John Barker, chief of staff for Memphis City Schools, is leaving the school system in January to become chief of accountability for Chicago Public Schools.

2. Black Caucus Organization Names New President - Friday, December 21, 2012

Democratic Rep. Joe Armstrong of Knoxville has been selected to be the president of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators for the next two years.

3. Election Commission Certifies Aug. 2 Ballot - Friday, April 20, 2012

The Shelby County Election Commission has certified the ballot for the Aug. 2 election cycle, which features nonpartisan races for countywide schools board and Millington mayor and aldermen as well as state and congressional primaries.

4. Todd Challenger Drops Out at Withdrawal Deadline - Monday, April 16, 2012

Add Republican state Rep. Curry Todd to the list of state legislators from Shelby County who are unopposed in the August primaries and the November general elections.

At the Thursday, April 12, deadline for candidates to withdraw from the August ballot, Todd’s lone challenger, Bob Nozigla, dropped out of the Republican primary in District 97.

5. New District Lines Lead to New Races - Monday, April 09, 2012

“This time I waited to be sure,” Ian Randolph said just before the Thursday, April 5, deadline for candidates to file in the Aug. 2 elections.

6. Cohen-Hart in Congressional Race at Filing Deadline - Friday, April 06, 2012

The chairman of the countywide school board, Billy Orgel, was effectively elected to his District 7 school board seat without opposition at the Thursday, April 5, filing deadline for candidates on the Aug. 2 primary and general election ballot in Shelby County.

7. Deadline Looms for Complex Aug. Elections - Thursday, March 29, 2012

The August elections were already going to be more complex than usual. There are the changes from this year’s drawing of new district lines for the Tennessee Legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives.

8. Camper to Attend White House Leadership Conference - Thursday, November 10, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee Democratic Rep. Karen Camper of Memphis has been selected to attend a leadership conference at the White House.

9. Harwell Stops Payment for Some Legislator Travel - Tuesday, July 26, 2011

NASHVILLE – House Speaker Beth Harwell, who donates her own legislative expense payments to charity, has moved to curtail the expense money other state representatives collect for out-of-state traveling.

10. Seven Local Lawmakers Face No Opposition in Aug. - Monday, April 05, 2010

Seven state legislators from Shelby County will begin new terms of office in January.

They had no opposition at Thursday’s filing deadline for the Aug. 5 state and federal primary elections.

They are District 33 Democratic state Sen. Reginald Tate, District 83 Republican state Rep. Mark White, District 90 Democratic state Rep. John DeBerry, District 92 Democratic state Rep. G.A. Hardaway, District 96 Republican state Rep. Steve McManus, District 97 Republican state Rep. Jim Coley and District 98 Democratic state Rep. Ulysses Jones.

11. Races Open For Two County School Board Seats - Friday, April 02, 2010

The Aug. 5 elections will feature two races for open seats on the Shelby County school board.

At the noon Thursday filing deadline for the four odd-numbered district seats as well as the state and federal primaries, board member Anne Edmiston did not file for another four-year term. Board member Teresa Price had announced earlier that she would not be running either.

12. UPDATE: Two Open County School Board Seats At Filing Deadline - Thursday, April 01, 2010

The Aug. 5 elections will feature two races for open seats on the Shelby County school board.

At the noon Thursday filing deadline for the four odd-numbered district seats as well as the state and federal primaries, board member Anne Edmiston did not file for another four-year term. Board member Teresa Price had announced earlier that she would not be running either.

13. Filing Deadline Hits for August Primaries - Thursday, April 01, 2010

The stage is set for the county’s most anticipated political showdown in the Aug. 5 state and federal primary elections.

Noon today is the deadline for candidates in the primaries, as well as those vying for nonpartisan seats on the Shelby County school board and the three judicial positions, to file their qualifying petitions for the ballot.

14. Bill Seeks to Criminalize Saggy Pants - Friday, March 27, 2009

NASHVILLE (AP) – A Democratic lawmaker says legislation that would fine individuals for letting their pants sag is unconstitutional and plans to ask for a state attorney general opinion.

The measure sponsored by state Rep. Joe Towns, a Memphis Democrat, passed the House Criminal Practice and Procedure Subcommittee Wednesday.

15. Guns in Bars Proposal Advanced to Full House Vote - Thursday, March 12, 2009

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee handgun permit holders could carry their weapons where alcohol is served under a proposal headed for a full House vote.

The House Judiciary Committee Wednesday advanced on a voice vote the measure to allow handguns at restaurants and bars where alcohol is available until 11 p.m.

16. Whitehaven Makeover Closer to Reality - Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Demolition on a Whitehaven apartment complex owned by Elvis Presley Enterprises could begin by the end of this year, said Memphis City Council member Harold Collins.

And the pastor of the Whitehaven church where Collins held a standing-room-only town hall meeting this week indicated land speculators are preparing for the pending $250 million makeover of Graceland into a tourism development zone.

17. Camper Appointed to Serve In Vacant District 87 Seat - Wednesday, April 02, 2008
     Karen Camper is the newest member of the Shelby County legislative delegation to Nashville. The Memphis City Schools teacher and retired Army intelligence officer was appointed Monday by the Shelby County Board of Commis

18. Wharton Budget Proposal Expected to be $23.5M in the Red - Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Shelby County Mayor AC Wharton Jr. told County Commissioners Monday that his upcoming budget proposal will have nearly $23.5 million in red ink.

Wharton’s budget message today was required by the county charter. But Wharton did not present a detailed budget plan. Property Assessor Rita Clark is still preparing critical property tax calculations that will determine how much revenue county government can expect in the fiscal year that begins in July. Those projections including how much revenue a penny in the property tax rate produces are expected in about two weeks.

19. Wharton Budget Proposal Expected to be $23.5M in the Red - Monday, March 31, 2008

Shelby County Mayor AC Wharton Jr. told County Commissioners today that his upcoming budget proposal will have nearly $23.5 million in red ink.

Wharton’s budget message today was required by the county charter. But Wharton did not present a detailed budget plan. Property Assessor Rita Clark is still preparing critical property tax calculations that will determine how much revenue county government can expect in the fiscal year that begins in July. Those projections including how much revenue a penny in the property tax rate produces are expected in about two weeks.

20. On Letting Go - Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Angela Hamblen, director of Camp Good Grief, said one of the annual event's greatest signs of success will come from its summer workers. This year, four of the camp's volunteers are former campers.