Firefighter raises and a library charter change on city council agenda
The council also gets an update on the Memphis Area Transit Authority’s three-month, no-fare experiment.
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 4090 articles by Bill Dries :
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December 2025
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City of Memphis
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November 2025
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City of Memphis The city adds to its finance team, but the search is on for a new library director
Memphis found a new deputy chief financial officer. Now, the city must find a new leader for its library division as Keenon McCloy retires after 18 years.
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Shelby County‘How about we cut you off as the chair?’ — Ford tirade aimed at County Commission chairwoman
Also in the roundup: Amber Huett-Garcia opens Commission campaign, Marie Feagins’ bid for county mayor and Steve Cohen on a successor.
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MetroMemphis leaders could target ICE part of Task Force next
The number of National Guard members moved closer to the 1,000-troop limit set by federal leaders as local elected leaders said ICE agents in the city could be their next target in court.
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Metro Outside a historic Memphis church, a new marker honors its ‘remarkable journey’
Centenary United Methodist Church in Soulsville is 160 years old this year. With a new marker to celebrate Centenary’s legacy, church members say the congregation’s history is not just about the past.
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Elections Marie Feagins running for Shelby County mayor
“I think the opportunity is for anyone to get in — anyone who has a vision for the county in any regard,” Feagins told The Daily Memphian.
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Public Safety Memphis crime down 23% year to date
Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis presented the latest crime numbers for the first full month of the Memphis Safe Task Force. She also talked about the MPD’s relationship with the task force including on immigration arrests.
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Shelby CountyFord gets heated in County Commission debate about deputy’s benefits
The County Commission ultimately extended benefits for a severely injured Shelby County sheriff’s deputy.
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Shelby County County fixes cash-flow crunch with $43 million loan
The “interfund tax anticipation note” solves the short-term cash-flow problem for county government. But long-term financial concerns around county reserves remain.
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Shelby CountyQuestions linger for Marsha Blackburn on phone records pay out
Also in the political roundup, one county mayoral contender calls out current Mayor Lee Harris’ administration for its funding shortfall and another calls for change in the government’s relationship to the school system.
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City of Memphis Wolf River bottomland tops City Council committee talks
A clean-up in Raleigh, MLGW division budgets, restrooms at the Shell and crime stats are expected to be up for discussion on Tuesday at City Hall.
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Shelby County County to vote on $30M monthly payroll cash flow crisis
The county administration blames the shortfall on the Memphis Safe Task Force and federal government shutdown.
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Spirit of MemphisThe six-way intersection that defines South City gets a new look
Artwork installation stands at the crossroads of historic neighborhood.
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Behind The Headlines State Rep. Pearson said he can work across the aisle without moderating his political views
State Rep. Justin J. Pearson talked about his tenure in the Tennessee House of Representatives and his views on the Memphis Safe Task Force on “Behind The Headlines.”
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City of Memphis Overton Park’s Old Forest fence formally falls: ‘The Old Forest is whole again’
The Thursday, Nov. 13, formal opening of the new Old Forest acreage served as an epitaph for the conflict over what to do about overflow Memphis Zoo parking on the Overton Park greensward.
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Arts & Culture The Sultana Museum starts to gain steam in Marion
The renovation of the school gym in Marion, Arkansas is just about complete. It will be followed by exhibits to chronicle the history of the nation’s worst maritime disaster 7 miles from Memphis.
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State GovernmentBill that ended government shutdown could pay Tennessee’s US senators minimum $500K each
Here’s how Memphis’ D.C. representatives voted on the measure to fund the government until January.
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Shelby County County moves money toward new Regional One
Design work for Regional One Health is about to begin as well as demolition of the old Commercial Appeal building that will be the center of the hospital’s new campus.
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Metro Shelby County Chancellor dismisses gun-group lawsuit against city
The group alleged the city had violated the state law that forbids local governments from regulating firearms in any way.
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MetroU.S. Marshals director: Next Task Force phase to target MPD policy changes
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen has redistricting concerns, U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty vote against a war-powers resolution on Venezuela and a court ruling on local gun-control measures and “virtue signaling.”
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Behind The Headlines Public holds GOP responsible for ongoing government shutdown, Cohen says
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump but agreed on “Behind The Headlines” with Trump’s assessment of the set of elections this past week that saw Democratic victory.
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Shelby County County mayor wants more judges for Task Force cases
Lee Harris also called for better demographic numbers on those arrested and charged, as well as a total county of traffic stops including those where no one is charged or jailed.
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Elections Mayoral candidates define themselves at first campaign forum
Five of the six declared Democratic candidates for Shelby County mayor spoke at the forum held by the Germantown Democratic Party at the Great Hall Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025.
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City of Memphis Chair, vice chair elections will mark halfway point for City Council’s term
Council members also will meet Mayor Paul Young’s two latest appointees, including his pick for the city’s new fire chief.
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State GovernmentMPD is not working with ICE on immigration, Young says
“Certainly, one of the challenges is the issue around immigration enforcement, we know that immigration is not an issue in Memphis,” Memphis Mayor Paul Young said
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