New Memphis Fire headquarters opens on familiar ground for firefighters
The headquarters is part of a plan for a fire campus in the area where generations of Memphis firefighters have trained.
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 4156 articles by Bill Dries :
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January 2022
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City of Memphis -
Shelby County Ballot Basics: Laying out the 2022 election year
After no elections in 2021, Shelby County voters go to the polls three times this year in a series of elections with almost 200 races total and many more candidates in those races. Here is an overview of what’s ahead for voters.
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City of Memphis Cruise line arrivals push waterfront plans
Viking Cruises will begin traversing the Mississippi River in June, joining two other cruise lines docking in Memphis. The city plans a $62 million Waterfront District to meet the demand.
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Elections Political Roundup: Primary growing pains and a ranked-choice voting ban
There are now five potential contenders in the Democratic primary for Shelby County mayor with about three weeks to the filing deadline to get on the ballot. Here’s a rundown of the latest filings and a few other campaign notes.
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Election 2022
ElectionsGoodbye Morning Sun, hello new precinct system
County election commission does its first extensive precinct realignment in two decades.
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Business Judge orders more info from TVA on long-term contracts
The Tennessee Valley Authority has to turn over material about the 20-year contract agreement it wants Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division and all the other local utilities in its system to sign.
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City of Memphis City Council Scorecard: Vote pumps brakes for Broad Ave. gas station
The City Council Scorecard looks at how the votes lined up on the second rejection in three months for a convenience store with gas pumps at Broad Avenue and Tillman Street.
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Metro Listen: House Speaker Sexton defends the state’s new district maps
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton discusses the controversial redrawing of House district lines on The Daily Memphian’s “On The Record” podcast.
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election 2022
ElectionsNew voting system in limbo as May county primaries near
A Chancery Court lawsuit preserved the stalemate between the Shelby County Election Commission and the Shelby County Commission over a way forward in the controversy.
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Elections New Shelby County election machines unlikely this year
The first of the year’s elections is the May county primaries, with early voting starting in mid-April.
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City of Memphis Holmes Road improvements could begin after years of promises
“The longer it takes, the more expensive it gets,” one Shelby County Commissioner said of the project last week.
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City of Memphis Strickland touts police pay raise proposal in State of the City address
In addition to the pay raises, Strickland again called for changes in state laws, particularly around gun crimes, and doubled down on his earlier declaration that the local criminal justice system is a “revolving door.”
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Elections Democratic primary for Shelby County mayor grows
Additional candidates have filed petitions for the upcoming May primaries.
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Shelby County Playground at women’s center puts abortion debate before commission
The commission’s Democratic majority approved a $25,000 grant to fund a playground at the center in Midtown. People on both sides of the abortion issue had a lot to say before the vote.
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Shelby County Commission splits on call for return of federal oversight for Juvenile Court
Shelby County commissioners voted Monday, Jan. 24, to make a return of federal oversight of Memphis-Shelby County Juvenile Court a part of its legislative agenda in Washington D.C.
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crime crisis
Public SafetyThe Case of the Chase: The history of MPD’s pursuit policy
The current policy bars police car chases for misdemeanors including traffic offenses.
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crime crisis
Public SafetyThe Case of the Chase: Local leaders question police’s non-pursuit policy
The Memphis Police Department doesn’t engage in high-speed car chases unless in pursuit of a dangerous felon. But one City Council member says the policy should change.
Related stories:
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crime crisis
Public SafetyMemphis Police Department’s Pursuit Policy, explained
Here are the basics of the MPD pursuit policy from the police manual.
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State Government Legislators draw partisan lines over voting rights and filibuster
The two key votes of the week in Washington D.C. were in the Senate. But the discussion among the city’s representatives in Washington included both U.S. House members who represent Memphis.
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Metro On The Record podcast debuts
The podcast debut sets the stage for the interviews that are an integral part of The Daily Memphian’s coverage of politics and government.
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Elections Moody files in county mayor’s race with a month until deadline
As he filed his qualifying petition Friday, Jan. 21, Moody said he hopes the May Democratic mayoral primary remains a one-on-one matchup with incumbent Mayor Lee Harris.
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Shelby County In split vote, Shelby County decides to distribute COVID test kits
Three county commissioners voted against the $1.44 million purchase of 180,000 tests in 90 kits with two tests a piece. One cited comments by Dr. Ben Carson on Fox News earlier this week complaining that more tests would mean a rise in COVID cases.
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Shelby County County commissioners to consider $1.4M for COVID testing kits
Shelby County commissioners meet in special session Wednesday, Jan. 19, to approve $1.4 million in funding to buy 15,000 COVID self-test kits at a unit price that comes to 180,000 tests.
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City of Memphis Ida B. Wells to be honored with Downtown street
The name change approved Tuesday changes the street’s name on city maps and as a mailing address.
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crime crisis
Public SafetyWhat happens with most local drag racing charges? They’re dismissed
Calling it a “terrible reality,” Memphis City Councilman Worth Morgan said that “people are not being held accountable for fleeing from police.”
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