramatic rewriting of a key budget provision.
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Shelby CountyPolitical Roundup: Lowery stumps, red state strategies and new voter numbers
The Political Roundup looks at some sparks in the early field for Shelby County in the 2026 county elections and examines the political divide over what kind of a relationship a majority Democratic or blue city should keep with leaders of a red state.
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Shelby CountyCounty Commission Scorecard: Tracking budget and tax-rate votes
The County Commission Scorecard tracks the set of seven votes on a new county property tax rate that brought the county’s budget season to an end.
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Shelby CountyThe making of Shelby County’s budget and tax rate
The Commission meets in special session Monday, June 30, to vote on a budget amendment that would undo some of the $23.4 million in amendments it made to Mayor Lee Harris’s budget proposal.
Related content:
County Commission Scorecard: Tracking budget and tax-rate votes
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Behind The HeadlinesICE has made presence felt in Memphis — out of national spotlight
“Here in Memphis, anywhere from seven to 10 people every day at least are arrested by ICE in these quiet operations,” an attorney said.
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Behind The HeadlinesCandidates ‘have the responsibility for turnout’
The Shelby County Election Commission chairman and the elections administrator talked about low voter turnout and election off year mechanics on “Behind The Headlines.”
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City of Memphis$30M is ‘Band-Aid on a system that needs emergency surgery,’ MATA chair said
Memphis City Council member Chase Carlisle called the the Memphis Area Transit Authority’s budget “underwhelming.”
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Shelby CountyCounty Commission passes budget — with no property tax hike
A majority of Shelby County commissioners favored some kind of small property tax hike in the new budget, but ultimately couldn’t get seven votes on how to split up the additional revenue.
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City of MemphisExcess xAI tax revenue could be earmarked for Memphis pre-K
The council also talks Tuesday, June 24, about an MPD plan to install license plate readers along the city’s rights of way of state highways as a crime-fighting measure.
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Arts & CultureWhere things stand with Memphis museum projects
Construction on the Memphis Art Museum, what the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art will become when it moves Downtown, has continued. So has construction on the Metal Museum’s location in the Memphis College of Art building.
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Shelby CountyProperty tax face-off will close out county budget season
A potential property tax hike looms as the Shelby County Commission tackles its budget and the Sheriff’s Office fights for funding.
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Shelby CountyMayor Harris wants to add crime lab funding to budget
County commissioners wrestled with budget amendments Wednesday totaling well past the $100 million mark, including the county mayor’s proposal.
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Public SafetyMayor to limit solitary confinement in Shelby County prisons
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris plans to sign an executive order that will adopt United Nations Minimum Standards for the Treatment of Prisoners, also known as the Mandela Rules, for county prisons.
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Shelby CountyMayor Harris walks back tax hike
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris is changing the county property tax rate his administration is proposing to match the state’s certified rate.
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Shelby CountyAfter Mayor Harris vetoes grant, Ford moves to override
County mayor accused Ford of “not taking seriously” the federal indictment against him. At stake, right now, is a nearly $180,000 grant for an entertainment industry nonprofit.
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Shelby CountyPolitical Roundup: XAI divide grows, Young in D.C. and the race for governor
Also in the Political Roundup: City vs. county at Southwind High, a short history of going from the Senate to the governor’s mansion in Tennessee and Lee Harris on his successor and his next campaign.
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Shelby CountyIn critical week ahead, County Commission will wrangle budget and tax rate
Budget Committee Chair Miska Clay Bibbs said commissioners have little time to iron out details of 23 amendments to Mayor Lee Harris’ budget proposal.
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EducationMeharry Medical College announces Memphis expansion
The expansion and ribbon-cutting at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church follow Meharry’s acquisition of four Sanitas USA Inc. medical clinics in Memphis last month.
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Behind The HeadlinesHarris and Sugarmon find common ground in county budget season
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Shelby County Commissioner Erika Sugarmon talked about the ongoing county budget season, a proposed wheel tax hike and a new jail on “Behind The Headlines.”
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Shelby CountyCounty mayor’s property tax proposal becomes tax hike
The county property tax rate proposed by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris is four cents higher than the state’s certified rate, but he said it’s not a tax hike.
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Shelby CountyNew jail study looked at Shelby Farms, Firestone plant as potential sites
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office commissioned the study by Jim Hart, a jail management consultant with the University of Tennessee’s County Technical Advisory Service.
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ElectionsHeidi Kuhn formally announces bid for county mayor
In a social media post, Kuhn described the county as being “in crisis” and touted her expertise in county government.
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