The state Senate passed legislation Thursday removing an appellate court review from death penalty cases, despite efforts by Shelby County Democrats who opposed it.

City Housing and Community Development director Paul Young says the $1 billion Union Row project is a direct result of the city's efforts to leverage federal and city funding in the South City area, stretching from the south area of Downtown into South Memphis.

An off-duty Memphis police officer was killed in a two-vehicle crash in Raleigh early Thursday morning. 

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The County Commission is expected to vote on Phyllis Aluko's appointment at its meeting Monday. 

Joshua Greer is walking to 13 locations on a daylong Down syndrome awareness walk in Memphis. 

In a largely symbolic gesture, Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi is taking back its endorsement of Democratic state Representative Joe Towns of Memphis in last year's primary and general elections because of Towns' recent vote in favor of the “fetal heartbeat” bill.

Mayor Jim Strickland will propose 3 percent raises for commissioned Memphis firefighters and police officers in the budget proposal he takes to the City Council next month.

Shelby County legislators split support Wednesday in a vote sending legislation creating a charter schools commission to the House floor.

The political battle over MLGW rates and calls for upgrades in the utility's infrastructure shows every sign of returning for another budget year.

Memphis City Council member Joe Brown is running for City Court clerk.

The Mississippi River is forecast to rise slightly this week before beginning a drop to below flood stage by the end of the month. But the agencies that watch the flow of the river remain in "flood fight" status, given historic flooding to the north.

The council also delayed the first of three votes on the Memphis 3.0 land use and development guidelines and approved the Poplar Arts Lofts project. And the council got a first hand look at the FedEx "same day bot" to be tested on Memphis streets this summer.

Transportation Committee defeats legislation requiring red-light camera citations to go through courts rather than citations being sent directly to suspected violators.

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Black Memphians make up a large portion of the people who will qualify for the governor’s proposal, but they are hesitant to trust predominately white private schools.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland spoke to Memphis Rotary Tuesday about his first term in office, emphasizing lowering the violent crime rate, increasing activities for youths and making economic development announcements. 

Gov. Bill Lee’s signature piece of legislation allowing students to use public dollars to enroll in private schools cleared its first hurdle Tuesday.

Assistant Public Defender Phyllis Aluko has been chosen by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris to be the chief public defender, a job recently vacated with the retirement last month of long-time Public Defender Stephen Bush.

Some Tennesseans say the income threshold makes vouchers appealing to families for which private school is within reach, compared to students from low-income families who may be looking to escape low-performing schools.

Memphis City Council member Berlin Boyd has amended his disclosure to include his job with FedEx Logistics on a form dated last week on the council's website.

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Memphis Democratic senators oppose bill even though it would allow oversight boards to have a private investigator seek subpoenas from a judge.

A Graceland master plan that does not include an arena tops Tuesday's Memphis City Council agenda. Also on the agenda is the Poplar Arts Lofts project and a discussion about urban art.

John Kilzer’s memorial service was Monday in the place where he ministered, St. John’s United Methodist Church.