The City Council Scorecard looks at how the votes lined up on the second rejection in three months for a convenience store with gas pumps at Broad Avenue and Tillman Street.

In addition to the pay raises, Strickland again called for changes in state laws, particularly around gun crimes, and doubled down on his earlier declaration that the local criminal justice system is a “revolving door.”

Two North Memphis KIPP schools that were recommended to close will stay open, Memphis-Shelby County Schools decided in Tuesday’s board business meeting. 

Memphis-Shelby County Schools, as the board voted to be called Tuesday evening, decided on a slew of changes that will have hundreds of students start next school year somewhere different.

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The commission’s Democratic majority approved a $25,000 grant to fund a playground at the center in Midtown. People on both sides of the abortion issue had a lot to say before the vote.

“The longer it takes, the more expensive it gets,” one Shelby County Commissioner said of the project last week. 

MPD officer and another driver were killed in a crash on Shelby Drive and Pleasant Hill early Thursday morning. 

The elaborately designed convenience store with gas pumps and retail bays would have been built at 2977 Broad Ave. at Tillman Street and Sam Cooper Boulevard.

The name change approved Tuesday changes the street’s name on city maps and as a mailing address.

The state has lowered the percentage it expects to make on investments that finance pension funds. By state law, the city of Memphis must lower its discount rate as well in the spring budget season. 

Calling it a “terrible reality,” Memphis City Councilman Worth Morgan said that “people are not being held accountable for fleeing from police.”

Candidates who won’t be on the ballot until August are actively campaigning along with those in partisan races whose first hurdle is the May county primaries.

The “Race for Reconciliation,” a 5K walk/run, will start at noon Monday, Jan. 17 at AutoZone Park as part of MLK Day activities.

A nine-page letter from Capitol Hill questions a central tenet of TVA’s pitch for Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division to remain the federal agency’s largest customer for electric power.

Josh Spickler, of the criminal justice reform group Just City, said on WKNO’s Behind The Headlines that there is another side to allegations the county’s criminal justice system is a ‘revolving door.’

The Shelby County Schools Board is having public meetings Wednesday evening to decide whether to revoke the charters of two charter networks. 

The former county commissioner has pulled petitions to seek a return to the County Commission or to run for Juvenile Court Clerk. 

The Tennessee Department of Education released a draft of its new education funding framework Tuesday, Jan. 11, the same day lawmakers began this year’s regular legislative session.

Justin Johnson had posted on social media that he planned to surrender locally on Monday, Jan. 10, but did not. He was arrested in Indiana, and a second suspect, Cornelius Smith, was arrested in Southaven.

The first Council Scorecard of the new year chronicles a rare defeat of an appointment from the city court clerk’s office and a few notes about the start of the second half of the current council’s four-year term.

The 5.5 mile section on the main thoroughfare may soon become a “complete” or multimodal street that is safer for everyone, including drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. The improvements may also attract new businesses and people to the area.

The money will mean raises of up to 20% for guards working at prisons run by the county administration.

Republican mayoral contender Worth Morgan emphasized his differences on crime with Democratic incumbent Lee Harris. The three Democrats seeking to challenge Republican District Attorney Amy Weirich in August said the prosecutors office would change profoundly if any of them upset Weirich.

The top five votes by the Memphis City Council include what happened after a crude oil pipeline plan was withdrawn and the council’s do-over on the work toward a possible MLGW split from TVA.