Local redistricting numbers taking shape
U.S. Census figures show some County Commission districts have grown in population while others have lost population since a decade ago.
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 4335 articles by Bill Dries :
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August 2021
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City of Memphis -
Health Care Regional One starts getting ARPA dollars to reopen 21 needed beds
The CEO of the region’s trauma center and safety net hospital said national competition among hospitals for the skilled specialists needed to put 21 beds back in use at Regional One is intense and costly.
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Coronavirus Health Dept. Director: Shelby County mask mandate ‘needs to happen quickly’
“We must have a universal mask mandate in Shelby County and it needs to happen quickly,” Health Department director Dr. Michelle Taylor told the County Commission Wednesday.
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Most — but not all — county commissioners support return to masks -
Coronavirus Most — but not all — county commissioners support return to masks
There are also questions about whether the move back to masks is legal, given the governor’s recent executive order.
Related story:
Health Dept. Director: Shelby County mask mandate ‘needs to happen quickly' -
City of Memphis Hospital emergency directors call for immediate countywide mask mandate
The letter circulating Tuesday warns of “catastrophic” effects that could “affect health care at every level.” Meanwhile, the city council is urging Gov. Bill Lee to rescind his executive order to allow parents to opt out of school mask mandates.
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Update
MetroCounty Health Department says it will ‘make adjustments’ after governor allows opt-out on masks
Shelby County Schools leaders, however, say the school system’s mask mandate remains in place despite the executive order that also includes mask mandates by school systems. Shelby County Commissioner Van Turner is suggesting the county should take the issue to court.
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City of Memphis Trio of pipeline proposals reach critical juncture
The second council meeting of September could see final votes on all three of the ordinances. The council also made some key amendments to two of the proposals that impose local regulations on crude oil pipelines proposed for the city.
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City of Memphis Consolidation questions, doubts linger on council
The earliest the City Council could vote on setting up a charter commission is its Sept. 7 meeting.
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City of Memphis City Council opens discussion of latest consolidation effort
Forming a charter commission to look at consolidated government could move from discussions to a vote later on Tuesday depending on how the discussion goes and whether it shows there are seven votes supporting it.
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Shelby County Charter commission group tries to stay separate from consolidation debate
Leaders of a political action committee pushing for a metro charter commission say such a group is necessary to explore a more efficient local government.
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State Government City’s GOP representatives criticize Biden’s Afghanistan speech
Tennessee’s two Republican U.S. senators were highly critical of President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw U.S. military forces before his speech Monday, Aug. 16. They were more critical after the speech.
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Metro Both parties like ‘low-tech’ voting, former commissioner says
One of the county’s most vocal advocates for a new voting system with hand-marked paper ballots says the push for such a system isn’t part of the national political movement that contends Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election.
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Behind The Headlines Third bridge across river would likely be a replacement
Greater Memphis Chamber chief public policy officer Bobby White said planning construction could take a decade or more, most likely across the administrations of several presidents, governors and mayors.
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City of Memphis Census numbers show little change in county’s population, demographics
The data will help determine how districts are drawn for the Tennessee General Assembly and Congressional districts as well as the Shelby County Commission and the Memphis City Council.
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City of Memphis City Council to discuss consolidation charter commission
The first step toward consolidation shows up on the City Council’s committee list for next week.
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State Government Sexton calls for special legislative session to reverse ‘misdirected’ COVID mandates
All four House Republicans from the Shelby County delegation signed Sexton’s call for a special session.
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Shelby County Wright wants legal opinion on Health Department authority
Shelby County Commissioner Mick Wright says even with recent changes in state laws this year, it’s unclear where the health department’s authority to issue mask mandates and require other measures ends and where decisions by elected officials begin.
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State Government Hagerty, Blackburn vote against $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure compromise
Tennessee’s two Republican U.S. Senators telegraphed their “no” votes well ahead of Tuesday’s vote, which was delayed over the weekend by Hagerty.
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Premium
Shelby CountyHarris warns commission of ‘dangerous ground’ in veto of ethics panel
The Shelby County Commission voted Monday, Aug. 9, to override the veto of a new ethics advisory panel the commission would appoint.
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City of Memphis City Council Scorecard: Crushing the Raleigh car lot
A proposed used-car lot in Raleigh has become symbolic of a much larger change in the council’s consideration of what development goes where and under what conditions.
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City of Memphis State delays considering change in property reappraisal
The delay comes after all seven city mayors in Shelby County came out against the switch from a four-year reappraisal cycle to the two-year cycle approved earlier this year by the Shelby County Commission.
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Shelby County County Commission delays action on mask mandate, funding
The delays to the Aug. 23 commission meeting followed a rancorous debate among commissioners and between commissioners and anti-maskers who taunted one commissioner online before Monday’s session.
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Shelby County Commission overrides Harris veto of county ethics advisory panel
The veto override by the commission is the latest chapter in an ongoing dispute between County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. and Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris.
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County Commission delays resolution mandating masks
The Shelby County Commission delayed action Monday, Aug. 9, on a resolution requesting a countywide mask mandate.
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Shelby County County commission takes up mask mandate
The commission is the latest body to take up a call for a countywide mask mandate that would come from the Shelby County Health Department. The health department amended its latest health directive Friday to require all K-12 students in all schools – public and private – across the county to wear masks as the school year begins. Also on Monday’s agenda is a veto override.
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