Roy Nixon began his career as a lawman with Memphis police and later went into politics becoming Shelby County first mayor under a new form of government where he built relationships with other city leaders. 

Roy Nixon, the first person to serve as Shelby County Mayor, died Sunday after a short illness at the age of 85.

The community budget meeting is scheduled for Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Graceland Soundstage, 3717 Elvis Presley Blvd. 

Shelby County Schools is asking for an additional $35 million in capital funding, and $7.5 million in additional operating costs to include support for a reading program and more English as a second language teachers. 

The Shelby County Commission is considering 26 amendments to the 2019-2020 budget, including one that would provide county funds for MATA public transportation for the first time. 

The vote at a special party meeting Tuesday evening in Hickory Hill marks what amounts to the second confidence vote in Michael Harris since he ran unopposed for chairman at the April local party convention.

Two athletic projects are planned at Arlington High School as part of the recently approved five-year capital improvement blueprint for Arlington Community Schools.

Memphis police and other authorities reached out to the community Friday with information about available resources after a dozen suspected opioid-related overdoses in a 24-hour period.

Shelby County Commission Chairman Van Turner says he may propose a joint resolution with the election commission to seek further assurances before granting them funding for new voting machines. 

Shelby County Commission chairman Van Turner and commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. talk about money for voting machines and other issues in the county’s budget season.

The Shelby County Election Commission lowered its $5 million capital funds request to $2.5 million in the hopes of securing funding for new voting machines by the 2020 presidential election.

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said he’s not proposing additional funding for the Shelby County Election Commission until all parties – his administration, election commission and county commission – have further discussion on improving the election process locally.  

County Mayor Lee Harris' budget proposal contains funding for 130 new SkyCop cameras, fewer than half the commission's request of 325 SkyCop cameras. 

The Shelby County Commission held its first budget hearing Wednesday, and commissioners received budget increase requests from several elected officials. 

The Shelby County Commission voted unanimously in favor of censuring Criminal Court Judge Jim Lammey Monday night for sharing social media posts about the Holocaust, immigrants and Muslims.

The fate of local Democratic Party Chairman Michael Harris is sharing space with more mundane details, such as organizing political events and getting a local party with a lot of new blood better organized.

A proposal to open a new program to host youth with pending Juvenile Court cases at a Shelby County Schools building is causing concern for several Shelby County Commissioners.

Shelby County Democratic Party chairman Michael Harris called a special session of the local party's executive committee Thursday night to decide whether he should stay or be removed as leader of the party. 

Mayor Lee Harris held a press conference Wednesday urging county leaders to find a way to raise the minimum wage of SCS cafeteria workers to $15 per hour.

A resolution condemning Criminal Court Judge Jim Lammey's social media postings won committee support from county commissioners Wednesday. 

Several members of the Shelby County Democratic Party's Grass Roots Council are questioning how the vote electing Michael Harris was taken at a party convention in April. There are also questions about bankruptcy filings by Harris.

The Hospitality Hub may be undergoing a potential relocation and expansion if the city and county approve millions in additional funding over the next month. 

Shelby County officials held a press conference Friday to discuss efforts to fight any measles outbreaks after several cases were reported in East Tennessee. 

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris says he wants to know county funding for the bus system will go to increasing ridership, and he also talks about whether Memphis Area Transit Authority should go to more frequent routes or broader coverage. 

Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright joined The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast to discuss Mayor Lee Harris' budget proposal and what lies ahead for the commission.