The proposal to exit the lawsuit over the state takeover of MSCS’ elected board didn’t have enough votes in committee last week. The commission also votes on a new data center moratorium in the unincorporated county. 

“These leaders tonight will help me make decisions that would change the conditions of our jail, make it more humane, make our jail one of the safest jails in the United States of America,” Shelby County Sheriff Anthony Buckner said.

New Shelby County Mayor Mickell Lowery said the county government’s financial situation is manageable but requires changes in how the government handles revenue and expenses.

The approval restores the county’s borrowing ability, but the state is still urging Shelby County to rebuild its General Fund reserves.

A Shelby County Board of Commissioners decision to continue funding the litigation could coincide with a major milestone in the Chancery Court case.

None of the nine state appointees poised to take control of the Memphis-Shelby County Schools system will say whether they intend to act on the superintendent hiring timeline included in documents most of them voted to accept. 

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State takeover of MSCS can proceed, judge rules

A 32-year-old man is facing vehicular homicide and other charges following a high-speed pursuit with law enforcement on Wednesday.

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

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.

Tamarques Porter and Sable Otey, two MSCS board members recently elected as this year’s chair and vice chair respectively, say they’re confident they can weather the storm.

Like all Memphis Habitat homes, the homes built during the CEO Build event will be sold to local homebuyers through the nonprofit’s affordable mortgage program.

A consulting firm that worked with Houston’s school system during its takeover has quietly played a key role in readying the state-appointed board to resume control of Memphis-Shelby County Schools. 

New Shelby County Assessor Javier Bailey said he and other county assessors are working on legislation to tax data centers differently than they’re currently assessed.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is launching a homicide investigation after an inmate’s death on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 201 Poplar. 

Taxpayers have paid for land, demolition and a project manager, but most of the county money tied to Regional One’s new hospital hasn’t been approved yet.

Also in the political roundup, Blackburn talks about affordability, Hagerty’s letter as Jack Smith testifies in the insurrection case, and the difficult mechanics of write-in voting.

After a two-year retirement, 46-year veteran Anna Barnett is returning to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office to serve as chief inspector of the jail amid ongoing operational challenges.

Assessor Javier Bailey Sr. says empty Downtown office towers and lost tourism spending are shrinking the county’s tax base. He is planning a November summit to build a five-year strategy.

A vote on resetting air-permit fees opened a move to address air quality concerns about data centers.

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.

During several counts each spring and summer, volunteers check on the health of the state’s butterfly population — “a proxy for everything.” 

Almost a month into his four-year term, Shelby County Mayor Mickell Lowery said his top priority is the county’s financial stability.

As the ceremony honoring the former county mayor got underway, demolition work continued at the former Commercial Appeal building less than half a mile west.

Memphis Tourism announced that Shelby County drew 10.3 million visitors in 2025 — less than 2024 — but industry experts share a positive outlook for the years to come.

County Clerk La Sonya Hall says her office has cleared about half of the 34 crates of unprocessed car titles and vehicle registrations from car dealers so far.