James Coleman
Trio of proposed gun ordinances get Council committee OK
A trio of new ordinances crafted to stem the proliferation of guns in Memphis received across-the-board approval on a voice vote from members of the Memphis City Council Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee during its Tuesday (May 16) meeting.
The proposed ordinances will now...
Residency issue still a muddled picture in the mayor’s race
The already-serpentine pending lawsuit over how long a person must live in Memphis to be eligible to run for mayor took another loop this week when the Shelby County Election Commission was dropped as a defendant.
The subtraction leaves the city administration and Memphis Mayor...
Active-shooter scare prompts local calls to do something
Following recent gun-related incidents, including a shooting on South Highland Tuesday (May 2), the Memphis City Council may be ready to explore ordinances to ban assault weapons and permitless carry within city limits.
Councilmember Jeff Warren suggested the ordinances Tuesday during council meetings. Warren, a...
One redraw of district lines gets a first-vote OK from Council
Memphis City Council members Tuesday (May 2) passed the first of three votes on a proposed set of new district boundaries before the upcoming Oct. 5 city elections.
Delayed for weeks, the consent agenda item passed on an 8-0-2 vote. It has the backing of...
‘Former’ Rep. Pearson gets OK to be Rep. Pearson again
To no one’s surprise, members of the Shelby County Commission Wednesday (April 12) voted to reappoint recently ousted Tennessee State representative Justin Pearson back to his District 86 House seat.
The 7-0 vote came during a specially called meeting. Voting to reappoint Pearson were Henri...
Council curbs police traffic-stop moves
After several weeks of crafting, debate, protests and delays, the Memphis City Council Tuesday (April 11) passed a long-awaited ordinance to end pretextual traffic stops by the Memphis Police Department.
Among the council’s other actions Tuesday, members once again postponed, until April 25, the first...
County Clerk Halbert holding her ground amid a pitch for her to step aside
The long-running dispute between members of the Shelby County Commission and Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert clearly is ongoing after the embattled official was asked whether it was time for her to step down during Wednesday’s General Government Committee meeting.
“Is it not time to...
Metro Shopping Plaza sale still an up-in-the-air deal
A resolution seeking $3.5 million for the purchase of the Metro Shopping Plaza on E.H. Crump Boulevard, just west of Danny Thomas, was tossed back to the committee level on Monday (March 20) after supporters couldn’t close the deal with the Shelby County Board...
Council steps toward clarity vote on residency rules
With at least two, and maybe three, declared candidates for the looming Memphis mayor’s election facing residency requirements, the Memphis City Council’s Personnel & Governmental Affairs Committee held the first round of discussions on Tuesday (March 21), concerning a proposed referendum to clarify the...
Mayor’s race now has court hurdle over residency issue
Attorneys for Shelby County Sheriff and Memphis mayoral candidate Floyd Bonner Jr. filed a suit in Chancery Court on Tuesday (March 14), challenging the Memphis City Charter’s residency requirement for candidates for mayor.
Candidates are required to reside within the city limits for five years...