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

New historic marker honors Tom Lee and his Klondike community — then and now

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 04:00:14 -0500

The marker unveiled Wednesday is about the past but also the present push to restore and renovate the Klondike area where Lee lived out his life after he saved the lives of 32 people on the Mississippi River in 1925.

Redistricting could fuel higher turnout, election official says

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 14:15:05 -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.

Sheriff candidate Brad Less suggests separate jail to divert nonviolent offenders

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 14:14:21 -0500

Brad Less, the Republican nominee for Shelby County sheriff, talked on “Behind The Headlines” about immediate solutions to problems at the Shelby County Jail and life after the Memphis Safe Task Force.

GOP nominee for county mayor DeBerry defends state intervention in city and county

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 14:13:04 -0500

John DeBerry, the Republican nominee for Shelby County mayor, talked on “Behind The Headlines” about state intervention in Memphis and Shelby County as well as his hopes for a gradual withdrawal of the Memphis Safe Task Force.

Democratic sheriff nominee takes wait-and-see approach on cooperation with federal immigration

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 13:37:54 -0500

Anthony Buckner talked about immigration and the Memphis Safe Task Force as well as a new jail in a wide-ranging interview on “Behind The Headlines”.

Lowery: 'Collaboration' with state, not intervention or takeover

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 13:23:49 -0500

Democratic nominee for County Mayor Mickell Lowery talked about state intervention, his vote to raise county property taxes and tax breaks as economic development incentives on “Behind The Headlines.”

Council confirms new city leaders

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 19:22:29 -0500

The Memphis City Council also approved a change to the city’s structure for the trustee status MATA is currently operating under.

Two new city officials, stricter short-term rental terms to go before council

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 19:13:28 -0500

The Memphis City Council will act on the appointments for the city’s CFO and CAO and take final votes to add a pair of city charter change referendums to the Nov. 3 ballot for Memphis voters to decide.

Pearson rally puts Memphis at center of Democratic Party debate

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:49:32 -0500

Plus, GOP gubernatorial candidates push to change Tennessee constitution for tougher control over Memphis courts and the Memphis Safe Task Force.

Mayor Young signs city paid parental-leave policy

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 14:28:14 -0500

Memphis Mayor Paul Young signed an executive order that puts in place up to six weeks of fully paid leave for full-time city employees following the birth, adoption or fostering of a child.

More than 9,000 cast early and absentee ballots in first two days of early voting

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:29:14 -0500

Most of the early and absentee votes in the first two days of the ongoing early voting period were cast in Democratic state and federal primaries.

District 8 congressional candidates make final pitches ahead of August primary

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 10:25:46 -0500

Local Democrats closed out their candidate forums for the city’s three newly drawn congressional districts in, while a Millington event drew a Republican nominee for county mayor and videos from two contenders for governor.

Task Force returns as issue in August primaries

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 10:22:43 -0500

Two fatal Memphis Safe Task Force shootings in four days have returned the federal presence to the campaign spotlight as an issue.

Early voting begins Friday, and high-profile endorsements are already rolling in

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 10:22:11 -0500

The most complex ballot of the three 2026 Shelby County elections begins early voting Friday. President Donald Trump and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have both endorsed candidates in the 9th Congressional District race.

10 apply for two new Criminal Court Judge positions

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 09:05:05 -0500

Shelby County’s two new courts are dedicated to violent crime cases.

Hundreds of absentee ballots lack some judicial races and charter question

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:28:11 -0500

About 700 absentee voters in Shelby County will receive a supplemental ballot that is expected to arrive by July 15.

AOC to stump for Justin Pearson in Memphis

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:24:37 -0500

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is coming to the city with two other Democratic U.S. House members. Meanwhile, House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan is endorsing state Sen. Brent Taylor in the companion Republican primary.

5th Congressional District Democrats talk Task Force in forum

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:23:42 -0500

The forum at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church drew all five candidates for the August 6 Democratic primary, who each hope to win the seat of incumbent Republican Congressman Andy Ogles.

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

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:19:53 -0500

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

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

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:19:36 -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.