The Fairgrounds conversion to Liberty Park got a $4 million boost Tuesday, Feb. 2, to begin some ground work in May as well as to start designing buildings.

Memphis City Council members Tuesday approved a new office designed to intervene and prevent violence in the city. 

A city ordinance that would ban cat and dog sales at pet stores within Memphis passed the Memphis City Council Tuesday, Feb. 2, on the first of three readings.

The $200 million slate of capital projects over a three-year period is on its way to state officials are approval after the pair of council votes Tuesday, Feb. 2. Council members approved both after one more review of the numbers and the reasoning behind the unique financing.

The city has been paying Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division about $2 million a year for the past three fiscal years without a corresponding payment from MLGW in the form of a PILOT.

The agenda also includes changes to the city’s financial policies to allow the balloon debt structure to finance the project. 

The City Council’s most recent session featured a rare motion to table an item that didn’t have seven votes to pass, at least for now, and a vote to close a street even though the council could very well vote down the development that will follow the street closure.

Before Shelby County Commissioners and Memphis City Council members get together to talk about changing the most used tax incentive in local economic development, they want to do more than watch PowerPoint presentations on PILOTs – payments in lieu of taxes.

The city auto inspection station on Appling City Cove bustled with volunteers Friday, three days into giving second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Those scheduled for vaccinations were urged to come no more than an hour before their scheduled times. 

On “Behind The Headlines,” the Republican and Democratic legislators from the Shelby County delegation to Nashville also agreed on mandatory summer school or tutoring to help students who have slipped academically during the pandemic.

The Memphis City Council votes next week on the first of three readings of an ordinance that would bar retail pet stores from selling dogs and cats.

The council delayed a vote on getting the program started for a week. Council members generally back the idea of trying to intervene with those of both sides of violent crimes. But some saw too many law enforcement agencies involved in the initial pitch despite assurances it will instead be aimed at prevention.

The council Tuesday voted unanimously to join a call by leaders in 22 of the nation’s largest cities to ask President Joe Biden to send vaccine directly to the cities and bypass state governments.

The dashboard was called for by City Council members this past December and will be added to three city websites. No date was given for when the information will go live, but it will data back to 2016.

City Council members got their first look at the details of Accelerate Memphis on Tuesday, Jan. 26. 

City Council members Tuesday will consider banning puppy sales as the only national pet store chain that sells puppies is readying a Wolfchase store. The council also gets an update on the vacant 100 North Main Building and talks over the latest changes to the city’s sewer system.

The section of Highland in front of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church is being renamed to honor Father Nicholas L. Vieron, the church’s longtime pastor who died in September.

Kyle Veazey, the deputy chief operating officer for the city of Memphis, is moving to ALSAC, the fund-raising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, as senior vice president for executive operations. 

Melrose School has been an anchor in Orange Mound for 83 years and will soon have a second life.

Anonymous donors are willing to fund the operation of a Universal Parenting Place, if they can find a qualified site operator. 

The plan was outlined in a Thursday State of the City speech by Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland. Strickland also outlined two violent crime intervention programs.

Men and women who complete soft job skills programs backed by the city of Memphis will get a chance at jobs with the Kroger Delta Division Distribution Center.

Groups are finding virtual ways to serve for the MLK holiday this year because of the pandemic. 

A crosswalk with the words Black Lives Matter would cross Cooper Street at Monroe Avenue near Hattiloo Theatre under a plan approved Wednesday, Jan. 13, by the Memphis Public Art Review committee.

A fire early Saturday morning heavily damaged a 120-year-old building in the historic Pinch District.