Tom Lee’s house gets money for restoration
The grant from a $3 million pool of grant funds to 24 sites is the latest by the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund to several historic properties in Memphis.
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 4477 articles by Bill Dries :
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July 2025
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Spirit of Memphis -
Shelby County County Commission postpones MSCS board changes vote
While some commissioners said the resolution the could end terms early for some MSCS board members is “unfair” and that there were “pure hypocrites in this room,” unhappy community members said, “It’s time for change.”
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Shelby CountyJavier Bailey back on the ballot. And the political life and times of Bill Morris.
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.
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Shelby County County Commission to vote on putting all school board seats on 2026 ballot
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.
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MetroEpstein files fight draws a Tennessee politico into the ring, while another stays on the ropes
U.S. Rep. John Rose, who’s running for governor, blames turmoil on “liberal media.” Possible GOP primary challenger U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn is silent on the topic.
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City of MemphisThe Old Daisy has been centerstage for the messy history of Beale Street control. Here’s the story.
Disputes over who controls Beale Street revolve around the Historical Daisy. The old theater is home to the Beale Street Development Corp. and has witnessed more than a century of intrigue and politics on the street that gave birth to the blues.
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Behind The Headlines School board members say lawsuit possible if terms shortened
Memphis-Shelby County Schools board members Natalie McKinney and Michelle McKissack talked on “Behind The Headlines” about a coming Shelby County Board of Commissioners vote that could shorten the terms of five elected board members.
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Elections Commissioners consider cutting terms of MSCS board members
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.
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City of Memphis City Council approves Old Daisy lease, gets look at Oak Court Mall plans
Plus, the Memphis City Council also sent the first installment of capital funding to start the redevelopment of the old Southwest Twin drive-in.
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City of Memphis City Council to vote on new lease for Old Daisy
The Memphis City Council could also approve some specific standards for MATA to report how it’s spending city money.
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Shelby CountyCounty commission considers putting all school board seats up for reelection in 2026
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.
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MetroCommission races shaping up. Mayoral hopefuls’ campaign filings. Memphis loses desegregation leader.
Also in our political roundup: Mick Wright says he won’t seek office in 2026. And a top administrator to Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert promises to run for office next year.
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Behind The Headlines The Blvd’s $300 million plan just piece of neighborhood’s bigger pie
The pastor of The Blvd talked about the project on “Behind The Headlines,” with the CEO of Crosstown Concourse and the Meharry Medical College official who’s leading the Nashville college’s reach into Memphis.
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Metro How Memphis’ two Congressmen voted on the $9B federal funding takeback
The D.C. Scorecard tracks the votes of U.S. Reps. Steve Cohen and David Kustoff in the Friday, July 18, final vote on the $9 billion spending-cut bill that the Senate approved Thursday.
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Metro D.C. Scorecard: Memphis US reps split on Big, Beautiful Bill
The One Big, Beautiful Bill of tax and spending cuts cleared the U.S. House of Representatives in a 218-214 vote.
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Metro How Blackburn and Hagerty voted on $9B clawback bill
Tennessee’s senators voted against amendments from Democrats that failed in the run-up to approval of $9 billion in federal-funding cuts to public television and the U.S. Agency for International Development programs.
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Public Safety Steve Mulroy says stores with coin-operated game machines are gambling with law
A court ruling determined these coin-operated mechanisms seen in some local convenience stores are, in fact, slot machines.
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City of Memphis Memphis City Council member to launch campaign for governor
“And I don’t just plan to run — I plan to win,” she said.
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MetroCouncil members jostle for share of xAI money. A Tennessee Republican has his own money. Blackburn’s been busy.
Our political roundup also looks at a push to pretty up Plough Boulevard; a possible contender for Shelby County mayor, and reactions to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation.
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City of Memphis Blight, animals and parks: New leaders take position at key city divisions
One of the three confirmed city directors is in charge of a completely new division to tackle garbage and trash collection. Plus, the City Council approved a bonus for retired city employees.
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DowntownNew plans for the Old Daisy
When it comes to revitalizing the historic theater, settling a 10-year old legal dispute is a first step.
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City of Memphis Memphis Parks appoints new director
Mayor Paul Young has tapped a Memphis native who is returning to the city after working similar jobs in Oakland and Pasadena, California.
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City of MemphisCity puts teeth in blight fight
The City of Memphis could soon have a faster path to the demolition of blighted properties. And neighbors will have a louder voice in calling attention to nuisance properties.
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Behind The HeadlinesCandidates ‘have the responsibility for turnout’
The Shelby County Election Commission chairman and the elections administrator talked about low voter turnout and election off year mechanics on “Behind The Headlines.”
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City of MemphisCity Council Scorecard: Setting the budget past the impasse process
The City Council Scorecard tracks how the 13 council members voted on the critical events of the budget season.
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