Wheel taxes are going up, trees are blamed for the power outage and Little Italy East is open (but you might want to wait).

Fewer than 4% of people that applied received Harvard University’s 2023-2024 Radcliffe Institute Fellowship. One of those who did is a U of M professor.

The MSCS school board discussed superintendent qualifications and additional considerations with Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates president Max McGee.

Tennessee’s law banning gender-affirming care for minors was mostly blocked Thursday, June 28, the latest in a string of decisions against anti-trans laws in at least four states.

Welcome back to On The Ballot, where we have five quick topics today, including a hot one for this hot week: Memphis Light, Gas and Water.

“Some of those people who’ve reoffended ... there’s a small percentage of those that, I guess, maybe, we need to give up on and just talk about long-term incarceration,” Mulroy said. “But I think for a lot of them, there is a chance for rehabilitation.”

MLGW needs to clear about 1,400 miles of vegetation each year to maintain its tree-trimming schedule; in the past four years combined, however, it hasn’t been able to meet that goal.

In additional Shelby County Circuit Court filings, Ja Morant’s father and additional witnesses provide further accounts of the fight that occurred between the Memphis Grizzlies star and a local high school basketball player during a pickup game last summer.

The Southaven Police Department has earmarked almost $92,000 in new technology equipment to help the department in its work.

MLGW President and CEO Doug McGowen said the roughly 30,000 customers still without power Wednesday could be without power for days, as triple-digit temperatures sweep the region.

For a time, Doris Bradshaw walked miles around the neighborhood nearly every day, telling her neighbors about the toxins at the Defense Depot — arsenic, lead, mercury and a host of other chemicals — that seeped into their soil and water. Within the first year, Doris had organized a group of about 1,500 people. 

The wheel-tax hike’s approval on a 9-4 vote ends the county’s budget season with the financing in place for three landmark capital projects.

Former pastor admits to abusing kids, Greenlaw will go back to the city and Shelby County is in a state of emergency.

The top-line findings suggest how those living in Memphis and Shelby County feel about crime, but the data also suggests differences based on age, race, income and gender.

Admissions came during discovery after state appeals court allowed the case to move forward.

The school board voted to approve a contract extension for Interim Superintendent Toni William, with the stipulation that Williams has to give up her quest to be a permanent superintendent for MSCS. 

The council ultimately approved a new set of district lines because of the closeness of October city elections. The council also took the race for City Court Clerk off the same ballot.

Related story:

City Council drops property tax increase proposal

Collierville Schools adopted a policy that could help recruit teachers by waiving tuition in situations where hiring is a challenge.

MPD Deputy Chief Samuel Hines provided data on drag racing and reckless driving Tuesday during a Memphis City Council Public Safety Committee. 

The change is a reversal on previous plans for the city’s police department to run the center instead. 

The 50,000 customers still waiting on power to be restored can cool down at Baker Community Center as temperatures approach triple digits.

Related stories: 

MLGW expects boil water advisory to end tomorrow

55,000 MLGW customers without power as triple-digit temperatures approach

Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy said his office would file a request to raise Jaylon Hobson’s bail and the case is assigned to his office’s special victims unit.

MLGW President and CEO Doug McGowen said Tuesday that power has been restored to the pumping stations and water pressure is continuing to build. 

Related story:

55,000 MLGW customers without power as triple-digit temperatures approach

By Tuesday morning, power had been restored for about half of the Shelby County residents who lost electricity during Sunday night’s super cell thunderstorms.

Related story:

Why does Memphis lose power after storms? That and a few more questions answered

The council voted down the tax hike Tuesday.