Business leaders on “Behind The Headlines” say Memphians leaving the city because of crime is a real threat to the city’s economic prosperity, and they had to act on the problem. 

The DMC will also continue its policy of what amounts to a cover charge that goes to pay the cost of the private security.

Perception and fear have to be part of the conversation when political leaders are weighing solutions for Memphis’ crime problem, they say.

Two state senators, both from the Memphis area and both members of Tennessee’s Senate Judiciary Committee, agree on many aspects of the city’s crime problem even though they see different paths for solving it.

Young said in an interview on WKNO-TV’s “Behind the Headlines” the budget will be “more firmed up” in the coming months. He will take a budget proposal to the Memphis City Council in May.

Memphis Mayor Paul Young says the city’s new public safety director is a position that will consolidate the city’s response to violent crime. Young talked about that and other crime issues on WKNO-TV’s “Behind The Headlines.”

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy discussed new legislation, court backlogs and more during an episode of WKNO-TV’s “Behind the Headlines.”

Leaders of two local nonprofits say on “Behind The Headlines” that business leaders are wrong in their call to the state to enact changes to bail reform and fund tourism safety measures to the tune of $50 million.

The top federal prosecutor in Memphis, U.S. attorney for Western Tennessee Kevin Ritz, says the Department of Justice inquiry affects the relationship his office has with the law enforcement body.

Roshun Austin and Archie Willis III of the Klondike Partners development group talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the financial hoops the adaptive reuse of Northside High School has had to jump through.

A reporter’s roundtable on the WKNO-TV program “Behind The Headlines” included a discussion of the rough reception MPD Chief Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis got at the year’s first city council session.

Mayor Lee Harris offered a preview of the budget proposal he will take to Shelby County commissioners in the spring and refuted speculation that the county is short of the funding needed for new high schools.

“I think it’s time for us to figure out a solution, and it’s hard to believe that the solution is Wanda Halbert as county clerk,” said the Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris on WKNO’s “Behind the Headlines.”

The economic development chief of the Greater Memphis Chamber says on “Behind The Headlines” that a replacement bridge is a much faster path forward. Plus, she talks about actively courting another automaker to the region. 

Memphis’ homicide rate, school vouchers and passenger rail were among the topics discussed on this week’s “Behind The Headlines.”

“It has been one heck of a year, and it’s culminated with this most recent decision by City Council,” MLGW President and CEO Doug McGowen said of this week’s vote to approve a 12% electricity rate hike. 

The Downtown Memphis crime plan surfaced in October. It could face its first test this holiday season. Officials involved in putting it together talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the plan and the reality it is built to confront.

In the second part of his end-of-term interview on “Behind The Headlines,” Mayor Jim Strickland also talked about the upcoming transition to Mayor-elect Paul Young and why he is fond of asphalt.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland talks about coming to the end of his 8-year tenure as mayor in the first part of a two-part interview on “Behind The Headlines.”

The leaders of Memphis Parks, Shelby Farms Park Conservancy and Memphis River Parks Partnership talk on “Behind The Headlines” about the combination of public spaces and parks in the city.

The mayor-elect says the city accounts for the possibility of making short-term bond payments on projects such as Liberty Park.

Beverly and Howard Robertson talk on “Behind The Headlines” about what they heard about crime from focus groups across the city as part of The Daily Memphian’s “Community Conversations” series.

Related content:

Memphis is in a ‘crime crisis,’ focus group participants say

Who’s responsible for reducing crime? For some, the onus is on the mayor

Like a weed, crime needs to be addressed at the root

‘Not willing to give up:’ What focus group participants said about crime

City council members Chase Carlisle and JB Smiley Jr. on “Behind The Headlines” say they are ready for a more assertive city council in the new term that begins in January as well as a more collaborative mayor.

On “Behind the Headlines,” Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo discussed MLGW and the suburb’s crisis that left residents unable to use water from the tap for six days. 

A reporters’ roundtable on WKNO-TV’s “Behind The Headlines” recaps the 2023 Memphis election result. Meanwhile, the next campaigns to come in the new year will include referendums that could change city elections.

Related stories:

Calkins: A new mayor and a new dog, too? Things are looking up!

Sanford: Young’s mayoral victory signals clear generational change

The runoff what-if and other takeaways from election night

On The Ballot: Memphis election recap, results and runoffs

With Young headed to mayor’s office, DMC looks to new CEO search