For years, Memphis officials warned of a budget hole. For years, the U.S. government papered it over. This coming fiscal year appears to be a different story.

The Memphis Police Department conducted a “Sea of Blue” Sunday night, April 21, for Officer Joseph “Rusty” McKinney.

Also happening this week: Loudean’s closes in Cooper-Young and Mayor Paul Young presents his first city budget proposal to City Council.

Organizations ranging from FedEx, MATA, Maximus Child Support and the Memphis Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Center were in attendance to promote work opportunities. 

Had Memphis received more money under the American Rescue Plan Act, Memphis Mayor Paul Young might not be facing a shortfall in his first budget, something the mayor acknowledged in an interview Friday.

Since 2017, the MLGW board has allowed for two members who live outside the Memphis city limits, but they don’t get a vote. That could soon change if the City Council and residents agree. 

Senate Bill 2711, sponsored by state Sen. Brent Taylor, was held during the Tennessee Senate’s session Wednesday morning.

News of the formal ask follows Mayor Young telling the public Tuesday that he plans to ask City Council to raise property taxes to fill what could a $30 million budget hole.

Bonner informed the County Commission of the change via an emailed letter Tuesday, April 16. 

“I think it’s time for us to step into a new reality,” he told a crowd of several hundred at Mount Vernon Baptist Church. “I’m going to ask for a tax increase.”

National source cites years of issues for the nonprofit charged with helping poor people get legal aid in civil cases. The vast majority of its clients are women. 

Also happening this week: T.O. Fuller State Park seeks public input on its plans to improve the park.

Because Tennessee has never regulated PFAS, it’s unknown how much of the forever chemicals are in Memphis’ drinking water.

Memphis producer Teddy Walton has worked with artists like Kendrick Lamar and has produced music for Hulu and Netflix. With his new media company, he hopes to give opportunities to others — especially young Memphians.

The person who filed an ethics complaint against Memphis City Councilwoman Michalyn Easter-Thomas is an employee of an engineering firm working on a project the council member opposed. 

Riverside Drive closes, as it has for decades, on April 22. But Tom Lee Park will be partially open between the Riverbeat and SmokeSlam events in May.

“There’s already plenty of gas stations ... That’s not what the community has asked for. They’ve asked for investment in their community in terms of supportive items,” said a board member of Uplift Westwood.

The East Memphis nature center’s new area is designed for unstructured play. Meanwhile the museum system overseeing Lichterman and several other several other city-owned attractions continues to move toward a private board and day-to-day control.

The Memphis City Council will have more direct control over Memphis Light, Gas and Water’s spending for at least six months.

Both resolutions are not binding and have little effect, but they express the body’s political will at a time when many members feel Shelby County’s autonomy is under threat from the Tennessee General Assembly.

The developers “withdrew” their application but say they only meant to postpone the vote. Council member Easter-Thomas doesn’t buy it. 

The Memphis City Council approved $10 million from the city’s rainy day fund to fill the gap, most of which — about $9.7 million — is in the Memphis Fire Department’s budget. 

Oral arguments were heard Tuesday, April 9, in an appeal of a class-action lawsuit against the City of Memphis about its alleged lack of testing more than 12,000 sexual assault evidence kits, some dating back decades.

Mayor Paul Young and Interim Chief C.J. Davis support a Memphis City Council ordinance to create a philanthropic and research foundation that would take private donations and put them toward the city’s public safety efforts.

Throughout his first 100 days, Memphis Mayor Paul Young has sought ways to get to “yes” and make Memphians feel heard by their new mayor, wielding his newfound power and spotlight to recast the city’s narrative and try to paint hope on Memphis’ self-portrait. 

But yes is not easy to come by. Listening takes hours that turn into days. Narratives don’t change in 90 days. Or 100. Already, circumstance has intervened.