Sawyer federal corruption case stays on track to January trial date
The Jan. 11, 2027, trial date stands in the public corruption case as defense attorneys continue to review 50,000 documents from discovery.
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 4390 articles by Bill Dries :
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August 2026
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Public Safety -
City of Memphis MPD chief looks to post-Task Force future
Memphis Police Department Chief C.J. Davis said she and other police brass have asked leaders of the federal law enforcement agencies making up the Memphis Safe Task Force to have a permanent presence in the city after the deployment ends.
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State Government 4 Memphis attorneys nominated for 2 new Criminal Court judicial positions
The four applicants include three prosecutors and an attorney with the Tennessee Innocence Project.
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City of Memphis City Council will talk data centers and medical debt
Also on the Tuesday agenda: a move of MATA funding, money for the Mud Island amphitheater and more.
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Premium
ElectionsJerri Green’s game plan and Marsha Blackburn’s primary numbers
Also in the political roundup: a look at turnout in the Nov. 3 general election, Gov. Bill Lee on the mix of public and private and a possible Senate vacancy, campaign sign rules and write-ins.
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Elections Jerri Green sees path to victory in Tennessee governor’s race
She also talked on “Behind The Headlines” about why her call to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement doesn’t mean she wants to abandon enforcement of immigration laws and how she would handle the state appointed board to run Memphis-Shelby County Schools.
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Metro Application open for General Sessions judicial vacancy
The County Commissioners who were elected on the Aug. 6 ballot will fill the vacancy left by the election of Judge Lonnie Thompson to Chancery Court on the same ballot.
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Shelby County Ford sentencing delayed several times as County Commission seats turn over
As eight Shelby County commissioners prepare to leave office at the end of August, the federal corruption case of former commissioner Edmund Ford Jr., who resigned earlier this year, is still on its way to sentencing.
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ElectionsBlackburn wants to close Tennessee’s primaries. History shows why that’s complicated
A 1972 state law is receiving renewed emphasis. What the law means still depends on which party and which of its leaders you talk to.
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Shelby CountySigns of trouble: Inside the vandalism charges against Erika Sugarmon
The chain of events chronicled in the two misdemeanor traffic camera footage, Facebook video and a chain of events chronicled in two misdemeanor citations trace the months-long path to a not-guilty plea by the county commissioner.
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Update
Shelby CountyCommissioner Erika Sugarmon charged with vandalism
Shelby County Commissioner Erika Sugarmon made a brief appearance Tuesday, Aug. 11, in General Sessions Court on at least four charges of vandalism under $1,000.
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Shelby County County Commission tries one last time on new-jail study
Shelby County commissioners debated whether they should do nothing and let the new commission with a new majority start anew on the issue.
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ElectionsAugust elections continue turbulent history for judicial appointments
Also in the political roundup, two write-in candidates appeared to fizzle by the unofficial vote totals, the Memphis narrative moves into the general election campaign and a D.C. Scorecard going into the August recess.
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Shelby County Newly elected commissioners will watch as outgoing board tackles school budget, jail plans
The two agenda items come as commissioners prepare to give way on Sept. 1 to a new commission and a new county mayor.
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Behind The Headlines Outgoing mayor Lee Harris said state oversight will make Mickell Lowery’s job harder
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris talks about his eight years as mayor on “Behind The Headlines” and the challenges facing his successor, Mayor-elect Mickell Lowery.
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2026 elections
ElectionsShelby County Commission keeps 9-vote Democratic majority with 8 new faces
The Shelby County Board of Commissioners’ new majority elected with the Thursday, Aug. 6, Election Day will retain the 9-vote Democratic majority it currently has.
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2026 Elections
ElectionsMost of Shelby County state Legislature incumbents clear primaries — even those running for U.S. House
District 96 Democratic incumbent Gabby Salinas lost to primary challenger Telisa Franklin in a rematch of the 2024 primary Salinas won.
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2026 elections
ElectionsMemphian Jerri Green to meet Marsha Blackburn in race for Tennessee governor
The November general election matchup between Marsha Blackburn and Jerri Green will end with voters electing the first woman to be governor of the state.
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Blackburn equates Democrats with communists in Memphis Election Day stop
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2026 elections
ElectionsWhat the early vote shows in Shelby County
The early and absentee vote totals for the 14 days of the early voting period were the first released Thursday, Aug. 6, by the Shelby County Election Commission.
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2026 elections
ElectionsSurge of voters bolsters afternoon Election Day turnout
“Sunny skies and high candidate interest” boosted voter turnout numbers before polls closed Thursday, Aug. 6.
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2026 elections
ElectionsBlackburn equates Democrats with communists in Memphis Election Day stop
The Republican contender for Tennessee governor also talked about her plans for a state government version of DOGE if elected.
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2026 elections
ElectionsVoters make their way to polls in first 3 hours of Election Day
As Election Day voting begins, Shelby County residents head to the polls, with heavier turnout expected during the afternoon rush hour, according to the Election Commission.
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2026 elections
ElectionsAnalysis: What to watch for in Thursday’s election results
The votes counted Thursday evening may decide who advances or who gets in office. But some of the issues at play will still be around in November for the third and final election of 2026.
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2026 Elections
ElectionsElection Day arrives amid ballot problems, new districts
Polls across Shelby County are open Thursday, Aug. 6, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. deciding who wins a full slate of county offices and who advances to the Nov. 3 ballot in state and federal primaries.
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City of Memphis Trolleys coming back Downtown this fall
MATA plans to resume trolley service Downtown in the fall with four trolleys, according to the trustee of the city-owned bus system. Plus, an update on the city’s recently revamped Group Violence Intervention Program from City Council coverage.
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