“Louis had such a dominant influence on my life – perhaps even more than my parents. And I always wanted to be just like him.”

“And there is no Memphian, past or present, more deserving of the recognition. Weathers’ story is one of resilience, courage, perseverance and heroism.”

In Tennessee, it was GOP business as usual following Tuesday’s midterm election. The legislature remains under total control by Republicans and Gov. Bill Lee cruised to reelection without breaking a sweat.

Diversity in many forms should be a compelling societal interest. And race should be one of several factors used in making hiring decisions.

“With all that cash and goodwill going for him, Taylor could easily take the high road, the 100% positive road, to a smooth Election Day victory.”

Recent speculation has focused on Gov. Bill Lee being a possible national candidate for elected office in the future — if not in 2024, then in 2028.

“I’ve witnessed shameless corporate greed and blatant union nepotism. And on balance, I believe the positives of organized labor outweigh the negatives.”

“At least Sandlin and others who stormed the Capitol are now admitting their wrongs and are facing the consequences. I’m still waiting for the deniers holding elected office to come to their senses.”

At a time when politicians are doing their darnedest to run away from our racial history by censoring it in schools, Ole Miss deserves accolades for treating the 60th anniversary of James Meredith’s enrollment with the pomp and circumstance that it deserves.

While the November midterm election is shaping up to be a real snoozer locally, the Memphis mayoral election on Oct. 5, 2023, is fast becoming the most consequential mayoral race in more than 30 years.

Tenn. Gov. Bill Lee, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, MPD and the TBI all share the responsibility for our failure to reduce local crime. But their responses in the aftermath of an incredibly tragic week are not good enough. 

One was an attorney who used the law to make a positive difference in society. The other was a gun-wielding juvenile delinquent. Their paths crossed on the evening of May 25, 2000, and now, 22 years later, it serves as an eerie backstory to the tragic kidnapping and murder of Eliza Fletcher.

Tarik Sugarmon ushers in a new era for Juvenile Court in Memphis and Shelby County.

“But at some point, every adult needs something from the county clerk. And what we need most now is efficiency — something Halbert promised when she ran for mayor in 2009 but is clearly incapable of delivering.”

“Many rural Tennesseans will no doubt argue, as Ronald Reagan did in 1962, that they did not leave the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party left them. I respectfully disagree.”

“An overwhelming majority of local voters believe Republicans have allowed the inmates to run the asylum. And the local party is paying the price.”

“A lot is at stake up and down the ballot. And it’s important that all eligible voters voice their choice.”

Memphis voters have tended to favor incumbents. Since the mid-1960s, only three sitting mayors have been denied reelection.

“Why would he just sit idly by and allow an outsider to trash Tennessee teachers and Tennessee colleges?”

Republican incumbent Amy Weirich is in a fierce battle with Democratic challenger Steve Mulroy as she seeks to hang on to the job of Shelby County’s top prosecutor for another eight years.

“I’ve always been told that if something isn’t broken, don’t fix it. Tennessee’s standards for teaching social studies are not broken. Far from it. They offer students a comprehensive and accurate view of our world, past and present, warts and all.”

Like Richard Nixon, Donald Trump is criminally corrupt and unfit to hold office. Sadly, millions of Americans still refuse to believe the truth. 

Frist is trying to infuse compassion, reasonableness and a spirit of compromise into Republicans in Congress who, on the issue of gun safety, are seemingly heartless.

The battles for district attorney and county mayor will get most of the headlines, but the race to determine who oversees judicial proceedings at Juvenile Court is the most important overall to the community.