While presidential battleground states continue to count votes, the count in Shelby County is quietly moving toward completion with a large number of provisional ballots.

On Behind The Headlines, Republican Party Chairman Chris Tutor says “don’t vote Democrat” if you want to see Memphis have more power in the state capitol. Democratic Party Chairman Michael Harris says Republicans in state government are explicitly ignoring Memphis.

Jennifer Biggs, Kelly English and Sound Bites producer Natalie Van Gundy talk about the Memphis food list that shouldn’t exist, the popular foods many of us never get around to eating.

A new voting app breaks down who the early voters were. The broader turnout numbers show more than half of the county’s registered voters have already cast their ballots.

On “Behind The Headlines,” the leaders of the two suburban school systems also agreed with the recommendation of Gov. Bill Lee not to use the results of state achievement tests this year to evaluate teachers and students. Nevertheless, they are watching to gauge the impact of the pandemic on learning and the lives of students.

Eric Barnes joins Jennifer Biggs on Sound Bites and they talk about how COVID has sent them back to their kitchens; Eric shares one of his eight recipes.

On Tuesday, I started drinking at noon. But it’s not my fault.

The founder of one of the get out the vote groups working locally says on The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast that higher turnout is part of a national trend. But detailed numbers also show ongoing problems in access to the vote.

Jared Boyd of WYXR joins Eric Barnes on The Sidebar.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland also said on the WKNO program “Behind The Headlines” that police reform still means hiring more officers.

Jennifer Biggs talks with Karen Carrier about how she’s gotten through COVID, her winter plans, and how she ended up in the restaurant business.

Shelby County Elections Administrator Linda Phillips, on The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast, says the unofficial vote count may be tallied by midnight Nov. 3. But counting absentee ballots is a complex process.

Former Memphis City Council member Harold Collins and Just City Director Josh Spickler said on “Behind The Headlines” that for all of the talk of changing police, MPD is still policing the way it has for decades. 

Pat Mitchell-Worley, the executive director of Stax Music Academy and host of Beale Street Caravan, joins Eric Barnes on The Sidebar.

Jennifer Biggs and Chris Herrington talk about what they’ve been cooking, how recipes are little more than suggestions, and as it happens, about tacos and Asian food.

Memphis City Council member Jeff Warren on The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast says there could still be an agreement on the next step in the MLGW-TVA issue. He also warns that the Tennessee Legislature could close the door on a possible MLGW exit from TVA if there isn’t a shorter timeline.

Germantown Municipal Schools District Superintendent Jason Manuel and Bartlett City Schools Superintendent David Stephens talked on “Behind The Headlines” about changing local health department requirements that require students in schools to wear masks and be 6 feet apart at all times.

Daily Memphian CEO Eric Barnes talks with musician and the executive director of WYXR about music, his career and the new radio station in The Extra podcast.

Nick Scott talks with Jennifer Biggs on our new Sound Bites podcast/radio show about what it was like to have Alchemy closed for 11 weeks and about his plans for Salt | Soy, opening soon on Broad.

Business leader and developer J.W. Gibson talks about the South Memphis TIF taking in Soulsville, LeMoyne-Owen College and the old Metro Plaza on The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast.

The Arlington and Collierville school systems are using a similar mix of hybrid online and in person classes along with virtual options for elementary school students. The superintendents of the two suburban systems talked on “Behind The Headlines” about prospects for more change.

During an appearance on “Behind The Headlines,” Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Ray also pushed back against the narrative that no high school football games for the state’s largest school system could limit the path to higher education for student athletes.

The sports columnist joins Eric Barnes on The Extra Podcast.

Martavius Jones, the Memphis City Council budget committee chairman who oversaw pitches by more than 150 nonprofits seeking a share of $1.95 million, has problems with the way grants are awarded.