The Election Commission’s decision not to open early-voting sites at churches during the Easter weekend is renewing charges of voter suppression.

The agreement, which also preserves the Overton Park greensward in its entirety, draws on a lot of the ideas that have been proposed individually during the years-long controversy.

Related story:

Zoo to turn over Old Forest, leave Overton Park greensward intact 

The Senate last year approved a statewide ban on residency requirements, making an exception for Hamilton County. But last month, the House passed an inverted version, allowing them everywhere except Memphis.

Some states require police to keep DNA evidence until the person convicted dies. But in Tennessee, it can be destroyed after a conviction is rendered, leaving no way for many cases to be revisited.

Last year, Big Momma’s & Granny’s in Bartlett saw sales soar during Memphis Black Restaurant Week. This year’s event runs March 6-12, with 28 restaurants participating. 

Lakeland wants to purchase the sewer assets in the Stonebridge community so the suburb can continue to separate itself from the Memphis system.

The center in Frayser will bring multiple benefits to the community for everyone from youths to veterans to seniors.

Brent Taylor resigned as chairman of the Shelby County Election Commission this week but didn’t mention a bid for the state Senate. 

Under the amended ordinance, people would be able to use major credit cards to pay tow truck companies, but the allowed fee will go up to 4%. 

2021 police stats show arrests for reckless driving and drag racing are up over 2020. That follows a stronger police presence and traffic enforcement without changing the police pursuit policy. 

In a split vote, the council also approved a resolution backing the nomination of the first Black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court and accepted a grant to hire a “pet reunification specialist” for Memphis Animal Services.

Only nine states in the nation require former felons to pay off fines, fees or court costs before being allowed to vote again. Tennessee is one of them.

The utility pledges to City Council to revise forms that report the financial holdings of its board members.

Some City Council members noted that it seems like “certain people” get their electricity back first after outages.

A committee will review MLGW’s ethics policy to determine why its financial disclosure statements aren’t posted on the web — and why those statements require less information than state of Tennessee forms do. 

If a tax-sharing bill pending in the Tennessee General Assembly is approved in Nashville and signed by Gov. Bill Lee, it could mean an additional $12 million in revenue to the city, Mayor Jim Strickland says.

Brent Taylor is expected to enter the Republican primary race for Senate District 31, the seat currently held by Brian Kelsey of Germantown.

The county could see new voting machines by August of this year, but two issues indicate overall differences between the Shelby County Commission and the Election Commission. 

Over the past several years, Britney Thornton has emerged as a leader through her work with the homeless and the underserved.

Amid a decreasing threat of COVID-19 infection, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave most Americans the green light Friday, Feb. 25, to ditch the mask indoors.

Harris joins state Rep. London Lamar and nonprofit leader Rhonnie Brewer in seeking the Senate seat, which has been vacant since Feb. 2.

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of Memphis had a front-row seat Thursday, Feb. 24, for Russia’s political defense of its invasion of Ukraine.

During an hour-long online town hall Wednesday, Feb. 23, City Council member Worth Morgan and MLGW leaders fielded questions about recent increases in utility bills and the ice storm repairs.

Memphis Light, Gas & Water confirms it is reviewing its failure to post financial disclosure forms on the Internet — just as City Council members begin asking critical questions.

The commission could set dates Wednesday for interviewing applicants for the state Senate District 33 seat and the Memphis Shelby County Schools board seat.