How Mayor Young wants to work with the Memphis Safe Task Force — instead of contesting it
Mayor Paul Young is aware his strategy — and the Task Force itself — are controversial.
Topic: Behind The Headlines
RSSThere are 318 article(s) tagged Behind The Headlines:
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October 2025
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Mayor Young says Sheraton hotel deal worth delays
Memphis Mayor Paul Young said on “Behind The Headlines” the city’s $22 million purchase of the 600-room hotel helps protect the city’s $200 million investment in the Renasant Convention Center.
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County commissioners split on whether to fight Harris’ veto
Shelby County Lee Harris’ veto of a resolution to move school board elections and the National Guard coming to town were hot topics on “Behind the Headlines.”
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September 2025
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Why aren’t there more starter homes in Memphis?
“Right now we’re at a point where the cost of constructing housing is so high,” the City of Memphis’ chief of infrastructure and development said.
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Reporters explore National Guard questions, remember Les Smith
WKNO’s “Behind the Headlines” remembered Smith, who died Sept. 17, for his early contributions to the show. The reporter’s roundtable edition also discussed the pending National Guard deployment to Memphis.
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How U of M scientists navigate conspiracy theories and the polarized world of public health
To the dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Memphis, its mission begins — but doesn’t end — with data.
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MATA roils in turmoil. What’s the next step?
Reporters’ roundtable looks at the problems plaguing Memphis Area Transit Authority, and the new trial for former Memphis Police officers convicted in Tyré Nichols’ death.
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August 2025
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Universal pre-K in Memphis navigates Head Start shakeup
As Porter-Leath works to enroll thousands more prekindergarten students, early-childhood education organization First 8 Memphis is continuing efforts toward free, quality classrooms for kids.
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How to keep interest in Downtown Memphis ahead of big projects
The head of the Downtown Memphis Commission talks on “Behind The Headlines” about what’s beyond Downtown’s waiting period for several new and renovated institutions to come online.
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Opinion: Tennessee legislators lob insults but lack ideas
“With a striking sense of amnesia, the lawmakers are eager to take over Memphis’ school board, apparently forgetting the state has already taken over many low-performing schools and been unable to do anything to help them.”
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Two state lawmakers plan to push for MSCS takeover
Rep. Mark White and Sen. Brent Taylor, both Republicans, propose the next steps for their bills that would give the state more power over Memphis-Shelby County Schools.
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Taller homes and 3-D houses among affordable housing strategies
Two developers of affordable housing and the head of the city’s Housing and Community Development Division talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the latest wrinkles in building more affordable housing to meet a citywide shortage.
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July 2025
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School board members say lawsuit possible if terms shortened
Memphis-Shelby County Schools board members Natalie McKinney and Michelle McKissack talked on “Behind The Headlines” about a coming Shelby County Board of Commissioners vote that could shorten the terms of five elected board members.
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The Blvd’s $300 million plan just piece of neighborhood’s bigger pie
The pastor of The Blvd talked about the project on “Behind The Headlines,” with the CEO of Crosstown Concourse and the Meharry Medical College official who’s leading the Nashville college’s reach into Memphis.
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Candidates ‘have the responsibility for turnout’
The Shelby County Election Commission chairman and the elections administrator talked about low voter turnout and election off year mechanics on “Behind The Headlines.”
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June 2025
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In critical week ahead, County Commission will wrangle budget and tax rate
Budget Committee Chair Miska Clay Bibbs said commissioners have little time to iron out details of 23 amendments to Mayor Lee Harris’ budget proposal.
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County mayor’s property tax proposal becomes tax hike
The county property tax rate proposed by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris is four cents higher than the state’s certified rate, but he said it’s not a tax hike.
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After building homeless shelter in North Memphis, nonprofit looks south
“There’s a lot of homeless children in Southeast Memphis,” Hospitality Hub Executive Director Kelcey Johnson said. “Southeast Memphis leads the county in evictions, almost three times as many as the rest of the city combined.”
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May 2025
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Memphis Zoo’s evolving role in conservation comes at a cost
Memphis Zoo CEO Matt Thompson talks on “Behind The Headlines” about rising costs and lower attendance figures as well as how the zoo’s focus on elephants in an upcoming exhibit.
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Will city stay committed to police reforms after DOJ changes position?
Following the U.S. Department of Justice’s scathing report highlighting police abuses of power, Memphis Mayor Paul Young said the city would not enter into any federal consent decree with the DOJ.
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Federal funding cuts accelerate uncertainty for Memphis nonprofits
The leaders of two local safety-net nonprofits are watching Washington as closely these days as they watch a long list of clients and the bank balance of their organizations.
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Memphians ‘shocked’ at verdicts for ex-cops charged in Tyre Nichols’ death
“I think you could hear a pin drop in the courtroom when the judge read out the verdict: ‘not guilty, not guilty, not guilty,’ seven times, not guilty for each officer,” Memphis journalist Katherine Burgess said.
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‘Clap Three Times’ — but don’t listen to the lyrics — on The Sidebar
On this week’s Sidebar podcast, Eric Barnes is interviewed about music, work and how he doesn’t listen to the lyrics.
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Mulroy said Brent Taylor’s latest move is ‘face-saving bit of window dressing’
“There never was a case for removal or even investigation in the first place, and you don’t have to take my word for that,” Shelby County DA Steve Mulroy said on WKNO-TV’s “Behind The Headlines.”
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April 2025
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Just City leader says criminal cases moving too slowly
A recent report from the state comptroller’s office noted inefficiencies in the local criminal justice system. Fixing them could have implications for the Shelby County Jail.
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