Memphis-area leaders take to national airwaves to talk National Guard
A “threat to democracy” vs. making Memphis “the most safe city in America,” area leaders give their thoughts on what the National Guard deployment can mean for the city.
Topic: Lee Harris
RSSThere are 353 article(s) tagged Lee Harris:
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September 2025
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After County Commission delay, mayor ‘not coming back’ with ethics appointments
The vote came after harsh words were exchanged between Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr.
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Politics infiltrates festivals; school board races show signs of life
Also in the political roundup, County Mayor Lee Harris has connections to several contenders on the 2026 ballot and U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen signs onto the Epstein files discharge petition.
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August 2025
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Jerri Green’s run for TN governor hits a red road
Green acknowledged that part of her campaign’s struggle is to convince Democrats that a Democrat can win in Republican-dominated state political landscape.
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What the race for governor looks like with Blackburn officially in
As Bill Lee’s final term nears its end, multiple contenders stepped up for the race for state governor. Plus, this political roundup also explores the Democratic primary race to succeed Wanda Halbert.
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June 2025
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The making of Shelby County’s budget and tax rate
The Commission meets in special session Monday, June 30, to vote on a budget amendment that would undo some of the $23.4 million in amendments it made to Mayor Lee Harris’s budget proposal.
Related content:
County Commission Scorecard: Tracking budget and tax-rate votes
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Property tax face-off will close out county budget season
A potential property tax hike looms as the Shelby County Commission tackles its budget and the Sheriff’s Office fights for funding.
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Mayor Harris wants to add crime lab funding to budget
County commissioners wrestled with budget amendments Wednesday totaling well past the $100 million mark, including the county mayor’s proposal.
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Mayor to limit solitary confinement in Shelby County prisons
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris plans to sign an executive order that will adopt United Nations Minimum Standards for the Treatment of Prisoners, also known as the Mandela Rules, for county prisons.
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After Mayor Harris vetoes grant, Ford moves to override
County mayor accused Ford of “not taking seriously” the federal indictment against him. At stake, right now, is a nearly $180,000 grant for an entertainment industry nonprofit.
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Political Roundup: XAI divide grows, Young in D.C. and the race for governor
Also in the Political Roundup: City vs. county at Southwind High, a short history of going from the Senate to the governor’s mansion in Tennessee and Lee Harris on his successor and his next campaign.
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In critical week ahead, County Commission will wrangle budget and tax rate
Budget Committee Chair Miska Clay Bibbs said commissioners have little time to iron out details of 23 amendments to Mayor Lee Harris’ budget proposal.
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Harris and Sugarmon find common ground in county budget season
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Shelby County Commissioner Erika Sugarmon talked about the ongoing county budget season, a proposed wheel tax hike and a new jail on “Behind The Headlines.”
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County mayor’s property tax proposal becomes tax hike
The county property tax rate proposed by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris is four cents higher than the state’s certified rate, but he said it’s not a tax hike.
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The plan for a focused crime lab run by Shelby County government
A new plan for a local crime lab would focus on three specific areas with an estimated annual cost of $5.5 million. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and District Attorney General Steve Mulroy took the plan to Shelby County Commissioners Wednesday, June 4.
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May 2025
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County Commission braces for another budget battle
Shelby County commissioners drew battle lines at their Monday, May 19, session as they go into the home stretch of their budget season.
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Political Roundup: ‘Some of these devils want me to be gone,’ Ford Jr. said
Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. calls out political rivals, campaigning for 2026 has already started and county budget hearings will be missing a lot of key people.
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Fractured ties between Shelby County mayor, Commission could make budget season bumpy
The Shelby County government budget season opens Wednesday, May 14, in County Commission committee sessions. There is more than dollar figures and the county property tax rate at stake.
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County ethics proposals could face ‘can of Raid’ and ‘house shoes’
Two ethics proposals return to the Shelby County Commission Monday. County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr., who faces criminal charges himself, is accusing others of wrongdoing.
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April 2025
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New Frayser high groundbreaking a milestone for MSCS facility plan
“This is the rebuild and transformation of Frayser, but this is also a moment, a forerunner, of things to come,” said Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, who first proposed building the school five years ago.
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March 2025
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For years, Mayor has tried to appoint new members to ethics board. County Commission hasn’t taken a single vote
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris has produced six letters, going back to April 2021, in which he asked the County Commission to vote on new ethics board members.
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After 17 years in elected office, Edmund Ford Jr. is at a crossroads
The Shelby County commissioner faces federal bribery and tax-evasion charges as he nears the end of his second term on the Board of Commissioners and after 11 years on the Memphis City Council before that.
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Harris wants to suspend Ford Jr. from making more county grants
Mayor Lee Harris also said he wants to meet with attorneys and other elected officials to see if further steps need to be taken.
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February 2025
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Some Shelby County mayor contenders make first steps
As the end of Lee Harris’ tenure as Shelby County mayor nears, potential successors start laying the groundwork for their campaigns.
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January 2025
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Mayor Harris says new Regional One plans still include hope for state funding
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris talked of the new hospital site as a connection of the Medical District to Downtown, where there is now a lot of vacant land and blight.
Related content:
County mayor in Nashville working on alternatives to MSCS takeover bill
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