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

Independent contenders make waves in race for governor

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 14:13:21 -0500

Lauren Pinkston and David Hatley are drawing the attention of the Democratic and Republican nominees for Tennessee Governor. Pinkston and Hatley are better funded than independent candidates usually are in the statewide race.

More 'focused time' in County Clerk's Office to clear car-title backlog

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 17:43:00 -0500

County Clerk La Sonya Hall says her office has cleared about half of the 34 crates of unprocessed car titles and vehicle registrations from car dealers so far.

Mayor Paul Young defends approach to SpaceXAI in preview of reelection campaign

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 20:54:14 -0500

Also in the political roundup, a new poll shows the race for Tennessee governor tightening, and one of two standout independent candidates campaigns in Memphis.

Task Force's 1-year mark comes with questions

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 10:33:41 -0500

A year since the presidential executive order that created the Memphis Safe Task Force was announced in the Oval Office, its impact and future are still being debated, touted and condemned.

State House hopeful bounced as write-in candidate

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:26:50 -0500

Kyler Gilkey was declared ineligible at Monday’s deadline for write-in candidates in the Nov. 3 election. It’s the latest wrinkle in a complex political puzzle. Meanwhile, five other contenders did qualify.

State House hopeful's write-in bid killed by 'sore loser' election laws

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:26:25 -0500

Kyler Gilkey’s second bid for public office this year was shut down by the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office because it was his second attempt at a state House of Representatives seat, albeit a different one.

City Council ponders pickleball displacement

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:23:40 -0500

Memphis Parks Director Justice Bolden provided more details on the roller derby’s future as council members pressed him about the league's displacement.

Memphis tensions spill into viral Reaves-Young showdown

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 15:06:51 -0500

As residents weigh in online, debates over SpaceXAI, the Safe Task Force and city leadership collide in one highly public exchange.

City Council members plan to ask Task Force to leave

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 16:07:20 -0500

On the one-year anniversary of the executive order that created and sent the Memphis Safe Task Force to the city, relatives and friends of those rounded up in the El Corralon nightclub raid told the council that raid and others have split families.

Lowery picks first 5 positions in new administration

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:28:51 -0500

Two weeks into his term as County Mayor, Mickell Lowery has made his first five appointments to his administration. The selections represent what Lowery calls a “culture shift” in county government.

Jail contract, clerk funds, judge appointment approved at first commission meeting

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 19:18:02 -0500

The County Commission authorized up to $6.1 million in funding to stabilize the Shelby County Clerk’s Office and approved a $37.9 million contract for healthcare at county jails.

Pipkin could go pickleball

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 15:49:14 -0500

The company that developed pickleball courts in a Bartlett movie theater two years ago wants to do the same at the Pipkin Building in Liberty Park.

Interim state rep calls off write-in campaign for late father's seat

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 15:45:24 -0500

Interim state Rep. T.J. Hardaway is backing a write-in effort by Kyler Gilkey, who had been seeking the District 84 seat vacated by veteran legislator Joe Towns Jr.

City Council returns to data center discussion with multiple proposals to regulate them

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 14:58:00 -0500

A trio of proposed ground rules for future data centers in Memphis is on a busy City Council agenda.

County Commission to vote on new chair, Clerk's Office funding and more

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

The Shelby County Commission, with eight new members, meets for the first time Monday to elect a new chair and vote on funding for the jail, a new health care contract for county prisoners and more.

Buckner says new jail could unfold one unit at a time

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 09:32:31 -0500

Shelby County Sheriff Anthony Buckner discussed getting ahead on jail maintenance, a new “step-down” unit for prisoners with medical conditions and a return to using a former federal prison in Millington on “Behind the Headlines.”

Clerk's office working Saturday to catch up with car title backlog

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:38:40 -0500

New Clerk La Sonya Hall announced the measures to clear a backlog of an estimated 2,600 car titles left over from previous clerk Wanda Halbert

Edmund Ford Jr. federal sentencing delayed for fifth time

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:11:15 -0500

The latest delay, which the judge granted Friday, Sept. 11, is the fifth since Ford pleaded guilty in February.

Matthew Szalaj claims Democratic nomination for TN House — and only 1 person got to vote

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 14:42:20 -0500

A single member of the Shelby County Democratic Party’s executive committee picked Szalaj to be the nominee for the Tennessee House of Representatives seat left vacant when Joe Towns Jr. was elected Criminal Court clerk.

Richardson charges are latest in recent string of allegations against elected officials

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:06:30 -0500

Ten days into the new Shelby County Commission’s four-year term, two commissioners have been formally charged with crimes, while two other local officials are part of investigations.