Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | News in Shelby County TN | Shelby County TN Breaking News

State opens applications for 2 new divisions of Shelby County Criminal Court

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 13:57:20 -0500

The new law came after the county lost two judicial seats in 2024, one in Shelby County Criminal Court and a second in Shelby County Circuit Court.

201 Poplar goes back to work

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 12:10:13 -0500

The Walter L. Bailey Criminal Justice Center reopened Wednesday, July 1, after a two-day shutdown by a Health Department order after a water main burst and flooded the lower level.

201 Poplar reopening Wednesday but long-term questions remain

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 06:58:34 -0500

Courts and offices that shut down for two days will resume regular operations Wednesday. But the renewed debate about the building’s condition — and what to do about it — continues.

Trial date set in Tami Sawyer's federal embezzlement case

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 12:16:24 -0500

The trial date is tentative as Sawyer’s attorney is about to get an estimated 50,000 documents used by prosecutors to make their case against her.

County Commission passes budget with new property tax rate

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 06:02:47 -0500

Shelby County commissioners used extra decimal places Monday, June 29, in setting a new county property tax rate.

201 Poplar flooding could keep courts closed ‘until later this week’

wrogin@dailymemphian.com (Wallis Rogin) — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 17:39:21 -0500

A water line break leaves the Walter L. Bailey Criminal Justice Center temporarily closed, forcing some courts to reschedule dates and pause operations.

201 Poplar courts closed for 'imminent health hazard'

wrogin@dailymemphian.com (Wallis Rogin) — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 18:25:10 -0500

Signs on the doors of 201 Poplar say: “This building ‘must not be occupied’ until” the Health Department grants permission to reopen.

Shelby County Commission to take final vote on $2.71 property-tax rate

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 28 Jun 2026 15:36:13 -0500

The commission also votes on budget amendments, including a move away from plans by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris to start planning on a new Treadwell K-8 school.

Incoming County Commissioner accused of misusing taxpayer dollars

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:41:47 -0500

Incoming Shelby County Commissioner Lashanta Rudd is accused of buying a Nissan Sentra and incurring at least $5,000 in improper expenses using City of Memphis taxpayer dollars.

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

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 11:37:46 -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.

City and county budget seasons are winding down. Here's what two local leaders have to say.

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 04:00:04 -0500

The Shelby County Commission is looking at a possible tax increase while the Memphis City Council is expected to keep the city’s tax rate the same.

Eight candidates certified for Criminal Court judicial race

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 21 Jun 2026 18:32:59 -0500

The election is Aug; 6. The Shelby County Election Commission is preparing to mail out notices to inform county voters of their new congressional districts.

Tami Sawyer suspended as clerk, Stanton appointed as interim

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 06:34:52 -0500

General Sessions Court judges suspended their clerk with pay two days after she made her first court appearance on federal theft, wire fraud and money laundering charges.

County Commission sets (tentative) property tax rate

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 22:44:46 -0500

Commissioners delayed votes on operating and capital budgets to a June 29 meeting that will also include a final vote on the property tax hike.

Tami Sawyer indicted, faces federal corruption charges

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 08:09:36 -0500

The Shelby County General Sessions Court clerk was seen in custody at the Odell Horton Federal Building.

County Commission has major decisions to get budget and tax rate across finish line

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 10:07:27 -0500

Adding more funding to county reserves is competing with a scaled-down lawsuit settlement, more spending and a basic tax rate that has been reduced by the state for the new fiscal year.

Souls to the Polls rally mixes political optimism with hardcore organizing

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 06:05:33 -0500

Outrage over the redrawing of congressional district lines is fueling get-out-the-vote efforts in Memphis. The formal effort went public Sunday with a Souls at the Polls rally, where candidates were seen but not heard.

Another 201 Poplar inmate dies

jcallahan@dailymemphian.com (Jody Callahan) — Thu, 4 Jun 2026 11:50:23 -0500

The inmate was arrested May 27 after allegedly stealing $258.91 in merchandise from a local TJ Maxx.

County commissioners consider keeping $2.69 property tax rate

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 4 Jun 2026 06:56:10 -0500

Shelby County commissioners talked Wednesday, June 3, about leaving the county property tax rate at $2.69. It’s a discussion they’ve had in past budget seasons with different rates. But this year’s decision may be different.

Sixth special judicial race coming to Aug. 6 ballot

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 2 Jun 2026 16:39:00 -0500

A Shelby County judge has moved up his retirement date, so the Election Commission is adding a race for his position to the other five already on the ballot.

Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | News in Shelby County TN | Shelby County TN Breaking News

State opens applications for 2 new divisions of Shelby County Criminal Court

201 Poplar goes back to work

Related content:

201 Poplar reopening Wednesday but long-term questions remain

Trial date set in Tami Sawyer's federal embezzlement case

County Commission passes budget with new property tax rate

201 Poplar flooding could keep courts closed ‘until later this week’

Related content:

201 Poplar courts closed for 'imminent health hazard'

Shelby County Commission to take final vote on $2.71 property-tax rate

Incoming County Commissioner accused of misusing taxpayer dollars

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

City and county budget seasons are winding down. Here's what two local leaders have to say.

Eight candidates certified for Criminal Court judicial race

Tami Sawyer suspended as clerk, Stanton appointed as interim

Related content:

County Commission sets (tentative) property tax rate

Tami Sawyer indicted, faces federal corruption charges

County Commission has major decisions to get budget and tax rate across finish line

Souls to the Polls rally mixes political optimism with hardcore organizing

Another 201 Poplar inmate dies

County commissioners consider keeping $2.69 property tax rate

Sixth special judicial race coming to Aug. 6 ballot