The Shelby County Election Commission is seeking poll workers for election day, Aug. 4, with an eye toward having a proper mix of Democrat and Republican workers.

The Greater Memphis Auto Dealer Association sent a letter Thursday, July 7, to Gov. Bill Lee pushing for a takeover of car tags, plates and titles from County Clerk Wanda Halbert.

Clerk Heidi Kuhn cited the growth of the criminal courts from eight divisions to 10, with a goal of two clerks in each of those courtrooms.

Approved Wednesday were requirements to rotate architecture and engineering firms on smaller county projects and a joint venture requirement for large construction projects.

The $8.4 million item was approved by the Shelby County Commission in a special meeting on an 8-1 vote. The bonuses have some exceptions and caps and will go to more than 2,800 county employees.

A sheriff’s deputy responding to a shooting in Cordova was struck struck him with his car, causing the deputy to be carried away on the hood of the vehicle.

Law enforcement officials said those arrested include fugitives, sex offenders and violent criminals wanted in Memphis and Shelby County. 

In the third and final installment of The Daily Memphian’s series on domestic violence: What do offenders have in common? How are they different? Can we tell when violence is about to escalate? Is there hope offenders can change? And can the problem be brought under control?

A poll of dealers in the Greater Memphis Automobile Dealers Association showed their backlog of tags at more than 7,400 with some applied for as far back as April.

The district revised HVAC guidelines and its list of preferred vendors before bidding federally funded jobs.

In trying to quickly spend $172 million, the school district made decisions that limited competition for contracts, favored certain vendors and helped push overall costs up as much as 40%. 

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Changes in specs excluded key HVAC vendors from MSCS contracts

The Commission Scorecard looks at a series of votes on a longer discussion about finding enough capital funding over several years for new schools construction as well as Regional One Health.

The alleged members and associates of the Traveling Vice Lord/Junk Yard Dogs held positions within the gang, including chief of the streets, deck holder, enforcer, treasurer, chief of security and man of literature. 

The roundup includes the contenders for county mayor clashing over PILOTs and other economic development incentives, reaction to the Roe v. Wade repeal and early-vote strategies.

The new system includes a paper trail along with updated touch screen machines and an option to vote hand-marked paper ballots. 

The June 28 Shelby County Commission session saw an attempt to bring back to life bonuses some elected countywide officials proposed three weeks ago. 

At one point Shelby County commissioners forgot they had allocated capital funding to the county’s seven public school systems as they debate how to fund $350 million ask by Regional One.

The 9-2 vote at the Monday, June 27, commission completes city and county action to create an ongoing tax revenue stream expected to total $30 million in the next 8 years.

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County Commission caught between capital funding for schools or Regional One

County weighs bonuses along with pay raise — again

Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert says her office has been hand-stuffing envelopes, but she remains baffled by what caused the backlog. In the interim, county government has asked for a weekly inspection of the clerk’s license plate and car tag storage space. 

The housing will provide a home for four ex-offenders who are participating in the Shelby County Office of Re-Entry’s FOCUSED program, an 11-week training program that combines job readiness with the opportunity for selection into vocational training programs.

The agenda also includes $300,000 in funding for the Greater Whitehaven Economic Redevelopment Corp. Additionally, commissioners will consider a resolution urging the Tennessee General Assembly to change redistricting maps to reflect an accurate county line between Shelby County and Fayette County.

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County Commission goals include help for Regional One

And with almost half of Shelby County Commissioners leaving office in two months, they have a firm deadline to find $350 million in funding, their share of the project’s funding, for the county-owned hospital. The Commission also has ambitious plans to revamp the county’s MWBE program. 

Related story:

County Commission caught between capital funding for schools or Regional One

House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally held a ceremonial signing of the bill at City Hall in Memphis.

“We will lose young professionals, new college grads and young families to surrounding areas of other cities where there is substantial affordable housing available.”

Amy Weirich has been elected to serve on the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference’s Executive Committee.