‘We don’t have enough green space,’ parks chief says
City Parks and Neighborhoods Division Director Nick Walker, on “Behind The Headlines,” talks about the importance of outdoor areas in post-pandemic life.
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 4052 articles by Bill Dries :
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May 2021
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City of Memphis -
Shelby County County’s certified property tax rate lower than expected
A path is emerging to a low-key budget passage by the County Commission next month. But commissioners are considering a big capital ask by SCS.
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Shelby County City’s two Congressmen split on Capitol insurrection commission
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen voted for the bipartisan panel while U.S. Rep. David Kustoff voted against the investigation. The measure passed the House with 35 Republicans voting with the Democratic majority, none of them from Tennessee.
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Shelby County County Commission Scorecard: Moving ordinances without a majority
One of two measures examined on the County Commission Scorecard didn’t get any yes votes but advanced because of commission rules. The other is part of the Byhalia Connection Pipeline controversy. Each proposal is a political work in progress so far.
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City of Memphis City Council sides with firefighters union in contract impasse
The council approved on first reading an ordinance that forbids dumping belongings in an eviction on public rights of way and approved on the second of three readings the creation of a Crosstown Historic District Overlay governed by the Memphis Landmarks Commission.
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City of Memphis Council urges Gov. Lee to veto ‘critical race theory’ classroom ban
The resolution condemns the bill on Lee’s desk that bans public schools from teaching the racial theory. Council members, Black and white, said their experience on a diverse elected body has shown the importance of discussing race in classrooms.
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City of Memphis Expanded Leftwich Tennis Center gets $10 million loan from City Hall
The loan comes as construction costs are rising nationwide. The loan is covered by private donations pledged over several years as well as raising $2.5 million more from donors. The University of Memphis has pledged to cover any shortfall in raising the additional private funds.
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City of Memphis Former Coke bottler could become Liberty Park parking and city maintenance yard
The city would buy the 16.9 acre Coke bottling plant at Southern and Hollywood under a tentative letter of intent council members were briefed on Tuesday, May 18.
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City of Memphis Coca-Cola bottling plant could become part of Liberty Park plans
The council will hear, in committees, about the idea of “potential acquisition and adaptive reuse” of a bottling company plant at Southern and Hollywood. On the council agenda is a vote urging Gov. Bill Lee to veto a bill that bans teaching critical race theory.
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City of Memphis Mystery painting of Cossitt Library turns up ahead of fall reopening
The painting shows the Cossitt Library shortly after or just before its 1958 renovation when the midcentury modern front of the landmark was added.
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On the Record ‘Biden Bucks'; Cohen on the insurrection, and a third bridge
The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast runs down recent political events including sorting out what became of the idea of a “Super Chancery Court” proposed in the Tennessee General Assembly.
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Shelby County State concludes health department needs more training, better chain of command
A Tennessee Department of Health report on Shelby County vaccine distribution problems recommends more training and establishing a clear chain of command but concluded no one needs to get revaccinated.
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Transportation & Logistics Arkansas confirms bridge may have been damaged since 2019
Drone footage shows the Hernando DeSoto Bridge may have been damaged since 2019.
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City of Memphis City Council members eye about $27 million excess in revenues
City Council budget committee Chairman Worth Morgan and city Chief Financial Officer Shirley Ford talked about revenue estimates and the impact of federal American Rescue Plan funds as well as restrictions during “Behind The Headlines.”
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Elections Kustoff part of GOP caucus majority in Cheney ouster
Meanwhile, both of the state’s Republican U.S. Senators have been critical of the Democratic bill that would change election laws. One of the few Tennessee Republicans dissenting on Cheney’s ouster, former Congressman Zach Wamp, says it represents a split in the Republican Party that could have implications in next year’s mid-term Congressional elections.
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Update
MetroCrack shuts down all traffic on I-40 bridge
A crack on the I-40 bridge from Memphis into Arkansas shut down traffic and drivers were being rerouted to I-55, over the old bridge.
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City of Memphis Garbage, buses and park rangers surface in city budget discussions
It could have taken years for city crews to adequately manage garbage pick up in Area E, city council members were told Tuesday. Meanwhile, some council members appear likely to move for more funding of the Memphis Area Transit Authority and the parks division has a plan to add park rangers.
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Shelby County No evidence of vaccine irregularities, Harris says
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris says he’s found nothing to validate accusations that doses of vaccine were lost, stolen or misused when the county Health Department controlled distribution.
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Shelby County County Mayor Harris says county tax rate should hold steady
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said on “Behind The Headlines” that the estimated drop in the county property tax rate to $3.50, accounting for increases in values, should be the line to hold on the county tax rate. But county commissioners this week reviewed numbers suggesting some want to raise taxes beyond that point.
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Shelby County County Commission advances pipeline setbacks on first reading
Commissioners went ahead with a Monday vote on the Unified Development Code changes proposed by county Mayor Lee Harris. That despite the Byhalia Connection Pipeline companies urging a delay.
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City of Memphis City Council Scorecard: The new police director’s challenge
The City Council Scorecard looks at the almost unanimous vote making Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis the new head of MPD. The dissenting votes indicate Davis has cleared one hurdle but faces more to make the words that impressed most of the council match what she does as police chief.
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City of Memphis Director leaves Memphis’ solid waste division
Al Lamar’s departure follows complaints about solid waste services in Cordova, Hickory Hill and East Memphis. The problem led the city to cancel its contract with Waste Pro.
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Shelby County County clerk’s data processing fee could go up
The commission is trying to come up with $659,000 in funding for salaries and wages in the clerk’s office without taking the money from county reserves.
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Shelby County Budget Basics: A few numbers from Shelby County government’s budget season
Here’s a look at some terms to know as county commissioners begin discussing the proposed budget for the coming fiscal year.
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Shelby County County Commission to consider pipeline ordinance
Commissioners may decide if they want to stand down as the City Council has on changes to the Unified Development Code that would involve a setback for oil pipelines. The council delayed action on the same measure as the Byhalia Connection Pipeline companies agreed to drop lawsuits for rights of way in southwest Memphis.
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