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

Here's what to know about ballot amendments

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 20:33:11 -0500

Voters statewide will consider three constitutional amendments, while Memphis voters face three additional charter questions. House districts 84 and 93 also have unusual races.

County Commission advances data center pause

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 20:33:25 -0500

The Shelby County Board of Commissioners’ action mirrors the direction the Memphis City Council is going on data centers.

Turning Memphis red dominates Trump's Clarksville stop

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 05:44:24 -0500

Also in the political roundup, Tennessee’s GOP chairman talks about midterm trends, Justin J. Pearson’s ban letter goes public before he gets a copy and breaking ground for the new OUTMemphis center comes with culture war impact.

Kuhn says Kustoff is vulnerable in reelection bid

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 18:15:16 -0500

Heidi Kuhn, 8th Congressional District Democratic nominee, discusses her challenge of Republican incumbent David Kustoff on ‘Behind The Headlines.’

County Commission will take up data center moratorium of its own

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 15:10:48 -0500

The Shelby County Commission will take a first vote on a data center moratorium. It comes as the Memphis City Council is considering a similar proposal.

City Council passes tentative zoning for data centers

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 9 Oct 2026 19:07:35 -0500

Council members are still debating whether there should be a moratorium on new data centers to get public buy-in or at least an understanding of what the rules will do and what they won’t do.

Young orders 90-day data center review

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 9 Oct 2026 12:51:57 -0500

Memphis Mayor Paul Young issued an executive order Friday, Oct. 9, calling for a 90-day working group to develop guidelines for data centers in the city.

Justin J. Pearson says no U.S. military aid to Israel or Ukraine

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 8 Oct 2026 23:32:24 -0500

Democratic congressional nominee Justin J. Pearson talked about ongoing U.S. aid to Ukraine and “America First” on “Behind The Headlines.”

Memphis City Council will meet to resume session that ended in protest

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 7 Oct 2026 19:16:54 -0500

The second council meeting of the week was called after Tuesday’s session ended with police clearing the council chamber, leaving several items awaiting discussion and a vote.

Ford sentenced to 2 years in prison for tax evasion in grants scandal

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 6 Oct 2026 21:42:09 -0500

“I think: ‘Does anyone get it?’” U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker said of several letters from other elected officials urging leniency for Ford. “I think there may be a blind spot when it comes to public service.”

Mayor said 'broad overhaul' of land bank to follow dismissal of CEO

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 6 Oct 2026 15:42:51 -0500

Mayor Paul Young also talked about the return of trolleys, work toward a new Memphis Grizzlies lease at FedExForum as well as the status of the convention center hotel the city bought and other topics.

City Council faces 6 proposals for regulating data centers

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 6 Oct 2026 05:52:38 -0500

There are now six proposals compared to the three plans — including a one-year moratorium on new data centers — on the table three weeks ago.

Bailey's summit call in the shadow of SpaceXAI

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 5 Oct 2026 13:12:07 -0500

Also in the political roundup, Blackburn talks about affordability, Hagerty’s letter as Jack Smith testifies in the insurrection case, and the difficult mechanics of write-in voting.

Trump adds Tennessee stop to midterm campaign blitz

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 5 Oct 2026 10:44:13 -0500

The visit would come as Republicans try to flip the state’s last Democratic-held U.S. House seat under a new map that splits Memphis into three districts.

Last day to register to vote on Nov. 3 ballot is Monday

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 4 Oct 2026 13:55:45 -0500

The general elections for three newly drawn congressional districts that divide Shelby County are expected to be a potent draw on the Nov. 3 ballot along with a tightening race for governor.

Blackburn calls for return to electric chair after botched execution of Christa Pike

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 1 Oct 2026 23:53:57 -0500

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s reaction to the two failed attempts to carry out the death penalty in the case of Christa Pike is one of several, including a very different one from her rival, Democratic nominee Jerri Green.

Independent David Hatley brings campaign for governor to Memphis

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 1 Oct 2026 12:05:33 -0500

Also in the political roundup, Charlie Hatcher on KWAM, Chaz Molder’s fish fry in North Memphis and the art of canvassing and phone banking.

How Memphis Safe Task Force became a battleground for Tennessee Republicans and local Democrats

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 1 Oct 2026 04:00:02 -0500

The political backdrop of the Task Force includes a Republican tactic to take over local government and a conflict among local Democrats about how to respond to the operation.

Blackburn sues, Hagerty seeks disbarment of Special Counsel Jack Smith

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 18:03:48 -0500

The lawsuit and disbarment complaint from Tennessee’s two U.S. senators comes the day after Special Counsel Jack Smith testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington.

County commissioner wants to breathe new life into air-quality standards

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 18:16:38 -0500

A vote on resetting air-permit fees opened a move to address air quality concerns about data centers.