An investigation by The Daily Memphian analyzed nearly 40 abductions and kidnappings since July 1.

The groundbreaking Friday, Oct. 7, for the renovation of the 84-year-old school building ends a 40-year debate about whether the Orange Mound landmark should be renovated or demolished.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland reacted Friday to a call from City Council Chairman Martavius Jones to conduct a national search for the next president and CEO of Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division.

The group discussed “best practices” including implementing blended sentencing, restorative justice programs and rehabilitative programs. 

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The appointment of Doug McGowen to head the utility and the appointment of Chandell Ryan to succeed McGowen as city chief operating officers are not on next week’s committee agenda for the council to consider.

The Shelby County Commission is expected to select a replacement on Oct. 17.

One of the leaders of the Memphis police union argues that at a time when the national competition for police officers is fierce, Memphis has laid the groundwork for long-term sustained success in hiring police and fighting crime.

Young said he is “the youngest and the most experienced” candidate in the still-forming pack of contenders. The kick-off comes one year to the day before the Election Day to decide who succeeds Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland.

Critics of MLGW’s recommendation to sign a long-term contract with the TVA say the 13 bids were evaluated during highly unusual circumstances.

The zoo is hosting a couple of events related to elephants over the next couple of weekends. 

The National Weather Service predicts the Mississippi River at Memphis will reach its second-lowest level ever by Oct. 13. The drought is limiting barge traffic, just as crops harvested in the early fall need to be transported.

“We have families and rights. To see the children, who were having a good time, crying and terrified, was horrible,” said organizer Jenna Dunn. “It lit a fire inside of me that was already burning.”

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission chair has called TVA’s federally defined geographic service territory “a vestige of a bygone era in the region.”

Speakers during the panel discussion represented each of the steps against gun violence outlined in the Safe Community Action Plan: focused deterrence approach, violence intervention, federal prosecution of gun crime, communications campaign, reduction in theft of guns from vehicles and Memphis Police Department Gun Crime Unit.

“It’s important to this community. … It’s one step in a number of steps that we will continue to make to support the process,” the governor said.

Amazon has partnered with Memphis-Shelby County Schools, adopting 20 schools to provide assistance in the largest such partnership ever for MSCS. 

Mayor Jim Strickland touted the proposal, on its way to the Memphis City Council for the next budget season, as a way to retain and recruit public safety employees in the police and fire departments. For the police and fire unions, the proposal is the second part of a two-part push to restore what the City Council cut.

The lawsuit was filed in August by one of the district’s two teacher unions, the Memphis-Shelby County Education Association.

Althea Greene, who has served as vice chair for the last two years, will replace Michelle McKissack as board chair. Sheleah Harris will replace Greene as vice chair.

The set of a dozen appropriation resolutions topped a relatively uneventful council agenda Tuesday, Sept. 27.

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Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland says it’s too early to tell if there were police missteps in how they handled the violent crimes of the last three weeks because investigations are still underway. 

The resolution also requests MPD work with the city administration on a proposal to open one or more overnight curfew centers. 

Madden has been with Mayor Jim Strickland since he took office in 2016. She leaves City Hall next week to work with Ford’s BlueOval City joint venture.

“There’s a need for training to help our riders take advantage of the technology through our Go901 app ... ,” said MATA chief of staff Bacarra Maudlin. 

The council discussion is the second since a series of violent crimes earlier this month that have raised new questions about how police and the community are battling violent crime.