With Election Day tomorrow, early voting in Shelby County primaries showed higher turnout than previous elections. Governor Bill Lee called a special session for redistricting, with U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn and Representative John Rose — Republican rivals in the primary for governor — calling to “flip Memphis” and eliminate Tennessee’s only Democratic-held U.S. House seat. 

The Memphis-Shelby County Schools state takeover dominated headlines throughout the week. The Shelby County Commission initially failed to fund a legal challenge to the takeover on April 27, but approved funding on May 4. The MSCS board met under the shadow of the takeover, discussing charter schools and contracts at what may have been their final meeting before a state oversight board is appointed. The Tennessee Legislature passed two bills aimed at District Attorney Steve Mulroy regarding cases from the Memphis Safe Task Force and added two more criminal court judges to Shelby County.

Questions about Memphis Police Department’s response to the No Kings march appeared and then disappeared from City Council’s agenda. The City Council later went behind closed doors to discuss MPD’s response, with Council member Jerri Green suggesting an outside investigation may be needed.The Memphis City Council debated lease lengths for city-owned properties, with disputes over language encouraging five-year terms for projects like the Children’s Museum and the new Metal Museum. Protesters blocked the entrance to xAI‘s Colossus I data center in Southwest Memphis, voicing concerns about air pollution in the area.

—Alys Drake, Digital Producer

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Ballot Basics: Everything you need to know as you head to the poll

Here’s everything you need to know about voting in Shelby County on the May 5 election day and a look at what is at stake in this election along with some trends in voter turnout.

Early voting's last day could see higher turnout than 2022 By Bill Dries

Legislature adds two more criminal courts to Shelby County By Aarron Fleming

Tennessee Legislature passes two bills aimed at DA Mulroy By Aarron Fleming, Noah McLane

TBI can now bypass Shelby County DA in some Memphis investigations By Aarron Fleming

Appeals court deals blow to lawsuit challenging National Guard  By Samuel Hardiman

Council hangs up over length of leases for city-owned properties By Bill Dries

MSCS board meets under shadow of state takeover By Laura Testino

Blackburn, Rose call to ‘flip Memphis' in wake of Supreme Court ruling By Bill Dries, The Associated Press

Trump says Gov. Lee on board with redistricting push By Bill Dries

Special session bid to 'Flip Memphis' becomes tip of political iceberg By Bill Dries

Ahead of special session, Democrats want G.A. Hardaway’s vacant seat filled By Noah McLane

Protesters block entrance to xAI's Memphis data center By Brandon LaGrone II

City Council goes behind closed doors to talk MPD's No Kings response By Bill Dries, Aarron Fleming

County Commission approves $200k in funding for MSCS takeover lawsuit By Bill Dries, Laura Testino

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