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

Souls to the Polls rally mixes political optimism with hardcore organizing

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 06:05:33 -0500

Outrage over the redrawing of congressional district lines is fueling get-out-the-vote efforts in Memphis. The formal effort went public Sunday with a Souls at the Polls rally, where candidates were seen but not heard.

Tax season drumbeat grows louder at City Hall

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Mon, 8 Jun 2026 15:28:02 -0500

City Council members have some amendments to Mayor Paul Young’s budget, and they could move closer to closing out the budget season at Tuesday’s council day.

Vote-A-Rama and the War Powers Act. Wanda Halbert's quest for a recount. Lamar Alexander on 'Newt’s World'

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 8 Jun 2026 04:00:15 -0500

From vote-a-rama to recount-a-rama, Tennessee’s representatives in Washington had a busy week and more in this week’s political roundup.

Democratic sheriff nominee takes wait-and-see approach on cooperation with federal immigration

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 6 Jun 2026 04:00:03 -0500

Anthony Buckner talked about immigration and the Memphis Safe Task Force as well as a new jail in a wide-ranging interview on “Behind The Headlines”.

Connecting the new housing dots and vacant lots in North Memphis neighborhood

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 06:57:04 -0500

Working a few lots at a time with different developers, the City of Memphis is beginning to connect the vacant lots in North Memphis neighborhood to form a pattern of redevelopment.

Renovated Bickford Aquatic Center makes a splash

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 5 Jun 2026 05:57:56 -0500

The renovated Bickford Aquatic Center opened Thursday, June 4, in North Memphis just in time for summer.

County commissioners consider keeping $2.69 property tax rate

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 4 Jun 2026 06:56:10 -0500

Shelby County commissioners talked Wednesday, June 3, about leaving the county property tax rate at $2.69. It’s a discussion they’ve had in past budget seasons with different rates. But this year’s decision may be different.

‘If this were Poplar Avenue, … this would have been completed years ago’

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 3 Jun 2026 14:44:58 -0500

A standing-room only crowd in Whitehaven heard that the Elvis Presley Boulevard project, begun in 2013, may last another five years.

Sixth special judicial race coming to Aug. 6 ballot

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 2 Jun 2026 16:39:00 -0500

A Shelby County judge has moved up his retirement date, so the Election Commission is adding a race for his position to the other five already on the ballot.

County delays $18M lawsuit settlement as debate continues

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 2 Jun 2026 06:06:32 -0500

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and the county administration say they agree on dollar figures, but not a solution to the dispute.

Wanda Halbert seeks recount in primary loss

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 17:23:28 -0500

Halbert lost the Democratic primary for Criminal Court Clerk on the May 5 ballot by 126 votes to state Rep. Joe Towns Jr.

$18 million sheriff's lawsuit settlement returns to County Commission

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 1 Jun 2026 06:39:19 -0500

The expensive legal settlement grew more complex last week with word that the $18 million would have to be included in future Sheriff’s Office budgets.

London Lamar opens Congressional bid amid redistricting revamp

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 31 May 2026 09:22:35 -0500

The political roundup also looks at vote totals in the May primaries, and reactions to the Trump “anti-weaponization fund,” and recalls a redistricting dust-up during Davy Crockett’s days.

GOP nominee for county mayor defends state intervention in city and county

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sat, 30 May 2026 04:00:04 -0500

John DeBerry, the Republican nominee for Shelby County mayor, talked on “Behind The Headlines” about state intervention in Memphis and Shelby County as well as his hopes for a gradual withdrawal of the Memphis Safe Task Force.

Democrats switch to campaign mode in new congressional districts

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 28 May 2026 13:22:06 -0500

The political roundup looks at a shift in the fight over congressional redistricting and what it says about the tactics of both parties in the state of Tennessee.

DA sues over state laws requiring Task Force reports

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 28 May 2026 12:59:17 -0500

In the Chancery Court lawsuit, attorneys are seeking to have the laws declared unconstitutional and a court order barring their enforcement.

City Council lets impasse ordinance veto stand. Now the rewrite begins.

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Wed, 27 May 2026 05:41:10 -0500

An ad hoc group will now work on another rewrite to overhaul the 48-year-old procedure for resolving impasses between the city administration and labor unions.

The City Council's impasse over the city impasse procedure

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Tue, 26 May 2026 07:20:50 -0500

At its Tuesday, May 26 session, the City Council will also take up a hotel surcharge for the Hyatt Centric at Beale Street and Riverside Drive, along with a name change for part of Alston Avenue.

Dries: CBS Radio News signs off for the last time, leaving one less network to hit at the top of the hour

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 24 May 2026 10:15:33 -0500

CBS Radio News ends broadcasting Friday, May 22, after nearly a century airing on hundreds of radio stations across the country. The end is another change in a way of reporting that is becoming harder to find and define.

County primary election results have been certified, but there may be a challenge

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Thu, 21 May 2026 19:31:28 -0500

The second-place finisher in one of the MSCS board Democratic primaries — the closest race in the May 5 county primaries — is reportedly weighing a recount.