A high-ranking member of the Unknown Vice Lords was convicted last week of a gang-related murder. The Daily Memphian’s Bill Dries dove deep into the case file to bring readers the story behind the murder and how it unfolded within the local gang’s hierarchy. The documents detail how the investigation came together through informants, ballistics and other evidence, and offers a rare public glimpse inside the inner workings of a Memphis street gang.

The number of speeding tickets dropped in 2020 and has never increased back to pre-pandemic numbers. The number of fatalities have gone the other way. Some of the data may be attributable to national trends in policing and enforcement efforts and, the Memphis Police Department has begun to strategize about how to decrease speeding while insisting that stopping speeders remains a priority. The Daily Memphian’s Jody Callahan writes about the issue of speeding in the Memphis community from several angles, including the stats behind the story, how technology can help, how car insurance rates are impacted and how a traffic stop feels for the officer making it. 

Also, Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church announced a $310 million plan for the redevelopment of its campus in the Cleveland Street Corridor area. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy revealed plans for a limited local crime lab that could be housed within the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center. And a Memphis City Council member has a plan to convince the community it doesn’t need to spend $1 billion on a new campus for Regional One Health.

— Metro editor, Jane Donahoe

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The weeklong jury trial in Memphis federal court ended with the conviction of Ghost Mob leader Vincent Grant for the 2019 murder of a fellow gang member.

Anatomy of a gang murdering one of its own By Bill Dries

The changing political backdrop for the Ghost Mob case By Bill Dries

Shifting gang alliances make policing more difficult By Bill Dries

Everybody Speeds: Memphis-area tickets are down, but traffic deaths are up By Jody Callahan

Everybody Speeds: Where HAL 9000 meets the Highway Patrol By Jody Callahan

Everybody Speeds: 'You never know what you're going to encounter' By Jody Callahan

Instead of county building new Regional One, Jeff Warren has an idea By Jane Roberts

Mississippi Boulevard church announces $310M redevelopment plan By Bill Dries

The Blvd's pastor talks 'community-informed' master plan By Bill Dries

U of M raises tuition By Jody Callahan

Memphis hires hotel consultant as Sheraton deal remains incomplete By Samuel Hardiman

The plan for a focused crime lab run by Shelby County government By Bill Dries

MSCS forensic audit could begin as soon as mid-July By Laura Testino

DOJ dismissal won't affect civil suit, Nichols family attorney says By Aarron Fleming

Nichols' attorneys want stay lifted for former cops By Samuel Hardiman

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