Damage is estimated at $5 million to one building under construction in the 205-unit development at Danny Thomas and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

The board voted to keep open three out of six Memphis charter schools that appeared on the state’s list of lowest-performing schools, and voted to close the three other charter schools on the list, all run by former superintendent and current Memphis mayoral candidate Willie Herenton.

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Memphis reacted to Attorney General William Barr's no-show before the House Judiciary Committee Thursday by bringing a ceramic chicken and a bucket of KFC. The reaction of the city's Republican representatives in Washington has been decidedly different.

Memphis rapper BlocBoy JB was charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a handgun and possession of marijuana Friday, the day he is set to perform at Beale Street Music Festival.

After hours of gridlock over a TennCare block grant bill and a scuffle at the House door, the Legislature approved a compromise as the General Assembly ended its session for the year.

NASHVILLE – In its final hours, the 2019 legislative session exploded into revolt as House Speaker Glen Casada, sergeants at arms and troopers allegedly tried to block Democrats from leaving the chamber in protest, leading to a physical incident involving Rep. G.A. Hardaway and other Democrats.

• Home sales decline
• Rhodes College names interim vice president for student life
• $40M building permit filed for One Beale Hyatt Centric hotel

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris says he wants to know county funding for the bus system will go to increasing ridership, and he also talks about whether Memphis Area Transit Authority should go to more frequent routes or broader coverage. 

NASHVILLE – The Legislature has passed legislation allowing people to obtain a conceal-carry handgun permit without taking live-fire training.

The nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Thursday called for a disciplinary review of a Memphis judge under fire for controversial social media postings.

The grant funding is crucial, the charter leaders say, because hiring additional counselors or creating smaller classrooms for students with disabilities can cost schools more.

NASHVILLE – State Sen. Brian Kelsey is touting passage of Gov. Bill Lee’s education savings account initiative, pointing out it was a long time coming. 

School board members cited Ray’s firm hand while serving as interim — effectively a tryout — in their unanimous selection of the 22-year Memphis educator.

The president and CEO of MLGW outlines the Integrated Resources Plan that will play a large part in any recommendation from MLGW and what would happen if TVA tried to make a deal with the utility.

NASHVILLE – State Sen. Brian Kelsey’s push to pay college athletes for performance got a boost in the General Assembly this week.

• Union Row touches Beale St.
• Tesla service center opens in Memphis
• Beale Street Music Festival three-day passes sold out, single-day tickets still available 

Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright joined The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast to discuss Mayor Lee Harris' budget proposal and what lies ahead for the commission. 

Two contenders for Memphis mayor called for change in the city's leadership during a lunch hour rally outside City Hall that featured competition from a rain storm and an active shooter scare.

Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright talks about why Mayor Lee Harris’ county budget proposal may have a rocky road to the new fiscal year.

NASHVILLE – The Legislature adopted Gov. Bill Lee’s voucher legislation to use public dollars to send children to private schools in a hotly-contested compromise report despite doubts raised about its long-term financial implications.

The process for getting neighborhood speed humps and their distribution, and the cost of a modernized traffic intersection were among detailed line items City Council members reviewed on the first day of budget hearings Tuesday.

A resolution approved by the nine-member school board said a national search for a superintendent was unnecessary and would cost the district time and resources. Ray’s selection marks a reversal for board members, who signaled early on they planned to conduct a national search.

Joris Ray's public campaign to go from interim to permanent superintendent was different, but the push to keep the school system's leadership local and from within the system has been a constant feature of choosing a superintendent.

The state Senate approved a $38.6 billion budget for fiscal 2019-20 with a variety of tax cuts while adding $220 million to bolster the rainy day fund and give teachers pay increases totaling $71 million.

• ServiceMaster appoints new board chairman
• Breast Cancer Eradication Initiative to host 26th annual Pink Ribbon Open May 20
• Memphis in May Olympic Triathlon to unveil annual poster May 6