Hearings will be held this week in a lawsuit filed in 2014 accusing the Memphis Police Department of negligence in the handling of thousands of rape kits.

A judge ruled Wednesday, Oct. 19, that there is enough evidence to send the first-degree murder charge against Eduard Tabora to the grand jury.

“Meritan knows that happiness during the holiday season isn’t exclusive to children. Too often in our community, the joy of Christmas eludes others as well,” said the organization’s president. 

The MLGW leadership standoff continues, MSCS board members debate pepper spray and FedEx is raising shipping rates.

Here’s all you need to know about voting early and the new system that offers voters a choice between new voting machines and hand-marked paper ballots.

A Collierville Schools mother and real estate agent is challenging an incumbent school board member who has served since the district’s inception.

Four people are running for an open school board seat in Collierville. Frank Warren decided over the summer he would not seek a second term.

Despite 53 disciplinary infractions, Cleotha Henderson served only 19 years of a 24-year sentence

The proposal for more police enforcement backed by centers for juveniles to wait out the night drew ran into a series of questions and concerns.

Council member JB Smiley Jr. proposed that Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland appoint his pick, Doug McGowen, as interim leader of MLGW while a national search is conducted.

Related story:

City Council sends curfew enforcement proposal goes back to committee

The Memphis-Shelby County Schools Board of Education debated a proposed policy for use of pepper spray by school security officers. Tuesday night’s meeting was the first for new board member Frank Johnson.

For most of Shelby County’s voters, the most exciting thing about the ballot that opens early voting might be the new voting system.

Related story:

Ballot Basics: Early Voting Oct. 19-Nov. 3

Angels can be adopted off physical Christmas “Angel Trees” at the Kroc Center, the Purdue Center of Hope and the Salvation Army store on Kirby-Whitten Road.

Lorna McClusky has nearly three decades of experience practicing criminal law, including extensive work on capital cases. 

Three witnesses testified about what they saw the September morning Dewayne Tunstall was killed. 

Terms are changing for the One Beale deal, Ziaire Williams is a maybe for the Grizzlies season opener and Celebrity’s serves soul food with a smile. 

Collierville Alderwoman Missy Marshall faces a challenge from Emily Fulmer, a University of Memphis professor. 

Collierville Alderwoman Maureen Fraser is facing a challenge for her seat in November, but her opponent is one she’s defeated before.

With no discussion, the commission sent the ordinance back to committee for more discussion. Meanwhile, the commission set dates for appointing four more judicial commissioners.

The commission’s unanimous vote covers staffing, a job study and the opening of the clerk’s new Riverdale Road location by Halloween. But Clerk Wanda Halbert and County HR director Gerald Thornton clashed on some of the basic details of what the office has and what it needs. 

Related story:

County Commission delays final vote on how chief ethics officer is picked

Mayor Jim Strickland has nominated Doug McGowen to lead the city-owned utility. But council chair Martavius Jones wants the city to do a national search for the next president and CEO of MLGW.

Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon has appointed Stephen Bush, a former Shelby County Public Defender, to serve as the court’s Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). Sugarmon also tapped a Chief of Strategy & Innovation.

Johnson won the appointment to the District 7 seat over rival contender Jason Sharif. He serves the remaining two years and three months of the term of office in the seat.

If the Mississippi River near Memphis is below the five-foot marker, the National Weather Service considers the river low. Now, the river is more than 15 feet lower than “low.”