The City Council sponsor of the partisan primaries ballot question will be watching to see how the August term limits referendum fares before deciding whether to call for a vote. 

Outgoing Greater Memphis Chamber Beverly Robertson talks on “Behind The Headlines” about the chamber’s role in the “fourth industrial revolution” represented by the Ford plant in Haywood County and what that means for “legacy” businesses not yet in that revolution. 

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland says the city has offered more incentives for the proposed Grand Hyatt hotel at One Beale “than any other development in the history of the city.” He also questioned why One Beale developers didn’t go to the bond market sooner.

Related story:

City Council approves financial ‘backstop' for Grand Hyatt

Here is everything you need to know about Shelby County’s early-voting process, which begins Friday, July 15.

The standoff over terms to start construction of the third of three hotels at One Beale remains despite Thursday’s council vote.

Reaction to a third term bid by Mayor Jim Strickland was muted Wednesday, with a lot of questions about whether Strickland will even get the chance to run.

The Thursday 4 p.m. session at City Hall comes after the city administration balked at a change in the terms of a city-funded backstop for the hotel project. The delayed Tuesday vote came as the administration got some expressions of concern from state officials.

The referendum extending the number of consecutive four-year terms from two to three will appear on the Aug. 4 ballot. Early voting begins Friday, July 15.

Related story:

Memphis mayor potentials recalculate after Strickland announces possible third term

Memphis-Shelby County School board members will be reviewing allegations of sexual impropriety by Superintendent Joris Ray with former or current members of school staff alleged in divorce proceedings.

In April, the Memphis City Council authorized its attorney Allan Wade to identify potential energy consultants. He researched 21 potential candidates.

The decision was one of several by the Memphis City Council in a Tuesday, July 12, agenda that was heavy with planning and development items.

The resolution by council member JB Smiley, who is also seeking the Democratic nomination for Tennessee governor, calls on county law-enforcement officials not to enforce state abortion law. 

Related stories: 

City Council approves Frayser expansion of manufactured housing

City attorney ready to make recommendation on energy consultant for TVA-MLGW debate

At stake is the financing for the last of three hotels at the One Beale development that together would serve as a second convention center hotel.

The Memphis City Council meets Tuesday, July 12, at 3:30 p.m. Committee sessions start at 8 a.m. at City Hall. Items on the agenda include One Beale financing and Frayser flood plain housing.

Bartlett is facing some decisions on how to treat its wastewater, some of which could eliminate reliance on holding tanks and the City of Memphis handling the issue.

So far, 354 children in the 6-months to 5-years age group have been vaccinated for COVID-19 in Shelby County — a figure that includes vaccinations from both public and private healthcare practitioners.

The Shelby County Election Commission is seeking poll workers for election day, Aug. 4, with an eye toward having a proper mix of Democrat and Republican workers.

Over the next four months, the Memphis River Parks Partnership aims to come up with four possible scenarios for the 40-year-old, city-owned park.

Law enforcement officials said those arrested include fugitives, sex offenders and violent criminals wanted in Memphis and Shelby County. 

In the third and final installment of The Daily Memphian’s series on domestic violence: What do offenders have in common? How are they different? Can we tell when violence is about to escalate? Is there hope offenders can change? And can the problem be brought under control?

In the past six years, Alexis Pugh has led Memphis Animal Services through what some have called a miraculous transformation. However, some controversial changes lead others to disagree with her approach. 

The district revised HVAC guidelines and its list of preferred vendors before bidding federally funded jobs.

In trying to quickly spend $172 million, the school district made decisions that limited competition for contracts, favored certain vendors and helped push overall costs up as much as 40%. 

Related story:
Changes in specs excluded key HVAC vendors from MSCS contracts

The alleged members and associates of the Traveling Vice Lord/Junk Yard Dogs held positions within the gang, including chief of the streets, deck holder, enforcer, treasurer, chief of security and man of literature. 

The roundup includes the contenders for county mayor clashing over PILOTs and other economic development incentives, reaction to the Roe v. Wade repeal and early-vote strategies.