Presidential politics ramps up as primaries near
Several of the Democratic presidential campaigns started looking for Memphis votes on the first weekend of the early voting period with local politicos leading the charge to the March 3 election day.
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 4214 articles by Bill Dries :
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February 2020
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Elections -
Metro Cohen: President’s response to Hart ‘unfair, but typical’
The Congressman's defense of the former school board member comes eight years after she challenged him in the 9th District Democratic primary.
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Metro Mississippi River to top flood stage
The Mississippi River at Memphis is forecast to go above flood stage Feb. 19 and crest at 36 feet by Feb. 21 before a gradual drop over the next week. -
State Government Camper: Lee may succeed in speeding up voucher plan
Two Memphis Democrats in the state House talk on "Behind The Headlines" about the resurgent questions by lawmakers of both parties around the school vouchers program passed by the Legislature last year and on a fast track for implementation this summer.
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Elections Trump reacts to Hart Facebook post on Stone trial
Former school board member Tomeka Hart was foreperson on the Washington D.C. jury that convicted Stone on all seven counts of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering. Her Facebook post defending the prosecutors in the case got the President's attention Thursday morning.
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Elections Democratic presidential camps emerge to boost early voting
The first numbers from the start of early voting are strong and much higher than the same point in early voting four years ago.
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Metro Politics Podcast: A campaign roundup
Bill Dries' roundup includes the Memphis federal court case from the 1990s that has some similarities to the Roger Stone case.
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State GovernmentLee clarifies position on megasite development
Governor pushed back against word earlier this month that the 4,100-acre Memphis Regional Megasite in Haywood County is not on the administration’s front burner.
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City of Memphis Civil Rights Trail additions intersect with LGBTQ debate
The Beale Street entertainment district and the Union Avenue location for WDIA radio join three other historic sites in Memphis.
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Elections Ballot Basics: General Sessions Court Clerk
The basics of the race for General Sessions Court Clerk on the March 3 ballot. Early voting runs through Feb. 25.
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Elections What’s in a name? If it’s ‘clerk,’ it can be a tough race to sell
The March primaries, which lead to the only general election for a countywide position this election year, is the latest skirmish between two factions – those who work in the clerk's offices and those who don't but who have name recognition from other races.
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Elections Ballot Basics: All about early voting
Here is everything you need to prepare yourself for the early voting period that begins Wednesday in advance of the March 3 election day.
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Elections Bloomberg supporters ask, ‘What is the strategy?’
Early voting opens Wednesday in Shelby County in the Tennessee presidential primaries.
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Metro Strickland stumps for Bloomberg
As the Democratic presidential contenders look for last-minute votes in New Hampshire Tuesday, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland will be campaigning for former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in Jackson, Tennessee. -
Metro Son of city employee pleads to federal mail fraud and conspiracy charges
The son of a Memphis city employee accused of defrauding the city out of possibly more than $84,000 in a lawn-mowing scam has pleaded guilty to federal charges in the case. -
City of Memphis Civil Service Commission reappointment prompts rare council split vote
The split vote on the civil service reappointment could be seen again as more of the civil service commissioners reach the end of their three-year terms.
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City of Memphis What comes after MLGW rate hike? That’s the topic of discussion
After winning approval of multi-year rate hikes for gas, water and electric, leaders of the utility division are still talking about efficiencies and accountability with the Memphis City Council members who approved those rate hikes.
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Elections Surrogates blazing trail for Democratic presidential contenders
The campaigns of several Democratic presidential contenders are looking for votes in the state's largest base of blue voters. But so far, it has been surrogates speaking to Memphians.
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Metro Politics Podcast: Impeachment, State of the State and more
This edition of the Politics Podcast features a roundup from a busy week in local, state and national politics.
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City of Memphis What’s moving forward and what’s on hold at the Memphis Zoo?
On the WKNO Channel 10 program “Behind The Headlines," zoo president and CEO Jim Dean discusses plans for the Overton Park institution.
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Elections Alexander, Blackburn vote not guilty in Senate impeachment trial
The acquittal votes were expected, but there were differences in the reasoning offered by the two Republican Senators. Also reaction from the city's two Congressional representatives.
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Elections Iowa app problems cast shadow on local voting discussion
Shelby County Commissioners' decision regarding a new voting system for August ballots isn't the final word, but a recommendation for the Shelby County Election Commission.
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Elections Bloomberg opens Memphis HQ as August ballot starts to take shape
Early voting in the state’s presidential primary is a week away.
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City of Memphis Rallings, bridge activist clash at council over police residency
At stake is a possible move to take a ballot question off the ballot in November that would expand residency requirement for police and firefighters.
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City of Memphis City Council approves delayed Civil Service Commission reappointments
But the council vote on one of the two commissioners was less than unanimous. Council member Worth Morgan questioned whether appeals to the commission of firings and disciplinary actions are creating a culture City Hall should be avoiding.
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