Elections
More than 3,400 show up for first day of early voting
Most of the opening day voters were Democrats, whose ballot boasts a race with the largest field of candidates.
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 4299 articles by Bill Dries :
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April 2026
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2026 elections
Elections -
Elections
ElectionsAll 11 candidates in the Democratic primary for County Clerk
Here are brief bios of the 11 candidates in the May 5 Democratic primary for County Clerk. The winner meets Republican nominee Tina Montgomery in the August county general election.
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City of Memphis City Council wants answers on ‘No Kings’ march violence
Two Memphis City Council members want police brass to answer questions about the police response to the March 28 march.
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2026 Elections
ElectionsDemocrats and Republicans strategize ahead of May county primaries
Leaders of the local Republican and Democratic parties talked about the May Shelby County primary elections on “Behind The Headlines.”
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2026 elections
ElectionsHarris backs Collins, a win for citizen journalism and Lowery weighs in on LeBron
In this week’s political roundup: Harris backs Collins, Memphis loses a public records case, Lowery weighs in on LeBron, and Green talks medical debt and executive orders.
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2026 elections
ElectionsThe Democratic primary race for Shelby County mayor
Here’s an overview of the Democratic primary race for county mayor, the seven candidates and their interaction with each other as well as the shadow of the outgoing mayor on the race.
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2026 Elections
ElectionsJohn DeBerry runs on mayoral platform that Shelby County ‘is not an island’
The former Democratic state representative is running in the May Republican primary for Shelby County mayor. “I intend to win this race,” he said.
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Shelby County County Commission takes small step toward new or renovated jail
Monday’s resolution could eventually result in a list of basic questions and cost options — but it probably won’t be until a new county mayor and commission take office.
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2026 elections
ElectionsHere’s who made the Shelby County primary ballot
A total of 121 candidates made the deadline to file their qualifying petitions with the Shelby County Election Commission.
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2026 elections
ElectionsDemocrats boot five, Republicans strike three from May primary ballot
Another Republican claims another County Commission seat. And the busiest primary on the ballot remains the Democratic primary for County Clerk.
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2026 elections
ElectionsDemocratic contenders for sheriff call for big changes
The candidate forum included discussion of a new jail and calls for more transparency in how the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office runs the jail and fights crime.
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City of Memphis $13 million MATA bridge loan tops City Council agenda
The Memphis City Council also looks at moving $6 million from riverfront projects to improvements around the future Memphis Art Museum.
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Shelby County More specific plan for new jail and justice center could be on the horizon
Shelby County commissioners meet Monday to consider a resolution calling a professional study for a new jail and justice center.
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MetroUS Sen. Hagerty said Memphis public safety solutions must be long-term, ‘military buildup’ necessary in Iran
U.S. Sen. Bill Hagerty talked with The Daily Memphian about the Memphis Safe Task Force and President Donald Trump’s pledge to destroy Iran’s “whole civilization.”
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Shelby County Audit clears county clerk’s finances but still cites reporting problems
Wanda Halbert’s office did not provide the auditing firm reviewing county finances with an annual financial statement or a reconciliation of funds collected by the clerk and deposited into the county’s bank account.
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MetroAs Shelby County preps for May and August votes, a TMZ video grabs attention
As the governor’s race heats up, a camera captures Marsha Blackburn at the D.C. airport. And when early voting starts April 15, all Memphis area locations will be open.
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Behind The Headlines Reaction to No Kings police response centers on city permit process
Memphis Mayor Paul Young talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the March 28 No Kings march that ended with Memphis Police pepper-spraying demonstrators.
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Shelby County Halbert ouster attempt could be back in play
The Tennessee Supreme Court decided not to hear Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert’s appeal of the second attempt to remove her from office. This means the County Attorney’s office could move ahead with a private attorney.
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March 2026
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Downtown Construction of riverboat landing on Mud Island kicks off
Leaders of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers broke ground Monday, March 30, as several barges passed by on a windswept river.
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Shelby County Post-Ford County Commission sets new rules for ‘disruptive’ commissioners
The new rule allows the body to possibly remove a disruptive commissioner from discussion with a two-thirds vote. The Commission also approved an increase in funding for a UTHSC contract and voted down a $65,000 grant by Commissioner Henri Brooks.
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Public Safety Cops on leave after violent No Kings march
Memphis Mayor Paul Young announced that the city will investigate police actions at a No Kings march in Downtown Memphis.
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Downtown No Kings march ends with pepper spray and arrests
The march began peacefully at Robert R. Church Park, but confrontations with police at the end of the day led to arrests. Two of the arrested marchers have been released, but two others remain in custody.
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City of MemphisNo Kings march rallies Dems. Young stresses crime-decline timeline. Trump cagey in governor’s race.
Before the violent end of the No Kings march, Democrats talked about holding elected officials accountable. Meanwhile, a Republican candidate on this year’s ballot is pointing to state takeovers.
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Shelby County No small change: Commissioners tackle penny problem
Amid the phase-out of the penny, a resolution seeks help from the Tennessee Legislature to change state laws that don’t allow court clerks to round up or down the amounts they collect in court fines and fees.
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Behind The Headlines Changes to county juvenile detention include uniforms and toothbrushes
The change in who runs the detention center on a daily basis began this past October — about the time the Memphis Safe Task Force began operations locally.
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