Shelby County is holding a budget retreat Saturday to allow newly and returning county officials to discuss the current budget as well as next steps for the upcoming budget cycle.

The balloting among party leaders Saturday appears to be a choice between Michael Harris and state Sen. Raumesh Akbari after state Rep. London Lamar withdrew Thursday. 

Former Shelby County mayor Bill Morris said Wednesday public service “preserves a democracy” after receiving the first lifetime achievement award from the Rotary Club of Memphis East. 

The Democratic state Representative got into the race just before a Wednesday deadline for nominations as another contender dropped out and a contender who stayed in the race faces questions about a suspended law license. The party's grass roots council makes its decision Saturday.

Construction has begun on a new $25 million Shelby County Health Department headquarters. 

Shelby County Democratic Party chairman Corey Strong says local Democrats made a good start in the 2018 county elections, sweeping every countywide office on the ballot and improving the Democratic majority on the Shelby County Commission to eight seats.

The Saturday Shelby County Democratic Party convention is the first of two gatherings to elect the party's leadership for the next two years including a new party chairman to be elected at a later meeting.

In a vote split along party lines Monday, the Shelby County Commission approved a resolution supporting a $15 minimum wage for all public-sector employees in the county.

The Mueller report hasn’t been released publicly, but local representatives in the U.S. House and Senate have differing views based on what they know about it.

The Shelby County Commission will meet for the first time in nearly a month when it convenes Monday afternoon. 

Several new events around the city into November offer those outside Memphis a glimpse of the city's creative and innovative future as a welcome mat to the Memphis experience, including its struggles.

Shelby County Commission Chairman Van Turner was a guest on The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast to discuss the joint meeting with City Council and other county topics. 

The Memphis City Council and Shelby County Commission met together for the first time in 2019, the first of two planned meetings to discuss issues affecting both the city and county. 

The County Commission is expected to vote on Phyllis Aluko's appointment at its meeting Monday. 

Assistant Public Defender Phyllis Aluko has been chosen by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris to be the chief public defender, a job recently vacated with the retirement last month of long-time Public Defender Stephen Bush.

MATA riders want improved service, and officials hope its new transit plan can address their concerns. An additional $30 million in annual funding is needed to implement changes. 

After a party reorganization in 2017 and a Democratic sweep of countywide offices in the 2018 elections, Shelby County Democratic Party chairman Corey Strong says it is time for another leader of the local party.

More than 300 students in Shelby County will have the opportunity to intern at the County Commission’s internship program this summer.

Covington business owner Paul Rose claimed the district seat on both sides of the Tipton-Shelby county line with nearly 90 percent of the district-wide vote.

Shelby County plans to use pretrial risk assessment tools to help local judges decide on bail for nonviolent defendants. 

Local law enforcement applauds Gov. Bill Lee’s plan to shore up school safety with $30 million in grant funding.

Memphis and Shelby County elected officials and fitness center owners are urging state legislators to repeal the amusement tax or “gym tax,” a 10 percent hike on fitness centers across the state.

The last day of early voting in state Senate District 32 is followed by the March 12 election day for the seat covering eastern Shelby County and all of Tipton County. Early voter turnout appears to be about where it was in the January special primary elections.

Shelby County Juvenile Court has made progress on equal protection but there is still work to be done, according to Department of Justice equal protection monitor Michael Leiber.

Shelby County Republican Party chairman Chris Tutor says his conservative views expressed at a party convention Sunday are his own beliefs but don't reflect the platform of the local party as it rebuilds.