The Mississippi River is a treacherous, deceptive body of water that will kill you if you don’t know what you’re doing. That’s why many experts caution people to be very wary around the river, wear protective gear if you must but stay out of it if at all possible.

Bill Morris, who died July 25 at 92, was the longest serving Shelby County mayor since the office was created. And Javier Bailey is set for next year’s Democratic primary for assessor.

A resolution on the Monday, July 28, County Commission agenda would cut in half the four-year terms of five elected Memphis-Shelby County Schools board members.

Former Shelby County Sheriff and Mayor Bill Morris, who died July 25 after a fall suffered several weeks before, shaped the lives of Memphians through his work over the past 50 years.

Five of seven County Commissioners present for a Wednesday test vote supported a move that ultimately would cut in half the terms of five school board members elected in 2024. 

The slow-moving Grizzlies’ negotiations come as the public sector continues to invest in FedExForum and officials work to keep Downtown safer and cleaner. 

Commissioners will discuss putting all nine Memphis-Shelby County Schools board seats on the ballot. Some say this amounts to a voter recall of the board.

Environmental groups have appealed the Shelby County Health Department’s decisions to grant Elon Musk’s xAI an air emissions permit for 15 natural gas turbines. 

The Shelby County Health Department received more than 1,000 public comments on the project.

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Nonprofit installing its own air-quality sensors near xAI

The new director previously served as the department’s health officer and led vaccination efforts at the Shelby County Division of Corrections during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

A special meeting of the Shelby County Commission Monday was delayed for two hours in a dramatic rewriting of a key budget provision.

The Political Roundup looks at some sparks in the early field for Shelby County in the 2026 county elections and examines the political divide over what kind of a relationship a majority Democratic or blue city should keep with leaders of a red state.

Four people have applied to be appointed to the remainder of Judge Paula Skahan’s term, which ends in 2030.

The County Commission Scorecard tracks the set of seven votes on a new county property tax rate that brought the county’s budget season to an end.

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.

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County Commission Scorecard: Tracking budget and tax-rate votes

A majority of Shelby County commissioners favored some kind of small property tax hike in the new budget, but ultimately couldn’t get seven votes on how to split up the additional revenue. 

A potential property tax hike looms as the Shelby County Commission tackles its budget and the Sheriff’s Office fights for funding. 

County commissioners wrestled with budget amendments Wednesday totaling well past the $100 million mark, including the county mayor’s proposal.

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris is changing the county property tax rate his administration is proposing to match the state’s certified rate.

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.

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.

Budget Committee Chair Miska Clay Bibbs said commissioners have little time to iron out details of 23 amendments to Mayor Lee Harris’ budget proposal.

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.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office commissioned the study by Jim Hart, a jail management consultant with the University of Tennessee’s County Technical Advisory Service.

In a social media post, Kuhn described the county as being “in crisis” and touted her expertise in county government.