Tyre D. Nichols, 29, was injured following a confrontation with officers around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, near Raines and Ross roads in southeast Memphis.

Amendments to animal welfare laws could include mandatory microchipping for pets, and modification to policies about dogs “running at large,” which animal welfare organizations see as key to stopping overpopulation and neglect.

MLGW president and CEO Doug McGowen says his priority is finding ways to accelerate the $1.2 billion, five-year plan to upgrade the utility’s infrastructure. 

An industry group estimates there are 250,000 to 300,000 water main breaks in the U.S. every year — generating an estimated loss of 6 billion gallons of treated drinking water across the country.

The council vote comes the day after the Shelby County Commission approved the same resolution. The funding is spread across four projects, including new affordable housing in Uptown and rehab of existing homes for legacy homeowners.

The review comes partly in response to Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division’s decision not to apply for $109 million worth of water infrastructure grants from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

MLGW president and CEO Doug McGowen said Tuesday that the utility had to double the amount of water it pumped from the Memphis Aquifer because of fire protection systems and water mains breaking. 

The council approved the changes in the first of three votes on the ordinance Tuesday, Jan. 10. The changes are part of a larger group of animal ordinance amendments.

“I think the myth of TVA’s invincibility has been shown here, and I think we need to remember that as we try to figure out where we’re going to go as a system,” Memphis City Council member Jeff Warren said. 

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Millions of gallons of water flooded empty buildings during extreme winter weather

During Tuesday city council committee sessions, officials are expected to have more to say about MLGW’s five-year, $1.2 billion infrastructure upgrade that is now expected to be completed by 2027, two years later than the original 2025 target date. 

While hundreds of inmates sat in jail for more than 500 days awaiting their day in court, and victims longed for closure, the Shelby County Criminal Court held a total of 35 trials in 2022.

The Memphis City Council Scorecard puts votes on proposals to change how city leaders are elected and votes on public financing of a convention center hotel at the top of key votes in 2022.

Memphis Museum Inc., which manages MoSH, Lichterman Nature Center, the Magevney House and the Mallory-Neely House, will operate as an independent entity under a new, still-developing contract with the City of Memphis.

“It’s hard for me to go to the grocery store or a restaurant or church without somebody approaching me, expressing concern about juvenile crime,” said Bill Gibbons, president of the Crime Commission. “People are upset about it in this community.”

The co-founder of the People’s Convention said on The Daily Memphian’s “On The Record” podcast a 2023 edition of the gathering could serve to whittle down the field in this year’s race for Memphis mayor. Meanwhile state House District 86 contenders clashed Tuesday, Jan. 3, at a community forum.

A week after single-digit temperatures descended on Memphis — wreaking havoc on the city’s power supplier and creating a water distribution crisis — Memphis Light, Gas and Water shared plans to address its shortcomings.

“During the storm, we used text alerts to communicate to 86,940 of our customers,” an MLGW press release said.

The last Memphis City Council Scorecard of 2022 finds the 13-member body unanimous on Klondike revitalization and a tourism surcharge for the city’s convention center hotel. A negotiated settlement of the damage deposit for Memphis In May’s use of the redesigned Tom Lee Park is another matter for another year.

While these areas might bear the brunt of that area’s aging infrastructure, it’s not limited to them. 

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MLGW lifts boil water advisory

For some areas of southeast and north Shelby County, the advisory lasted six days as MLGW crews dealt with at least 36 water main breaks. 

While normal water pressure and availability should be restored, Memphians can expect to remain under the city’s boil-water advisory for at least another day or two.

“Tennessee is in a sound financial position and can afford to provide critical funding to Memphis to repair and replace our aging water infrastructure,” said state Rep. John Gillespie.

Many businesses are operational now that water pressure has returned to restrooms and other facilities. 

While some restaurants remained closed Monday following the Christmas holiday, others were open, finding unique ways to adapt to the boil water advisory.

The boil water advisory remains in place even as MLGW has fixed 19 of 22 water main breaks. “What you’ll hear from our crews is that we are finding leaks everywhere now,” MLGW President Doug McGowen said.