Brent Taylor resigned as chairman of the Shelby County Election Commission this week but didn’t mention a bid for the state Senate. 

The Shelby County mayor hosts an informational forum to talk about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and why local residents should care. 

The commission delayed votes to receive and file two financial reports from Memphis Shelby County Schools until it gets dollar figures on the rebrand.

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Six apply for appointment to vacant state Senate seat

Four of the six applicants have pulled and/or filed petitions to run for a full 4-year term in the Senate seat. In other action, the commission approved funding for juvenile counselors in police precincts. 

Brent Taylor is expected to enter the Republican primary race for Senate District 31, the seat currently held by Brian Kelsey of Germantown.

The county could see new voting machines by August of this year, but two issues indicate overall differences between the Shelby County Commission and the Election Commission. 

Over the past several years, Britney Thornton has emerged as a leader through her work with the homeless and the underserved.

Despite shifts in CDC guidelines, a mask giveaway hosted by the Shelby County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency has plenty of takers. 

The commission won’t fill the vacancy until next month but most if not all of the names on the list are expected to be those running in the August primaries for a full four-year term in Nashville.

Harris joins state Rep. London Lamar and nonprofit leader Rhonnie Brewer in seeking the Senate seat, which has been vacant since Feb. 2.

“We are primarily arguing that this is an infringement on the counties’ sovereignty,” former Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper said on behalf of MSCS and MNPS.

The commission could set dates Wednesday for interviewing applicants for the state Senate District 33 seat and the Memphis Shelby County Schools board seat.

The Safe Community Action Plan is aiming for a reduction in violent crime and property crime over the next five years.

The community development corporation bought and fixed up a home, incorporating it into its tenant savings program to help a resident save for a future home purchase.

Also Tuesday, the council will consider opposing a bill in the Tennessee General Assembly that would outlaw any kind of residency requirement for police and firefighters. 

Memphians have voted twice to use ranked-choice voting, also known as instant-runoff voting, although it hasn’t yet been implemented. 

Meanwhile, Jason Martin slams Gov. Bill Lee’s state of the state address and calls for the legalization of pot in all forms. And a look at the May and August ballots ahead of Thursday’s deadline to get on the May county primary ballot.

Judy Martin’s departure from the Shelby County Health Department was called a “retirement” at the time. Her lawsuit says she was forced to retire or be fired over problems in the vaccine distribution handled by the county.

Carolyn Jackson is Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ first Black woman to serve in the role, a district statement said. 

In other action, the commission approved funding for the Shelby County Sheriff’s office to up recruiting deputy jailers, environment justice initiatives and a continuation of several pandemic initiatives.

The commission debated Monday whether it should fill the District 33 seat Robinson was expelled from last week by fellow Senators. Part of the argument is whether it amounts to an endorsement of the Senate action.

The push for a state request for federal aid comes as MLGW’s damage estimate from the ice storm has already exceeded the threshold for seeking assistance.