Soon after I arrived in Knoxville to lead the Institute of Agriculture in 2006, I fell in love with the University of Tennessee. It is a special place because of the people and their commitment to the students and citizens all across the state of Tennessee. There is something about the spirit found within this university. It is real. It is sincere. It is palpable. It is authentic.

The Downtown Memphis from 2014 when I moved back home from Austin, compared to the Downtown I experience and represent today, is almost night and day.

The first executive order issued by President Trump in February 2017 was to reduce crime and restore public safety to communities across the nation.

“Our country has changed,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in Shelby County v. Holder, a landmark decision that overturned a key provision of the 1965 Civil Rights Act and ended the enforcement of federal oversight of voting practices in states that have historically disenfranchised minority voters.

There are about 64,000 veterans in Shelby County. This Veterans Day, instead of saying “Thank you for your service,” why not ask a veteran to tell about their service.

It’s almost 2019 – do you have a plan for year-end fundraising?

Throughout my career in politics, I have always worked to amplify the voice of the voters that I have been fortunate enough to represent. In that spirit, I urge everyone to vote against the creatively worded charter amendments on the ballot in the Nov. 6 election.

In a letter I wrote supporting Joe DiPietro for president of the University of Tennessee, I noted that he gained the respect and cooperation of the UT Institute of Agriculture faculty, staff and students during a difficult time of state of Tennessee funding reductions.

Accusations of sexual assault and resulting trauma have dominated the news during the last few weeks. In its wake a much-needed public debate has ensued about how the memory works when one experiences a trauma.

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland – For U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman C.J. McCoy of Memphis, whose goal is to be a naval aviator, the life lesson that got him here is straight forward: “Don’t give up.” 

Of all the health care issues that any community faces, infant mortality causes the most heartbreak. Nothing matters more than giving our babies – each and every one of them – a fighting chance. Nowhere has it mattered more than in Memphis.

This morning I rode my bike east on the Greenline and through Shelby Farms thinking about how perfect the fall morning is and what a great asset we have in our bike paths, parks and recreational areas.

“The job is basically getting 7,000 people to stop bickering and remember why they got into this business,” he said stoically before breaking into his trademark grin. “Should be pretty simple.” A recent acquisition and a second pending acquisition were about to triple the size of the “family” as Phil Trenary lovingly referred to his Pinnacle Airlines employees, and Phil understood his culture was falling behind. “We need to stop behaving like separate airlines and start acting like one.”

You have probably heard some public discourse around the use of code names for projects seeking incentive packages in our community.

As developments across the Downtown Memphis landscape compound, desire for consumption by and connectivity between people is a universal sentiment. Our investors, architects and developers, funders and supporters believe that attracting people is the greatest indicator of a vibrant center city.

As I begin my journey of service as Sheriff of Shelby County, I am humbled by the faith this community has placed in me.