Just in time for Saturday’s Memphis Pride Festival and Pride Parade, a federal judge ruled the Tennessee drag ban unconstitutional. Judge Thomas L. Parker ruled in favor of Memphis-based Friends of George’s theater company saying: “To rewrite this law would not only violate the separation-of-powers principle, but it would also offer perverse incentives for legislators to continue their troubling trend of abdicating their responsibilities in exercising ‘considered legislative judgment.’”

In other news, a new poll shows the Memphis mayoral race is “wide open” with nearly 50% of voters undecided. Former Mayor Willie Herenton leads the crowded field with 13% of the vote. Meanwhile, Tennessee lawmakers passed a package of bills this year making adoption more accessible and faster. Additionally, Memphis and DeSoto County await a decision from U.S. District Judge Mark Norris on their dispute over wastewater treatment. Bruce McMullen, a City of Memphis attorney, blasted the DeSoto County sewer district saying, “That’s an entitled bunch there.”

Embattled Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert announced the Riverdale office would have a “soft opening” Tuesday. County officials have said the office has been ready to open to the public since Oct. 31 but Halbert has complained that it’s not ready due to staffing restrictions. Jerry “The King” Lawler received the AutoZone Liberty Bowl’s Distinguished Citizen Award on Sunday. Lawler, 73, suffered his second stroke last February and is recovering at his East Memphis home where the Daily Memphian caught up with the Memphis icon.

— Metro editor Jane Donahoe

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The ruling, released early Saturday morning, found that the bill was an unconstitutional restriction on free speech.

Political Roundup: Young opens HQ in Poplar Plaza, Wharton on name recognition By Bill Dries

New poll shows Herenton leading 'wide open' Memphis mayoral race By Samuel Hardiman

Laws make adoption easier and faster but raise questions By Ian Round

MPD charges man wounded by officer during Tuesday chase By Julia Baker

Analysis: Herenton sounds a lot like another Memphis mayor — Strickland By Samuel Hardiman

Rigged wiring kills four children in South Memphis apartment fire By Julia Baker

Memphis vs. DeSoto sewer decision heads to judge By Toni Lepeska

Vehicle-detecting cameras placed across Shelby County By Julia Baker

Halbert touts 'soft opening' Tuesday of clerk's Riverdale office By Bill Dries

In gun law push, Bill Lee's office memo says NRA prefers to 'round up mentally ill people' By The Associated Press

Blue Note co-founder turns to tequila — and saving big cats By Jennifer Biggs

MAS director boosts shelter save rate; rescue groups say strays out of control By Jane Roberts

Local, state officials take 'hard look' at Memphis criminal justice system By Julia Baker

No new superintendent by start of school year, MSCS board says By Aarron Fleming

The Life and Times of Jerry Lawler: At 73, crowns keep coming for 'The King' By Don Wade

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