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

Lee greenlights special session for redistricting next week

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 3 May 2026 13:31:31 -0500

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has called a special session of the Tennessee Legislature to consider redrawing the lines of the state’s nine Congressional districts in a bid to turn the state’s largest and only blue district red in this year’s midterm elections.

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

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 3 May 2026 04:00:06 -0500

The political roundup connects the dots on the call to redraw U.S. House district lines ahead of August Congressional primaries to the broader call by Republicans for more state control of the city.

Early-voter turnout spikes in last days

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 2 May 2026 15:15:30 -0500

More than 57,000 early votes were cast in the 14-day period ahead in the Shelby County primaries. Here’s how that compares to past turnout in the same election cycle and what it could say about Election Day.

Congressional redistricting joins busy political horizon

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 2 May 2026 04:00:13 -0500

A landmark Supreme Court ruling has put the boundaries for Tennessee’s nine congressional districts in play, especially the Memphis-centric district now represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen.

County Commission to meet on funding for MSCS lawsuit against takeover

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 1 May 2026 18:56:28 -0500

The commission will try again on a resolution to provide county funding for a legal challenge of the state’s pending takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

‘An alternate Memphis’: Baron Von Opperbean opens the multiverse at Mud Island

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 1 May 2026 13:45:49 -0500

The immersive experience “Baron Von Opperbean and The River of Time” opens Friday, May 1, in the old River Museum at Mud Island River Park.

Trump says Gov. Lee on board with redistricting push

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:00:35 -0500

Trump posted Thursday on social media that he had talked with Gov. Bill Lee about a special session of the Tennessee legislature. Lee hasn’t commented.

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

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:53:22 -0500

Thursday is the final day to vote early in the Shelby County primaries ahead of the May 5 Election Day.

Blackburn, Rose call to ‘flip Memphis' in wake of Supreme Court ruling

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:37:48 -0500

The calls to eliminate Tennessee’s only Democratic-held U.S. House seat follow Wednesday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that changes the Civil Rights Act standards for drawing legislative districts.

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

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:00:04 -0500

The sticking point is language that encouraged the administration to try to negotiate leases for terms of five years for projects like the Children’s Museum of Memphis and the new Metal Museum.

City Council goes behind closed doors to talk MPD's No Kings response

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:26:04 -0500

Council member Jerri Green said she wasn’t told why the items were removed from discussion but said an outside investigation of MPD may be needed.

Ready. Set. Vote.

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:26:31 -0500

Early voting ahead of the May 5 election day in Shelby County begins Wednesday, April 15, at 26 locations across the county. Here’s everything you need to know about the start of the first election of 2026.

County Commission fails to fund MSCS takeover lawsuit

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:49:28 -0500

A procedural vote Monday, April 27, killed a maneuver to fund a legal challenge by Memphis-Shelby County Schools to the state’s takeover of the school system. But there could be a second try.

No Kings questions appear, then disappear from City Council agenda

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:49:49 -0500

As a march of more than 1,000 people Downtown was winding down, police pepper-sprayed and tackled individuals at the rear of the crowd. Some council members wanted to discuss that in Tuesday, April 28, committees but the items were taken off the agenda.

County Commission fills a board vacancy, approves a Downtown board appointment

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 19:43:03 -0500

The Shelby County Commission welcomed a new member to the group that determines defendants’ bail and other conditions for release and also approved emergency Sheriff’s Office funding.

Clerks, the trustee and the register: The other races on the 2026 county primary ballot

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:57:33 -0500

Here is an overview of seven races on the May ballot that aren’t getting as much attention as the races for county mayor, Shelby County Board of Commissioners and county clerk.

Democratic mayoral candidates on MSCS lawsuit, Task Force, jail

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 06:43:57 -0500

With Election Day around the corner, it was a busy week in Shelby County. Mayoral contenders hit forums across the area to talk with voters one-on-one. Meanwhile, early voting turnout is higher than the pivotal 2018 County primaries.

County Commission could discuss funding a challenge of MSCS takeover

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 15:31:04 -0500

Over the weekend, two Shelby County officials talked about the possibility of commissioners considering taking legal action to stop the school district takeover.

Mason Temple renovation marks latest chapter for civil rights landmark

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 04:00:15 -0500

The 81-year-old Mason Temple is getting a renovation, the latest in a series for the landmark that has a dramatic history as the place where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his final speech the night before he was assassinated.

County government could fund legal challenge of MSCS state takeover

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 15:01:21 -0500

Two contenders in the Democratic primary for Shelby County Mayor, Mickell Lowery and Harold Collins, each said private talks could surface to get around a state law that prevents school boards from using public money to fight a school system takeover by the state.