Third bridge idea ‘long term,’ takes back seat to repairs
A third bridge for vehicular traffic at Memphis isn’t at the top of everyone’s list, coming after broadband for Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland. Related story:
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 4421 articles by Bill Dries :
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June 2021
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Transportation & Logistics -
Shelby County County Commission considers bonuses instead of pay raises
Commissioners also got a look a three scenarios for a property tax hike from County Mayor Lee Harris’ administration although Harris has said he is not proposing such a tax hike.
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City of Memphis Removal of Forrest remains begins with confrontation and threats
The process of relocating the remains of Nathan Bedford Forrest and his wife began Tuesday at Health Sciences Park. The scene quickly became tense after workers put up Confederate flags around the site and began dumping debris on the letters of a Black Lives Matter mural around the monument.
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City of Memphis City budget vision still blurry as first federal funds arrive
The council approved Tuesday, June 1, accepting $80.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding -- the first of two payments to come from Washington for pandemic relief. But there are still questions and uncertainties about how the money can be used.
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City of Memphis Council approves extension of disparity study
Memphis City Council members voted Tuesday, June 1, to extend the city’s five-year old disparity study another two years.
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City of Memphis City budget, tax rate votes await further details on federal funding
The Tuesday council session includes discussion about proposed home improvement grants, an extension of the contract with the company that runs Liberty Bowl stadium for the city and a delay until June 15 on final votes that would set the city budget and property tax rate.
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May 2021
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Shelby CountyCounty Commission Scorecard: Part of a penny and voting as Governor is signing
The commission scorecard looks at smooth sailing for the county budget season past the money left on the table from part of a penny, and why the commission’s resolution on the state’s critical race theory ban still matters.
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On the Record‘Moral Budget’ call questions mechanics of resetting property tax rates
On The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast, the leader of the coalition of nonprofits calling for different budget priorities questions the resetting of the city and county property tax rates by state law. Cardell Orrin says the city and county rates should stay where they are and not be viewed as a tax hike for all.
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Shelby County County Commission considers 1-cent property tax hike
The commission approved Monday a basic property tax rate of $3.45 that generates the same amount of revenue as the current tax rate, taking into account increases in property values. But the rate must be rounded down by 0.001 cent, which comes to almost a quarter of a million dollars in revenue left on the table.
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State GovernmentHaslam: ‘The word evangelical has lost a lot of meaning’
Former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam kicks off the publication of his new book on faith in the public square by saying religious faith has been overtaken by a partisan political divide.
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Update
City of MemphisThe city budget’s new red ink and where it’s coming from
City Chief Financial Officer Shirley Ford told council members the budget for the new fiscal year that begins July 1 is in the red by approximately $23 million. The culprit is new ground rules for the use of federal funds to make up for revenues lost in the pandemic and how the lost revenues are counted.
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City of Memphis State board approves TDZ bonds for Fairgrounds to Liberty Park conversion
The state decision Monday clears the way for site preparation to begin immediately at the Fairgrounds, starting with the 227,000-square-foot Memphis Sports and Events Center that is the centerpiece of the $126 million undertaking.
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City of Memphis Memphis Public Libraries awarded second national medal
The honor marks the second medal for the Memphis library system. The first was in 2007, making Memphis Public Libraries the first ever two-time recipient of the award.
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Shelby County Commission calls on Lee to veto critical race theory bill as he signs it
Shelby County commissioners voted 11-0 with two commissioners not voting in approving a resolution similar to one approved by the Memphis City Council last week.
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City of Memphis ‘Moral Budget’ plan would keep city and county property tax rates the same
A coalition of a dozen nonprofit and community organizations are calling for the city and county property tax rates to stay at their current rates to create more funding for public education, public transportation, affordable housing and similar priorities.
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Shelby County County Commission talks tax rate and state’s critical race theory ban
The Shelby County Commission meeting Monday, May 24, is a critical juncture in approving a property tax rate for the new fiscal year that begins July 1. But the county budget is expected to be voted on at the first meeting in June.
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City of MemphisCity Council Scorecard: Impasse and Teaching Race
The City Council Scorecard looks at the constant companion of budget season at City Hall — deciding a contract impasse between the city administration and one of the unions representing city employees. And the council is almost unanimous on the state’s ban on teaching critical race theory.
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Transportation & Logistics Temporary work platform goes up on Hernando DeSoto Bridge
Acting Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollock was in Memphis Thursday, May 20, to talk with local leaders and officials about repairs to the bridge.
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On the RecordToo close to election for a tax hike, Tami Sawyer says
Shelby County commissioner Tami Sawyer says on The Daily Memphian Politics Podcast she backs a quick budget passage next month and a second look at the budget in the fall once federal American Rescue Plan funding is in play.
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City of Memphis ‘We don’t have enough green space,’ parks chief says
City Parks and Neighborhoods Division Director Nick Walker, on “Behind The Headlines,” talks about the importance of outdoor areas in post-pandemic life.
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Shelby County County’s certified property tax rate lower than expected
A path is emerging to a low-key budget passage by the County Commission next month. But commissioners are considering a big capital ask by SCS.
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Shelby County City’s two Congressmen split on Capitol insurrection commission
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen voted for the bipartisan panel while U.S. Rep. David Kustoff voted against the investigation. The measure passed the House with 35 Republicans voting with the Democratic majority, none of them from Tennessee.
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Shelby County County Commission Scorecard: Moving ordinances without a majority
One of two measures examined on the County Commission Scorecard didn’t get any yes votes but advanced because of commission rules. The other is part of the Byhalia Connection Pipeline controversy. Each proposal is a political work in progress so far.
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City of Memphis City Council sides with firefighters union in contract impasse
The council approved on first reading an ordinance that forbids dumping belongings in an eviction on public rights of way and approved on the second of three readings the creation of a Crosstown Historic District Overlay governed by the Memphis Landmarks Commission.
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City of Memphis Council urges Gov. Lee to veto ‘critical race theory’ classroom ban
The resolution condemns the bill on Lee’s desk that bans public schools from teaching the racial theory. Council members, Black and white, said their experience on a diverse elected body has shown the importance of discussing race in classrooms.
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