There are 605 article(s) tagged Lee Harris:

• September 2023

  • Political Roundup: Early voting is up, as heat rises in mayoral, council races

    More than 31,000 Memphians had voted early through Tuesday, Sept. 26, passing the totals for the same period during 2015 and 2019 city elections.

    By Bill Dries September 28, 2023

  • If more police are the answer, exactly what will they do?

    One of the biggest issues in the mayoral campaign is how candidates intend to fight crime, including whether they will maintain current strategies.

    By Jane Roberts September 11, 2023

• July 2023

  • Wheel-tax compromise points to broader shift on County Commission

    The $25 wheel-tax hike compromise approved by the Shelby County Commission broke a polite form of dysfunction on the body that could give way to a working majority crossing party lines on other issues.

    By Bill Dries July 01, 2023

• June 2023

  • Shelby County declares state of emergency in storm aftermath

    The 50,000 customers still waiting on power to be restored can cool down at Baker Community Center as temperatures approach triple digits.

    Related stories: 

    MLGW expects boil water advisory to end tomorrow

    55,000 MLGW customers without power as triple-digit temperatures approach

    By Keely Brewer June 27, 2023

  • Wheel-tax hike makes comeback in marathon County Commission meeting

    The $25 a year increase in the wheel tax was a last-minute compromise that funds the three major projects it is aimed at, but does not build funding for future schools projects. The commission takes a second crucial vote on the tax hike Wednesday.

    By Bill Dries June 27, 2023

  • Reinflated county wheel tax hike proposal faces new road test

    The Shelby County Commission meets Monday, June 26, with a new version of the wheel tax hike that failed earlier this month on the agenda. 

    By Bill Dries June 26, 2023

  • Shelby County funding new high school in Frayser

    Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris will include a $10 million ask to restart work on a new Memphis-Shelby County Schools high school in Frayser when he presents his fiscal year 2024 budget proposal to county commissioners on Wednesday, April 26.

    By Aarron Fleming, Bill Dries June 22, 2023

  • Rare Sunday meeting leads to county wheel-tax hike options

    Four county commissioners — two from each political party — met Sunday, June 11, with Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris for four hours. They came up with a compromise that has a wheel-tax hike back in play after it was rejected by the commission earlier this month. But property tax hikes are also in play.

    By Bill Dries June 12, 2023

  • Harris: Property-tax hike may be next for Regional One rebuild

    Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris talks about the defeat of his wheel-tax proposal on The Daily Memphian’s “On The Record” podcast and has harsh words for Shelby County Commissioners.

    By Bill Dries June 06, 2023

  • Shelby County Commission votes down wheel-tax hike twice in one night

    The proposed wheel-tax hike, to fund the rebuilding of Regional One Health’s campus and new Frayser and Cordova high schools, fell two votes short of the nine votes needed. It was then one vote short in a late attempt to keep the funding option alive.

    By Bill Dries June 06, 2023

  • Regional One CEO presents vision to Shelby County leaders

    Dr. Reginald Coopwood said the hospital’s aging infrastructure does not match the quality of care it provides. 

    By Aisling Mäki June 02, 2023

• May 2023

  • Suburban superintendents hope for increased county funds

    Area school superintendents are closely watching Mayor Lee Harris’ wheel tax proposal, if approved the could see an increase in funding for capital needs.

    By Abigail Warren May 28, 2023

  • Shelby County lags in children’s well-being, data shows

    The report from the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth found Shelby County ranked low in health, education and economics. 

    By Aisling Mäki May 26, 2023

  • Vote on wheel-tax hike delayed at County Commission

    The delay in the vote came after it became apparent the nine-vote two-thirds majority wasn’t there in the first of two votes. 

    Related story:

    County Commission calls on judges to enact new release restrictions early

    By Bill Dries May 15, 2023

  • Vote for the high school athlete of the week, Week 9

    Standouts from Arlington, Central, Collierville, ECS, Houston, Lausanne and St. George’s are up for consideration. 

    By John Varlas May 15, 2023

  • Harris argues for doubled wheel tax

    Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris pushed for the wheel-tax hike to help rebuild Regional One during Memphis Rotary Tuesday. The Shelby County Commission will take its first look at the proposal today. 

    By Bill Dries May 10, 2023

• April 2023

  • Lee Harris’ budget includes one-cent drop in tax rate, $50 hike in wheel tax

    Harris also outlined the funding and timetable for historic county capital projects — the rebuilding of the Regional One Health campus and new high schools in Cordova and Frayser.

    By Bill Dries April 26, 2023

  • Harris, Wright pitch Regional One rebuild financing

    Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris takes a proposal to the County Commission next week to fund the county’s share of the $700-million capital project. Commissioner Mick Wright says he hopes that can be coupled with a property tax reduction.

    By Bill Dries April 18, 2023

  • Shelby County invests in transitional housing for Black transgender women

    My Sistah’s House provides housing, advocacy and resource assistance for the Memphis area’s LGBTQ community with an emphasis on Black transgender women, who are reported to experience homelessness at a rate of more than five times the national average.

    By Aisling Mäki April 14, 2023

• March 2023

  • Your questions about Wanda Halbert’s office, answered

    Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert goes before county commissioners Wednesday, March 29. Here are some of the basics of the controversy that has been ongoing for about a year.

    By Bill Dries March 28, 2023

  • Halbert could face ouster if she doesn’t move Poplar Plaza office

    If Wanda Halbert does not move the Poplar Plaza office location, Mayor Harris could make the case that she is derelict in her duty.

    By Bill Dries March 22, 2023

  • Coalition formed to support local HIV efforts in wake of Lee’s rejection of federal funds

    In May, Tennessee will stop accepting HIV prevention funding from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, stripping local nonprofits of dollars they rely on to serve high-risk populations.

    By Aisling Mäki March 22, 2023

  • Regional One financing closer — but there’s a catch

    A $350 million Regional One financing plan can move forward, but the county will need to get a committed funding match from either Tennessee, Mississippi or Arkansas. 

    By Bill Dries March 21, 2023

  • ‘It’s not going to go away unless we do something:’ Local leaders eye juvenile crime solutions

    In Memphis, leaders seem to agree that youth are able to get guns too easily and that they are seeing a trend of younger juvenile offenders and more violent offenses. But there are varying opinions on how to deal with those trends.

    By Julia Baker, Ian Round March 20, 2023

  • Solar panels are a first for Shelby County government

    County government celebrates its “MLGW independence day.” 

    By Keely Brewer March 14, 2023