Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. knows the area has a lot of needs, but he says 201 Poplar is showing its age — and Shelby County should start thinking about a new jail. 

There is no safe amount of lead exposure on people and, even in small amounts, it can cause hyperactivity, behavioral issues and learning problems, especially in young children.

Under current zoning rules for solar, a resident of unincorporated Shelby County who put five solar panels in their backyard would be regulated the same as a company with a 1,500-acre solar farm. 

The Tennessee General Assembly passed a law in 2023 taking the power away from local DAs in collateral review of death penalty convictions and instead putting the authority in the hands of the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office. 

The DA’s office will now receive $991,178 for the remainder of the fiscal year 2024, which comes out of the general fund balance. Each following fiscal year, the DA’s office will receive $2.98 million.

The assessment of Shelby County’s requirements for solar farms stemmed, in part, from the pushback against a 1,500-acre project planned in Millington.

The commission may put off immediate funding for the prosecutors office until budget season. Meanwhile, commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. continues to threaten legal action against other commissioners — the second time in less than a week.

Last year, the Tennessee General Assembly gave a 20% raise to most of state prosecutors and state public defenders. But the raise for Shelby County is capped at 5%. 

Tennessee Republican Party chairman Scott Golden talks in an “On The Record” podcast about the presidential primaries and general election races.

“There are tires everywhere,” business owner Corteney Mack said. “They’re everywhere because you have so many tire shops.”

Participating gyms will provide free, 50-minute group fitness classes that are beginner-friendly and suitable for residents ages 16 and up. 

The County Commission is considering switching the Shelby County Land Bank into a Shelby County Real Estate Department and giving the new office additional responsibilities. 

Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. said Monday, Jan. 29, that he plans to ask local election officials how to recall another county commissioner.

Children selected for the center will be awaiting juvenile court decisions or adjudications of their cases; the minors will come in groups of 16, with six cohorts a year at the facility. The County Commission also approved a Citizen Law Enforcement Review Committee. 

Topping the commission agenda Monday, Jan. 29, are final votes on a review board to hear complaints of misconduct by Sheriff’s deputies and deputy jailers as well as changing the county Land Bank to a “real estate department.”

Shelby County commissioners and about 40 other people including county finance and other division leaders met at Shelby Farms ahead of Mayor Lee Harris’ budget proposal.

Commissioner Mick Wright has a number of directives in mind for the coming year, including reducing crime and getting Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert’s office in line.

Judy Martin retired from the health department in 2020 after more than 1,500 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine expired; her lawsuit alleged Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris damaged her reputation with a social media post. 

MLGW’s water samples have come back clear. 

The Shelby County Health Department is charged with protecting and promoting environmental health, but advocates say the agency is not doing enough to keep the area’s air and water safe. 

For the first time in about a week, temperatures are expected to rise above freezing Jan. 21 and officials say that will likely reveal more water main breaks and help them gauge the full extent of damage.

Recent winter weather coupled with MLGW’s indefinite boil-water advisory is making life a little bit more challenging for restaurants as they have to figure out what to do about food, drinks and even the restrooms. 

MLGW’s water customers remain under a precautionary boil-water advisory.

Some of the 120 prosecutors working in the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office make as much as $70,000 more than their colleagues who work next to them.

“We will be working on this for the next few days,” MLGW President and CEO Doug McGowen said.