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.
Topic: Lee Harris
RSSThere are 596 article(s) tagged Lee Harris:
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August 2026
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August 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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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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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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Regional One unveils plans for new hospital at old Commercial Appeal building
Under a tent on the front lawn of the old Commercial Appeal building at 495 Union Ave., Regional One and county leaders unveiled a highly anticipated rendering, the new roughly $1 billion Regional One Hospital.
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July 2026
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Old police HQ building considered for Juvenile Court move
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris is considering a rehab of the old Memphis Police Department headquarters building as a new home for Memphis-Shelby County Juvenile Court. But Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon isn’t a fan of the idea.
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Commission approves $125M in loans for county
Shelby County commissioners also heard a call from Juvenile Court officials for a complete replacement of the court building and approved a manufactured-housing park in Frayser.
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June 2026
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Shelby County Commission to take final vote on $2.71 property-tax rate
The commission also votes on budget amendments, including a move away from plans by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris to start planning on a new Treadwell K-8 school.
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County Commission has major decisions to get budget and tax rate across finish line
Adding more funding to county reserves is competing with a scaled-down lawsuit settlement, more spending and a basic tax rate that has been reduced by the state for the new fiscal year.
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Proposed Treadwell school project in question
Commissioners suggest funding should go to existing schools in need of repairs.
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County commissioners consider keeping $2.69 property tax rate
Shelby County commissioners talked Wednesday, June 3, about leaving the county property tax rate at $2.69. It’s a discussion they’ve had in past budget seasons with different rates. But this year’s decision may be different.
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$18 million sheriff’s lawsuit settlement returns to County Commission
The expensive legal settlement grew more complex last week with word that the $18 million would have to be included in future Sheriff’s Office budgets.
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May 2026
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$18M in additional funding for sheriff’s office hits snag
Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. and Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris agreed earlier this month to settle Bonner’s lawsuit against Harris with a “confidential” deal for an $18 million amendment to the sheriff’s budget for the current fiscal year.
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What’s in Lee Harris’ ‘lean and mean’ county budget proposal?
Lowering the property-tax rate a few cents and another proposed school, the third of his tenure, highlighted Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris’ final budget proposal.
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March 2026
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Trump coming to town 6 months into Memphis Safe Task Force
The backdrop for President Donald Trump’s visit to the city is complex and has everything to do with the Memphis Safe Task Force. What Trump will say, if anything, about the task force is anyone’s guess.
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Primary ejections and the county clerk candidate who survived
How are candidates booted from primary ballots? Also in the political roundup, heads butt on the Memphis Safe Task Force, where Lee Harris and Edmund Ford Jr. agreed and recent D.C. votes on Iran air strikes.
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February 2026
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Harris says county owed millions for housing state prisoners
County Mayor Lee Harris went public about a funding dispute between the county and the state over housing prisoners. Harris said the cost could lead him to propose a property tax hike this spring.
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Memphis releases funds to ease pre-K crisis — but the fight isn’t over
The City of Memphis released $8.5 million to prekindergarten organization First 8 Memphis. The funds could keep some classrooms afloat while city, county and First 8 officials remain in negotiations for a long-term funding plan.
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January 2026
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Universal pre-K money in Shelby County tied up amid ongoing negotiations
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris’ goals as he leaves office at the end of August include negotiating new terms for funding universal prekindergarten services across the county.
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After inmate deaths, Harris says Shelby County Jail needs real reform, not rhetoric
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris is calling for stronger reforms at the Shelby County Jail, saying the Sheriff’s plan falls short amid a rise in inmate deaths and what he described as a “lack of basic humanity.”
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With food banks strained, Tennessee passes on federal help that would feed far more children
Gov. Bill Lee declines to sign up for federal food assistance program, shifts focus to state-funded solutions.
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Lee Harris makes a list. Marie Feagins makes Democrats nervous. A candidate makes reference to Wanda Halbert’s inspirational leadership.
Also in the political roundup, Jerri Green gets a new job and stays on the campaign trail. And meet the first Republican contender for County Mayor.
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December 2025
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‘I don’t think I have seen a mug shot that is not Latino or African American,’ county mayor says about Task Force arrests
On “Behind The Headlines,” Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said he has tried to meet with federal officials from the Memphis Safe Task Force to talk about his concerns ICE agents are racially “profiling” Memphians.
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Sheriff answers mayor’s complaints about County Jail with complaints of his own
Sheriff Floyd Bonner faults Mayor Lee Harris for problems at the County Corrections Center and not being responsive in assisting with problems at the jail.
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Sheriff should not manage the jail, Harris says
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris says the number of jail deaths calls for dramatic change that could include the county or the state taking over the county jail currently run by Sheriff Floyd Bonner.
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