Election for mayor narrows to a race between the incumbent and a Memphis City Council member. 

The former County Commissioner died in January, his family disclosed this month. He is buried in a county cemetery, 50 years after his only win in a storied political career that saw him go to prison twice.

The increase in cases aligns with national data, which shows new cases trending upward in many parts of the country as precautions like social distancing and mask wearing are loosened.

Former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows gave the keynote speech at the local Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Gala, with many GOP figures vowing to regain the majority in the U.S. House in midterm elections this year. 

Steve Mulroy, Linda Harris and Janika White are contending for the Democratic nomination for the district attorney’s office and the right to challenge District Attorney General Amy Weirich in the August general election. 

In recent years, staff dealt with COVID-19. They aimed to teach students in a safe environment while also abiding by ever-changing guidelines.

State Sen. Jack Johnson said the current formula “is outdated, it’s antiquated, it’s difficult to understand. Quite frankly, it is broken. (This) rips that old formula out by the roots and starts with a clean state.”

The only two contested Republican primaries in August for seats in the Tennessee General Assembly representing parts of Shelby County could change dramatically with new challenges that could remove one of the contenders from each of the two-man races.

Those schools have remained under the operation of Memphis-Shelby County Schools since the municipal districts were formed in 2013.

“I just feel like a weight has been lifted up off of me.” 

All MATA services will be free to ride on Thursday, April 28.

“Regardless of where you live in Tennessee, you should have a say in who represents you,” writes Tequila Johnson and Charlane Oliver.

“What is troubling here ... is the narrative around crime is so strong, so in your face all the time.”

Grand jury alleges Miracle Renee Rutherford was driving recklessly and crashed into the home of Leslie Galen Young, former basketball standout at Hillcrest High School.

The Scorecard attempts the math on the new FedExForum deal keeping the Grizzlies at the Forum and on the renovated Shelby Training Center that is to become the new juvenile detention center with more funding from the county.

Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired and its partner, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad, showed its members that Easter egg hunting is possible, using beeping eggs.

Thursday marked the withdrawal deadline for contenders in the August election, with several developments in the nonpartisan judicial races that are a major part of that ballot.

Incumbent Mayor Lee Harris wants to continue a sea change in what issues the county mayor focuses on. His challenger in the May Democratic primary, Ken Moody, says that focus isn’t immediate or local enough.

Related story:

Early voting starts slow at Election Commission offices

There are plans by several organizations to boost the turnout Thursday. Meanwhile, there is free parking around the only early-voting site Downtown open Wednesday and Thursday.

Early voting for the Shelby County primaries is April 13-28. Here is everything to know the ballot, the basics of early voting and what turnout in this election cycle has looked like in the past.

The Democratic primary race for district attorney is about to turn from general calls for change to who can upset incumbent Republican Amy Weirich.

Related story:

Ballot basics: Early voting begins

The MATA funding has also become an issue in the May Republican primary for commission District 4.