Reaction to No Kings police response centers on city permit process
Memphis Mayor Paul Young talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the March 28 No Kings march that ended with Memphis Police pepper-spraying demonstrators.
Bill Dries
Reporter
Bill Dries covers city and county government and politics. He is a native Memphian and has been a reporter for almost 50 years covering a wide variety of stories from the 1977 death of Elvis Presley and the 1978 police and fire strikes to numerous political campaigns, every county mayor and every Memphis Mayor starting with Wyeth Chandler.
There are 4212 articles by Bill Dries :
-
April 2026
-
Behind The Headlines -
Shelby County Halbert ouster attempt could be back in play
The Tennessee Supreme Court decided not to hear Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert’s appeal of the second attempt to remove her from office. This means the County Attorney’s office could move ahead with a private attorney.
-
-
March 2026
-
Downtown Construction of riverboat landing on Mud Island kicks off
Leaders of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers broke ground Monday, March 30, as several barges passed by on a windswept river.
-
Shelby County Post-Ford County Commission sets new rules for ‘disruptive’ commissioners
The new rule allows the body to possibly remove a disruptive commissioner from discussion with a two-thirds vote. The Commission also approved an increase in funding for a UTHSC contract and voted down a $65,000 grant by Commissioner Henri Brooks.
-
Public Safety Cops on leave after violent No Kings march
Memphis Mayor Paul Young announced that the city will investigate police actions at a No Kings march in Downtown Memphis.
-
Downtown No Kings march ends with pepper spray and arrests
The march began peacefully at Robert R. Church Park, but confrontations with police at the end of the day led to arrests. Two of the arrested marchers have been released, but two others remain in custody.
-
Premium
City of MemphisNo Kings march rallies Dems. Young stresses crime-decline timeline. Trump cagey in governor’s race.
Before the violent end of the No Kings march, Democrats talked about holding elected officials accountable. Meanwhile, a Republican candidate on this year’s ballot is pointing to state takeovers.
-
Shelby County No small change: Commissioners tackle penny problem
Amid the phase-out of the penny, a resolution seeks help from the Tennessee Legislature to change state laws that don’t allow court clerks to round up or down the amounts they collect in court fines and fees.
-
Behind The Headlines Changes to county juvenile detention include uniforms and toothbrushes
The change in who runs the detention center on a daily basis began this past October — about the time the Memphis Safe Task Force began operations locally.
-
Premium
NeighborhoodsAs Frayser celebrates 200 years, this group wants to make their neighborhood a place people stay
“You didn’t have to leave Frayser. Now you have to leave. That is our fault.”
-
City of Memphis Case dismissed in lawsuit to stop Brooks’ Downtown museum
The 2023 lawsuit, filed by Friends for our Riverfront and others, challenging the new Memphis Art Museum Downtown has hit another barrier.
-
City of Memphis City Council approves big changes to city impasse procedure
The rewrite of the impasse procedure is the most significant change in a process drafted in the wake of 1978 strikes by Memphis police and firefighters.
-
Premium
Public SafetyAnalysis: To Trump, rise in crime is political, foreign and enabled by Democrats
As President Donald Trump touts the Memphis Safe Task Force as proof that tough immigration policies and aggressive enforcement are restoring “law and order,” Mayor Paul Young argues Memphis’ long-term safety depends more on tackling poverty, disinvestment and other root causes.
-
Premium
MetroNoem touts Memphis Safe Task Force on her way out at DHS
Kristi Noem’s last appearance as Department of Homeland Security Secretary came at a Nashville law enforcement conference.
-
Premium
City of MemphisReality check? Dropping crime numbers meet the first spring weekend on Beale Street
A violent Friday night Downtown stokes the ongoing debate about the Memphis Safe Task Force’s effectiveness.
-
Premium
MetroDries: Looking back before Trump’s visit at memorable presidential stops in Memphis
Barack Obama addressing Booker T. Washington High graduates, Bill Clinton delivering one of his best speeches, George H.W. Bush touting “a thousand points of light” only to return four years later to a hostile crowd during his ill-fated attempt for a second term and more are on the list of memorable presidential visits to Memphis.
-
Premium
MetroTrump coming to town 6 months into Memphis Safe Task Force
The backdrop for President Donald Trump’s visit to the city is complex and has everything to do with the Memphis Safe Task Force. What Trump will say, if anything, about the task force is anyone’s guess.
-
Behind The Headlines Changes to how sales tax revenue is divvied up will take effect in July
The new formula and its links to the city’s quest to create 10,000 new and renovated units of housing by 2030 is among the topics discussed on “Behind The Headlines.”
-
Metro New approach to tidier Memphis interstates starts rolling
The state has a five-year $60 million contract with a Pennsylvania company to maintain the city’s interstate system, including fixing potholes and removing snow and ice.
-
Elections Democratic contenders for sheriff call for big changes
The candidate forum included discussion of a new jail and calls for more transparency in how the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office runs the jail and fights crime.
-
Arts & Culture Immersive museum on Mud Island sets new May opening date
Following some water damage delays, Baron Von Opperbean and the River of Time has now scheduled an opening date for the first phase of the three-part project.
-
Premium
OpinionSkateland fire stirs memories, hope in Frayser
When the old Skateland Frayser burned in January, it was the latest change in a part of the city that has seen a lot of them over the decades. The neighborhood is still changing in the plans its residents are making and by the events that mark new opportunities.
-
Premium
MetroA flub on qualifying petition limits G.A. Hardaway’s options
Also in the political roundup, make that five unopposed incumbents and scratch one of Cohen’s challengers. Plus, school board seats and the newest County Commissioner.
-
Behind The Headlines Spring sprung early — and with it, so does heightened Downtown security
Downtown Memphis Commission CEO Chandell Ryan talked on “Behind The Headlines” about an early spring on Beale Street and the city’s plan for enhancing safety.
-
Elections Four Tenn. Legislature incumbents win reelection at filing deadline
Here’s what the 16 races for seats in the Tennessee legislature representing Shelby County looked like at the Tuesday deadline to get on the Aug. 6 ballot. Check out the full list for all of the races via a link in the story.
-