Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Metro - Behind The Headlines

Democrats and Republicans strategize ahead of May county primaries

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 04:00:13 -0500

Leaders of the local Republican and Democratic parties talked about the May Shelby County primary elections on “Behind The Headlines.”

Reaction to No Kings police response centers on city permit process

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 3 Apr 2026 17:16:37 -0500

Memphis Mayor Paul Young talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the March 28 No Kings march that ended with Memphis Police pepper-spraying demonstrators.

Changes to county juvenile detention include uniforms and toothbrushes

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 04:00:09 -0500

The change in who runs the detention center on a daily basis began this past October — about the time the Memphis Safe Task Force began operations locally.

Changes to how sales tax revenue is divvied up will take effect in July

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 04:00:02 -0500

The new formula and its links to the city’s quest to create 10,000 new and renovated units of housing by 2030 is among the topics discussed on “Behind The Headlines.”

Spring sprung early — and with it, so does heightened Downtown security

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 04:00:07 -0500

Downtown Memphis Commission CEO Chandell Ryan talked on “Behind The Headlines” about an early spring on Beale Street and the city’s plan for enhancing safety.

Crime has dropped in Memphis. ‘Why' is a question that still divides.

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 7 Mar 2026 04:00:06 -0600

The Memphis Safe Task Force was among the topics discussed in a Behind The Headlines reporters roundtable.

MSCS could challenge state takeover in court

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 19:30:48 -0600

Republican sponsors of the bill have said they’ll push the Tennessee General Assembly to pass legislation that would kneecap the elected board by giving a new board of state appointees powers over MSCS.

Steve Mulroy's mixed review of the Memphis Safe Task Force

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 09:12:25 -0600

Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the Task Force and criticism Memphis Mayor Paul Young has taken.

Fixing Shelby County Jail is key to justice system, Green says

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 22:49:33 -0600

Interim Shelby County Public Defender Jerri Green talked on “Behind The Headlines” about dropping crime rates, the overflowing jail and the differing numbers used by different parts of the criminal justice system.

School board elections, superintendent contract 'irrelevant' with MSCS takeover looming, lawmakers say

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 7 Feb 2026 04:00:04 -0600

The Memphis-Shelby County Schools board is about to decide on the district’s leadership, and candidates are campaigning for school board seats. But two sponsors of a state bill say little, if any, of that matters.

Universal pre-K money in Shelby County tied up amid ongoing negotiations

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 20:59:35 -0600

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris’ goals as he leaves office at the end of August include negotiating new terms for funding universal prekindergarten services across the county.

Outgoing Public Defender: 'We're not into assembly line justice'

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 04:00:03 -0600

Phyllis Aluko said there’s been a shift in people’s attitudes toward crime, punishment and due process, but public defenders play a key role in upholding constitutional standards.

Immigration enforcement doing more harm than good, Memphis lawmakers say

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 04:00:08 -0600

State Sen. Raumesh Akbari and County Commission Chair Shante Avant discussed the Memphis Safe Task Force’s immigration role on “Behind The Headlines” as well as legislation that would allow a state takeover of Memphis schools.

Two of the biggest Memphis stories of 2025 have a surprising connection

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 3 Jan 2026 04:00:10 -0600

On Behind The Headlines, reporters discuss top local stories of 2025, including the link between the Memphis-Shelby County Schools ouster of Marie Feagins, and the arrival of the National Guard.

How clear is the line between immigration stops and MPD policy?

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 27 Dec 2025 04:00:03 -0600

Activists responding to immigration police calls on behalf of those detained said on “Behind The Headlines” the lines look blurred at times as a police stop is followed by a federal presence.

Services helping poor county residents are putting 'Band-Aids on bullet wounds'

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 05:48:39 -0600

The leader of Shelby County’s Community Services Division talks about the safety net of programs and the balancing act that comes with uncertain money.

'Largest development in the history of Downtown Memphis' faces hope and skepticism

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 13 Dec 2025 04:00:06 -0600

A future cloud computing hub — at the site of a another development that never panned out — is among the topics on “Behind The Headlines” a reporters’ roundtable.

'I don’t think I have seen a mug shot that is not Latino or African American,' county mayor says about Task Force arrests

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 6 Dec 2025 04:00:12 -0600

On “Behind The Headlines,” Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said he has tried to meet with federal officials from the Memphis Safe Task Force to talk about his concerns ICE agents are racially “profiling” Memphians.

Richmond wants to stay in charge at Memphis-Shelby County Schools

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Mon, 1 Dec 2025 06:29:17 -0600

“I’d love to have the permanent superintendent role,” interim Memphis school Superintendent Roderick Richmond said during a recent interview on WKNO-TV Channel 10’s “Behind The Headlines.”

State Rep. Pearson said he can work across the aisle without moderating his political views

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 04:00:01 -0600

State Rep. Justin J. Pearson talked about his tenure in the Tennessee House of Representatives and his views on the Memphis Safe Task Force on “Behind The Headlines.”