Here’s a look at the still-moving political developments in the federal intervention into Memphis’ crime problem.

Lowery was elected to the Memphis City Council in 1991 and was elected City Court Clerk in 2020. 

The Millington city manager says Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert hasn’t paid rent since 2023 for an office at City Hall. But Halbert says the lease must have been signed by a different county government team.

Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr.’s trial on bribery and tax evasion charges has been moved back two months.

“I’m absolutely befuddled why the city government, why the county government and why the state of Tennessee would give money to a person to run a nonprofit organization when they had been convicted of stealing money from a nonprofit organization in the past,” said Criminal Court Judge Lee Coffee.

After much debate, the commission failed to pass any resolution on the National Guard. Discussion moved on to a new jail, grants and the county reserves.

The vote effectively shortens the four-year terms of office that five school board members were elected to in 2024.

Shelby County commissioners will weigh in on the coming of National Guard troops to Memphis. Commissioners also return to the question of a new jail and moving Memphis school board elections.

DeAndre Brown and Vinessa Brown remain in custody following a bond hearing Friday, Sept. 19, that will carry into next week.

Wesley Wright won’t run for Shelby County Commission, but is still eligible for either Lakeland commissioner or mayor under the suburb’s two-term limit for Board of Commission members.

County Commissioners got their first look at two resolutions offering different responses to the coming deployment of National Guard troops to the city. 

For now, the 2026 Republican primary has no candidates for Shelby County mayor. Where does that leave the race? Also in the political roundup, more reaction to the National Guard coming to the city and a golf net at Audubon.

Shelby County Re-Entry executive DeAndre Brown, who was recently indicted on a slate of felony charges related to alleged misappropriation of public money, has stopped another legal effort to regain his gun rights.

The Shelby County Commission has approved a resolution that rules out the New Chicago area of North Memphis from being the site of any new jail county government may decide to build.

After a motion to move all board elections to the 2026 ballot failed on a tie vote, the commission voted to try again in two weeks on a proposal for the 2030 ballot. 

The vote came after harsh words were exchanged between Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr.

The Shelby County Commission is scheduled to vote on cutting short the terms of some Memphis-Shelby County Schools board members and a new jail resolution that would rule out the old Firestone plant site.

Oldham served as both the head of the Memphis Police Department as well as the Shelby County sheriff during a lengthy career in law enforcement.

State Sen. Brent Taylor has filed numerous ethics complaints against Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy, alleging misconduct by the DA since his 2022 election.

The Memphis Zoo is expanding its program to offer free admission on Tuesdays year-round.

Although some in the University of Memphis community are angry with President Bill Hardgrave over the recent end of the school’s DEI efforts, the school’s Board of Trustees awarded him a $100,000 performance bonus Wednesday.

A new study says the problems at the Shelby County Jail are less about the building and more about facility management.

Also in the Political Roundup: Jerri Green at Wiseacre and one less contender for Shelby County Mayor.

Former public official DeAndre Brown and his wife Vinessa Brown were charged with misusing $1.38 million in public money. The pair ran the Lifeline to Success non-profit, which is now also under scrutiny.

Gov. Bill Lee has appointed two replacements for vacant Shelby County Circuit Court and Criminal Court seats.