Bradford, TN Municipal and More

Judge W. Otis Higgs Jr.: A Giant of a Man Whose Leadership Opened Doors for Generations

From Breaking Barriers as Shelby County’s First Black Sheriff to Mentoring Aspiring Attorneys, Higgs Built a Legacy of Leadership, Opportunity, and Service. MEMPHIS, TN. Leadership is not always measured by the titles a person holds, the elections they win, or the recognition they receive. Sometimes, its greatest measure is found in the people they help, the opportunities they create, and the doors they open for those who follow. Judge W. Otis Higgs Jr. understood that responsibility. Throughout his life, he demonstrated that leadership was not simply about achieving personal success but about using his influence, knowledge, and position to help others advance.

Memphis, TN · 3d

WREG

Navy identifies Memphis sailor killed at Pearl Harbor

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Just ahead of Veterans Day, the U.S. Navy identified a sailor from Memphis who was killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor nearly 85 years ago. Fireman Third Class John Winter Martin was just twenty years old and aboard the USS California during the attack. The Navy said the ship was […]

Memphis, TN · 3d

tri-statedefender.com

Financial literacy advocate sees ‘gold mine’ in Memphis, urges residents to seize it

As Mayor Paul Young works toward his goal of adding 10,000 housing units in Memphis by 2030, John Hope Bryant says he is ready to buy two homes himself. Bryant, founder of Atlanta-based financial literacy nonprofit Operation HOPE, sees promising investment opportunities in the city, and he wants Memphians to recognize the potential too.

hoodline.com

Memphis Shelters Lock Out Unhoused Residents Over Missing State IDs

Hundreds of shelter beds across Memphis cannot be occupied without a state ID, Hospitality Hub officials say. City council members are now asking whether new legislation could clear that barrier for unhoused residents who are otherwise locked out of basic services. The issue came into sharp focus when Kelcey Johnson,...

actionnews5.com

Memphis transit advocates seek answers on MATA leadership

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Two transit advocacy groups are calling for answers about the future of the Memphis Area Transit Authority amid ongoing concerns about bus service. Citizens for Better Service and the Memphis Bus Riders Union are urging Mayor Paul Young to clarify when MATA operating trustee Rodrick Holmes will step down, when the new board will hold its first public meeting, and when it will hire a new MATA president with transit experience.

WREG

Veteran sheriff reflects on memories of his time during war

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Wednesday is Veterans Day, and as we salute our veterans, we are honoring their commitment to country, their service, and sacrifice. That includes DeSoto County Sheriff Thomas Tuggle, who saw combat as a Marine during “Operation Desert Storm.” Sheriff Tuggle talked about his time in the Marine Corps with WREG’s Mike Suriani […]

Desoto County, MS · 2d

WREG

Incentives help developer bring eco-build homes to North Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Tennessee housing developer is back in Memphis with a mission in mind to make measurable change in the community where he grew up. One million dollars in funding from the Tennessee Valley Authority and Memphis Light, Gas & Water could help him do just that. “I grew up here. I went […]

publisher · 1.4K followers

MLK50

Lowery plans to establish local oversight for county jails

Shelby County Mayor Mickell Lowery has told MLK50: Justice Through Journalism that he will establish independent oversight of the county’s three detention facilities — 201 Poplar, Jail East and the Youth Justice and Education Center — at the beginning of 2027. The plan would deliver on Lowery’s...

Shelby County, TN · 1d

Memphis Flyer

Advocacy Groups Weigh in on MLGW Rate Hike Proposal

Memphis Light, Gas and Water’s (MLGW) price hike proposal will be voted on by city council this month, but advocates say it needs more work. In recent years, MLGW and local advocacy groups have clashed over multi-year rate hikes. “It’s painful any time we see increases, but we also...

partner publisher · 18.9K followers

Chalkbeat

Memphis parents complained of a school laptop shortage. Now MSCS wants to buy 25,000 more.

Did you know search engines like Google are changing the way you see news? Keep Chalkbeat’s valuable education coverage at the top of your feeds by clicking here and checking the box next to our name. Memphis-Shelby County Schools leaders on Tuesday proposed a mid-year purchase of 25,000 laptops for high schoolers after parents complained that a sudden change in district technology policy this year left teachers and families scrambling. Before the first day of classes in August, MSCS quietly ended a COVID-era policy that assigned each student an individual laptop or tablet to use for online class work and testing. Amid nationwide efforts to dial back classroom technology and a new state law requiring clear technology policies for elementary school, district leaders said at the time that the decision was partially about being “more intentional” with digital resources. Chalkbeat Tennessee reported in early September that the last-minute laptop policy change hindered testing and lesson plans at White Station High School . The change took some teachers and parents by surprise and also raised concerns about students who could not bring their own devices from home. Many of the district’s laptops purchased during the pandemic are also aging out or

Memphis, TN · 3d

Newsweek

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More Cities Move To Ban Data Centers After Midterm Backlash

Some cities are advancing data-center restrictions after midterm voters overwhelmingly favored tighter controls.

partner publisher · 33.1K followers

HBCU Gameday

North Carolina A&T alumnus named CEO of Memphis Chamber

Gunn brings more than 15 years of executive leadership experience in business recruitment, workforce development and regional economic growth. The post North Carolina A&T alumnus named CEO of Memphis Chamber appeared first on HBCU Gameday .

WREG

partner publisher · 18.9K followers

DeSoto sees biggest blue shift among MS counties

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Now that the Mississippi Senate race has been called for Scott Colom, we’re getting a better understanding of the statewide political shift in this election. Each of the state’s 82 counties shifted toward Democrats compared to the 2004 presidential election — and the biggest shift was in DeSoto County. Two years ago […]

Desoto County, MS · 1d

Chalkbeat

Memphis graduation rate climbs nearly 8 points since 2020, but test scores still trail the state

Did you know search engines like Google are changing the way you see news? Keep Chalkbeat’s valuable education coverage at the top of your feeds by clicking here and checking the box next to our name. More Memphis students are graduating high school than six years ago, according to the state’s most recent data. More than 7,100 Memphis-Shelby County Schools students from the class of 2026 received their high school diplomas, up from around 6,200 in the spring of 2020. That represents a 7.7 percentage point increase in the district’s graduation rate since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. MSCS still lags behind the state average graduation rate , which exceeded 93% last school year. Over 85% of Memphis high schoolers earned their diplomas, while English language learners had the lowest graduation rate, at 71%. MSCS leaders are touting the growth as the result of several years of focus on individual student data and graduation coaches. The gains come at a crucial time for MSCS, as a looming state takeover of the district puts increased pressure on student achievement. “It continues to show progress for all the things that we’ve been doing for many years,” Chief Academic Officer

hoodline.com

Memphis Schools Plan $22M Laptop Buy After Parents Slam Shortage

Memphis-Shelby County Schools leaders are proposing a mid-year purchase of 25,000 laptops for high school students, a $22 million plan that comes after parents complained about a sudden technology policy change that left teachers and families scrambling this fall. The district says the new devices should reach high schools by February 2027, just ahead of standardized testing season.

actionnews5.com

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Leslie Burl-McLemore, the first Black person to ever vote in DeSoto County, says early voting in the state should change

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - Scott Colom won the Mississippi U.S. Senate seat, becoming the first Black person to win it since Reconstruction. “Witnessing yesterday’s election is really surreal,” that’s how Leslie Burl-McLemore described Colom’s win. Burl-McLemore was the first Black person to ever vote in DeSoto...

Desoto County, MS · 1d

Tennessee Firefly

State Charter Commission Director Recommends Against Renewing Bluff City High School

If Commissioners agree in January, the Memphis public charter school would close after this school year, and its students would need new schools beginning in August 2027.

fox13memphis.com

Gas leak, early dismissal reported at Cordova charter school

CORDOVA, Tenn. — A reported gas leak prompted an early dismissal Thursday morning at Memphis School of Excellence Cordova's secondary campus, school officials announced. According to a statement posted on the school's Facebook page, the gas leak was reported Thursday morning, Nov. 12. Memphis Light, Gas and Water crews...

WREG

Informed Sources Extra interview with newly elected Memphis area Representative for District 97, Jesse Huseth

Interview with new elected Tennessee state lawmaker, Jesse Huseth, representing District 97 . WREG News Anchor Greg Hurst talks with Huseth about the issues facing state legislators and his vision for the future.

actionnews5.com