There are 44 article(s) tagged Erika Sugarmon:

• October 2026

  • County Commission advances data center pause

    The Shelby County Board of Commissioners’ action mirrors the direction the Memphis City Council is going on data centers.

    By Bill Dries October 12, 2026

  • County Commission will take up data center moratorium of its own

    The Shelby County Commission will take a first vote on a data center moratorium. It comes as the Memphis City Council is considering a similar proposal.

    By Bill Dries October 11, 2026

• September 2026

  • Short agenda Monday as new Shelby County Commission settles in

    Commissioners will vote on committee chairs, including a first-term budget chair, after putting off an ethics commission revival and a data center moratorium in committee.

    By Bill Dries September 27, 2026

  • 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 September 11, 2026

  • Special judge appointed in Sugarmon vandalism case

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

    By Bill Dries September 10, 2026

• August 2026

  • Bailey: Sign accusations harken back to a Collierville matter 10 years ago

    This week’s sign accusations against Erika Sugarmon brings back memories of another sign fiasco in Collierville, involving former state Rep. Curry Todd.

    By Clay Bailey August 14, 2026

  • Signs of trouble: Inside the vandalism charges against Erika Sugarmon

    The chain of events chronicled in the two misdemeanor traffic camera footage, Facebook video and a chain of events chronicled in two misdemeanor citations trace the months-long path to a not-guilty plea by the county commissioner.

    Related content:

    Commissioner Erika Sugarmon charged with vandalism

    By Bill Dries August 12, 2026

  • Commissioner Erika Sugarmon charged with vandalism

    Shelby County Commissioner Erika Sugarmon made a brief appearance Tuesday, Aug. 11, in General Sessions Court on at least four charges of vandalism under $1,000.

    By Bill Dries August 11, 2026

• June 2026

  • County Commission passes budget with new property tax rate

    Shelby County commissioners used extra decimal places Monday, June 29, in setting a new county property tax rate.

    By Bill Dries June 30, 2026

• May 2026

  • New rules for county ‘community’ grants head to committee

    A new proposal would require receipts for money spent and a 5-year ban on new grants if nonprofits don’t follow the rules. The commission also set the stage for budget hearings.

    By Bill Dries May 18, 2026

  • Commission to consider new rules for one of the county’s ‘biggest financial concerns’ — grants

    One commissioner is proposing to put more conditions on the $2.6 million the body allocates for grants days after Mayor Lee Harris warned that funding grants is a great share of the county’s budget.

    By Bill Dries May 18, 2026

• January 2026

  • Commission steps in to pay county clerk’s rent in Millington

    The commission initially planned to only pay the back rent for Wanda Halbert’s Shelby County Clerk’s Office, but decided Monday to approve money for future rent, too. 

    By Bill Dries January 13, 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

  • Will Shelby County pay back rent for the clerk’s Millington office?

    Shelby County commissioners will vote on a resolution that would settle an ongoing dispute with the City of Millington for the $28,800 owed in rent for the County Clerk’s office on Navy Road.

    By Bill Dries January 11, 2026

• December 2025

  • Aspiring skateboarders coast in for free boards, helmets and gear

    The sport is on a roll in Memphis and organizers of a Hickory Hill event aim to help kids get the equipment and training they need. 

    By Jody Callahan December 20, 2025

• September 2025

  • ‘I don’t want to see a tank in my neighborhood’— County Commission debates Guard deployment

    County Commissioners got their first look at two resolutions offering different responses to the coming deployment of National Guard troops to the city. 

    By Bill Dries September 17, 2025

• June 2025

  • Harris and Sugarmon find common ground in county budget season

    Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Shelby County Commissioner Erika Sugarmon talked about the ongoing county budget season, a proposed wheel tax hike and a new jail on “Behind The Headlines.”

    By Bill Dries June 14, 2025

  • County Commission to take final vote on affordable-housing construction

    There will be a final vote on a new program to activate affordable housing on land currently going into the County Land Bank.

    By Bill Dries June 01, 2025

• January 2025

  • County Commission sets schedule to appoint new judge

    At its Monday, Jan. 27, meeting, the Shelby County Commission set the process for filling the vacancy that comes with the March retirement of General Sessions Court Judge Bill Anderson. Also a test of the commission’s new budget subcommittee process.

    By Bill Dries January 26, 2025

• December 2024

  • County Commission retreat gets at what makes it tick — and what makes it go off

    The Shelby County Commission met for a retreat where the aim was to get at the working relationship among the body of 13. That relationship has been rocky during the first half of the group’s four-year term.

    By Bill Dries December 16, 2024

  • Shelby County Commission looks for smoother, swifter budget season

    The rules discussed at a Saturday, Dec. 14, retreat at Shelby Farms Park include a budget subcommittee to hash out details of budget amendments.

    By Bill Dries December 14, 2024

• November 2024

  • Forum addresses issues for youth in an ‘adversarial’ justice system

    The town hall addressed two issues before the Shelby County Commission. One would help in expunging juvenile records. while the other would require recording and legal representation for youth during questioning by law enforcement.

    By Aarron Fleming November 22, 2024

• October 2024

  • County Commission weighs Juvenile Court changes

    A set of ordinances to change some practices at Juvenile Court are up for the first of three readings at the Monday, Oct. 14, County Commission meeting. The Circuit Court Clerk’s office is also seeking $674,000 in funding for more staff.

    By Bill Dries October 13, 2024

• September 2024

  • County Commission backs City Council lawsuit over gun control referendum

    The vote was along party lines with a discussion before the vote that mirrors past discussions about “building relationships” in Nashville versus “standing up to bullies.”

    By Bill Dries September 09, 2024

• August 2024

  • Mental health center, pay raises move forward at County Commission, but not without friction

    Commissioners approved a design contract for the proposed mental health center on a second vote. The commission also redistributed the 6% pay raise budgeted in June.

    By Bill Dries August 27, 2024