Gov. Bill Lee’s $7.85 billion “modified” block grant proposal is drawing support from conservative backers and criticism from patient advocates who believe it will take people off the TennCare rolls.

Former Memphis Police Director and Shelby County Sheriff Bill Oldham has endorsed the proposed half percent sales tax hike on the Oct. 3 Memphis ballot.

Martavious Banks, 26, shot by Memphis police during a traffic stop, has filed a $10 million civil lawsuit in federal court against the officers and the city. The suit claims excessive force was used during the incident and that his constitutional rights were violated. 

The Shelby County Commission approved Wednesday an ordinance on second reading to expand the Uptown TIF. The full commission will vote Monday.

The Container store raised $12,300 for Le Bohneur Children's Hospital during its opening weekend.

Hollywood 20 Cinema will hold free screenings of the 1982 film "Gandhi" Oct. 4-10 in honor of the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's birth. 

After three days of intensifying controversy, mayoral contender and Shelby County Commissioner Tami Sawyer said Tuesday she remains a candidate for mayor and is working to rebuild trust with LGBTQ allies no matter what happens in the election.

The state law that outlaws holding or touching a cell phone while driving in Tennessee is probably enforceable by Memphis Police right now, according to the City Council’s attorney.

A Raleigh tax increment financing – or TIF – district with Austin Peay Highway as a corridor for mixed use development could be in place by the end of the year.

The Democratic presidential contender will hold a town hall meeting at East High School Sunday evening. The Tennessee presidential primary is in March.

A total of 3,883 Memphians cast early votes during the first two days of the voting period, the Shelby County Election Commission announced.

Tennessee could draw up to $1 billion more in Medicaid funds annually to increase services and possibly add people to TennCare if the federal government agrees to a “modified” block grant proposal, according to Gov. Bill Lee. But no public hearing is scheduled for Memphis.

The uptick for Shelby County Schools was small — from 79.2% to 79.3%. It was below the 80% benchmark set by Tennessee’s largest district to reach its goal of achieving a 90% graduation rate by 2025.

With a short agenda Tuesday, the city council appears to have booted a final vote on the long-delayed Memphis 3.0 plan until after the Oct. 3 city elections. The council is scheduled to take a final vote on new rules for public art on city property.

Mayoral contender Tami Sawyer says her priority is healing the pain caused by old tweets. On Monday, two LGBTQ organizations issued statements that focused on a 2014 tweet by Sawyer about outing a gay teacher at St. Mary’s Episcopal School.

Local and state officials will meet Tuesday morning, Sept. 17, to announce that a new health care company will establish a large Downtown presence in the One Commerce Square building.

Kevin Johnson, a former counsel for Congressman David Kustoff, has joined House Speaker Cameron Sexton’s staff as general counsel and senior adviser.

The early voter turnout for Thursday's Arlington municipal elections came in at more than 1,500 votes.

The Tennessee Equality Project and director of OUTMemphis each issued statements on a 2014 tweet by Memphis mayoral contender and Shelby County Commissioner Tami Sawyer about outing a gay teacher.

John Keith Perry, a Tennessee and Mississippi attorney, is representing the man accused in the killing of Lorenzen Wright and also the suspect in the shooting at Walmart in Southaven. Perry is gaining attention for taking on high-profile cases. 

Hundreds of people and more than 30 city candidates on the Oct. 3 ballot attended a Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope meeting Sunday at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church Westwood. 

The marker is the second in the area to note the contributions of the Chinese in Memphis. It also marks another addition to a block of Beale that is becoming known for its presentation of the district's history.

Earle Fisher of Memphis disagrees with the notion the Black Voter Project or #UPTheVote901 committed voter fraud when they turned in thousands of voter registration applications, including many incomplete forms, to the Shelby County Election Commission in 2018. But the state representative who sponsored the legislation claims they were "fraudulent."

The latest resurrected tweets, including one about outing a gay faculty member while in college, have become a major issue in Sawyer's campaign. Sawyer says there may be more. Meanwhile, the first day early-voting turnout from Friday was still tentative into Saturday afternoon, but it appeared to be several hundred lower than the opening day turnout in 2015. 

The Southern Heritage Classic weekend continued Saturday with the Orange Mound Community Parade and Battle of the Bands taking place prior to the evening's football game.