As pandemic returns, so does debate over masks, other mandates
The pandemic’s return to Memphis was among the topics discussed in a reporters’ roundtable on the WKNO program “Behind The Headlines.”
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 4091 articles by Bill Dries :
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July 2021
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Behind The Headlines -
Metro Eastbound Hernando DeSoto Bridge lanes to reopen early
The Tennessee Department of Transportation plans to move up the reopening of eastbound lanes of traffic on the Hernando DeSoto Bridge to Saturday evening, July 31.
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City of Memphis City Council requires masks, limits attendance at sessions
A week after welcoming the public back to its sessions at City Hall, the Memphis City Council is reinstituting pandemic measures starting with the Tuesday, Aug. 3, committee sessions and the full meeting of the council later in the day.
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City of Memphis Consolidation talk returns 11 years after last voters nixed last effort
The first step would be a commission to draft a charter for a combined city of Memphis and Shelby County government covering Memphis and unincorporated Shelby County but not the six suburban towns and cities.
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Metro TDOT: Bridge reopens eastbound by Monday morning
Eastbound traffic will resume by Monday, Aug. 2, and westbound lanes will reopen Friday, Aug. 6. Crews will continue some work on the Hernando DeSoto Bridge even after the span across the Mississippi River resumes.
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Metro City Council Scorecard: The impact of Memphis 3.0 where commercial and residential meet
The Council Scorecard follows the saga of a used car lot in Raleigh that has come to symbolize the complexity of trying to move toward less-intense commercial development on major roads that have neighborhoods just behind them.
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Arts & Culture NCRM plans for 30-year anniversary
The National Civil Rights Museum plans to mark its 30th anniversary in late September with a “community celebration.”
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Metro Hernando DeSoto Bridge to reopen starting Sunday
The Tennessee Department of Transportation is expected to announce a more specific reopening schedule Wednesday, July 28.
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Shelby County Commissioner warns ethics advisory group might clash with Ford probe
The County Commission will soon have a panel of five to advise on ethics. One commissioner warns it could be seen as conflicting with the ongoing special prosecutor’s investigation into a 2019 grant proposed by Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr.
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Shelby County Election Commission chairman says County Commission not cooperating on voting machines
Brent Taylor says the County Commission decision to take its own bids on a new voting system “effectively bypasses” the Election Commission and “doesn’t indicate a willingness to work cooperatively.”
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City of Memphis TVA rethinks coal ash disposal plan
The surprise announcement last week at City Hall of a plan to truck the waste to a landfill near Memphis International Airport drew immediate criticism from City Council members. TVA isn’t pulling the plan but says will seek more public input.
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Shelby County County Commission keeps tax rate at $3.45, Brooks is new chairman
The commission also delayed the second of three votes on the Byhalia Connection Pipeline ordinance after it was amended.
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Update
ElectionsNew voting machines rejected as County Commission moves to rebid
Shelby County commissioners Monday voted down a new touch-screen voting system that includes a paper trail and moved to cut the Election Commission out of the process by taking new bids on a system that primarily uses hand-marked paper ballots.
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Business Commissioners approve Taylor as health director, Mitchell-Sims for judicial vacancy
Shelby County commissioners chose Dr. Michelle Taylor as the new head of the county’s Health Department Monday, and they picked Judicial Commissioner Danielle Mitchell-Sims to fill a General Sessions judge vacancy.
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On the Record Cohen discusses meeting Hagerty, and more
He also blasted the disqualification of U.S. sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson from the Olympics after she smoked marijuana. “It’s only performance-enhancing if you are in the Coney Island hot dog-eating contest.”
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Shelby County County Commission returns from five-week break
Monday’s commission agenda includes confirming a health director whose nomination is in trouble, possibly reopening the contentious question of a property tax hike, a long-delayed decision on a voting system for the county, and appointing a new judge.
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Transportation & Logistics Bridge won’t reopen until early August
The initial estimate was a late July reopening for the Hernando DeSoto Bridge. TDOT officials also upped the number of replacement plates to be installed aside from the damage that prompted the closing of the interstate bridge from 16 to 17.
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City of Memphis Raleigh used car lot controversy takes turn toward kayaks and bike rentals
Car lots and gas stations are getting more scrutiny from the Memphis City Council. But the idea of a proposed used car lot on Old Austin Peay Highway becoming a bike and kayak rental business instead is a new twist.
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Elections Morgan appoints treasurer in possible 2022 bid for county mayor
Morgan is in his second term on the City Council, which has a limit of two consecutive terms. Contenders for county offices in the May Democratic and Republican primaries can’t begin pulling petitions to get on the ballot until Dec. 20.
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Update
Shelby CountyHealth Department panel recommended Harris pass on Taylor as new director
The nomination of Dr. Michelle Taylor as the new Shelby County Health Department director drew fire Wednesday, July 21, with distribution of a May memo to Mayor Lee Harris that said a search panel recommended not picking Taylor and continuing the search.
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City of Memphis Army Corps gives permit for Tom Lee Park redesign to begin
The long awaited permit clears the way for the park’s redesign to begin moving dirt and creating new features in Tom Lee Park after a three-year planning process that has seen the plans change over time.
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Elections New voting machine issue is moving again in County Commission
A vote Monday by the Shelby County Commission on a new voting system could mean new voting machines by the May county primary elections.
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Shelby County Ford-Harris bad blood renewed over county pay bonuses
Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. wants the county to get the bonuses to county workers in the next pay period. County Mayor Lee Harris says the county needs to be sure the use of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds is allowed before it cuts checks.
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City of Memphis Coal ash from old Allen plant would go to airport area
TVA officials outlined remediation plans that include trucking treated coal residue to a private landfill near Memphis International Airport.
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City of Memphis Council approves sale of old Union police precinct land
The precinct site sold for $3.5 million after being appraised at $6 million, setting up a council debate about whether to take the best offer now or wait for a better one.
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Council approves centerpiece of Downtown parking reconfiguration
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