The overall violent crime rate in Memphis dropped more than 8% in 2019 from the previous year. However, the number of homicides increased. 

The city's elected representatives in Washington reacted in different ways to the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump set to begin next week. Meanwhile, they have found rare common ground on the passage of the USMCA trade agreement.

Student enrollment at the district’s 57 charter schools is up nearly 14%, to about 18,250 students. That means the share of Shelby County Schools students attending a charter school rose to 16%.

State Rep. London Lamar is sponsoring legislation to end the annual observance of Nathan Bedford Forrest Day, noting she wants to stop recognizing a "very dark history in Tennessee."

Vice President Mike Pence will visit Holy City Church of God in Christ in Raleigh Sunday. 

Good morning; it’s Friday, Jan. 17. The Memphis Tigers held off an old rival and change is coming to the Memphis International Airport and lots of local schools.

Just City executive director Josh Spickler said on the WKNO program “Behind The Headlines” that Juvenile Court needs more resources for children in detention. But he said the question of which children and how many wind up in detention or tried as adults should take priority over the details of the bricks and mortar.

Despite withering opposition from the LGBT community on an adoption bill, state Sen. Paul Rose is pushing ahead with legislation that would prevent local governments from giving preferential treatment to vendors and contractors who have favorable LGBT working conditions.

State Systems, which specializes in fire safety equipment, support and technology, has purchased Fire-Tek of Middle Tennessee.

The State Capitol Commission is scheduled for a Feb. 20 meeting, at which time removal of the Nathan Bedford Forrest bust from the Capitol’s second floor is expected to be debated.

Gary Wunderlich, who founded and sold Wunderlich Securities, and financial services veteran Rick Hendrix have formed a new company called Live Oak Merchant Partners.

The Shelby County Commission is expected to consider a new resolution to raise $9 million for MATA through a $20 increase in the motor vehicle tax.

Serendipity Labs Coworking will offer 20,000 square feet of co-working space in part of 6584 Poplar, the four-story office building that MAA sold after moving its headquarters to the new TraVure mixed-use building at 6815 Poplar.

 MATA has modified its schedule for buses, trolleys and customer service in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The kindergarten program will be open to children of faculty, staff and students within a two-mile radius of the U of M campus.

The new hires are expected to further expand the influence of organizations advocating for education policies such as vouchers and charter schools. 

Emily Cupples, who has extensive experience in Shelby County political circles, has been named communications director for the Tennessee Democratic Party.

District staff recommended against re-upping operating agreements for Veritas College Preparatory, Memphis College Preparatory Elementary and Memphis Business Academy Middle.

Memphis man indicted after he was accused of stealing $1 million from Masons. 

Good morning; it’s Thursday, Jan. 16. Two local facilities are planning massive growth, and a Memphis/Mississippi lawsuit has gotten messier.

Shelby County officials, who last year approved funding for preliminary work to build a new juvenile detention facility, are now exploring alternatives such as renovating a closed youth facility in Southeast Memphis.

Republican lawmakers are making moves to overturn Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order allowing refugee resettlement to take place in Tennessee.

The court fight over Memphis City Hall’s plan to cut off sewage treatment for Horn Lake and Southaven, Mississippi, in 2023 is so far playing out on both sides of the state line. 

2020 Campaign Round Up: Bill Hagerty has the president’s backing while Dr. Manny Sethi says Hagerty is a “Washington insider.” 

Across Shelby County Schools district, 600 more students in kindergarten through second grade are starting in the district’s gifted education program, known as CLUE, which stands for Creative Learning in a Unique Environment. Another 600 older students are waiting for additional state testing to see if they qualify.