Last month, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and District Attorney General Steve Mulroy announced the purchase of four new rapid DNA machines, giving local law enforcement the ability to turn DNA test results around in 90 minutes. 

Marine biologist Rachel Diner and her team at the University of Memphis are examining the microbiomes of an animal with a dramatically different body than our own: the oyster.

“We have got to come up with some means of keeping our tax base steady and, likewise, growing and developing our city,” the incoming Shelby County property assessor said. “Otherwise, we’re going to look like Gary, Indiana.”

It took about two hours to administer the oaths of office Monday, Aug. 31, to a group of 30 elected county leaders who formally begin four-year terms of office Tuesday.

More than 20 small business owners gathered at Tamboli’s Pasta & Pizza in Midtown Monday afternoon to call for elected leaders to do more about the Memphis Safe Task Force’s presence in the city.

Brown was the first Black quarterback in Memphis Tigers history. The Sweetwater, Tennessee, native went on to become a Super Bowl-winning assistant coach with the Seattle Seahawks.

The one-year moratorium on new data centers would be to develop guidelines and regulations for the centers as part of the county’s Unified Development Code.

The library escalators are back on the up and up.

A sweeping federal immigration operation at a neighborhood bar resulted in the detention of an estimated 100 patrons, sparking widespread condemnation from local advocates and a response from the mayor.

At its peak, the company’s non-permitted turbine count was 69, according to federal court documents and Mississippi state records.

A very local holiday anchors this week but there’s plenty of other happenings coming up. 

Another data center is coming, a dentist is opening a piano bar and we’ve got the recipe for Cocozza’s meatballs.

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris leaves office Tuesday after eight years in office and a unique governing style that shifted county government’s priorities. 

Tennessee governor candidates outline their education platforms and positions on policies such as the state’s third grade reading retention law.

Five years ago, Colt Adkins, at almost 3 months old, died after a series of failures by staff at a childcare center owned by Raven Marshall-Lewis. 

“If a serious charge generated through the Memphis Safe Task Force is not prosecuted, citizens have a legitimate interest in knowing what happened. That is not an attack on prosecutors. It is accountability.”

“Advocating against the Anti-Bail Fund Legislation is not to stand for the release of convicted felons, but rather to stand and say that the legislation is flawed at its core.”

Photographer Brad Vest was on hand to capture the action.

Also happening this week: County leaders are sworn in, and it’s 901 Day.

“It’s time for Shelby County government, including the new mayor-elect and county commissioners-elect, to exit their lawsuit against the MSCS oversight board and get to work rebuilding opportunity for Memphis students.”

The Brooks Museum’s Art Therapy Access Program allows at-risk youth to tap into “something within them that they maybe didn’t know existed before.”

University of Memphis’ new residential development includes apartments, recreational spaces and even a quick-service market.

Law enforcement touts the technology’s benefits, but residents point to cases of misuse and fear privacy violations.

Shelby County’s August votes are certified, but the data may be disheartening for Democrats. Also in the political roundup, Democratic Party leaders “introduce” Jerri Green, and Wanda Halbert exits office after two tumultuous terms.

Photographer Sean Davis was on hand to capture the action for The Daily Memphian.