State Government
Tennessee transgender legislation: A summary
Members of the LGBTQ+ community show concern as proposed Tennessee legislation targets drag shows and transgender issues.
Ben Wheeler
Ben Wheeler is an investigative reporter and is a member of The Daily Memphian’s public safety reporting team. He previously worked at the Yankton Daily Press and Dakotan and Herald-Citizen.
There are 175 articles by Ben Wheeler :
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March 2023
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Public Safety Judge makes critical ruling in rape-kit backlog case
The ruling will allow the plaintiffs to sue the city with a class-action status.
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City of Memphis Judge dismisses Alicia Franklin lawsuit against City of Memphis
Franklin claims if police had properly investigated her September 2021 rape and had subsequently arrested Cleotha Henderson, the abduction and death of Eliza Fletcher in September 2022 could have been avoided.
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Public SafetyTBI investigating Whitehaven shooting that hospitalized two officers
At the request of Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is looking at the Whitehaven shooting where two officers and a suspect were injured.
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State Government On brink of drag ban taking effect, Memphis theater company seeks federal injunction
Friends of George’s, a Memphis LGBTQ+ theater company, recently filed a First Amendment challenge to Tennessee’s new “drag ban” in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee.
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April 2023
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State Government Judge grants temporary injunction on ‘drag-ban’ law
The new state law, which prohibits drag shows where children might be present, would have gone into effect Saturday, April 1.
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Public SafetyCrump: Tyre Nichols’ family seeks $550 million in lawsuit
The family of Tyre Nichols, the man who died after being beaten by Memphis police in January, filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the City of Memphis.
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MetroNonprofits are helping bridge the socioeconomic gap
The Collective Blueprint is one part of an attempted solution to the city’s crime and poverty problems, a solution beyond the traditional approaches tried by leaders.
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Public SafetyThough dismissed last month, rape lawsuit against City of Memphis could be revived
New evidence should be considered in a dismissed lawsuit with ties to the death of Eliza Fletcher, according to recent court filings.
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May 2023
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Public SafetyCurfew enforcement has been mixed across the U.S.
Curfew programs often also take people off the streets who could report crimes, research shows.
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Public Safety Houston’s Restaurant sued for alleged racial profiling
A Mississippi couple has filed a lawsuit against Houston’s Restaurant and their managers after they say they were asked to leave due to what they say was racial profiling.
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City of Memphis Dog-gone: Memphis Animal Services director leaving
A city press release noted that under Alexis Pugh’s leadership, the save rate at Memphis Animal Services has “consistently improved” and finished 2022 at 86%.
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State Government Judge to rule on Tennessee ‘drag ban’ by June 2
“This is an effort of a reactionary group of lawmakers to push LGBT people back into the closet,” said attorney Brice Timmons. “We’re talking about pushing people back four decades.”
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Public Safety FBI confirms search warrant for Ford family home
The Federal Bureau of Investigation served a court-authorized search warrant at an address associated with Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. Thursday morning.
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City of Memphis Mistaken identity leads to arrest of four, family says
A call to the Memphis Police Department resulted in the arrests of four men after what the family said was a case of mistaken identity that led to a physical altercation with police.
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June 2023
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Arts & Culture With federal ruling on state drag law forthcoming, Pride events begin
Although enforcement of the state’s Adult Entertainment Act is under a temporary restraining order until June 6, organizers of this year’s Memphis Pride Festival say they’ve made some changes to the entertainment to ensure performers’ safety.
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State Government Federal judge rules Tennessee drag ban unconstitutional
The ruling, released early Saturday morning, found that the bill was an unconstitutional restriction on free speech.
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Shelby County40 deaths in 5 years: Drugs, suicide lead fatalities at 201 Poplar
Shelby County’s 201 Poplar is a jail, not a prison. It’s meant for short-term stays and pretrial detention, but there are some detainees who never get out.
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Public Safety City of Memphis to host hiring event in Puerto Rico
As part of the event, Memphis officials will look to recruit more police officers, as the department continues to hire toward its 2,500-officer target.
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Public Safety Decertification delayed against Hemphill in Tyre Nichols’ death
Action is delayed pending completion of a federal investigation. In the meantime, Hemphill will not be able to serve as a police officer anywhere in the state until he is removed from suspended status.
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Public Safety Person of interest in Young Dolph case killed
The man, whose remains were found this week, was never charged in connection to the rapper’s death, but was named a person of interest in February 2022.
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Public Safety Boyfriend of missing 4-year-old’s mother previously charged
Jaylon Hobson, the boyfriend of missing 4-year-old Sequoia Samuels’ mother, was arrested in May for two felony charges prior to being arrested Friday, June 16.
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Public Safety MPD asks for body-camera upgrades, Tasers in new budget
The technologies could help reduce human error, chief says.
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Public Safety DCS tried to take 4-year-old away, mom’s bail set at $500K
Brittney Jackson has been charged with aggravated child neglect, abuse of a corpse and making a false offense report in the death of Sequoia Samuels.
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Public Safety Circuit Court judge holds off ruling on reopening Alicia Franklin case
Alicia Franklin was allegedly raped by Cleotha Henderson, aka Cleotha Abston, in 2021 — more than a year before his arrest for the death of Eliza Fletcher.
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