The commission agenda also includes a call on County Clerk Wanda Halbert for a corrective plan to clear up some problems in a recent audit of her office’s financial statements.

Billy Orgel decided not to file the petition for re-election he pulledin February. That left Amber Huett-Garcia as the only candidate in the race and effectively elected to the District 6 MSCS board seat at the Thursday filing deadline. There were other surprises at the deadline in other races.

With some petitions still out ahead of the Thursday, April 7, noon deadline, there is a chance some contenders will have no opposition on the August ballot. Here’s a run down of the filing developments.

Shelby County Commissioner Brandon Morrison defends her conservatism while opponent Jordan Carpenter targets what he calls “dangerous ideologies” and “perversion.”

Steve Mulroy said the ethnic makeup of the Shelby County District Attorney’s office does not reflect the city. Dist. Atty. Amy Weirich disputed this, saying her office has made an effort to increase diversity. 

The Daily Memphian readers chime in to share their experiences, which sometimes involve mail delivery issues. But County Clerk Wanda Halbert says there are other problems within county government. 

Former Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell is the new chairman of the Shelby County Election Commission.

The $13 million in additional funding found from a group of seven county budget line items brings the total cost of the project to around $30 million including the $3 million the county paid for the Old Getwell building that is being renovated.

The County Commission Scorecard chronicles the three rounds of votes that made Charles Everett of Westwood the newest Memphis-Shelby County Schools board member representing District 6.

The funding would provide for notices to Shelby County voters about changes to precincts and polling places. 

Related story:

Renovation costs for juvenile detention center more than double

Democrat Ken Moody and Republican Worth Morgan have words of criticism for incumbent Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris as they campaign for his job. 

Shelby County Commissioners pick from seven contenders to fill the vacant seat on the Memphis-Shelby County Schools board. The commission also returns to a move to fund Election Commission notices to voters for the May elections. 

The 51-member panel held its first meeting Thursday, March 17.

The issue of crime — violent crime in particular — is center stage in the race for Shelby County Mayor, where the first stop is the May Democratic primary.

Bipolar ionization devices, manufacturers say, attack and deactivate certain bacteria, pathogens, airborne particles, and volatile organic compounds. But the CDC, EPA, an industry standards association, and even a medical journal beg to differ. 

Junior Jaylah Sheree Whittaker and senior Amelia Maria Wood anticipate continuing to write books after their first accomplishments.

The former sheriff and county mayor was the choice of Republicans in the Shelby County delegation to the Tennessee Legislature. The recommendation still must be ratified by the Tennessee Election Commission.

The Midtown restaurant will be closed for about six months during its renovation and expansion. 

Barksdale served as sheriff from 1976 to 1986.

The Election Commission’s decision not to open early-voting sites at churches during the Easter weekend is renewing charges of voter suppression.

The Senate last year approved a statewide ban on residency requirements, making an exception for Hamilton County. But last month, the House passed an inverted version, allowing them everywhere except Memphis.

Some states require police to keep DNA evidence until the person convicted dies. But in Tennessee, it can be destroyed after a conviction is rendered, leaving no way for many cases to be revisited.

Germantown Municipal Schools District hired a demographer who predicts little growth, which doesn’t help efforts to control Germantown Elementary, Germantown Middle School and Germantown High.

A day after announcing the addition of 20 state troopers to patrol the interstates in Memphis, Gov. Bill Lee Thursday, March 3, reiterated his commitment to invest in law enforcement to make the city safe.

Most of the six people who have applied to fill the vacancy plan to be on the primary ballot in August, seeking a new four-year term past the appointment.