Cleotha Abston chose not to take the stand Wednesday, April 10, during the second day of trial for the alleged rape of Alicia Franklin.

“It seemed like forever,” Alicia Franklin said of her alleged rape by Cleotha Abston during testimony she gave on the first day of trial in the case.

Mayor Paul Young and Interim Chief C.J. Davis support a Memphis City Council ordinance to create a philanthropic and research foundation that would take private donations and put them toward the city’s public safety efforts.

A state board overseeing attorneys’ disciplinary proceedings has censured a Shelby County juvenile court magistrate judge for filing an ill-intentioned lawsuit. 

Abston’s attorney previously tried to have jurors from Davidson County used in the trial, arguing that excessive media coverage of the Eliza Fletcher case would taint a potential local jury pool.

The council move comes as Mayor Paul Young prepares to fill the newly created position of city public safety director. Meanwhile, Young takes some changes in the current city budget to the council Tuesday, April 9, which may be clues to his budget for the new fiscal year.

A lack of solid, shared data across the local public safety system’s multiple agencies has led to plenty of discrepancies, and the Memphis Police Department’s homicide clearance rate stands as a stark example.

The problems that have led to business nuisance closures in recent years have ranged from drug crimes to homicides, yet the establishments usually don’t stay closed long. The DA’s office says the process is an effort to stop illegal activity, not lawful commerce.

On the first episode of “DeSoto Crime Cast,” DA Matthew Barton says he plans to go after all citizens who shoot at members of law enforcement the same way he did Kyle Dodson.

Melissa Boyd’s plea deal comes just three days after she resigned from the bench, following months of turmoil.

The state’s push to remove two judgeships in Memphis faces resistance locally and from some Tennessee legislators who say Shelby County still needs the seats, particularly Division 9 of the Criminal Court.

U.S. District Judge Mark Norris on Thursday, April 4, denied motions by defense counsel for the officers, of which several had been filed.

“It is critical in the face of such tragedy that we don’t surrender to hopelessness. We’ve got to strengthen our resolve, amplify our voices and expand our reach,” said the executive director of Memphis Child Advocacy Center.

The cases represent 15% of the felonies that have come through the DA’s office this year, Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy said during a Wednesday press conference.

Melissa Boyd will plead guilty Friday in her criminal case, her lawyer Arthur Horne told The Daily Memphian Wednesday.

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Embattled judge Melissa Boyd resigns

MPD’s establishment of the second lieutenant field supervisor role was meant to fill a gap within the force. But after arbitration and further negotiations, the process has left officers divided.

Memphis Police Association President Matt Cunningham and Vice President John Covington discussed recent public safety legislation, agreements and negotiations with the Memphis Police Department, recruitment and more on the WKNO-TV program “Behind The Headlines.”

Demarion Tackett, 16, is accused of killing John Materna. He posted his $100,000 bond that was set by Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon on Feb. 7. 

The City of Memphis has filed a petition to vacate the results of arbitration between the Memphis Police Department and the Memphis Police Association over the creation of the second lieutenant rank. 

Attorneys for RowVaughn Wells, Tyre Nichols’ mother, filed their initial discovery disclosure Thursday, March 28, detailing the 90-plus people who could be deposed during the ongoing civil rights lawsuit. 

Bill Lee signed a law that nullifies a Memphis ordinance that banned pretextual stops, which was passed in 2023 after Tyre Nichols’ death.

The City of Memphis said in a statement that a man grabbed Young as he was leaving dinner and the man then attempted to force his way into the mayor’s vehicle.

Hernandez Govan was requesting a curfew so he could seek employment during the day. Conditions of his initial bond only allowed him to leave house arrest for attorney visits, court appearances and medical visits. 

Sen. Bill Hagerty, Mayor Paul Young, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy and other local officials focused on steps and initiatives that the group could agree on. 

Polling by Voices for a Safer Tennessee suggests most Tennesseans support the moderate gun laws they are proposing, like universal background checks.