A shooting that unfolded at Orange Mound Park in Memphis Saturday evening has left two dead and six others wounded, according to the Memphis Police Department (MPD).
Read the full storyTag: Shelby County
Memphis Mayor Paul Young Wants Property Tax Hike to Cover Budget Shortfall, Fight Crime
Memphis Mayor Paul Young confirmed he will ask for a property tax hike, explaining the money is needed to cover a budget shortfall and fund the city’s fight against crime.
Young announced his plans during a Tuesday event at Mount Vernon Church in Westwood that marked his first 100 days in office, revealing the city needs “at least $30 million” to fulfill obligations previously funded by expiring federal funding. The Commercial Appeal also reported Young also “vowed” a 10 percent “reduction in violent crime” each year he is in office.
Read the full storyOne Memphis Police Officer Killed, Two Others Shot While Responding to Suspicious Vehicle Occupied by Known Criminal
Reactions have poured in after Memphis police officer Joseph McKinney was shot and killed early Friday morning while he and other officers were responding to a suspicious vehicle call.
On Friday approximately 2:00 a.m., officers responded to a suspicious vehicle call at Horn Lake Road and Charter Avenue, according to the Memphis Police Department (MPD).
Read the full storyTennessee Man Serving Life Sentence Charged with Murder of Fellow Inmate
A Tennessee man who is already serving life in prison after a murder conviction has been charged for allegedly killing a fellow inmate.
Carlos Green, who is currently incarcerated at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville has been charged with second degree murder in the 2022 death of Justin Michael Walters.
Read the full storyTennessee Judge will Resign After Being Suspended over Criminal Complaint, Jailed for Alleged Cocaine Use
A criminally indicted Shelby County judge, who last week was jailed for her alleged cocaine use, has reportedly asked to resign from her public position.
Shelby County Judge Melissa Boyd asked to resign from her judgeship in a letter dated March 29, according to Fox 13, which reported that Boyd’s letter bears the signature of one of her criminal defense attorneys.
Read the full storyTennessee Judge Melissa Boyd Jailed After Reportedly Testing Positive for Cocaine, Alcohol
Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Melissa Boyd was remanded to jail by Tennessee Circuit Judge Roy Morgan on Wednesday after prosecutors provided evidence she tested positive for cocaine twice and failed to appear for a third drug test, violating the terms of her bond.
Boyd was previously granted a low, $5,000 bond after she was criminally indicted in December for alleged harassment and coercion of a former campaign employee. That employee stated Boyd abused drugs and alcohol while serving as a judge, including while she made decisions on the bench.
Read the full storySteven Crowder Releases Tennessee Office of Homeland Security Bulletin Warning Agencies of Bomb Threat Targeting Trump Supporters
Conservative commentator Steven Crowder released an Officer Safety Bulletin issued by the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security in response to a bomb threat targeting supporters of former President Donald Trump.
The document was issued in response to a Guardian Incident Report received by the Memphis Office of the FBI on February 29, regarding a threat made by a man named Benjamin Matthew Dayton via text message to his mother.
Read the full storyTennessee Comptroller to Audit Shelby County, Expresses ‘Lack of Confidence’ over ‘Willful Neglect’ by County Clerk
Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower announced an audit of Shelby County due to the alleged “incompetence and willful neglect” of the county by Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert.
Mumpower announced his intention in a letter to Mayor Lee Harris and the Shelby County Commission, expressing “deep concern and lack of confidence” in Halbert’s office.
Read the full storyTennessee State Senator Brent Taylor Sponsors Several Crime-Related Bills in Effort to ‘Make Memphis Matter’
Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) announced he is sponsoring several crime-related bills this legislative session in an effort to fight crime and “Make Memphis Matter.”
In a letter to his colleagues in the Tennessee State Senate, Taylor detailed 13 pieces of legislation he is sponsoring and asked his colleagues to consider sponsoring the bills as well.
Read the full story20-Year Old Man Arrested, Charged in Memphis Violent Crime Spree
The Memphis Police Department (MPD) released the identity of a man allegedly responsible for a violent crime spree that left one dead and multiple injured.
Read the full storyAnnual Report by Shelby County DA Steve Mulroy Reveals Focus on Diversity, Fairness as Memphis Faced Crime Surge
A new report released by the office of Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy on Tuesday reveals the district attorney made his office more diverse and focused on fairness during his first year in office. Memphis suffered a crime wave during Mulroy’s first year on the job, ultimately giving it the highest homicide rate per capita in a study of large U.S. cities.
Mulroy began his report with a statement claiming “Crime and Reform” are “complementary,” arguing, “Reform restores public confidence in the fairness of our system, which is understandably low after years of neglect,” which in turn will lead to more “cooperation” with law enforcement, leading to a decrease in crime.
Read the full storyTBI Investigating Death of Shelby County Jail Inmate
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is investigating the January 12 death of an inmate in the Shelby County Jail.
“At the request of 30th Judicial District Attorney General Steve Mulroy, we were requested on January 10th to investigate a report that an inmate at the Shelby County Jail, Ramon McGhee (DOB: 02/19/1981) was found unresponsive, and was transported to a local hospital. On Friday, McGhee was declared dead,” TBI Public Information Officer Keli McAlister told The Tennessee Star Wednesday. “Our investigation remains active and ongoing. An autopsy has been scheduled to determine the cause of his death. Information regarding the autopsy is not something that would come from our office.”
Read the full storyMemphis Elementary School Says Hands are Tied as the Satanic Temple is Set to Hold ‘After School Satan Club’ on School Grounds
Chimneyrock Elementary School in Memphis issued a statement after an “After School Satan Club” organized by the Satanic Temple and Reason Alliance is scheduled to take place on school grounds next month.
On its website, the Satanic Temple – the primary religious Satanic organization in the world – says its mission is to “encourage benevolence and empathy, reject tyrannical authority, advocate practical common sense, oppose injustice, and undertake noble pursuits.”
Read the full storyShelby County Judge Who Released Alleged Thanksgiving Murderer with Zero Bail Recently Railed Against Bond System in Tennessee
Shelby County General Sessions Court Judge Bill Anderson released alleged Thanksgiving Day murderer Edio White with zero bond, even after police said White admitted to driving the getaway car after the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old. In a newly resurfaced video, Anderson is seen railing against the “bond system” in Shelby County and Tennessee.
Anderson critiqued cash bail in Tennessee during a September 18 meeting of the Shelby County Commission, extending his condemnation to bail bonding companies, claiming “they don’t do anything but collect money from poor people.”
Read the full storyMemphis ‘Voices for Palestine’ Demands Democrat Rep. Steve Cohen Call for a Ceasefire Between Israeli and Hamas Forces
Memphis Voices for Palestine will hold a rally on Wednesday as part of an effort demanding Tennessee U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) call for a ceasefire between Israeli and Hamas forces as well as vote against any legislation funding or arming Israel.
Read the full storyTennessee Gov. Lee Sends Highway Patrol to Confront ‘Rising Crime’ in Memphis, Urges Local Officials to ‘Hold Criminals Accountable’
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R) announced on Monday that he ordered an increased Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) presence on highways and interstates in Shelby County to help contend with the criminal element in Memphis.
Lee issued a press release unveiling “a surge of approximately 40 additional troopers” beginning this week. On November 27, wrote Lee’s office, “an additional 15-20 troopers from other districts across the state will join the surge” and remain in Shelby County “for the foreseeable future.”
Read the full storyMemphis Mayor Introduces Ordinance Amendment to Invest in City-Wide Broadband Internet
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland announced Tuesday he introduced an Ordinance amendment to invest in a city-wide broadband network based on findings and suggestions of a report conducted by CTC Energy and Technology.
Read the full storyFEMA Approves Disaster Relief for Four Tennessee Counties Affected by July Severe Weather
Four Tennessee counties affected by severe storms in July have been approved to receive assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance (PA) program, the federal agency announced this week.
Read the full storyMemphis-Based HVAC Company Announces $2.75 Million Expansion Project
HVAC company American Residential Services (ARS)/Rescue Rooter recently announced that it will invest $2.75 million to expand its headquarters operations in Memphis.
Read the full story‘Your Luck Will Run Out’: Tennessee Sheriff Sends Message to Criminals Coming to His County
Tipton County Sheriff Shannon Beasley warned individuals crossing county lines to commit crimes, saying such actions will not be tolerated.
“I will say this again, if you bring it to us we are going to bring it back at you! If you think we are going to let you run back to Memphis, or anywhere else, without any consequences…you’ve got us confused,” Beasley said in a Facebook post last week.
Read the full storyVideo Shows the Moment Shots Were Fired, Injuring Eight People in Downtown Memphis on Sunday
A video circulating on social media shows the moment gunshots rang out in a popular tourist area in downtown Memphis early Sunday morning.
Read the full storyRedDOT Corporation Announces $18 Million Expansion Project in Memphis
RedDOT Corporation officials announced Tuesday that the company will invest $18 million to expand its manufacturing and distribution operations in Memphis.
Read the full storyMosquitoes Infected with West Nile Virus Detected in Tennessee
Batches of mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus have recently been collected in both Davidson County and Shelby County.
Read the full storyMemphis Police Department Rolls Out Plan to Combat Crime this Summer
The Memphis Police Department (MPD) has unveiled its plan to “prevent and respond to crime problems proactively” this summer.
Read the full storyHeritage Foundation Attorney Says Tennessee Man Wrongly Charged with Reckless Endangerment After Returning Fire on Assailants
A lawyer from the conservative Heritage Foundation says that she is “floored” after a Tennessee man who returned fire on multiple assailants was charged with reckless endangerment.
“I’m floored that the home owner here is being charged with ‘reckless endangerment.’ The arguments from police seem absurd on their face to me. The only people he endangered were…the ones shooting at him. And he’s 100% entitled to ‘endanger’ them,” said Heritage Senior Legal Fellow Amy Swearer.
Read the full storyCity of Memphis Says It Will Release All Recordings from Tyre Nichols Traffic Stop
Facing allegations of a cover-up, the city of Memphis says it will release all audio and video recordings in the deadly Tyre Nichols traffic stop.
“The City is preparing to release these recordings publicly upon completion of the administrative investigation, which is expected to occur in the next few weeks,” Jennifer Sink, Chief Legal Officer for the city of Memphis, said in a statement. “
Read the full storyGovernor Lee Appoints Three to State Charter School Commission
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has reappointed Alan Levine to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission. Along with Levine, Michael Carter of Davidson County and Chris Tutor of Shelby County have been submitted for approval as members. The two new members will represent Middle Tennessee and West Tennessee respectively, replacing Dr. Derwin Signet and Dave Hanson as board members. Appointments come from the governor, but must be confirmed by the General Assembly.
Read the full storyShelby County Assistant District Attorney Arrested, Charged with DUI
Shelby County Assistant District Attorney Monica Timmerman was recently arrested on DUI charges after crashing into a utility pole in Memphis.
Read the full storyGermantown School Board Candidate Carrie Schween Criticizes School Board Email to Parents
Carrie Schween, a candidate for the Germantown Municipal School District (GMSD) School Board, criticized the board for “attempting to silence parents’ voices.”
Read the full storyShelby County Mayor Calls for $15 Minimum Wage
Amid historic inflation that has eaten away at Americans’ paychecks, the mayor of Shelby County is calling for Tennessee’s General Assembly to pass a law increasing the minimum wage.
“Today, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris released his administration’s recommendations for the upcoming session of the Tennessee General Assembly,” said a release from Harris’s office. “Mayor Harris’ priorities center around legislative actions that support youth and families, increase public safety, improve access to healthcare, and strengthen our democracy. One of Mayor Harris’ top legislative priorities is the adoption of a state-wide minimum wage of at least $15.”
Read the full storyJ.C. Bowman of Professional Educators of Tennessee Reviews NAEP Scores, Down Across the State
Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Professional Educators of Tennessee’s head, JC Bowman in studio to take a closer look at Tennessee’s NAEP scores which reveal Davidson, Shelby, and Madison County public schools failing.
Read the full storyDrug Task Force Finds $200 Million Worth of Fentanyl in Shelby County
The West Tennessee Drug Task Force (WTDTF) found over $200 million worth of fentanyl in Shelby County on Thursday.
WTDTF shared a post on Facebook saying, “The investigation led to the discovery of 22 pounds of fentanyl and the arrest of three Kentucky men. This amount of fentanyl is enough to overdose the population of Shelby County nine times over. Fetanyl and fentanyl derived pills are deadly! Don’t even try it once! The agent who made the stop is assigned to the task force by Sheriff Garrett of Haywood County.”
The West Tennessee Drug Task Force shared a post on Facebook saying, “The investigation led to the discovery of 22 pounds of fentanyl and the arrest of three Kentucky men. This amount of fentanyl is enough to overdose the population of Shelby County nine times over. Fetanyl and fentanyl derived pills are deadly! Don’t even try it once! The agent who made the stop is assigned to the task force by Sheriff Garrett of Haywood County.”
Read the full storyGovernor Lee Touts Education Savings Account Program
Tennessee’s Governor on Wednesday touted the state’s new Education Savings Account (ESA) program.
“When TN families can choose the right school for their child, that student has an even greater shot at success in life,” said Gov. Bill Lee (R) on Twitter. “That’s what our Education Savings Account program is all about. Nearly 1,000 families have applied. 350+ are already approved. And we’re just getting started.”
Read the full storyMemphis Rampage Killer Ezekiel Kelly Charged with Two More Murders
Shelby County’s District Attorney Wednesday announced more than two dozen new charges against the man who went on a rampage killing spree in Memphis on September 7.
“Ezekiel Kelly has been indicted on 26 additional charges related to the September 7th shooting spree, including two homicides, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Steve Mulroy,” according to a release from Mulroy’s office.
Read the full storyReport Says Tennessee Schools Spent COVID-19 Funds on Unrelated Projects
A new report by the Beacon Center of Tennessee says that $4 billion worth of federal COVID-19 relief funding allocated to Tennessee’s school systems was largely spent on items unrelated to COVID-19.
“The data suggests that Tennessee public schools have budgeted or spent millions of dollars on areas that had little to nothing to do with COVID or student performance,” said Beacon Research Associate and report author Jason Edmonds. “School districts across the state budgeted tens of millions of dollars for ‘indirect costs’ without any further explanation and also funded pet projects such as walk-in coolers and retractable bleachers.”
Read the full storyLatecoming ESA Funds Now Available to Students in Shelby and Davidson County
Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Tennessee Director of the American Federation for Children John Patton to the newsmakers line to discuss the advancement of the educational savings account program for families in Shelby and Davidson counties.
Read the full storyGov. Lee Says over 2,000 Families Have Signed Up for School Voucher Program
Governor Bill Lee said last week that more than 2,000 families in Shelby and Davidson counties have already signed up for school vouchers. According to the Tennessee Department of Education, up to 5,000 are available this upcoming school year.
In 2019, the Tennessee General Assembly passed and Governor Bill Lee signed Public Chapter 506, which created the Tennessee Education Savings Account (ESA) program. The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled in May that the school voucher program is constitutional.
Read the full storyMemphis, Nashville School Districts to Make Education Savings Accounts Available to Families
According to the governor’s office and the cities of Memphis and Nashville, more than 40 independent have committed to allowing families to enroll in Education Savings Account (ESA) programs beginning in the 2022-2023 academic year.
“There was an urgent need for school choice in 2019, and finally, parents in Memphis and Nashville won’t have to wait another day to choose the best educational fit for their children,” said Gov. Bill Lee (R). “I thank each school that has partnered with us to swiftly implement a program that will change the lives of Tennessee students, and I invite interested families to begin the enrollment process today.”
Read the full storyCDC Says More than 20 Tennessee Counties Should Return to Wearing Masks
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued nationwide guidance on mask wearing as community COVID-19 spread levels increase, and included seven Tennessee counties in its assessment.
“COVID-19 Community Levels are a new tool to help communities decide what prevention steps to take based on the latest data,” according to the CDC. “Levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital beds being used, hospital admissions, and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area.”
Read the full storyShelby County Deputies Shoot Man Who Hit Them with Car
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is investigating after Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies shot and injured a man who allegedly attempted to run them over with his car.
The incident occurred Monday night.
Read the full storySenate Majority Leader Jack Johnson Explains School Choice Decision and Governor Lee’s School Safety Executive Order
Leahy was joined on the newsmaker line by Tennessee State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, to discuss school choice and Governor Bill Lee’s executive order on school safety.
Read the full storySoutheastern Legal Foundation’s Braden Boucek on Status of ESA Offering Educational Options to Davidson, Shelby County Families
Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Southeastern Legal Foundation’s Director of Litigation Braden Boucek to the newsmaker line to explain how the educational savings account works and updates on pending litigation that proves the state is not interested in letting parents control their children’s education.
Read the full storyAll-Star Panelist Clint Brewer Comments on the Tennessee Democrats’ Redistricting Lawsuit
Thursday morning on The Tennessee Star Report, host Leahy welcomed Public Affairs Specialist and all-star panelist Clint Brewer in studio to weigh in on recent Democratic lawsuit filed in response to Middle Tennessee’s redistricting.
Read the full storyProposed Legislation Would Enter Tennessee into an Interstate Compact, Creating an Unelected Quasi-Governmental Entity with Broad Powers Including Eminent Domain
A bill scheduled to be heard by the House Commerce Committee on Tuesday would enter Tennessee into an interstate compact with Arkansas and Mississippi for the greater Memphis region, creating a quasi-governmental and public entity of unelected commissioners that will be vested with very broad powers, including eminent domain and condemnation of any and all rights or property.
If enacted, the legislation would create the RegionSmart Development District (District) and the RegionSmart Development (RegionSmart Development) Agency of the Greater Memphis Region.
Read the full storyTennessee Secures $38 Million Grant for Veteran-Focused Nursing Home
The State of Tennessee will receive a $38 million grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to build a nursing home for veterans, according to a release from U.S. Representative David Kustoff (R-TN-08).
The award will help cover construction costs of the new facility in the western part of the state.
Read the full storyMultiple Cases of Omicron Variant Detected in Tennessee
Officials in multiple jurisdictions throughout Tennessee have detected cases of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
Shelby County reported the first case of the new variant. New cases were discovered on Thursday by both the Metro Nashville Public Health Department and the Hamilton County Health Department.
Read the full storyShelby County School Board Candidates Won’t Run as Democrats or Republicans
Members of the Shelby County GOP and the Shelby County Democratic Party have opted not to put up candidates to run for their local school board. Shelby County Administrator of Elections Linda Phillips relayed the news to The Tennessee Star on Tuesday.
Read the full storyShelby and Hamilton Counties Use Same Bail Calculation Tool That Left-Leaning Philanthropist Designed for Waukesha, Wisconsin
Officials in two Tennessee counties, Shelby and Hamilton, use a bail calculation tool for criminal defendants that is also used in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Waukesha is where suspect Darrell Brooks Jr. faces homicide charges for using his car to kill six people at a recent holiday gathering. Prosecutors handling a previous case of physical abuse and vehicular assault involving Brooks asked a court to set bail bond for the defendant at a mere $1,000. Court officials agreed.
Read the full storyTennessee Christian School Teaches God Made Only Males and Females, Infuriating Shelby County Commissioner and LGBTQ Activists
A private Christian school in West Tennessee has triggered LGBTQ activists as well as Shelby County Commissioner Tami Sawyer into an angry frenzy.
Officials at Briarcrest Christian School, in Eads, held a training session for parents and students about how to respond Biblically to gender theory. A flyer for the event, which school officials held November 9, asked participants to “look into the craziness our culture is throwing at our kids.”
Read the full storyCrom Carmichael Unwinds Shelby County Lawsuit Against Lee’s Executive Order Citing Sly State Law
Monday morning on the Tennessee Star Report, host Michael Patrick Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael in studio to discuss the course events of Shelby County’s mask mandate lawsuit against Governor Lee.
Read the full story