Sondra Howell of the Greater Memphis Chamber will be the interim director of a regional workforce development board as the program seeks to smooth out a rocky year of transition.

The question before Chancellor Felicia Corbin-Johnson is whether the county attorney’s office could hire a special counsel to pursue an ouster lawsuit that the county attorney could not pursue because of a conflict of interest.

“I want you to appeal,” said Shelby County Assessor Melvin Burgess. “You don’t have to take what we put out there. We can’t always get it right. “

The Tennessee Supreme Court heard oral arguments over whether a local judge had the authority to realign the sentence of a man convicted for a double murder in 1988.

A motion to dismiss the ouster lawsuit against Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert is pending before Circuit Court Judge Felicia Corbin-Johnson. If dismissed, it would be the second ouster lawsuit against Halbert to be thrown out in less than a year.

The economic impact plans for new mixed-use projects in Arlington and Lakeland will help with infrastructure costs.

The County Commission delayed consideration of Jamita Swearengen’s request for more money for her staff. Lakeland and Arlington TIFS and Juvenile Court were also on the agenda.

Also on commission agenda is a vote to help fund traffic roundabouts near the next phase of the Lakeland Meadows development. The roundabouts have been a source of controversy before Lakeland’s city commission.

With HIV cases spiking in the area, Mayor Lee Harris and his team took the opportunity to advertise the Shelby County Health Department’s free, confidential walk-in testing.

The County Commission delayed action Monday on three of the four resolutions from Circuit Court Clerk Jamita Swearengen. But it advanced three ordinances on Juvenile Court conditions.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 15, free flu shots will be available at three Memphis sites, including one drive-thru location. 

A set of ordinances to change some practices at Juvenile Court are up for the first of three readings at the Monday, Oct. 14, County Commission meeting. The Circuit Court Clerk’s office is also seeking $674,000 in funding for more staff.

The new bail-setting form is the latest change to Shelby County’s bail-setting process, which continues to receive criticism from residents and legislators who claim it often does not do enough to protect the community. 

The Shelby County Commission met for a retreat where the aim was to get at the working relationship among the body of 13. That relationship has been rocky during the first half of the group’s four-year term.

Circuit Court Judge Felicia Corbin-Johnson wants briefs from both sides in the ouster attempt as she weighs a motion to dismiss it.

The Juvenile Court building, 616 Adams Ave., has been closed since April 25 for asbestos, lead and mold remediation. 

Commissioners and county administration found $10 million of the $16.4 million Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner said he needed, and said the rest will have to be paid out of the sheriff’s budget.

A choir belted out “Magnify the Lord with me,” a special guest sang “I’m Gonna Live Till I Die” and the Orchestra’s “big band” filled the air behind bars with marvelous music.

Circuit Court Judge Felicia Corbin-Johnson plans to make a ruling in writing “in a week or so” on whether to dismiss or hear the ouster complaint filed last month against Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert.

Alleged Railgarten shooter is back behind bars after a previous bail decision was reversed.

All sides are back in court Tuesday for a hearing on Halbert’s attorney’s motion to dismiss the case entirely.

Sheriff Floyd Bonner wants $15.5 million for jail repairs that’s already planned for a mental health diversion center. The County Commission is sending the problem to committee for a possible Sept. 28 vote.

The vote was along party lines with a discussion before the vote that mirrors past discussions about “building relationships” in Nashville versus “standing up to bullies.”

Shelby County commissioners will vote on a move to support the Memphis City Council’s lawsuit against the Shelby County Election Commission. The body also considers allocating millions in proposed emergency jail repairs.

All sides in the ouster lawsuit are due in Circuit Court next week to sort out various motions including one seeking to declare Wanda Halbert in default for not responding directly to the complaint.