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. 

Memphis Light, Gas and Water President Doug McGowen will share updates on rolling blackouts and the water boil advisory at a noon press conference.

The TVA faces outages at two of its coal-fired plants and some of its natural gas plants, according to spokesperson Scott Brooks. 

MLGW said Friday evening that it was preparing for the possibility of TVA requiring its customers to cut power load by at least 5%.

In the hour before MPD’s inclement weather policy was issued, police responded to 43 crashes. There were 23 crashes in the following hour, and 22 the next. 

During a noon press conference, Memphis Light, Gas & Water president and CEO Doug McGowen announced that MLGW will not be doing any rolling blackouts. 

Here are the links to report outages, find shelter and get rides if you have to get out in the dangerous temperatures that aren’t expect to crack 20 degrees until late Saturday morning. 

As Ya Ya and Le Le prepare to return home to China in the coming months, Memphis Zoo officials are preparing to make an official bid for a new mating pair of pandas. 

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Leaders, residents say goodbye to giant pandas

Though dangerously cold wind chills are predicted for the Memphis area, MLGW doesn’t expect widespread power outages. But McGowen is keeping a focus on the local water system. 

The 5% surcharge on items bought and rooms rented at the Downtown Sheraton hotel goes to finance a renovation of the existing 600-room hotel by the Renasant Convention Center. 

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City Council passes Klondike tax vote, but residents’ concerns remain

The unanimous Memphis City Council vote approving the tax increment financing district in Klondike follows months of delay. Debates about residents’ displacement and representation will stick around into the new year.

The Memphis City Council session involves Klondike and Sheraton tax votes, as well as a look at the Dream Hotel next to Peabody Place and the city’s animal ordinance.