Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Bill Dries

Clerk's office working Saturday to catch up with car title backlog

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:38:40 -0500

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

Edmund Ford Jr. federal sentencing delayed for fifth time

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:11:15 -0500

The latest delay, which the judge granted Friday, Sept. 11, is the fifth since Ford pleaded guilty in February.

Matthew Szalaj claims Democratic nomination for TN House — and only 1 person got to vote

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 14:42:20 -0500

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.

Richardson charges are latest in recent string of allegations against elected officials

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:06:30 -0500

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.

Special judge appointed in Sugarmon vandalism case

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:55:36 -0500

The campaign-sign vandalism case returns to court in October. Commissioner Erika Sugarmon has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Federal prosecutors talk strategy in racketeering cases targeting street gangs

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:40:52 -0500

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.

Wanda Halbert leaves behind car title backlog, new clerk says

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:29:37 -0500

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.

County commissioner jailed same day as first commission meeting

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 21:52:15 -0500

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.

Orange Mound land trust breaks ground on first of a dozen new homes

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 9 Sep 2026 04:00:13 -0500

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.

City calls off extension of road into Pidgeon Industrial Park, for now

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 8 Sep 2026 16:33:58 -0500

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.

Memphis legislative delegation faces major shake-ups

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 7 Sep 2026 04:00:11 -0500

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.

Chaz Molder backs data center pauses in campaign for Congress

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 5 Sep 2026 11:28:36 -0500

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.”

Some on City Council oppose renaming street after former Mayor Lee Harris

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 3 Sep 2026 07:33:54 -0500

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.

New MATA board signals gradual move away from trustee

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 1 Sep 2026 22:04:36 -0500

For the time being, the new MATA board will coexist with a trustee. The Memphis City Council also approved funding for four parks projects.

Mickell Lowery takes oath of office along with other countywide elected officials

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 1 Sep 2026 07:35:11 -0500

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.

City Council talks data center pause and votes on new MATA board

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:36:36 -0500

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.

Harris’ final days highlight a mayor focused on transition, legacy and what comes next

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 04:00:14 -0500

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris leaves office Tuesday after eight years in office and a unique governing style that shifted county government’s priorities.

Meals on Wheels turns 50 as MIFA's 'flagship' program

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 17:31:24 -0500

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.

Halbert exits office, votes are certified and Green gets reintroduced

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 14:32:21 -0500

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.

County doesn't want to pay Wanda Halbert's legal fees

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:11:49 -0500

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.