“With this group of mayors, I’ve never been more optimistic about our metro area,” said Shelby County Chamber Alliance and Bank of Bartlett President Harold Byrd.

Michael Stengel argued that prosecutors in the federal criminal case against the officers should not be allowed to call upon experts as witnesses to speak about the alleged use of excessive force against Nichols.

Former NAACP Memphis President Van Turner stressed the nonviolent nature of Courtney Anderson’s charges as the reason why he should be released. “A 163-year sentence for a nonviolent crime is excessive,” Turner said. 

Shelby County Chief Administrative Officer Harold Collins said Monday, Nov. 6, County Clerk Wanda Halbert has fallen behind on rent payments for her office in the Poplar Plaza shopping center. Halbert makes no mention of past-due rent.

The state trial is set to take place after the federal case the former Memphis Police Department officers are also facing.

Related story:

Attorney for former officer accused of killing Tyre Nichols moves to block expert testimony

MLK College Prep students will get to choose from among six schools to attend beginning next school year, as Memphis-Shelby County Schools begins construction of a new high school on the same site.

Big Brothers Big Sisters closure shocks many, police calls can get you evicted and the Tigers women’s soccer team are the champions. 

Mississippi voters head to the polls Tuesday to select candidates in statewide races, along with local offices.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mid-South, which was founded in 1968, recently closed and the shuttering of its doors surprised many — including those who had been mentors and mentees in the program. 

Renter Victoria Williams is thankful for the pilot program that keeps her landlord informed when police are called to rental homes in her neighborhood. But critics say it gives landlords too much power.

The city’s Liberty Park bonds are underwater. Documents show just how busy the Midtown Kroger and nearby Chick-fil-A are and how much they mean to the Liberty Park Tourism Development Zone. 

What’s ahead this week? Leftwich Tennis Center will reopen, Downtown Dining Week is happening, and Mississippi voters are headed to the polls.

Shelby County Juvenile Court is auditing its Detention Assessment Tool, which it uses to determine if youth accused of crimes will be kept in custody or sent home.

Bill Gibbons, president of the crime commission, said Memphis is not the only city seeing its crime rate rise, especially in the car theft category, “but that is little comfort.”

The mayor-elect says the city accounts for the possibility of making short-term bond payments on projects such as Liberty Park.

TVA built a training house on the Midtown Memphis campus where contractors can learn to identify weatherization problems, and how to correct them. The new course will start in January.

Deion Byrd was stabbed Oct. 26 in a holding cell awaiting a court appearance at the Walter L. Bailey Jr. Criminal Justice Center, more commonly known as 201 Poplar.

“These first two early appointments show our commitment to excellence and my commitment to creating an administration staffed with problem-solvers who are ready to work on day one,” said Memphis mayor-elect Paul Young.

After months of asking Tennesseans how the state should judge its public schools when giving them their first A-F letter grades, Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds mostly ignored the feedback.

Ben Crump gets another Memphis client, Downtown Local owner takes over Midtown Local space and Tigers win all around.

Details from the plea agreement reached in the federal criminal case against Desmond Mills Jr. shed more light on his role in Tyre Nichols’ death.

Related stories:

Plea deals reached for officer charged in Tyre Nichols’ death

Judge OKs release of additional materials in Tyre Nichols case

Files newly eligible for public release include 24 hours of video, audio, reports and personnel files of up to 17 City of Memphis employees related to the indictment and investigation. 

Deion Byrd’s family is the fifth in the Memphis-Shelby County area who have lost loved ones during interactions with law enforcement to hire Ben Crump for representation.

Beginning in February or March of 2024, work at Beale Street Landing will also render the dock there unusable for most of next year. 

“As soon as we uncovered evidence that he had these images, then obviously we secured a warrant and affected an arrest on him and terminated him that day,” said Chief Deputy Justin Smith.