Strickland says permitless gun carry bill likely to pass despite his opposition
Strickland also commented on his operating philosophy for public officials with whom he disagrees during comments Thursday, March 11, at the Frayser Exchange Club.
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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March 2021
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City of Memphis -
Metro How Cohen and Kustoff voted on the American Rescue Plan Act
The city’s two representatives in the U.S. House were on different sides in the Wednesday, March 10, vote to approve the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief act known as the American Rescue Plan Act.
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Premium
Shelby CountyPhoto finish: Commissioner questions why Assessor’s picture adorns reappraisal notices
The notices are drawing fire from a county commissioner after the commission approved $180,000 more in funding last month for the direct mail piece. The assessor’s office says it is Melvin Burgess’ way of “owning” the process.
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City of Memphis 17,000 facing utility cutoffs forces MLGW to phase in disconnects
MLGW resumed disconnecting customers for overdue bills this week. But there are so many, the utility has had to phase the cutoffs in, giving customers more time to work out payment plans over the next year.
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City of Memphis City senior centers to reopen March 15 for programs only
The four senior centers operated by the City of Memphis will reopen Monday, March 15, on a limited basis.
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Shelby County County Commission extends forensic center contract with UTHSC to $5M
Commission also approves a goal of giving locally-owned small businesses 20% of county government contracts and purchases.
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Shelby County County Commission’s briefing by state health commissioner postponed
State Health commissioner Lisa Piercey said she won’t have a completed report by Friday, March 12.
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Elections Most on commission oppose eliminating county primaries
The bill in Nashville would outlaw partisan primary elections in Shelby and Davidson counties – the state’s two biggest concentrations of Democratic voters.
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Shelby County County Commission sorts out future of county vaccination efforts
The regular Monday session of the commission will be followed by a special Friday meeting with Tennessee Health commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey on problems that led the state to shift control of COVID vaccine distribution from the county to the city of Memphis.
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City of Memphis Rent and utility assistance challenges ‘first-come, first-served’ format
Nearly $30 million in federal pandemic assistance for the city and county governments is being pooled for what city Housing and Community Development Director Paul Young calls a “game-changer.”
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State Government How Tennessee’s two senators voted on COVID relief and why
Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty pushed the narrative that Republican-led states were getting less money in the relief bill at the expense of Democratic led states.
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City of Memphis Carlisle: MLGW negotiating position with TVA could have been stronger
On The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast, City Council member Chase Carlisle talks about bargaining with TVA for a new contract with MLGW without a specific plan for an alternative, his call for the resignation of the Shelby County Health Department’s embattled leader and the 2022 race for Shelby County mayor.
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Behind The Headlines Hospitality industry comeback mixes economic wreckage with vaccine hopes
On “Behind The Headlines,” Memphis Tourism president Kevin Kane and Downtown Memphis Commission board chairwoman Deni Reilly assess the heavy toll the pandemic has taken on the local industry in the last year.
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City of Memphis Petland store debate goes to the math of pet sales
During this week’s council discussion, sponsor Worth Morgan asked for a list of pet breeders used by the Wolfchase store franchisee. When he didn’t get it but an offer of a guided tour, Morgan compared it to inspecting a nuclear facility in Iran.
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City of Memphis Council Scorecard: An appeal to Nashville, the Health Department’s reckoning and an empty skyscraper
The Daily Memphian City Council Scorecard tracks three council decisions this week on major issues including what to do with the 100 North Main Building, a state law that would allow police and firefighters to live outside Shelby County and how, or if, to judge the Health Department as the city takes over vaccine distribution.
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City of Memphis City resumes recycling collections April 6
For the past 13 weeks, city solid waste crews have been combining recyclables with other waste in a single collection because of the large number of crew member out with the COVID-19 virus or those in quarantine for possible exposure to the virus.
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Business Rhodes president Marjorie Hass stepping down
Hass will remain president of Rhodes through mid-August.
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Shelby County Released emails show early vaccine questions between Memphis, county health officials
Transfer of vaccine distribution will likely leave some Shelby County Health Department vacancies unfilled, county leaders say, as email trails from last month show those now in charge of vaccine distribution had questions that weren’t being answered as vaccine miscues piled up.
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City of Memphis MLGW’s Young recommends putting talk of TVA split on hold
Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division President and CEO J.T. Young says spikes in bills and blackouts in other parts of the country show electric power isn’t a commodity but a necessity, representing a shift in the local debate that has been around getting a cheaper wholesale price for electricity.
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City of Memphis City Council approves $1M for vaccines, debates blame
Council member Chase Carlisle was sharply critical of health officials, the County Commission and county Mayor Lee Harris. The wording was later amended after a lengthy council debate.
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City of Memphis Council passes drag-racing ordinance, delays Byhalia decision again
Proposed rules delay action on the city adding a $2.6 million community grants program to its next budget.
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City of Memphis Council members make case for exempting city from state residency bill
Council member J.B. Smiley argues that if the city accepts police and fire applications from outside the city, more effort will have to be put into screening candidates.
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Update
City of MemphisCouncil approves sale of 100 N. Main to city
The city plans to offer the property to developers once the sale from THM Properties of New York City closes. Demolition of the part of the city’s skyline is also an option.
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Elections What Blackburn and Hagerty said at CPAC before Trump spoke
Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen’s tweets on Trump’s appearance offered a contrast to the social media reaction from Blackburn and Hagerty. Republican U.S. Rep. David Kustoff didn’t comment on CPAC but did post on his vote against the Democratic COVID stimulus package that passed in the House.
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City of Memphis City Council considers funding for city takeover of local vaccinations
The items added Monday evening to the council’s committee list include $1 million in funding for the city’s vaccine ramp-up. They join what was already a busy council day, including the 100 North Main building, street racing and sewer fees.
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