News Staff Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is encouraging law enforcement agencies to apply for a piece of a $100 million violent crime reduction grant. Lee, a Republican who is currently running for a second term, said Tuesday the grants will be used to “strengthen public safety in communities across Tennessee.” “Every Tennessean deserves to feel safe in … Read more
Two young children died and their mother was hospitalized after two family dogs attacked them at their home in Tennessee, officials said. The dogs attacked a 2-year-old girl, a 5-month-old boy and their mother Wednesday afternoon in the home located north of Memphis near Shelby Forest State Park, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said in … Read more
The former director of a north Mississippi airport has been arrested on charges of embezzlement after allegedly using the facility’s debit card to cover personal expenses. State Auditor Shad White, in a news release Thursday, announced the arrest of former Tunica County Airport Director Eric Konupka. It was unknown if he is represented by an … Read more
Five current or former Internal Revenue Service workers have been charged with fraud for illegally getting money from federal COVID-19 relief programs and using a total of $1 million for luxury items and personal trips, prosecutors said. The U.S. attorney’s office in Memphis said Tuesday that the five have been charged with wire fraud after … Read more
The University of Memphis and two organizations that encourage entrepreneurship in Tennessee have received a total of $4.2 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Commerce, officials said. The grants provided by the Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration are part of the so-called Build to Scale program, which gives funds to organizations that support … Read more
A Tennessee teenager pleaded not guilty Tuesday to more than two dozen charges connected with a shooting rampage in Memphis that led to a citywide shelter-in-place order and a frantic manhunt. The lawyer for Ezekiel Kelly, 19, entered the plea during a brief hearing in Shelby County Criminal Court. The lawyer, public defender Jennifer Case, … Read more
Five current or former Internal Revenue Service workers have been charged with fraud for illegally getting money from federal COVID-19 relief programs and using a total of $1 million for luxury items and personal trips, prosecutors said. The U.S. attorney’s office in Memphis said Tuesday that the five have been charged with wire fraud after … Read more
Horn Lake leaders are approving a new gas station business and hotels for the north side of Interstate Boulevard and Nail Road. If built, the gas station would be the largest of its type in Horn Lake. The DeSoto Commons planned Unit Development will be home to the Amtel Express Exxon station and two 4-story … Read more
A Tennessee man already charged with a fatal shooting that police said set off a daylong crime rampage in Memphis now faces murder charges in two more killings, officials said Wednesday. Ezekiel Kelly, 19, was indicted Tuesday on two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Richard Clark and Allison Parker, the Shelby County … Read more
West Tennessee has a new top federal prosecutor. Kevin Ritz was sworn in Wednesday as the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, according to a Department of Justice news release. The district includes the cities of Memphis and Jackson, in addition to a swath of mostly rural counties west of the Tennessee River. … Read more