Suspended Shelby County Criminal Court Division 9 Judge Melissa Boyd’s attorneys say the allegations against her are an “intentional political move.” 

When the Tennessee General Assembly reconvenes in January, Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor plans to propose measures that would change bail laws, require law enforcement to report illegal immigrants and take some authority away from local jurisdictions. 

The case of one county commissioner against another was dismissed in court Wednesday, Dec. 20. 

Whitehaven resident Patricia Smith is one of about 10% of MLGW customers affected by billing issues over the past year due to faulty smart meters. 

Depending on the ruling, the focus could shift to plaintiff Joshua Holloway’s team to show Morant can be held liable.

Paul Young is getting a pay raise, FedEx delivers bad news and the Tigers take down Virginia.

Memphis City Council heard oppositions to the new Memphis Art Museum before giving the green light to an agreement with the Brooks Museum to run it and punted a vote on closing two streets in Chickasaw Gardens.

During the meeting, several citizens voiced their concerns about the planned changes. When it was announced the proposal would be withdrawn, audience members cheered.

If approved, members who serve two terms, or eight years, would get city health benefits for life. The council also approved a pay raise for incoming Mayor Paul Young and put a fifth referendum on the August 2024 ballot. 

Related story: 

City nails down Brooks Museum agreement, delays vote on Chickasaw Gardens gates

The City Council voted 8-2-1 Tuesday, Dec. 19, to approve conveying ownership of the stadium to the U of M Auxiliary Services Foundation and $120 million in cash to help pay for $220 million in renovations. 

Yolonda Brown, Marie Feagins and Cheryl Proctor will face a round of in-depth interviews in January.

“If you come through the doors of this building having committed one of these offenses, you will be held accountable,” Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy said.

“After seeing the barrage of allegations concerning Youth Villages, I felt the need to speak the truth. The truth is that we need more organizations like Youth Villages, not fewer — committed to transforming systems and improving the lives of people that for far too long have been left behind.” 

This week, for the first time under a 2016 law, Tennessee will give each of its public schools an A-F letter grade.

DA’s office has a new crime-fighting plan, a Germantown house has a “party on the side” and Memphis 901 FC goes west.

The Memphis City Council ends its term with a vote on a proposed extension of health benefits for some departing members and on a 2024 ballot question, allowing the body to set the pay for its members.

Shelby County commissioners also funded 21 new “youth development specialist” positions at Memphis-Shelby County Juvenile Court, and a rugby field for Memphis Inner City Rugby.

“We want to make it clear that those who violate the law will be prosecuted, and those who engage in violence or repeat nonviolent offenses will face the consequences, including incarceration.”

TDOT announced a plan to rebuild the I-55 bridge over the Mississippi River with funding from Gov. Bill Lee’s $3.3 billion Transportation Modernization Act.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland’s portrait was unveiled Friday at City Hall. 

Abortions are down and births are up, another ex-cop is ID’d in the Tyre Nichols case and alley-oops may be coming back to the Grizzlies. 

The Tennessee Department of Correction “housed potential aggressors in the same cells as potential victims of sexual abuse” and officials weren’t disciplined after substantiated cases of sexual misconduct. 

The Shelby County Commission’s final meeting of 2023 will review contract extensions for health care services at the jail and juvenile detention facilities along with a grant for the Memphis Inner-City Rugby program.

Memphis Police Department Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis told the Memphis City Council in February 13 additional officers were facing internal police charges related to Nichols’ death, but she did not identify them. 

Also happening this week: The Memphis City Council wraps up for the year, and the Memphis Tigers play top-ranked UVA.