The four new commissioners fill all vacancies in the ranks of the entry point for many defendants in the criminal justice system. The Shelby County Commission also set dates for filling a vacancy on the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board.

The commission split along the same partisan lines that split a vote by the previous commission this past January on funding for the center for reproductive health that has nothing to do with abortions.

At the second meeting of the new term of office Monday, Sept. 26, county commissioners appoint three new judicial commissioners and set the dates for filling a Memphis-Shelby County Schools board seat. 

Employment and labor attorney Alan Crone, a former Memphis City Council member, says the claim of “whistleblower” status by County Clerk Wanda Halbert is “nonsense” and likened it to an episode of “The Office.”

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 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 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.

“Unfortunately, over the course of the last several weeks there have been many reports of new operations and customer service issues at your offices,” the county mayor wrote in the memo to Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert. 

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County Clerk’s office closes to public for second weeklong ‘blackout’

County Court Clerk Wanda Halbert said the weeklong closing to the public, which begins Monday, Sept. 19, is necessary to clear a backlog of car titles. It’s the Shelby County Clerk’s second closing in a month. 

The committee proposal is a reaction to last week’s violence in the city, with more discussion to come at committee sessions later this month before a vote. 

The ordinance would take the power to appoint the county ethics officer away from the county attorney’s office. It comes eight years after that office investigated whether Brooks lived in the commission district she represented, and concluded she didn’t.

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Shelby County Commission weighs forming public safety committee in wake of recent violence

The agenda is light Monday for the body of 13 that includes six new commissioners and seven returning. The commission has a nine-member Democratic majority following the August county general elections.

Federal and state funds for local prevention efforts, including comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education in schools, began drying up before the pandemic.

Three of the victims of alleged mass shooter Ezekiel Kelly, 19, have been identified. 

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Jackson Avenue vigil hosts prayers, praise to honor victims of shooting spree

The Commission Scorecard tracks a trio of important decisions made at the end of the term of the commission that left office at the end of August. All three could be on the plate of the new commission.

The Tennessee director of the Southern Environmental Law Center said TVA’s proposed agreement make it difficult to change energy providers, and it’s unlikely that MLGW would undergo another evaluation process similar to the current one if it signs a long-term deal. 

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MLGW leaders recommend staying with TVA for greatest value, least risk

Suburban mayors back MLGW recommendation, still want representation

Long lines formed outside the Shelby County Clerk’s Mullins Station office Thursday, Sept. 1, despite a policy instituted in July that was intended to eliminate such scenes. 

The item would have required the winner of the 2023 Memphis mayor’s race to get a majority of the votes either on election day or in a runoff.

Mulroy, a Democrat, defeated incumbent Republican Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich in the Aug. 4 general election.

Native Memphian Aftan Strong will lead the group of judges that will hear cases on a daily basis in the court.

Tutonial Williams, the finance chief for MSCS, will lead the district while it searches for a permanent replacement for former superintendent Joris Ray.