Shelby County economic development leaders Wednesday were able to explain their projects to a HUD official as he helps communities tap into the Opportunity Zone program.

The Shelby County Election Commission meets Thursday to certify the ballot for the Oct. 3 nonpartisan elections. Meanwhile, city council contender Cody Fletcher said on the Daily Memphian Politics Podcast that criticism of his switch to another council race takes time away from discussion of more substantial issues.

E-scooter companies Bolt and Spin will join Bird and Lime as well as Explore Bike Share in the Memphis market as a pilot shared-mobility program becomes permanent. 

Mayoral contenders Tami Sawyer and Jim Strickland are mixing old-fashioned door-to-door campaigning with canvassing apps that show the voting histories of households.

The second quarter campaign finance reports show a big difference between Mayor Jim Strickland and his two closest challengers by the amount of money raised. But one of those challengers outspent him for the quarter. 

On "Behind the Headlines," the CEO of Memphis Tourism predicts growth in hotel rooms and other convention amenities, beyond the current ongoing legal battles.

The ballot for the October Memphis elections is almost set with Thursday's filing deadline for candidates. Meanwhile, candidates barely paused for the deadline before resuming the summer campaign.

The court-appointed monitor in the federal court case over police surveillance said on The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast his team saw some possible issues in how police handled the aftermath of the Brandon Webber shooting last month in Frayser.

Memphis mayoral contender Willie Herenton says plans to change Tom Lee Park are “asinine” and he accused Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland of delaying a decision on the changes proposed by the Memphis River Parks Partnership until after the Oct. 3 race.

As many as 30 more new homes could follow two new homes completed recently on Whitney Avenue in Frayser. The effort comes with some city investments and some remaining challenges from the Great Recession.

The Thursday noon filing deadline could see a 10- to 16-candidate race for mayor. And 10 City Council members have filed for new four-year terms at City Hall.

A proposal for retailers to charge a fee for plastic bags has been dropped by City Councilman Berlin Boyd, who instead is proposing a ban on plastic bags at Memphis retailers.

The city council approved the long-range land use and development guidelines Tuesday on the second of three readings. But the council also approved a $15,000 study on the financial impact of the guidelines that would be due in mid-September.

A Thursday "job fair on steroids" at the Fairgrounds includes 71 employers and a dozen training programs as well as such basics as a business headshot and resume advice.

The Memphis City Council, among other items, will discuss Tuesday spending $15,000 to hire a consultant to review the financial impact of the Memphis 3.0 land use and development study.

Mayoral contender Tami Sawyer and incumbent Mayor Jim Strickland differ greatly on how they believe the Memphis Police Department should be set up to fight the city's violent crime issues. 

The historic Woodruff-Fontaine House in Victorian Village opened a new exhibit Thursday to a group of children from Whitehaven, Hickory Hill and Frayser. The group that operates the home for the city is seeking to broaden the reach of the mansion to a broader history of Memphis in the Victorian era.

Some contenders with qualifying petitions out are deciding whether they should run. Still others are deciding what they should run for. The deadline for filing to get on the Oct. 3 ballot is in a week.

Former Memphis mayor Willie Herenton has a campaign war chest of $62,037 as of July, according to his campaign finance report filed Wednesday.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland talks about his re-election bid, the sales tax referendum and crime as we review early campaign finance reports.

The ruling for advocates of instant-runoff voting comes as part of a third review of IRV's use in Memphis elections by the state election coordinator. It also probably comes too late to have an impact on the Oct. 3 Memphis elections.

Memphis mayoral contender and Shelby County Commissioner Tami Sawyer is calling for a neighborhood council to brings concerns of communities to City Hall as well as an immigrant support services office for city government and an action plan to combat infant mortality.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland’s campaign war chest stands at more than $1 million in a second-quarter campaign finance report to be filed with the Shelby County Election Commission by Wednesday.

Mud Island's Gulf of Mexico replica is drawing waders looking for relief, as well as a few swimmers, even though the large body of water hasn't been a pool for several decades. Meanwhile, the island's south end is pulling in bigger crowds than last summer with plans for more activities and a crop of sunflowers.

Before rejecting plans this week to reconfigure the Waste Connections facility in Whitehaven, several Memphis City Council members said the decision is probably not the best outcome for area homeowners.