News Staff Commissioners in Tennessee’s most populous county approved an ordinance that removes questions about criminal histories from most applications to join volunteer boards and commissions, officials said Tuesday. Sponsored by Democratic and Republican commissioners, the Fair Chance to Serve ordinance takes away an important barrier for Shelby County residents with criminal records who want to serve … Read more
The Memphis district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is getting a new commander. Col. Zachary L. Miller will relinquish command to Lt. Col. Robert W. Green in a ceremony scheduled for Thursday, the Corps’ Memphis district said in a news release. Green is currently the deputy commander for the district, which covers an … Read more
Tennessee tourism officials are launching a podcast about prominent 1950s and 1960s civil rights events in the state. Tennessee’s Department of Tourist Development is partnering with Travel South on the Tennessee Civil Rights Trail Podcast. All streaming platforms will carry the three episodes, which feature lesser-known stories. An episode about Memphis debuts June 20. It … Read more
Commissioners in Tennessee’s most populous county have approved $5.8 million for a new voting system for the November general election that would replace aging machines and servers currently available. News outlets reported that the Shelby County Commission voted 9-4 on Monday to fund a new system Election Administrator Linda Phillips said would let voters choose … Read more
The Southaven board of alderman has rejected a proposal by a group called PathLight to take over maintenance of street lights. Mayor Darren Musselwhite had said the change, would save the city about 10 percent, or 100-thousand dollars a year, on lighting costs… but Musselwhite voted no for the deal, saying he just wasn’t comfortable … Read more
Fishing without a license in Tennessee will be allowed for one day during the state’s upcoming free fishing day. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency says anyone may fish for free without a license in Tennessee’s public waters on Saturday. The agency said it offers the annual free fishing day in hopes of increasing interest in … Read more
Seven employees of a Memphis Starbucks who were fired after starting unionization efforts claimed victory Tuesday when their Memphis store voted to join a wave of U.S. locations of the coffee chain that have decided to organize. The so-called Memphis Seven jumped for joy, hugged one another and wept after a count held by the … Read more
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, lashing out at Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, saying Lee’s executive order to enhance school safety is “not enough.” The governor’s order, Strickland says, does not even address guns. The order creates a school safety resource and engagement guide for parents and provides them information on how to raise safety concerns at … Read more
Authorities are trying to hunt down two escaped inmates from the minimum security prison near Millington. The US Departnment of Justice said Alex Robinson and Deshun Ray were discovered missing during evening rounds at the Federal Correctional Institute Memphis satellite camp in Milloington. Robinson was serving a 180 month sentence for cocaine charges. Ray was … Read more
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced Monday that he does not support restricting firearms or strengthening gun control laws in response to recent mass shootings in Tennessee and around the country, including the gunning down of 19 elementary school students and two teachers in Texas. Instead, Lee joined the growing list of Republican governors who are … Read more