Most on commission oppose eliminating county primaries
The bill in Nashville would outlaw partisan primary elections in Shelby and Davidson counties – the state’s two biggest concentrations of Democratic voters.
Bill Dries
Reporter
Bill Dries covers city and county government and politics. He is a native Memphian and has been a reporter for almost 50 years covering a wide variety of stories from the 1977 death of Elvis Presley and the 1978 police and fire strikes to numerous political campaigns, every county mayor and every Memphis Mayor starting with Wyeth Chandler.
There are 4334 articles by Bill Dries :
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March 2021
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Elections -
Shelby County County Commission sorts out future of county vaccination efforts
The regular Monday session of the commission will be followed by a special Friday meeting with Tennessee Health commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey on problems that led the state to shift control of COVID vaccine distribution from the county to the city of Memphis.
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City of Memphis Rent and utility assistance challenges ‘first-come, first-served’ format
Nearly $30 million in federal pandemic assistance for the city and county governments is being pooled for what city Housing and Community Development Director Paul Young calls a “game-changer.”
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State Government How Tennessee’s two senators voted on COVID relief and why
Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty pushed the narrative that Republican-led states were getting less money in the relief bill at the expense of Democratic led states.
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City of Memphis Carlisle: MLGW negotiating position with TVA could have been stronger
On The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast, City Council member Chase Carlisle talks about bargaining with TVA for a new contract with MLGW without a specific plan for an alternative, his call for the resignation of the Shelby County Health Department’s embattled leader and the 2022 race for Shelby County mayor.
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Behind The Headlines Hospitality industry comeback mixes economic wreckage with vaccine hopes
On “Behind The Headlines,” Memphis Tourism president Kevin Kane and Downtown Memphis Commission board chairwoman Deni Reilly assess the heavy toll the pandemic has taken on the local industry in the last year.
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City of Memphis Petland store debate goes to the math of pet sales
During this week’s council discussion, sponsor Worth Morgan asked for a list of pet breeders used by the Wolfchase store franchisee. When he didn’t get it but an offer of a guided tour, Morgan compared it to inspecting a nuclear facility in Iran.
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City of Memphis Council Scorecard: An appeal to Nashville, the Health Department’s reckoning and an empty skyscraper
The Daily Memphian City Council Scorecard tracks three council decisions this week on major issues including what to do with the 100 North Main Building, a state law that would allow police and firefighters to live outside Shelby County and how, or if, to judge the Health Department as the city takes over vaccine distribution.
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City of Memphis City resumes recycling collections April 6
For the past 13 weeks, city solid waste crews have been combining recyclables with other waste in a single collection because of the large number of crew member out with the COVID-19 virus or those in quarantine for possible exposure to the virus.
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Business Rhodes president Marjorie Hass stepping down
Hass will remain president of Rhodes through mid-August.
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Shelby County Released emails show early vaccine questions between Memphis, county health officials
Transfer of vaccine distribution will likely leave some Shelby County Health Department vacancies unfilled, county leaders say, as email trails from last month show those now in charge of vaccine distribution had questions that weren’t being answered as vaccine miscues piled up.
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City of Memphis MLGW’s Young recommends putting talk of TVA split on hold
Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division President and CEO J.T. Young says spikes in bills and blackouts in other parts of the country show electric power isn’t a commodity but a necessity, representing a shift in the local debate that has been around getting a cheaper wholesale price for electricity.
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City of Memphis City Council approves $1M for vaccines, debates blame
Council member Chase Carlisle was sharply critical of health officials, the County Commission and county Mayor Lee Harris. The wording was later amended after a lengthy council debate.
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City of Memphis Council passes drag-racing ordinance, delays Byhalia decision again
Proposed rules delay action on the city adding a $2.6 million community grants program to its next budget.
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City of Memphis Council members make case for exempting city from state residency bill
Council member J.B. Smiley argues that if the city accepts police and fire applications from outside the city, more effort will have to be put into screening candidates.
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Update
City of MemphisCouncil approves sale of 100 N. Main to city
The city plans to offer the property to developers once the sale from THM Properties of New York City closes. Demolition of the part of the city’s skyline is also an option.
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Elections What Blackburn and Hagerty said at CPAC before Trump spoke
Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen’s tweets on Trump’s appearance offered a contrast to the social media reaction from Blackburn and Hagerty. Republican U.S. Rep. David Kustoff didn’t comment on CPAC but did post on his vote against the Democratic COVID stimulus package that passed in the House.
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City of Memphis City Council considers funding for city takeover of local vaccinations
The items added Monday evening to the council’s committee list include $1 million in funding for the city’s vaccine ramp-up. They join what was already a busy council day, including the 100 North Main building, street racing and sewer fees.
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Shelby County National search gearing up to find Haushalter replacement
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said the county will hire a national search firm to field the applications, which are due by the end of this month.
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City of Memphis Eight Memphis community centers begin phased reopening
The city reopened the centers in a phased reopening of the 24 community centers across Memphis.
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February 2021
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Shelby County Pandemic tech changes will endure, county chief information officer says
On The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast, Shelby County Chief Information Officer Sandra Perry talks about the lasting impact and the security challenges of work-at-home government services and what happens when one part of county government wants its own computer system and network.
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City of Memphis City Council Scorecard: Grants vs. Buses
The Daily Memphian City Council Scorecard looks at a committee vote this past week on whether to send $2.6 million to the council grants program or the city’s bus system.
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Business Chamber: Tax incentives remain crucial but other factors could lessen them
On “Behind The Headlines,” Greater Memphis Chamber President Beverly Robertson and Economic Development Chief Ted Townsend talked about a new round of PILOT reform discussions, “resiliency” and the local economy’s comeback from the COVID pandemic.
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Shelby County Haushalter resigns as Health Department head after more vaccine bombshells
The announcement by County Mayor Lee Harris came three hours after new bombshell revelation from state health officials about the mismanagement of vaccines in Shelby County. It also did little to quell a growing controversy about the leadership of Harris in the controversy.
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Update
City of MemphisCarlisle makes first call for firing of Haushalter in vaccine ‘fiasco’
The council can’t fire Shelby County Health Director Alisa Haushalter, but council member Chase Carlisle will propose the resolution at Tuesday’s council meeting. There could be more calls Friday, when Haushalter and County Mayor Lee Harris speak at a special meeting of the Shelby County Commission.
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