County Commission approves most federal COVID aid use
Commissioners approved the plans for using $58 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding, but several challenged Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris’ plans for the remaining $10 million.
Topic: Lee Harris
RSSThere are 348 article(s) tagged Lee Harris:
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October 2021
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County Commission to vote on how to spend $52M in ARPA funds
The approval of the spending, which includes $19.1 million for Regional One Health and $4.4 milion to expand health care access to uninsured Shelby Countians, is county general fund money available as the federal ARPA money goes to account for lost county revenues in the pandemic.
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Morgan opens county mayoral bid with criticism of pandemic response
The second-term Memphis City Council member declared his candidacy Monday, Oct. 11. In his interview with The Daily Memphian, Morgan talked about what to expect from his campaign.
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Council member Morgan launches bid for Shelby County mayor
The two-term City Council member began an exploratory campaign earlier this year and formally launched his bid on Monday, Oct. 11.
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September 2021
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Elected officials react to Collierville shooting
Some of the reaction called for an immediate look at the causes of such violence as part of a national debate while others called for supporting those grieving from the loss of life, at least for now.
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County Commission Scorecard: Missing votes, fixing ethics and a bonus vote
The Commission Scorecard recaps critical votes at the Aug. 23 meeting and an overtime vote at a special Aug. 30 session. The special meeting may have been the last word on bonuses for county employees. But it is far from the last word on the underlying issue that drew out the final vote across two meetings in one week.
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Moody talks challenging Harris in Democratic county mayor’s primary
The special assistant to Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland talked about his exploratory campaign for mayor Wednesday, Sept. 8, and sounded very much like he is in the race while taking a few jabs at incumbent Mayor Lee Harris.
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August 2021
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Harris hopes Downing’s letter on masking inspires ‘other insiders’
“All our leaders around the state and region understand the connection between rising case counts and bans on masking,” mayor says.
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Harris ethics complaints dismissed
The two complaints were over a 2020 contract for a $1 million marketing campaign to urge Shelby Countians to wear masks.
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County Commission approves employee pay raises and bonuses
During the spring budget season, the commission opted for the one-time bonuses over a pay raise proposed by County Mayor Lee Harris. But after the fiscal year started, the move began to grant the pay raises as well as bonuses.
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County Commission Scorecard: New action overrides mayor’s earlier veto
The commission scorecard focuses on a rare veto by the county mayor and the County Commission’s vote earlier this month to override that veto. It’s another chapter in a contentious political saga as the commission enters the last year of its current four-year term of office.
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Harris warns commission of ‘dangerous ground’ in veto of ethics panel
The Shelby County Commission voted Monday, Aug. 9, to override the veto of a new ethics advisory panel the commission would appoint.
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Commission overrides Harris veto of county ethics advisory panel
The veto override by the commission is the latest chapter in an ongoing dispute between County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. and Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris.
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Latest Ford-Harris clash could be over proposal for ‘special counsel’
The attorney advising the Shelby County Commission would be separate from the county attorney’s office under a proposal on which the commission is expected to take its first vote Monday.
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Harris considering weekly COVID testing for some county employees
The Shelby County mayor says a survey of county employees found that 70% had already been vaccinated.
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Harris re-election speculation and ‘People’s Summit’ stir political pot
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris says it is too early to announce whether he will run for a second term. But local Democrats are anxious for an answer. Meanwhile the local Democratic party has a two-way race for a new chairman next month and the coalition for a “Moral Budget” talked about tax rate regrets at the “People’s Summit” in Whitehaven.
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July 2021
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Morgan appoints treasurer in possible 2022 bid for county mayor
Morgan is in his second term on the City Council, which has a limit of two consecutive terms. Contenders for county offices in the May Democratic and Republican primaries can’t begin pulling petitions to get on the ballot until Dec. 20.
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Ford-Harris bad blood renewed over county pay bonuses
Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. wants the county to get the bonuses to county workers in the next pay period. County Mayor Lee Harris says the county needs to be sure the use of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds is allowed before it cuts checks.
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Ida B. Wells statue unveiling spotlights new issues
A new monument on Beale Street honors the 19th century school teacher, journalist and anti-lynching figure. The recognition comes 130 years after Wells left the city just ahead of a mob that ransacked her newspaper office.
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Shelby County models collaborative with nonprofits on COVID response
The collaborative with more than 150 local nonprofits is to tackle long-terms needs and problems in the same rapid and sustained way the countywide COVID task force has handled the local response to the pandemic.
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June 2021
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End of Byhalia pipeline truce approaches with more specific proposals
Sarah Houston, executive director of the nonprofit “Protect Our Aquifer,” talked on “Behind the Headlines” about the end of a truce between the City Council, County Commission and the builders of the proposed Byhalia Connection oil pipeline.
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County Commission drops one-cent hike in property tax rate
The absence of four county commissioners, including three of the “yes” votes for the $3.45 property tax rate set two weeks ago, was crucial to undoing the tax hike. However, the issue is likely not over.
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Harris proposes county ethics reforms
Some of the changes proposed and outlined on The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast address issues that came up in the allegations made against county commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. in an independent investigation made public last month in The Daily Memphian.
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County Commission contemplates definition of stable property tax rate
The Monday, June 7, session of the County Commission could mark the end of the 2021 budget season with a series of final votes on a $1.4 billion consolidated budget and a county property tax rate considered stable if it drops from the current $4.05 to $3.45.
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May 2021
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Federal agencies leaving Pipkin vaccine site Wednesday
The site will remain open, but with new hours beginning Thursday.
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