The Memphis City Council has an eye toward the future of Downtown and MLGW’s place in it.

The city and county are banding with Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church for its MemFeast event, where volunteers will deliver food boxes to 300 families across Memphis. 

The Memphis City Council is also expected to take up gates to the Chickasaw Gardens neighborhood and more at its next session.

Noise levels at Annesdale Mansion have caused problems with the neighborhood association a while. But new owner Bill Townsend hasn’t stopped the fun. 

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Townsend updates plans for the Luciann, the Lowenstein and the former Masonic Temple — all of which he owns

Preservationist Bill Townsend provides updates for the Luciann Theatre, the Lowenstein Mansion, the Pillow-McIntyre House and the former Masonic Temple.

Also, Thanksgiving Day is this Thursday, and we’ve got your last-minute guides with recipes and tips on where to pick up fully cooked meals.

The City of Memphis plans to invest additional resources Downtown — including almost 200 more cameras — to make the area safer. 

The town hall addressed two issues before the Shelby County Commission. One would help in expunging juvenile records. while the other would require recording and legal representation for youth during questioning by law enforcement.

Shelby County Health Department Director Dr. Michelle Taylor said she wants to reinforce established science that shows vaccines protect communities from infectious diseases and fluoride improves dental health. 

Mayor Paul Young hears of concerns regarding a road infrastructure project, as well as blight and crime, during his final One Memphis event of the year.

The City of Memphis is eyeing a single-item tax on food and other items sold Downtown to fund the district’s security, beautification and assistance for the area’s unhoused population. 

The annual celebration of Whitehaven continues this week culminating with the community’s Christmas Parade on Saturday. 

Attorneys for RowVaughn Wells, Tyre Nichols’ mother, said that the city “misused” the court docket and is attempting “to poison the jury pool” in a case set for trial next year.

“We’ve got to face the reality,” Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said. “The (Cordova) project may not be dead permanently, but it’s suffered a pretty big death blow.”

She was arrested numerous times for participating in sit-ins, starting in March 1960 when she and others demanded access to library books.

It is unclear whether MPD Interim Chief C.J. Davis has the council votes to become the full-time chief again, but she appears to have gained at least one vote since January.

Also happening this week: The Shelby County Commission returns to a pay-raise request for the Circuit Court Clerk’s office, and the Grizzlies kick off the Emirates NBA Cup tournament.

The claims add a new twist to the $550 million civil rights lawsuit that Tyre Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, and his estate have filed against the City of Memphis following Nichols’ 2023 beating and death at the hands of five now-former Memphis Police Department officers. 

The proposed America’s River Crossing Bridge will replace the 75-year-old Memphis-Arkansas Bridge, with twice the lanes and extra shoulder space.

Two groups want to stop the city from enforcing the nonbinding gun-control measures voters approved during a referendum last week.

A proposed fire station on Macon Road was slated to provide fire service to areas of de-annexed Cordova, but soaring costs have scuttled the project and left Shelby County looking to Memphis to respond to fires. 

Also, public art of a rat drew the ire of some council members. “We’ve got one guy who is sort of stepping in the poop, and we are all having to smell it,” Jeff Warren said.

City Council members cited concerns about traffic safety around the site as well as hazardous materials and industrial uses at that location in the past.

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Mike Fletcher has represented the city in court and other legal matters for 33 years.

The Memphis City Council will dig into the “cross-governmental” More for Memphis plan, solar arrays to power the zoo and more at their meeting Tuesday, Nov. 12.