Clerk’s office working Saturday to catch up with car title backlog
New Clerk La Sonya Hall announced the measures to clear a backlog of an estimated 2,600 car titles left over from previous clerk Wanda Halbert
Bill Dries
Reporter
Bill Dries covers city and county government and politics. He is a native Memphian and has been a reporter for almost 50 years covering a wide variety of stories from the 1977 death of Elvis Presley and the 1978 police and fire strikes to numerous political campaigns, every county mayor and every Memphis Mayor starting with Wyeth Chandler.
There are 4419 articles by Bill Dries :
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September 2026
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Shelby County -
Shelby County Edmund Ford Jr. federal sentencing delayed for fifth time
The latest delay, which the judge granted Friday, Sept. 11, is the fifth since Ford pleaded guilty in February.
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State Government Matthew Szalaj claims Democratic nomination for TN House — and only 1 person got to vote
A single member of the Shelby County Democratic Party’s executive committee picked Szalaj to be the nominee for the Tennessee House of Representatives seat left vacant when Joe Towns Jr. was elected Criminal Court clerk.
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Shelby CountyRichardson charges are latest in recent string of allegations against elected officials
Ten days into the new Shelby County Commission’s four-year term, two commissioners have been formally charged with crimes, while two other local officials are part of investigations.
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Shelby County Special judge appointed in Sugarmon vandalism case
The campaign-sign vandalism case returns to court in October. Commissioner Erika Sugarmon has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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Public SafetyFederal prosecutors talk strategy in racketeering cases targeting street gangs
The U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee and the assistant U.S. attorney general dive into the ongoing efforts by the Justice Department to end street gangs with racketeering cases.
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Shelby County Wanda Halbert leaves behind car title backlog, new clerk says
After a week in office, Shelby County Clerk LaSonya Hall says she has found dozens of crates of car titles and registrations awaiting processing — some dating back to June.
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Shelby County County commissioner jailed same day as first commission meeting
The six-year old tax charges came to the surface the same day Will Richardson participated in his first meeting as a Shelby County commissioner.
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City of Memphis Orange Mound land trust breaks ground on first of a dozen new homes
The first new home is on Marechalneil Street near Deadrick Avenue and supports Mayor Paul Young's goal of 10,000 new or renovated affordable housing units by 2030.
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City of Memphis City calls off extension of road into Pidgeon Industrial Park, for now
The city announcement Tuesday, Sept. 8, cites “legitimate concerns” from Southwest Memphis residents near the planned extension of the road connected to a SpaceXAI data center.
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State GovernmentMemphis legislative delegation faces major shake-ups
Beyond the races for state House and state Senate, the Nov. 3 ballot will also affect who goes to Nashville next year to represent the city in the Tennessee legislature.
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Elections Chaz Molder backs data center pauses in campaign for Congress
The Democratic nominee in the 5th Congressional District and outgoing Mayor of Columbia, Tennessee, talked about a wide range of issues on “Behind The Headlines.”
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City of MemphisSome on City Council oppose renaming street after former Mayor Lee Harris
One day out of office, an honorary street renaming for outgoing county mayor Lee Harris was approved by the Memphis City Council, but not without some rare and vocal opposition.
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City of Memphis New MATA board signals gradual move away from trustee
For the time being, the new MATA board will coexist with a trustee. The Memphis City Council also approved funding for four parks projects.
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Shelby County Mickell Lowery takes oath of office along with other countywide elected officials
It took about two hours to administer the oaths of office Monday, Aug. 31, to a group of 30 elected county leaders who formally begin four-year terms of office Tuesday.
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August 2026
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City of Memphis City Council talks data center pause and votes on new MATA board
The one-year moratorium on new data centers would be to develop guidelines and regulations for the centers as part of the county’s Unified Development Code.
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Shelby CountyHarris’ final days highlight a mayor focused on transition, legacy and what comes next
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris leaves office Tuesday after eight years in office and a unique governing style that shifted county government’s priorities.
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Behind The Headlines Meals on Wheels turns 50 as MIFA’s ‘flagship’ program
The new president and CEO of the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association spoke on Behind The Headlines about MIFA’s work addressing poverty and food insecurity in Memphis and beyond.
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Elections Halbert exits office, votes are certified and Green gets reintroduced
Shelby County’s August votes are certified, but the data may be disheartening for Democrats. Also in the political roundup, Democratic Party leaders “introduce” Jerri Green, and Wanda Halbert exits office after two tumultuous terms.
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Shelby County County doesn’t want to pay Wanda Halbert’s legal fees
The county’s second attempt to oust Wanda Halbert as County Clerk ended with a court order dictating county government should pay her legal fees.
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Shelby County Lee Harris exits county government with portrait and new job at Ole Miss
Outgoing Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said his portrait will take his place at the county building.
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State Government Gov. Lee chooses commutation instead of exoneration in Nashville murder conviction
Gov. Bill Lee also announced his decision to grant pardons to 33 other Tennesseans who have completed prison sentences and have not been convicted of any crime for at least five years since they were released.
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Shelby County Mickell Lowery begins transition to Shelby County mayor
Shelby County Mayor-elect Mickell Lowery has 250 appointed positions within his administration to fill as he prepares to take the oath of office Monday.
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Shelby CountyWith days left in office, second ouster attempt of Wanda Halbert is near dismissal
An order requiring the county to pay Halbert’s attorney's fees was signed this week, although the county’s outside attorney objected and could appeal.
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Shelby County County Commission ends term with cap on school-takeover legal fees
Shelby County commissioners closed out their four-year term of office Monday, Aug. 24, by capping the county’s share of legal expenses at $200,000 in the ongoing federal-court case about the state takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.
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