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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.

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.

New MSCS board leaders say they won’t let the state takeover overshadow student needs

bhatch@chalkbeat.org (Bri Hatch) — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 04:00:04 -0500

Tamarques Porter and Sable Otey, two MSCS board members recently elected as this year’s chair and vice chair respectively, say they’re confident they can weather the storm.

Donor-funded consultant helped ready Memphis school takeover board during pause

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 9 Oct 2026 12:05:39 -0500

A consulting firm that worked with Houston’s school system during its takeover has quietly played a key role in readying the state-appointed board to resume control of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.

Assessor says SpaceXAI, data centers need new tax code

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Tue, 6 Oct 2026 20:07:22 -0500

New Shelby County Assessor Javier Bailey said he and other county assessors are working on legislation to tax data centers differently than they’re currently assessed.

Shelby County jail inmate killed

mevans@dailymemphian.com (Mary Evans) — Tue, 6 Oct 2026 21:43:40 -0500

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is launching a homicide investigation after an inmate’s death on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 201 Poplar.

New chief jail inspector brings nearly 50 years of experience

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 14:44:42 -0500

After a two-year retirement, 46-year veteran Anna Barnett is returning to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office to serve as chief inspector of the jail amid ongoing operational challenges.

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.

Short agenda Monday as new Shelby County Commission settles in

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 10:33:43 -0500

Commissioners will vote on committee chairs, including a first-term budget chair, after putting off an ethics commission revival and a data center moratorium in committee.

New county mayor focused on money

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 04:00:06 -0500

Almost a month into his four-year term, Shelby County Mayor Mickell Lowery said his top priority is the county’s financial stability.

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.

DA's office taps new leadership

mevans@dailymemphian.com (Mary Evans) — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 14:09:50 -0500

The appointments come as the District Attorney’s Office fills vacancies left by current Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman and Chris Lareau, according to the release.

Task Force's 1-year mark comes with questions

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 23:12:53 -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.

Detainees sue Shelby County over extreme heat, broken fire alarms, raw sewage at 201 Poplar

blagrone@dailymemphian.com (Brandon LaGrone II) — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:21:51 -0500

The lawsuit paints a picture of a facility in perpetual crisis, from a major air conditioning failure this summer as well as raw sewage backups, mold issues and pest infestations.

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.

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.