Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Bill Dries

4 mayors, 1 city: Young interviews the Memphis mayors before him

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 2 Jul 2026 21:22:31 -0500

Mayor Paul Young said he wants to shift the perspective of mayoral accomplishments to be throughout several administrations. To make his point, he interviewed previous Memphis mayors: Willie Herenton, A C Wharton Jr. and Jim Strickland.

State opens applications for 2 new divisions of Shelby County Criminal Court

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 13:57:20 -0500

The new law came after the county lost two judicial seats in 2024, one in Shelby County Criminal Court and a second in Shelby County Circuit Court.

201 Poplar goes back to work

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 12:10:13 -0500

The Walter L. Bailey Criminal Justice Center reopened Wednesday, July 1, after a two-day shutdown by a Health Department order after a water main burst and flooded the lower level.

201 Poplar reopening Wednesday but long-term questions remain

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 06:58:34 -0500

Courts and offices that shut down for two days will resume regular operations Wednesday. But the renewed debate about the building’s condition — and what to do about it — continues.

Trial date set in Tami Sawyer's federal embezzlement case

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:16:24 -0500

The trial date is tentative as Sawyer’s attorney is about to get an estimated 50,000 documents used by prosecutors to make their case against her.

County Commission passes budget with new property tax rate

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 06:02:47 -0500

Shelby County commissioners used extra decimal places Monday, June 29, in setting a new county property tax rate.

Shelby County Commission to take final vote on $2.71 property-tax rate

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 15:36:13 -0500

The commission also votes on budget amendments, including a move away from plans by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris to start planning on a new Treadwell K-8 school.

How many Shelby County voters are moving among the 3 new congressional districts?

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 04:00:12 -0500

Also in the political roundup: Washington’s affordable-housing standoff, the Ultimate Fighting Championship plot and A C Wharton Jr. warns Mickell Lowery about being mayor.

Redistricting could fuel higher turnout, election official says

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 27 Jun 2026 04:00:09 -0500

Election officials talk on “Behind The Headlines” about the disruption of new congressional districts and how that could lead to an increase in voter turnout.

Mayor Young shakes up city leadership

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 15:05:21 -0500

Mayor Paul Young has named a new No. 2 at the COO post and a new CFO as well as an interim city engineer.

Memphis City Council approves $5M for AutoZone Park

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 20:13:47 -0500

The Memphis City Council approved $5 million for repairs and renovation work at AutoZone Park. It will take a broader look at multiple uses for the ballpark that is home to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds.

Solid waste pay raise, 11 amendments complicate city budget

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 04:00:07 -0500

The city’s new fiscal year starts July 1. Here are the issues and budget amendments that the City Council will work through at their last regular meeting in June.

'Wild, wild west:' Write-in race for Hardaway house seat heats up

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:48:34 -0500

Three candidates are planning write-in campaigns for the District 93 House seat most recently held by G.A. Hardaway.

Eight candidates certified for Criminal Court judicial race

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 18:32:59 -0500

The election is Aug; 6. The Shelby County Election Commission is preparing to mail out notices to inform county voters of their new congressional districts.

Lowery warns against complacency as county mayor race heads to Aug. 6

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 11:37:46 -0500

Lowery in Eads, Taylor in Piperton. The political roundup is on the campaign trail and includes a D.C. roundup with reaction to the memorandum of understanding with Iran.

City and county budget seasons are winding down. Here's what two local leaders have to say.

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 04:00:04 -0500

The Shelby County Commission is looking at a possible tax increase while the Memphis City Council is expected to keep the city’s tax rate the same.

T.J. Hardaway to run write-in campaign for late father's state House seat

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:11:29 -0500

Hardaway, who was appointed to the District 93 seat in time for May’s special legislative session, announced his bid for a full two-year term.

Tami Sawyer suspended as clerk, Stanton appointed as interim

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 06:34:52 -0500

General Sessions Court judges suspended their clerk with pay two days after she made her first court appearance on federal theft, wire fraud and money laundering charges.

Tami Sawyer indictment renews Republican push for state intervention

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 06:32:18 -0500

One of the Republican contenders for governor says it’s time “to shake up the court system in Shelby County.”

‘Bigger than the devil’: Hernandez Govan is back in custody, only this time it’s federal

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:06:49 -0500

A federal magistrate judge denied Govan’s request for bail following a hearing that detailed explicit threats of violence, extortion and a criminal history spanning decades.