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. 

Local groups are reacting to last week's draft release of rule revisions for the Title X family planning program, changes that some say is a step toward defunding Planned Parenthood.

Rev. Althea Greene is the newest Shelby County Schools board member after the Shelby County Commission appointed her to fill the District 2 vacancy Monday night.

Chris Tutor, the new chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party, says it will be hard to rebuild the local party after a Democratic sweep of county elections last year. 

The Shelby County Commission is expected Monday to appoint a new member to the board of Shelby County Schools to serve until August 2020. 

Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Dan Michael delivered his State of Court address Friday morning. He vowed to continue his work to improve the court despite critics. 

Shelby County Commissioners hope to receive the final report on equal protection from the DOJ monitor within the next month. 

The Shelby County Schools board position vacancy will be filled by the County Commission at its meeting Monday. 

Early voting is underway in the special general election for state Senate District 32. The district covers eastern Shelby County and all of Tipton County.

The Shelby County Election Commission will not appeal a state order barring the use of instant-runoff voting in the 2019 city elections. It is the last major decision of an election commission that is getting three new members.