There are 194 article(s) tagged Edmund Ford Jr.:

• September 2026

  • Edmund Ford Jr. federal sentencing delayed for fifth time

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

    By Bill Dries 8 hours ago

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

    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.

    By Bill Dries 14 hours ago

• August 2026

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

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

    By Bill Dries August 31, 2026

  • Ford sentencing delayed several times as County Commission seats turn over

    As eight Shelby County commissioners prepare to leave office at the end of August, the federal corruption case of former commissioner Edmund Ford Jr., who resigned earlier this year, is still on its way to sentencing.

    By Bill Dries August 14, 2026

• July 2026

  • City Council renews grant program, approving $13,000 for temporary housing

    The Memphis City Council’s $2.6 million grant fund allocates $200,000 for each council member to propose grants to nonprofits. 

    By Bill Dries July 08, 2026

  • City Council’s light agenda includes renewed grants program

    The council’s discussion of grant rules comes after city auditors questioned the $13,000 grant awarded to a County Commissioner-elect. 

    By Bill Dries July 06, 2026

• March 2026

  • 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.

    By Bill Dries March 30, 2026

  • Primary ejections and the county clerk candidate who survived

    How are candidates booted from primary ballots? Also in the political roundup, heads butt on the Memphis Safe Task Force, where Lee Harris and Edmund Ford Jr. agreed and recent D.C. votes on Iran air strikes.

    By Bill Dries March 09, 2026

  • County Commission will pick 13th commissioner

    A group of 10 applied for the six-month appointment to Edmund Ford Jr.’s former seat. One withdrew and another was a no-show for interviews last week. Here is who’s left.

    By Bill Dries March 08, 2026

• February 2026

  • Commissioners have questions even as crime dashboard contract gets approved

    The criminal justice system dashboard will track cases from arrest to however the they end in the court system.

    By Bill Dries February 10, 2026

  • What’s next for Shelby County Commission after Edmund Ford Jr.'s exit?

    The body will set the ground rules and timeline for filling the open seat. Meanwhile, the commission will deal with two grants Ford proposed just before his resignation and another effort to activate the County Ethics Commission.

    By Bill Dries February 08, 2026

  • Sanford: Ford’s guilty plea, arrogant demeanor further tarnish family legacy

    “The troubling thing about this case is that Ford learned nothing from all the past instances and allegations of local public corruption — some of it involving members of his own family.”

    By Otis Sanford February 06, 2026

  • Ford resignation letter dodges guilty plea, cites ‘antagonistic environment’

    Ford filed a resignation letter to the Shelby County Commission, as required by his guilty plea to federal tax-evasion charges. Meanwhile, county commissioners have a timetable for filling the vacancy.

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    County Commission plows through agenda from snowed-out meeting quickly

    By Bill Dries February 05, 2026

  • Edmund Ford Jr. pleads guilty to tax evasion

    Ford will resign from his position on the Shelby County Board of Commissioners and will never again run for elected office.

    By Aarron Fleming February 02, 2026

• January 2026

  • County Commission votes to keep all nine MSCS seats on 2026 ballot

    Commissioners decided Monday they want a lawsuit to stay in place and a court to put an end to the dispute over MSCS elections one way or another.

    By Bill Dries, Laura Testino January 12, 2026

• December 2025

  • County Commission keeps tabs as Halbert cooperates with county auditors

    While Halbert is now cooperating, County Commission Chair Shante Avant said she may call a special meeting of the body if the cooperation stops. 

    By Bill Dries December 16, 2025

• November 2025

  • ‘How about we cut you off as the chair?’ — Ford tirade aimed at County Commission chairwoman

    Also in the roundup: Amber Huett-Garcia opens Commission campaign, Marie Feagins’ bid for county mayor and Steve Cohen on a successor.

    By Bill Dries November 24, 2025

  • Ford gets heated in County Commission debate about deputy’s benefits

    The County Commission ultimately extended benefits for a severely injured Shelby County sheriff’s deputy.

    By Bill Dries November 18, 2025

  • Judge to deny dismissal request for case against Ford

    A federal judge will deny a request to dismiss one of the charges against Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr., he said Wednesday, Nov. 5.

    By Aarron Fleming November 05, 2025

  • A history of Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris’ vetoes

    Lee Harris has vetoed six ordinances or resolutions approved by the Shelby County Commission in his seven years as county mayor. Some have stood, others have been overridden by the commission and one was some of both.

    By Bill Dries November 03, 2025

• October 2025

  • County Commission to take critical vote on school board elections

    Overriding a veto: The Shelby County Commission will vote on moving races for all nine Memphis-Shelby County Schools board seats to the 2026 ballot after Mayor Lee Harris’ veto of their September decision.

    By Bill Dries October 26, 2025

  • County Commission approves fix for cash-flow crunch

    Commissioners also began to talk Monday, Oct. 6, about the county’s other financial problem that prompted the Tennessee comptroller to bar approval of any new bonds for the next year.

    By Bill Dries October 06, 2025

• September 2025

  • Ford Jr.'s federal trial pushed back

    Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr.’s trial on bribery and tax evasion charges has been moved back two months.

    By Samuel Hardiman September 25, 2025

  • National Guard becomes issue in Tennessee governor’s race

    The coming deployment of the Guard to the city is also finding its way into other parts of local politics including a surprise appearance by a Democratic County Commissioner at a Republican rally backing the Guard’s arrival.

    By Bill Dries September 21, 2025

  • After County Commission delay, mayor ‘not coming back’ with ethics appointments

    The vote came after harsh words were exchanged between Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr.

    By Bill Dries September 09, 2025