The second phase of the Ida B. Wells plaza will bring educational and narrative elements into the memorial, telling the story of Wells’ life, particularly her time in Memphis. 

Outgoing Greater Memphis Chamber Beverly Robertson talks on “Behind The Headlines” about the chamber’s role in the “fourth industrial revolution” represented by the Ford plant in Haywood County and what that means for “legacy” businesses not yet in that revolution. 

Felicia Suzanne’s is one of three businesses seeking grants from the Center City Development Corp. 

The Lakeland election season is picking up speed, with new candidates and incumbents pulling petitions.

Seventy-nine people from more than 30 countries were sworn in as U.S. citizens at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library Friday morning, July 15, in the first naturalization ceremony held there since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. 

“There is a population in Lake and Lauderdale counties who have poorer health care outcomes due to difficulty accessing care,” said University of Tennessee Health Science Center Assistant Professor Diana Dedmond.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland says the city has offered more incentives for the proposed Grand Hyatt hotel at One Beale “than any other development in the history of the city.” He also questioned why One Beale developers didn’t go to the bond market sooner.

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City Council approves financial ‘backstop' for Grand Hyatt

Okenwa Okoli received Florida State’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Distinguished Service Award for his work to recruit and retain U.S. students in STEM graduate programs with a focus on bridging the achievement gap for minorities.

The Memphis City Council approves a backstop for One Beale (kind of), Downtown’s Hadden Street will become a public plaza and a popular food tent is coming back to the FedExCup Playoffs.

The “big ballot,” which comes once every eight years in Shelby County politics, features 163 races with 344 candidates. Here’s what to expect on the ballot and what has changed for voters.

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Ballot Basics: Early voting is July 15-30

Here is everything you need to know about Shelby County’s early-voting process, which begins Friday, July 15.

The standoff over terms to start construction of the third of three hotels at One Beale remains despite Thursday’s council vote.

The stop in one of the first communities in the nation built by and for African Americans is part of a series of listening tours the Greater Memphis Chamber is holding. 

Madison died in a one-vehicle car crash at Millbranch Road and Interstate 55 in Whitehaven at 10:55 p.m. Sunday, July 10.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland wants to go in for round three, St. Jude commits even bigger bucks to research and treatment and we tell you where to find the “single best taco in town.”

Board chair Michelle McKissack announced that Ray will be on paid administrative leave while the investigation is being conducted. Deputy superintendents John Barker and Angela Whitelaw will serve in the interim.

Reaction to a third term bid by Mayor Jim Strickland was muted Wednesday, with a lot of questions about whether Strickland will even get the chance to run.

“Starting today, we will work to help eligible parents enroll this school year,” Gov. Bill Lee said, “as we ensure Tennessee families have the opportunity to choose the school that they believe is best for their child.”

Critics say the request for proposals — a process that could end in TVA awarding one, multiple or zero contracts — is a noncommittal effort to expand carbon-free energy. 

Memphis voters have tended to favor incumbents. Since the mid-1960s, only three sitting mayors have been denied reelection.

Ford raised the possibility at the end of a short special meeting Wednesday, July 13, of the Shelby County Commission on several unrelated matters. It came as the MSCS board was meeting on the same matter.

The Thursday 4 p.m. session at City Hall comes after the city administration balked at a change in the terms of a city-funded backstop for the hotel project. The delayed Tuesday vote came as the administration got some expressions of concern from state officials.

The referendum extending the number of consecutive four-year terms from two to three will appear on the Aug. 4 ballot. Early voting begins Friday, July 15.

Related story:

Memphis mayor potentials recalculate after Strickland announces possible third term

A disbarred attorney received big bucks from local politicians, the Memphis City Council blocks funding to enforce the state’s abortion law and Memphis Grizzlies forward Santi Aldama is having a hot Grizz summer.

Memphis-Shelby County School board members will be reviewing allegations of sexual impropriety by Superintendent Joris Ray with former or current members of school staff alleged in divorce proceedings.