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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,...

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

Cordova residents pushing for road repairs

CORDOVA, Tenn. — Residents in a Cordova neighborhood have been on a rocky road with the city of Memphis. They want help getting their street repaired, but said the city, county, and even the apartment complex that uses the road have washed their hands of the responsibility. WREG investigator April Thompson shows why things are […]

Memphis, TN · 21h

cstoredecisions.com

RaceTrac Hits a New City in Tennessee

The chain plans to open additional stores by the end of the year. RaceTrac has announced an expansion of its footprint in Tennessee with the opening of its first location in Memphis. The new site “marks an exciting milestone as RaceTrac continues to bring its travel center experience to new communities,” the company noted in a statement.

Tennessee · 2d

WREG

Mississippi Senate race results expected Wednesday

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — On Wednesday, Mississippi voters could finally learn the winner in the U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Scott Colom, who remains in the lead. Voters will also learn how many affidavit ballots were rejected or accepted and counted. WREG spoke with attorney John Keith Perry, who monitored the […]

Mississippi · 2d

actionnews5.com

Application filed to demolish East Memphis bank as part of $25M development project

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - An application has been filed to demolish the First Horizon building at 4990 Poplar Avenue in East Memphis, according to records from Develop 901. The demolition plan is part of the ongoing $25 million mixed-use development project at the corner of Poplar and Mendenhall Road. The...

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 […]

Memphis, TN · 22h

WREG

Data center tech company adding 96 jobs in Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis original is making a major investment in the city, adding 96 jobs to a new facility. The company, Peak+, provides cooling equipment that helps data centers lower their energy use. WREG spoke with the company’s chief operating officer and the Greater Memphis Chamber about what this business expansion means for […]

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.

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

WREG

‘We don’t have the luxury of not engaging’; Memphis church leaders weigh in on new political landscape

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — While Republican candidates walked away winners in the newly drawn 5th, 8th, and 9th Tennessee Congressional Districts on election night, their Democratic challengers won more votes in Shelby County. We met with prominent church leaders in Memphis to get their take on the new political landscape in Shelby County. “We don’t have […]

actionnews5.com

DeSoto County passes kratom ban

DESOTO CO., Miss. (WMC) - Kratom sales are now banned in DeSoto County, Mississippi. On Nov. 2, the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance prohibiting the sale, distribution and manufacturing of kratom products “to protect the public health, safety and welfare of its residents.”. Natural kratom is...

Desoto County, MS · 2d

ceoweekly.com

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.

partner publisher · 439 followers

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.

actionnews5.com

Memphis Film Commissioner announces retirement after 40 years

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - After 40 years leading the Memphis and Shelby County Film Commission, the world’s longest-running film commissioner has announced her retirement. Linn Sitler has spent the last 40 years working alongside creatives, producers, and other professionals. She holds the title of the world’s longest-serving film commissioner and holds the record for the longest consecutively serving member of the Association of the Film Commissioners International (AFCI).

partner publisher · 18.9K followers

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 Food Bank Scrambles as New SNAP Rules Squeeze Mid-South Families

At the Mid-South Food Bank warehouse on S. Perkins Road in Memphis, staff are watching federal SNAP changes ripple through the community in real time. New rules tightening eligibility and work requirements have already cut nearly 18,000 people from local food stamp rolls over the past year, and the region's main food bank is trying to absorb the fallout.

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.

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...

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 […]