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.

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 City Council to consider resolution enforcing curfew for juveniles

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.

The 10 reappointments were voted on individually Monday. There was only one no vote against any of the nominees.

Only three bidders — NextEra Energy, the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Franklin L. Haney Company — submitted full-requirement proposals to MLGW during its RFP process for a new energy provider. 

Neighbors of the park generally supported the new playground and picnic pavilion planned, but voiced concerns about a rendering from earlier this month that appeared to show the park’s lake as part of the golf course expansion. The city’s parks director says the rendering wasn’t accurate.

Gordon Food Service opens in Midtown on Thursday and it’s a new kind of grocery for Memphis, a wholesale and retail combination complete with a big produce section and a deli.

The city is adding a convenience dumpster site soon at Collins Yard and next year, plans to roll out artificial intelligence tracking to address blight and illegal dumping.

MLGW has failed its fiduciary duties to its ratepayers. The ratepayers deserves a fair RFP. City Council should vote against the TVA contract until all questions are answered, even if it takes a few years.

The ongoing discussion and debate were also present Wednesday, Sept. 21, as commissioners interviewed 30 attorneys who have applied to fill three vacant positions for judicial commissioners.

Several citizens publicly objected to a long-term contract between MLGW and the TVA, saying the utility shouldn’t lock itself into a deal that diminishes its negotiating power in a rapidly changing energy market. 

The voter registration deadline for the Nov. 8 ballot gives a sense of urgency to the latest canvassing forays into the city to increase not only voter registration but voter turnout. 

The MSCS board chairwoman, who in August won a second four-year term, referred to the board’s $480,000 severance package for superintendent Joris Ray as a “challenge” in which the school board showed leadership.

The owner of Paula & Raiford’s Disco in Downtown Memphis was charged with misdemeanor assault Thursday, Sept. 15, according to Shelby County Criminal Justice records.

The Commission Scorecard tracks votes on an attempt to change who investigates ethics complaints and selection of a new chairman and chairman pro tempore at the first meeting of the term.