Behind the Headlines Podcast: Recent Episodes
WKNO/The Daily Memphian
Each week host Eric Barnes discusses major stories in the Memphis area with business executives, community leaders and politicians, as well as local journalists. WKNO’s Behind the Headlines Podcast is powered by the Daily Memphian.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris talks about his eight years as mayor and the challenges facing his successor, Mayor-elect Mickell Lowery.
The many candidates for a wide range of local, state and federal offices were a key theme among journalists on this episode of "Behind the Headlines" on WKNO-TV.
Superintendents from three suburban school districts talk about the changes and challenges their districts face.
Brad Less, the Republican nominee for Shelby County sheriff, talked about immediate solutions to problems at the Shelby County Jail and life after the Memphis Safe Task Force.
Democratic nominee for County Mayor Mickell Lowery talked about state intervention, his vote to raise county property taxes and tax breaks as economic development incentives on "Behind The Headlines."
Election officials talk about the disruption of new congressional districts and how that could lead to an increase in voter turnout.
The local face of SpaceX has been making a lot of news as the Houston-based company goes public with a record-setting IPO. The local controversies against that backdrop were discussed in a journalist roundtable.
Democratic nominee for Shelby County Sheriff Anthony Buckner talks about immigration and the Memphis Safe Task Force as well as a new jail.
John DeBerry, the Republican nominee for Shelby County mayor, talks about state intervention in Memphis and Shelby County as well as his hopes for a gradual withdrawal of the Memphis Safe Task Force.
The quick shift from the May elections to the August elections is the main topic of discussion on this week's journalist roundtable on "Behind The Headlines."
Habitat for Humanity recently hit a milestone in Uptown: Two homes it finished building in February had their appraisals match their costs, which isn't a given when talking about affordable housing in Memphis.
Zach Amos, the public policy director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis; Kelbert Fagan, program manager of Convergence Memphis; and Ron Brooks, president of River City Capital, join Bill Dries and host Eric Barnes to discuss the challenges.
Eric Barnes hosts a journalist roundtable to discuss the Voting Rights Act ruling, the Memphis-Shelby County Schools state takeover, immigration enforcement, and more with Memphis Flyer's Toby Sells, MLK50's Katherine Burgess, and the Daily Memphian's Bill Dries and Mary Cashiola.
Since the Memphis Safe Task Force began, federal prosecutors in the city have charged and indicted 368 people, according to Michael Dunavant, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. Dunavant joins Eric Barnes and Aarron Fleming on this week's episode of Behind the Headlines.
Leaders of the local Republican and Democratic parties talk about the May Shelby County primary elections
Memphis Mayor Paul Young talked on "Behind The Headlines" about the March 28 No Kings march that ended with Memphis Police pepper-spraying demonstrators.
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.
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 a journalist roundtable on this week's episode of Behind The Headlines.
Chandell Ryan joins host Eric Barnes and The Daily Memphian's Bill Dries to discuss new safety and infrastructure investments, improvements along Beale Street, and efforts to attract businesses and conventions to Downtown Memphis.
The ongoing difference among those working in and with the Memphis Safe Task Force was among the topics discussed in a Behind The Headlines reporters roundtable.
Republican sponsors of the bill have said they'll push the Tennessee General Assembly to pass legislation that would kneecap the elected board by giving a new board of state appointees powers over MSCS.
Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy talked on "Behind The Headlines" about the Task Force and criticism Memphis Mayor Paul Young has taken.
Interim Shelby County Public Defender Jerri Green talked on "Behind The Headlines" about dropping crime rates, the overflowing jail and the differing numbers used by different parts of the criminal justice system.
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools board is about to decide on the district's leadership, and candidates are campaigning for school board seats. But two sponsors of a state bill say little, if any, of that matters.
Eric Barnes hosts a journalist roundtable with The Memphis Flyer reporter Kailynn Johnson and Daily Memphian reporters Samuel Hardiman and Bill Dries. The panel discusses pre-K funding delays, a possible state takeover of Memphis-Shelby County Schools, immigration enforcement, xAI's Memphis operations, and more.
Phyllis Aluko said there's been a shift in people's attitudes toward crime, punishment and due process, but public defenders play a key role in upholding constitutional standards.
State Sen. Raumesh Akbari and County Commission Chair Shante Avant discussed the Memphis Safe Task Force's immigration role as well as legislation that would allow a state takeover of Memphis schools.
Reporters discuss top local stories of 2025, including the link between the Memphis-Shelby County Schools ouster of Marie Feagins, and the arrival of the National Guard.
Activists responding to immigration police calls on behalf of those detained said on "Behind The Headlines" the lines look blurred at times as a police stop is followed by a federal presence.
The leader of Shelby County's Community Services Division talks about the safety net of programs and the balancing act that comes with uncertain money.
The announcement of a multi-billion dollar plan for a cloud computing hub on the site of another blockbuster development that never panned out is among the topics discussed on Behind The Headlines in a reporters roundtable.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris says the number of jail deaths calls for dramatic change that could include the county or the state taking over the county jail currently run by Sheriff Floyd Bonner.
After nearly a year leading Memphis' school system, Interim Superintendent Roderick Richmond wants to keep going. Richmond discussed progress toward his goals for the district, his approach to school closures, and more.
State Rep. Justin J. Pearson talked about his tenure in the Tennessee House of Representatives and his views on the Memphis Safe Task Force on "Behind The Headlines."
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump but agreed with Trump's assessment of the set of elections this past week that saw Democratic victory.
Millington City Manager Frankie Dakin and Millington Chamber of Commerce director Chris Thomas talked about the suburb's growth and unique development history.
Executive Director of Stand for Children Tennessee, Cardell Orrin, and Executive Director of Just City, Josh Spickler join host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Bill Dries to discuss the impact of the federal intervention in Memphis, including transparency concerns and the long-term effects on public trust and community safety.
Mayor Paul Young is aware his strategy — and the Task Force itself — are controversial.
Shelby County Lee Harris’ veto of a resolution to move school board elections and the National Guard coming to town were hot topics on “Behind the Headlines.”
The city’s Infrastructure and Development chief talked about affordable housing issues and the “appraisal gap” that challenges the drive to build more “starter homes” on WKNO’s “Behind The Headlines.”
Eric Barnes hosts a journalist roundtable with The Memphis Flyer’s Kailynn Johnson, and The Daily Memphian reporters Laura Testino and Samuel Hardiman. The discussion covers the deployment of the National Guard in Memphis, looming school closures, the debate over a new county jail and a remembrance of longtime Memphis journalist Les Smith.
To the dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Memphis, its mission begins — but doesn’t end — with data. Dr. Ashish Joshi joins Eric Barnes and Bill Dries to discuss the broader use of hard scientific data.
Reporters’ roundtable looks at the problems plaguing Memphis Area Transit Authority, and the new trial for former Memphis Police officers convicted in Tyré Nichols’ death.
Eric Barnes hosts a journalist roundtable with The Memphis Flyer’s Kailynn Johnson, and The Daily Memphian's Samuel Hardiman and Jane Donahoe. Guests discuss some of Memphis’s biggest stories — from the future of the jail and MATA leadership to crime trends, xAI development, TennCare cuts, and the city’s negotiations with the Grizzlies.
Executive Director of First Eight Memphis, Kandace Thomas, and President of Porter-Leath, Sean Lee, discuss pre-K access, the $32 million Head Start funding, and the challenges of quality early learning, with The Daily Memphian's Eric Barnes and Laura Testino.
The head of the Downtown Memphis Commission talks about what’s beyond Downtown’s waiting period for several new and renovated institutions to come online.
It does not appear that Memphis Light, Gas and Water will give Elon Musk’s xAI a meaningful amount of electricity for the company’s second Memphis data center. MLGW CEO Doug McGowen said that MLGW will not be providing more than a small amount of power to xAI and that the Tennessee Valley Authority may not provide a lot either. Ursula Madden, the utility’s vice president of communications, also discussed the utility’s efforts to raise money for utility assistance.
President & CEO of The Works, Inc., Roshun Austin, Executive Director of United Housing, Amy Schaftlein, and Memphis Housing & Community Development Director, Ashley Cash, join host Eric Barnes and Bill Dries to discuss the challenges and solutions around affordable housing in Memphis.
Natalie McKinney and Michelle McKissack join The Daily Memphian's Eric Barnes and Laura Testino to discuss lawmakers' push for a takeover of the school district, the former superintendent Marie Feagins' lawsuit to get her job back, and more.
President and CEO of Crosstown Concourse, Todd Richardson, Associate VP of Meharry’s Office of Memphis Programs, Dr. Stephanie Sweet, and Pastor of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church, J. Lawrence Turner join host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Bill Dries. Guests discuss transforming church-owned land into a mixed-use space, as well as the Cleveland Street Corridor.
Rep. Mark White and Sen. Brent Taylor, both Republicans, propose the next steps for their bills that would give the state more power over Memphis-Shelby County Schools.
Shelby County Election Commission Chairman Mark Luttrell says candidates running for office have much to do with how many voters turn out in elections. And voter turnout in Memphis and Shelby County has been lower for years. Luttrell and Shelby County Election Commission Administrator of Elections Linda Phillips are this week's guests on Behind the Headlines.
Casey Bryant, Executive Director of Advocates for Immigrant Rights, and Michael Phillips, Executive Director of Su Casa Family Ministries discuss how immigration law and enforcement are playing out locally, from daily ICE activity to concerns over due process.
The county property tax rate proposed by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris is four cents higher than the state’s certified rate, but he said it’s not a tax hike. Harris and Shelby County Commissioner Erika Sugarmon join Eric Barnes and Bill Dries on this week's episode.
The executive director of Hospitality Hub and one of the Memphis City Council members who sought to find a second site for the shelter and program for those in homelessness talked on “Behind The Headlines” about future goals and the road to the North Memphis campus that broke ground last week.
Thompson joins Eric Barnes to discuss the fundraising goals for the Memphis Zoo funding and future exhibits.
A reporters roundtable on “Behind The Headlines” discusses this week’s decision by the Trump Justice Department to withdraw its December 2024 report critical of the Memphis Police Department.
Leaders of MIFA and the Aging Commission of the Mid-South talk on Behind The Headlines about uncertainty about possible cuts to federal funding.
Kailynn Johnson of the Memphis Flyer and Katherine Burgess of MLK50 joined Laura Testino and Eric Barnes of The Daily Memphian to discuss updates about Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ buildings, the 2026 Shelby County ballot, xAI and more.
Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy joins host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Aarron Fleming. Mulroy discusses several important topics, including local crime reduction, the fast-tracking of violent crime cases, bail reform, and the political criticism he faces, among other issues.
Just City’s Executive Director Josh Spickler and Program and People Experience Manager Yonée Gibson join host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Aarron Fleming to discuss issues affecting the local criminal justice system, including inconsistent data, chronic court case delays, overcrowded jails and more.
The head of the Crime Commission and the principal investigator behind a new report on the path of court cases through the criminal justice system talked on “Behind The Headlines” about a clearing house for the data to change the system.
Church Health CEO Jennie Robbins talked about concerns that show up with the nonprofit’s patients amid national policy changes in Washington, D.C.
The Memphis education landscape is among the topics discussed on “Behind The Headlines.”
Three Memphis restaurant professionals joined The Daily Memphian's Eric Barnes and Holly Whitfield to discuss the struggles, successes and realities of the local industry.
The legislation and local reaction to it were among the topics discussed by a reporters’ roundtable on “Behind The Headlines.”
Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis talks on “Behind The Headlines” about getting group violence intervention right by looking at Detroit’s approach, the pressure that comes with last year’s drop in crime and pretextual traffic stops.
The CEO of Regional One Health talks on “Behind The Headlines” about alternatives for the rebuild of the county-owned hospital should state funding not come through and why the decision was made to shift the project to a new site.
Worth Morgan and Willie Simon talked about the path forward politically on “Behind The Headlines.” It’s a path where there is some common ground as well as some profound differences - especially around a recent immigration raid on Summer Avenue.
The TacoNGanas incident and what it means for the immigration effort President Donald Trump promised during his 2024 campaign is among the topics discussed on “Behind The Headlines.”
Shelby County Commissioners Mickell Lowery and Britney Thornton talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the political boundary between the commission and the MSCS board.
The “Behind The Headlines” reporters roundtable also reviewed the end of the Tennessee Legislature’s special session and the change Regional One Health’s new plans.
Mayor Lee Harris and Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon talk on “Behind The Headlines” about the compromise they have taken to Sheriff Floyd Bonner to run the juvenile detention center.
Three Shelby County commissioners who supported a no-confidence vote aimed at Memphis-Shelby County Schools board members talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the ongoing standoff between the school board and its superintendent.
The incoming chairman of the Memphis City Council says on “Behind The Headlines” the discussion is just beginning on what to include in a Memphis gun control ordinance now that voters have approved a wide range of options in a set of Nov. 5 referendums. Ford Canale and outgoing chairman JB Smiley also talk about the city’s response to a scathing DOJ report on the Memphis Police Department.
Violent crime and efforts to battle it were among the top stories of the year as discussed in a reporters’ roundtable on “Behind The Headlines.” The show also included discussion of the effort by some MSCS board members to fire school superintendent Marie Feagins and the ouster attempt by state leaders against District Attorney General Steve Mulroy.
State Sen. Brent Taylor says on “Behind The Headlines” he is ready to make the case for the ouster of Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy when the Tennessee Legislature returns to session in January.
Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy discussed the DOJ’s investigation into MPD, attempts to remove him from office and conditions at the Shelby County Jail on WKNO’s “Behind the Headlines.”
Paul Young offered more detail in a Behind The Headlines interview on what’s next for MPD after a scathing federal report into the department’s policies and practices.
The Justice Department report on the Memphis Police Department is the major topic on a reporters roundtable edition of “Behind The Headlines.”
Memphis attorneys talk about the need for legal representation and the barriers to it on Behind The Headlines.
MATA’s interim CEO Bacarra Mauldin addressed the myriad problems facing the transit system, even while noting progress on some fronts.
Leaders of the three separate initiatives joined Eric Barnes to talk about their programs this week on the WKNO-TV’s “Behind The Headlines.”
On this week’s “Behind The Headlines,” Toby Sells, news editor for The Memphis Flyer, and reporter Abigail Warren of The Daily Memphian joined Eric Barnes to talk about the election.
Once mailboxes are clear of campaign mailers and the Nov. 5 election, 120,000 MLGW customers will be getting a notice on replacing lead water lines. MLGW president and CEO Doug McGowen says on “Behind The Headlines” the utility has the money to replace its lines and is working on funding to replace it on the customer’s side of the connection.
Executive Director of Compass Community Schools, Kristi Baird, Chief Academic Officer of Gestalt Community Schools, Bobbie Turner, and Schools of Perea’s Tia James join host Eric Barnes and The Daily Memphian reporter Laura Testino. Guests discuss what has led to chronic absenteeism at the national and local levels, and strategies schools are using to keep kids in school.
How Memphians will vote on the referendum, and whether it will ultimately impact Tennessee’s gun laws, was a hot topic for local reporters this week.
Ashley Coffield talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the impact of the 2-year-old law and the political effort to flip seats in the Tennessee Legislature based on Republican votes on abortion access.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young says on BTH that the city’s deal to buy the Sheraton convention center hotel has risks that are outweighed by the hotel’s role in convention business. The 39-year-old hotel has a history of bond defaults - the first one a year after it opened.
On “Behind the Headlines,” Memphis City Council Chairman JB Smiley Jr. said the body would likely sue if the Tennessee Legislature attempted to withhold sales-tax revenue from the city.
MSCS superintendent Marie Feagins talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the look at closing some schools and the changes to the school system including eliminating 600 vacant positions and reassigning those in other positions.
In its final action, the former MSCS board tasked incoming members with creating a strategic plan and evaluation for Superintendent Marie Feagins.
The incoming and outgoing chairs of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners talked on “Behind The Headlines” about new Cordova and Frayser schools funding and rebuilding Regional One Health’s campus.
Tina Sullivan talked on “Behind The Headlines” about her 12 years as Overton Park Conservancy’s first executive director and what’s next for the greensward as she prepares to step down.
Frederick Agee — the Republican District Attorney for Tennessee's Crockett, Gibson and Haywood counties — talks on “Behind The Headlines” about his defense of Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy, who is likely to face an ouster attempt in the Tennessee legislature led by Republicans.
Germantown City Administrator Jason Huisman and Collierville Town Administrator Molly Mehner joined “Behind the Headlines” to discuss their communities and challenges they’ve overcome since taking their positions.
A roundtable of journalists on WKNO’s “Behind The Headlines,” talks about changes at Memphis-Shelby County Schools by the new superintendent and how the August elections could mean more changes for the school system.
Interim CBU president Brother Chris Englert and board chairwoman Emily Greer talk about the university’s effort to rebuild its finances and grow enrollment.
At the center of the debate between TN State Senator Brent Taylor and Just City's Josh Spickler is how bail should be implemented, a topic of sometimes fierce disagreement between elected leaders, government officials and the general public.
Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon addressed the divide between what the data shows and what the community is feeling.
More than 4,000 people had a chance to walk, crawl and climb through artist Christopher Reyes’ 2020 immersive exhibit at Off the Wall Arts. Now, Baron Von Opperbean is coming back with 15 times the amount of space and a much larger budget in a new location: Mud Island.
Germantown Municipal School District Superintendent Jason Manuel and Lakeland School System Superintendent Ted Horrell joined Behind the Headlines to reflect on their history and discuss current issues.
The leaders of Bridges and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis talk on “Behind The Headlines” about how the city’s violence impacts the world of the children their programs serve.
The known and unknown about Elon Musk’s xAI supercomputer in Southwest Memphis dominated the conversation in a reporters roundtable on “Behind The Headlines.”
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy joins host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Aarron Fleming.
Church Health founder Dr. Scott Morris talks on “Behind The Headlines” about the 37-year-old institution he founded and how complex it has become in an era of big medicine and big health-care institutions.
Three new mental health facilities, which provide diversion opportunities for those struggling with mental health issues, are under development in Shelby County.
Memphis City Council members weigh a 75-cent tax hike as Shelby County commissioners have to make some decisions about change to the funding for a Regional One Health rebuild. The two paths to city and county budgets are explored in a journalist roundtable on “Behind The Headlines.”
Dr. Reginald Coopwood says on “Behind The Headlines” that refunds of the state’s franchise excise tax means state funding for a rebuild of the ROH campus is still moving but on a different course.
Robert Knecht discusses Public Works' budget and their involvement in Memphis City Beautiful, residential and commercial code enforcement, illegal dumping, and blighted properties. In addition, Knecht discusses funding, wastewater treatment and how the city handles any findings of forever chemicals in the water supply.
A reporters roundtable on “Behind The Headlines” talks about Mayor Paul Young’s property tax hike proposal, new figures showing a drop in crime and first moves by the new MSCS superintendent.
University of Memphis president Bill Hardgrave talks about the impact of a population drop in college age adults on Behind The Headlines.
Memphis Police Association President Matt Cunningham and Vice President John Covington discussed recent public safety legislation, agreements and negotiations with the Memphis Police Department, recruitment and more on the WKNO-TV program “Behind The Headlines.”
Business leaders on “Behind The Headlines” say Memphians leaving the city because of crime is a real phenomenon and a real threat to the city’s economic prosperity that they had to act on.
The coming of spring means another safety plan for the Beale Street entertainment district. Downtown Memphis Commission president and CEO Chandell Ryan talks about the plan on “Behind The Headlines.”
Memphis City Council members Pearl Walker and Jerri Green talk on “Behind The Headlines” about fear of crime and what statistics say about the true level of crime and the criminal justice system.
Two state senators, both from the Memphis area and both members of Tennessee’s Senate Judiciary Committee, agree on many aspects of the city’s crime problem even though they see different paths for solving it.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young says the city’s new public safety director is a position that will consolidate the city’s response to violent crime. Young talked about that and other crime issues on “Behind The Headlines.”
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy discussed new legislation, court backlogs and more during an episode of WKNO-TV’s “Behind the Headlines.”
Leaders of two local nonprofits say on “Behind The Headlines” that local business leaders are wrong in their call to the state to enact changes to bail reform and fund tourism safety measures to the tune of $50 million.
The top federal prosecutor in Memphis, U.S. attorney for Western Tennessee Kevin Ritz, says the Department of Justice inquiry affects the relationship his office has with the law enforcement body.
Roshun Austin and Archie Willis III of the Klondike Partners development group talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the financial hoops the adaptive reuse of Northside High School has had to jump through as well as the larger goal of a renovation of affordable housing in the surrounding Klondike neighborhood.
Bill Dries and Julia Baker with The Daily Memphian, Toby Sells with The Memphis Flyer and Laura Testino with Chalkbeat Tennessee join Eric Barnes to discuss the biggest stories of the week.
“I think it’s time for us to figure out a solution, and it’s hard to believe that the solution is Wanda Halbert as county clerk,” said the Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris on WKNO’s “Behind the Headlines.”
The economic development chief of the Greater Memphis Chamber says on “Behind The Headlines” that a replacement bridge is a much faster path forward. Plus, she talks about actively courting another automaker to the region.
The Daily Memphian’s Abigail Warren and Ben Wheeler and The Memphis Flyer’s Toby Sells participated in this reporter’s roundtable hosted by Daily Memphian CEO Eric Barnes.
“It has been one heck of a year, and it’s culminated with this most recent decision by City Council,” MLGW President and CEO Doug McGowen said of this week’s vote to approve a 12% electricity rate hike.
The Downtown Memphis crime plan surfaced in October. It could face its first test this holiday season. Officials involved in putting it together talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the plan and the reality it is built to confront.
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland also talked about the upcoming transition to Mayor-elect Paul Young and why he is fond of asphalt in the second part of his end-of-term interview on “Behind The Headlines.”
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland talks about coming to the end of his 8-year tenure as mayor in the first part of a two-part interview on “Behind The Headlines.”
The leaders of Memphis Parks, Shelby Farms Park Conservancy and Memphis River Parks Partnership talk on “Behind The Headlines” about the combination of public spaces and parks in the city.
The mayor-elect says the city accounts for the possibility of making short-term bond payments on projects such as Liberty Park.
Beverly and Howard Robertson talk on “Behind The Headlines” about what they heard about crime from focus groups across the city as part of The Daily Memphian’s “Community Conversations” series.
City council members Chase Carlisle and JB Smiley Jr. on “Behind The Headlines” say they are ready for a more assertive city council in the new term that begins in January as well as a more collaborative mayor.
On “Behind the Headlines,” Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo discussed MLGW and the suburb’s crisis that left residents unable to use water from the tap for six days.
A reporters’ roundtable on WKNO-TV’s “Behind The Headlines” recaps the 2023 Memphis election result. Meanwhile, the next campaigns to come in the new year will include referendums that could change city elections.
Education leaders talk on Behind The Headlines about school achievement scores and the move to make schools more accountable as well as a new push for 2-year-olds to start pre-k.
Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner discounts numbers from judicial commissioners that show fewer of those charged with crimes are being arrested and charged again while they are out of release. Bonner talked about that and the race for mayor on “Behind The Headlines.”
Former Mayor Willie Herenton talks on “Behind The Headlines” about his bid to return as mayor.
With less than 2 weeks before early voting begins in the 2023 Memphis elections, a reporters roundtable on “Behind The Headlines” looks at what is at stake.
Memphis Mayoral contender Paul Young talks on “Behind The Headlines” about his run for mayor and the campaign’s major issue -- crime.
The Memphis In May International Festival was founded to promote foreign business investment in the city. The tradition will continue with the Greater Memphis Chamber announcing the 2024 honored country next week.
The director of the Brooks says on “Behind The Headlines” the controversy over the bluffwalk on the river side of the museum being built Downtown depends on your definition of the public walkway atop much of the riverbluff.
Memphis Mayoral candidate Van Turner says on “Behind The Headlines” the federal investigation of the Memphis Police Department could play a large role in determining whether the next mayor changes MPD leadership. He also talked about a settlement of the lawsuit against the city over the January death of Tyre Nichols.
Memphis River Parks Partnership president and CEO Carol Coletta talks about the road to the September opening of the resdesigned Tom Lee Park.
The school board allowed Ray to resign in August 2022 after allegations of sexual misconduct with school system employees. The deal halted an investigation of that conduct and included a $480,000 payment to Ray. The information gathered in the investigation has never been released.
Memphis mayoral contender J.W. Gibson talked on “Behind The Headlines” about crime, power outages, garbage pickup and the state of the city’s politics. The interview is the latest in a series of one-on-one conversations with contenders for mayor.
Mayoral contender Karen Camper says on “Behind The Headlines” the city’s public safety strategy is too focused on the “tactical” when it should include a longer-term approach to crime.
State Senator Brent Taylor says he plans to change the state law on bail conditions. But on “Behind The Headlines,” Taylor said don’t look for major changes in gun laws in an August special session of the Legislature.
“Some of those people who’ve reoffended ... there’s a small percentage of those that, I guess, maybe, we need to give up on and just talk about long-term incarceration,” Mulroy said. “But I think for a lot of them, there is a chance for rehabilitation.”
Full video: https://youtu.be/kXN7gQA4evI
Memphis Mayoral contender Frank Colvett said on “Behind The Headlines,” his goals include moving more Memphians from renting to home ownership and discouraging property owners from holding onto property for longer periods to sell it to developers.
Shelby County Commission chairman Mickell Lowery says on WKNO’s “Behind The Headlines” that he’s counting votes on a proposed wheel tax hike that faces a critical commission vote Monday, June 4. He also talks about the investigation into commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. and oversight of judicial commissioners.
The residency question was part of a discussion during a reporters roundtable on “Behind The Headlines.”
Scott Brockman, the airport’s president and CEO, talked on “Behind The Headlines” about incentives for flights to and from certain cities and other adjustments a decade after Delta dehubbed Memphis International.
A city ordinance that could prompt a court fight with the state over gun control has morphed into a potential ballot question for voters. The sponsors of the measure talk about it on “Behind The Headlines.”
In a wide-ranging interview on WKNO’s “Behind The Headlines,” Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland said he is working through details of a Downtown pilot to enforce the city’s curfew on children -- something he said county leaders should be addressing. He also said he is keeping his distance from the court case over residency requirements in the race to elect the next mayor.
Bartlett Mayor David Parsons says Bartlett’s housing stock is about to start showing some diversity. The recently elected mayor talked about a changing housing market and Bartlett’s first mixed-use development on “Behind The Headlines.”
The city’s bus system faces challenges even as it has secured capital funding for a long planned for move into bus rapid transit and its version of a ride-sharing service. MATA CEO Gary Rosenfeld talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the balance between plans and what they cost to keep on the road.
Sugarmon ran on reform and restoration during his campaign. Currently, his administration is working toward implementing restorative justice and expanding educational and rehabilitative opportunities for youth in a new detention center.
Eric Barnes hosts a journalist roundtable with The Memphis Flyer's Toby Sells and The Daily Memphian's Samuel Hardiman and Keely Brewer.
Two history professors looking at the city’s civil rights movement since Martin Luther King’s assassination 55 years ago, talk about Tyre Nichols, police reform and where today’s movement is going on “Behind The Headlines.”
Representatives from the Memphis-Shelby Justice & Safety Alliance, a group of various local organizations, discuss crime and criminal justice reform during a discussion on “Behind the Headlines."
A discussion about juvenile justice reform on “Behind The Headlines,” six months after reform candidates won elections for District Attorney General and Juvenile Court Judge, finds a gap between juvenile detention and releasing juveniles to keep them out of the system.
Keenon McCloy, Director of Memphis Public Libraries, and Sam O’Bryant, Executive Director, Literacy Mid-South, join Eric Barnes of The Daily Memphian on Behind the Headlines to talk about challenges and importance of literacy, libraries and more.
Gibbons is executive director of the University of Memphis Public Safety Institute and leads Memphis Shelby Crime Commission. Former Memphis Police Department director Chapman is executive director of CrimeStoppers.
“If you love economic development — if you’re into job creation, if you’re into health and wellness — then you have to be into housing,” said Amy Schaftlein, executive director of the nonprofit affordable housing agency United Housing Inc. on WKNO-TV’s “Behind the Headlines.”
The chief economic development officer of the Greater Memphis Chamber said on “Behind The Headlines” that companies are seeking out the city’s diversity when looking to expand or relocate.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris talks on “Behind The Headlines” about his renewed second term focus on national issues and his willingness to cross jurisdictional and political boundaries.
Sarah Houston talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the coal ash clean up still in progress at the coal-burning TVA plant and the impact on the Memphis Sands aquifer that is the source of the city’s water supply.
The “Behind The Headlines” reporters roundtable focused on the death of Tyre Nichols and its long-term impact on policing and criminal justice reform in Memphis.
Russell Wigginton, president of the NCRM, says on “Behind The Headlines” the museum’s expansion includes digitizing 11,000 items not currently on display.
MLGW president and CEO Doug McGowen says his priority is finding ways to accelerate the $1.2 billion, five-year plan to upgrade the utility’s infrastructure.
Crime and the city’s power grid were among the major issues and stories of 2022 as discussed on a “Behind The Headlines” reporters roundtable. The two stories cut across the boundaries separating the city’s politics, business and quality of life. They are also likely to be major stories in the year ahead.
In addition to advocating for bail reform, Mulroy’s office has launched a Justice Review Unit and is working on juvenile reforms alongside newly elected Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon, among other things.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo talked in more specific terms about the Germantown schools transfer on “Behind The Headlines.”
The incoming president and CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber said most of the economic development projects the chamber is pursuing are advanced manufacturing plants. On “Behind The Headlines,” Ted Townsend called it a “vast change” from being a magnet for logistics and distribution that could bode well as Blue Oval City makes plans in Haywood County.
Two suburban economic development pros said on “Behind The Headlines” that infrastructure and real estate are Shelby County’s two critical areas as it sees growth from Ford’s BlueOval City in Haywood County.
Eric Barnes hosts a journalist roundtable with The Memphis Flyer's Toby Sells and The Daily Memphian reporters Abigail Warren and Bill Dries to discuss midterm election results, including constitutional amendments, newly elected officials, and voter turnout. In addition, guests talk about local environmental justice issues, MLGW, and bills targeting drag shows and transgender adolescent treatments.
The leaders of the Mid-South Food Bank and Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association say food insecurity isn’t going anywhere in the city as inflation and other economic factors replace barriers to food created in the COVID pandemic.
The leaders of the Mid-South Food Bank and Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association say food insecurity isn’t going anywhere in the city as inflation and other economic factors replace barriers to food created in the COVID pandemic.
The head of the Memphis Education Fund says on “Behind The Headlines” that a national search is essential to choosing the next MSCS superintendent.
The head of the Memphis Education Fund says on “Behind The Headlines” that a national search is essential to choosing the next MSCS superintendent.
A funding plan for a physical remake of Regional One is one of the first major decisions for the new Shelby County Commission. And the new commission is taking its first swing at enduring problems in the Shelby County Clerk’s office. Both topics discussed with three commissioners on “Behind The Headlines.”
A funding plan for a physical remake of Regional One is one of the first major decisions for the new Shelby County Commission. And the new commission is taking its first swing at enduring problems in the Shelby County Clerk’s office. Both topics discussed with three commissioners on “Behind The Headlines.”
A member of the Memphis Police Association leadership talks on “Behind The Headlines” about the long-term strategy to reverse a 2014 city council decision to cut city benefits.
A member of the Memphis Police Association leadership talks on “Behind The Headlines” about the long-term strategy to reverse a 2014 city council decision to cut city benefits.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy talks about the “horrific first week” of his term as the county’s chief prosecutor on “Behind The Headlines” and the two violent crime cases still reverberating a month later in criminal justice reform discussions.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy talks about the “horrific first week” of his term as the county’s chief prosecutor on “Behind The Headlines” and the two violent crime cases still reverberating a month later in criminal justice reform discussions.
A set of long-range plans for the city and region are starting to talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the change from “a culture of planning.”
The city’s reaction and discussion of what to do about violent crime is different after two high profile crimes have raised larger questions.
The city’s reaction and discussion of what to do about violent crime is different after two high profile crimes have raised larger questions.
The chairman of the local crime commission and a Memphis City Council member talk on “Behind The Headlines” about the reaction to weeks of violence.
The chairman of the local crime commission and a Memphis City Council member talk on “Behind The Headlines” about the reaction to weeks of violence.
Leaders of the local Justice and Safety Alliance talked about the week of violence that has shaken the city on “Behind The Headlines.”
Leaders of the local Justice and Safety Alliance talked about the week of violence that has shaken the city on “Behind The Headlines.”
Collierville Town Administrator James Lewellen will retire when the board names his successor. He reflected on 27 years leading the town and the change the community has seen.
The Daily Memphian's Bill Dries and Abigail Warren along with Toby Sells with the Memphis Flyer join Eric Barnes for a reporters roundtable.
MPD Chief C.J. Davis hasn’t talked with District Attorney-elect Steve Mulroy yet but said on “Behind The Headlines” she is optimistic so far about reforms that were a major part of the hard fought campaign that saw Mulroy upset incumbent DA Amy Weirich. Bail reform is likely to be an early test of the relationship police have with the changes promised.
The new president of Rhodes College says on “Behind The Headlines” a capital campaign is among her priorities.
MISO CEO John Bear says savings for MLGW from switching its electric power supplier from TVA to the rival power network are at least $100 million a year, which is nearly double the estimate of the power consultant MLGW is using.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris went on the offense in the race for county mayor in a face-to-face clash Thursday, July 21, with Republican challenger Worth Morgan. Harris, on “Behind the Headlines,” said Morgan favors poverty wages and has investments in private prisons. Morgan said Harris has been an absent on major issues like crime and doesn’t understand how to grow the economy.
Outgoing Greater Memphis Chamber Beverly Robertson talks on “Behind The Headlines” about the chamber’s ongoing push for a recovery from the pandemic and the threat of a recession beyond the pandemic.
The president and CEO of Memphis River Parks Partnership says on “Behind The Headlines” that Tom Lee Park’s new look will debut next year and the Memphis In May International Festival will return to the new park. But they won’t be at the same time.
The two contenders for Shelby County District Attorney met on “Behind The Headlines” for a discussion on local enforcement of the state’s abortion trigger law, balancing reform with accountability, murder convictions overturned on appeal and dueling campaign ads.
The major countywide races to be decided in the August elections reflect moves for change in three different countywide offices and change that would take the offices in different directions. A reporters roundtable on “Behind The Headlines” discusses the nature of that change.
Memphis City Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon is challenging Juvenile Court Judge Dan Michael in the August race for the court. On “Behind The Headlines,” Sugarmon said Michael’s appearance on the show a week earlier looks like a change in Michael’s attitude toward juvenile justice reform but isn’t.
Juvenile Court Judge Dan Michael makes the case for reform of the court on Behind The Headlines. It’s a very different view than the one he took five years ago on the same program.
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, on “Behind The Headlines” says he sees no reason by ban AR-15 weapons in the wake of the Uvalde, Texas mass shooting. Sexton said the focus should be on more mental health services and rejected the idea that there should be limits on rapid fire ammunition.
Dr. Peter Buckley said those sticking with a career in medicine may be health care’s “greatest generation” even as others are leaving because of what they saw and did during the worst of the pandemic.
Former county mayor Mark Luttrell’s comments come as Memphis City Council members are weighing two referendum ordinances proposed for the August ballot for city voters.
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland went after critics of his backing of the state truth in sentencing law and his description of 201 Poplar as a “revolving door” for criminals during a lively interview on “Behind The Headlines.”
Leaders of county government’s effort to bridge gaps in the local juvenile justice system and move children with non violent offenses away from contact with the system talked about the approach on “Behind The Headlines.”
TVA CEO Jeff Lyash talked on Behind the Headlines about the federal agency’s offer to MLGW if the utility stays with TVA and a different priority he says the utility should use in making the decision.
MLGW president and CEO J.T. Young says on “Behind The Headlines” that a preliminary report on sealed bids to replace TVA as the utility’s electric power supplier should be ready in late May or early June for review. The report will be a first limited look at what the utility has heard from TVA’s rivals.
The $60 million “Memphis Allies” gun violence initiative is new turf for Youth Villages, which historically hasn’t worked with teens and young adults accused of violent crimes. The leader of Youth Villages and the Memphis Allies effort talked about the change on “Behind The Headlines.”
The leaders of the group “$450M For Memphis” talk on “Behind The Headlines” about their problems with the ongoing RFP process and why they are phasing out the group.
Downtown Memphis Commission president Paul Young talks on Behind The Headlines about saving tax incentives for Class A office space, why incentives for residential development are still necessary despite a rise in rents and an RFP on Beale Street.
The head of the Greater Whitehaven Economic Redevelopment Corporation and the founder of the “I Love Whitehaven” effort talk on “Behind The Headlines” about the role businesses play in the area’s overall growth.
A Reporters Roundtable on WKNO’s Behind The Headlines reviews the new agreement for Overton Park to end overflow parking on the Overton Park Greensward in two years.
On Behind The Headlines, the outgoing University of Memphis president said none of the crises were in academia. He also discussed leveraging sports to fund academic growth and said a Liberty Bowl decision is coming.
The developers of the old Northside High School say their mixed use development is complex and hopes to rekindle the Klondike area’s sense of community that relied heavily on the school in its prime and faded over time.
On Behind The Headlines, Election Commission chairman Brent Taylor and Shelby County Commissioner Van Turner talked about the return to the state’s voting rules and laws after the pandemic changed how Memphians cast their ballots in the 20202 elections.
As the recovery effort continued one week from the day the storm hit, there is new discussion about how to cut the time of power restoration.
This week’s vote by the state Senate to expel Memphis Democrat Katrina Robinson based on her conviction on federal charges is among the topics on a reporters roundtable on “Behind The Headlines.”
Shelby County Board of Education Chairwoman Michelle Robinson McKissack joined Behind the Headlines to discuss major changes in the district’s public school system, from school consolidations to a name change.
Josh Spickler, of the criminal justice reform group Just City, said on WKNO’s Behind The Headlines that there is another side to the claim by Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland. The differences over the solutions to the city’s growing violent crime problem are likely to come to a head in elections this year featuring most of the elected positions that govern the county’s criminal justice system.
“Behind The Headlines” features a discussion of the year’s major events. The reporters’ roundtable found the long shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic crossed even those events that seemed unconnected to the global public health crisis.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris plans to offer bonuses to recruit corrections and homeland security officers in county government, he said on “Behind The Headlines.”
On “Behind The Headlines,” the bus transit system’s CEO and its new chief of staff say the rideshare service that has replaced buses and fixed routes in the Whitehaven, Boxtown and Westwood areas is being used much more than the bus route system in the area was. They also talk about a new push for a recurring source of revenues for the transit system.
A leader of the Big River Park Conservancy and the CEO of Ducks Unlimited talked on Behind The Headlines about plans for the flood plain across the Mississippi River from Memphis that include restoring what is now farm land to hardwood forests and native grasses.
State Representatives John Gillespie and Dwayne Thompson, both of Memphis, talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the fallout from the most recent special session of the Tennessee Legislature, a possible return of legislation on the three Gs and new district lines.
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland says his administration is pricing cameras on the city’s interstate system that have license reader technology. In the “Behind The Headlines” interview, he also says he hopes a city charter change on police residency is revived and put back on a ballot for a vote soon.
Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich also talked on “Behind The Headlines” of her concerns about guidelines judicial commissioners use in determining who should be released while they await trial and the second take on a juvenile assessment center.
On the WKNO program “Behind The Headlines,” Natalie McKinney and Terence Patterson also called for a move away from the idea that school choice for parents involves getting students to schools in other parts of the city.
Two economic development veterans with experience in the state’s Middle Tennessee auto corridor talked on Behind The Headlines about the coming “gold rush” of growth related to the Ford plant that they say will reach Memphis.
A reporters roundtable on the WKNO program “Behind The Headlines” looks at the most recent chapter in a long-running civic discussion about tax break incentives for economic growth.
The leaders of the two housing and community groups talked on “Behind The Headlines” about a larger scope and plan for affordable housing in a city that needs around 40,000 new units of the housing.
On “Behind The Headlines,” Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner talked about battling the COVID pandemic at the county jail and a call to resume federal oversight of Juvenile Court, including the detention center he runs.
The WKNO Channel 10 program features a reporters’ roundtable discussion on a variety of topics, including passage of the first of three city ordinances out of the controversy over the Byhalia Connection crude oil pipeline project.
SCS Superintendent Joris M. Ray and Deputy Superintendent Angela Whitelaw joined Behind the Headlines to discuss what the full return to school buildings looks like and what the district is doing to keep students safe.
Legislators hoped Shelby County Schools and suburban leaders would work out an agreement for who owns and operates Germantown Elementary, Germantown Middle and Germantown High School.
The two leading proponents of forming a consolidation charter commission talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the opposition and hesitancy they are encountering.
The director of Hospitality Hub and the head of its fundraising and awareness partner Dragonfly talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the decision to move away from the tent cities and encampments that are part of the approach to homelessness in other cities.
The three leaders of the federally-funded effort to help pay overdue rent and utility bills talked on “Behind The Headlines” about what the new market reality means for the city’s growth and affordable housing in a city with a shortage of such housing.
TDOT commissioner Clay Bright and Bobby White of the Greater Memphis Chamber talked about a new bridge on
“Behind The Headlines.” Bright estimates repairs to the Hernando DeSoto Bridge cost about $10 million. And he confirmed the agreement with Arkansas for inspections of the bridge will likely change as a result of the damage that shut down the bridge that went unnoticed for several years.
The demolition work now underway on a block of Jefferson Avenue west of Manassas Street is one of several changes to the Medical District landscape toward that end.
The pandemic’s return to Memphis was among the topics discussed in a reporters’ roundtable on the WKNO program “Behind The Headlines.”
Roblin Webb of Freedom Preparatory Academy, Yetta Lewis of Gestalt Community Schools and Bobby White of Frayser Community Schools joined Behind the Headlines to talk about what they’re doing to prepare for the return to classrooms.
If masks have been the face of the nation’s political divide during the pandemic, what are COVID vaccinations?
On “Behind the Headlines,” Porter-Leath’s Rob Hughes discusses the future of preschool in Shelby County after the abrupt end to its partnership with Shelby County Schools.
On “Behind The Headlines,” county commissioners Van Turner and Mark Billingsley clashed over whether the commission should reopen its budget season later this month to consider a one-cent property tax hike.
The nonprofit’s new executive director talked on “Behind the Headlines” about the end of a truce between the City Council, County Commission and the builders of the proposed Byhalia Connection oil pipeline. Final votes on several new local hurdles for the pipeline are set for next month. Sarah Houston also talked a long-term goal of a regional groundwater trust.
Collierville Mayor Stan Joyner and Bartlett Mayor Keith McDonald talked on “Behind The Headlines” about property tax hikes passed and up for a final vote, respectively, in the cities they lead and why the estimated share of federal ARPA funds in each of their cities took a tumble in the latest estimates.
The County Commission’s vote approving a one-cent property tax hike and the City Council’s consideration next week of a 29-cent city property tax hike were the dominant topics in a reporter’s roundtable on “Behind The Headlines.”
The path of the two budget seasons and the use of federal funds to close financial gaps — plus other topics — are the focus of a reporters roundtable on “Behind The Headlines.”
Executive Director of BLDG Memphis Deveney Perry and the Executive Director of Stand for Children Tennessee Cardell Orrin join host Eric Barnes to discuss the budget priorities for 2021-22 budgets for both the City of Memphis and Shelby County. In addition, guests talk about local economical issues the new budgets are and are not addressing.
City parks and neighborhoods director Nick Walker, on “Behind The Headlines,” talks about the new Gaisman Park and community center, the success of David Carnes Park in Whitehaven and the transition of the nonprofit group “Bloom.”
City Council budget committee Chairman Worth Morgan and city Chief Financial Officer Shirley Ford talked about revenue estimates and the impact of federal American Rescue Plan funds as well as restrictions on its use during “Behind The Headlines.”
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said on “Behind The Headlines” that the estimated drop in the county property tax rate to $3.50, accounting for increases in values, should be the line to hold on the county tax rate. But county commissioners this week reviewed numbers suggesting some want to raise taxes beyond that point.
On “Behind The Headlines,” the incoming CEO of the Downtown Memphis Commission says federal pandemic relief funding due the city will likely make up the loss. The drop in sales tax revenue for the TDZ comes as sales tax revenues across the city have exceeded bleak projections at the outset of the pandemic.
The Assessor said on “Behind The Headlines” home sales in Germantown reflected an increase in values in this year’s reappraisal despite 2019 flooding in some parts of the city. Burgess also talked about a change in the valuation of commercial property and his call for a reappraisal every other year.
The co-leaders of the countywide vaccination distribution effort talked on “Behind The Headlines” about a move this week to no appointments for some and why the federal vaccination presence at the Fairgrounds is unique.
Rev. Keith Norman of Baptist Memorial Health Care and Meritan CEO Melanie Keller talked about the vaccine outreach to the homebound and homeless on “Behind The Headlines.” The more urgent local effort is moving along familiar paths used previously to reach through the isolation of poverty and need.
MLGW president and CEO J.T. Young on “Behind The Headlines” says the new contract with a consultant involves Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland as a mediator between the utility board and the council. He also says questions about deregulated power providers in the February winter storms have complicated the question for the utility of leaving or staying with TVA.
Shelby County commissioner Tami Sawyer and Memphis City Council member Martavius Jones talked on “Behind The Headlines” about their hopes for a pair of joint sessions by the two elected bodies on economic development reform. The two meetings come with a lot of advance planning.
On “Behind The Headlines,” City Council member Worth Morgan and EDGE President Reid Dulberger urge caution in the latest cycle of civic discussions about how and what kinds of economic development get tax incentives.
On “Behind The Headlines,” Memphis Tourism president Kevin Kane and Downtown Memphis Commission board chairwoman Deni Reilly assess the heavy toll the pandemic has taken on the local industry in the last year. But each says recovery will start slow and local as new, ongoing construction Downtown beckons the increasing numbers of Memphians who get vaccines.
On “Behind The Headlines,” Greater Memphis Chamber President Beverly Robertson and Economic Development Chief Ted Townsend talked about a new round of PILOT reform discussions, “resiliency” and the local economy’s comeback from the COVID pandemic.
On “Behind The Headlines,” SCS board chairwoman Miska Clay Bibbs also said she is hearing from a lot of parents who will opt to continue online classes for their children -- so many that she says it is possible some schools may have more teachers than students.
The difficult work of weighing the social, emotional and academic costs of virtual learning against the safety of students and staff.
Three education experts join Eric Barnes to discuss learning during a pandemic on this week's Behind the Headlines.
On “Behind The Headlines,” the Republican and Democratic legislators from the Shelby County delegation to Nashville also agreed on mandatory summer school or tutoring to help students who have slipped academically during the pandemic.
On “Behind The Headlines,” Doug McGowen, the city’s chief operating officer, and Dr. Jon McCullers of UTHSC said multiple plans to vaccinate more than 600,000 people in Shelby County are ready to be used and adjusted to roll with the circumstances. They await an ongoing supply of the two vaccines with more vaccines awaiting approval.
The two mayors, in an extended interview on “Behind The Headlines” say new vaccines that don’t require two doses or sub zero refrigeration could work better for meeting the need countywide. Harris and Strickland say for now distribution problems nationwide prevent the countywide efforts from going to those eligible for the vaccine instead of them coming to the vaccine.
One of the city’s leading experts on the COVID-19 virus says state and local officials need to figure out a vaccine pipeline that can keep the vaccine coming while not forgetting about the importance of testing. Dr. Stephen Threlkeld commented on the WKNO program “Behind The Headlines” on that and the pandemic’s volatile mix of science and politics.
The local face of a global pandemic, challenges to education and the local reaction to the death of George Floyd topped a “Behind The Headlines” review of the year 2020.
The National Civil Rights Museum’s annual Freedom Awards Friday, Dec. 11, will be basically a “greatest hits” online moment in this year of the pandemic.
Leaders of the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association and Mid-South Food Bank talked on “Behind The Headlines” about the increased need produced by the pandemic, the prospect of a second surge and how the pandemic has changed their long-term logistics.
The mayors of Bartlett and Germantown are pushing Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee for a statewide mask mandate. Short of that, they’re working to create a county-by-county mandate among West Tennessee mayors. Keith McDonald and Mike Palazzolo said on “Behind The Headlines” it could be the difference between closing businesses again as opposed to fewer restrictions.
The effort short of a statewide mask mandate includes a coalition of local leaders across West Tennessee. Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said he is also working on a long-term plan for the county to continue to deal with the pandemic through 2021 and after federal CARES Act funding runs out at the end of December.
On Behind The Headlines, Republican Party Chairman Chris Tutor says “don’t vote Democrat” if you want to see Memphis have more power in the state capitol. Democratic Party Chairman Michael Harris says Republicans in state government are explicitly ignoring Memphis.
On “Behind The Headlines,” the leaders of the two suburban school systems also agreed with the recommendation of Gov. Bill Lee not to use the results of state achievement tests this year to evaluate teachers and students. Nevertheless, they are watching to gauge the impact of the pandemic on learning and the lives of students.
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland also said on the WKNO program “Behind The Headlines” that police reform still means hiring more police officers, although it might not be as many as the 700 more recommended earlier this year by criminal justice consultants.
Former Memphis City Council member Harold Collins and Just City Director Josh Spickler said on “Behind The Headlines” that for all of the talk of changing police, MPD is still policing the way it has for decades.
Germantown Municipal Schools District superintendent Jason Manuel and Bartlett City Schools superintendent David Stephens talked on “Behind The Headlines” about changing local health department requirements that require students in schools to wear masks and be six feet apart at all times.
The Arlington and Collierville school systems are using a similar mix of hybrid online and in person classes along with virtual options for elementary school students. The superintendents of the two suburban school systems talked on “Behind The Headlines” about plans made and abandoned during the summer and the prospects for more change.
During an appearance on “Behind The Headlines,” Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Ray also pushed back against the narrative that no high school football games for the state’s largest school system could limit the path to higher education for student athletes.
On “Behind The Headlines,” Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. also said he sees an “appetite” for reform among law enforcement in general but has some hesitation about trying to codify reform measures he’s taken to apply to future sheriffs.
The start of the school year in Shelby County is the main topic of discussion on Behind The Headlines on WKNO Channel 10. The discussion features Laura Faith Kebede of Chalkbeat Tennessee and Toby Sells of The Memphis Flyer in a reporters’ roundtable.
On "Behind The Headlines," the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate says she's raised 10 times more money since she won the August primary statewide. Bradshaw touts an alternative path back to the U.S. Senate in Tennessee for Democrats that relies on community organizers and their networks.
Council members Michalyn Easter-Thomas and Chase Carlisle were on opposite sides of the council's veto override vote on police residency this week. On "Behind The Headlines" they talked about how many police are enough and how to get to the bigger issues beyond the numbers in the ranks.
On "Behind The Headlines," Dr. James Downing talked about the gap between public health and health care as well as the research hospital's $20 million effort to keep the virus off its campus through weekly testing. Data from the testing regimen is also part of a global research effort and St. Jude is participating in clinical trials for a vaccine.
The president of the University of Memphis says some students have been living on campus through the pandemic, in part because of the digital divide and because some students with underlying conditions or who are caretakers will have the flexibility to remain off campus after the return with hybrid classes. David Rudd also says Tigers football could return to the Liberty Bowl with a crowd of about 15,000.
On "Behind The Headlines," Shelby County Elections Administrator Linda Phillips says some upgraded digital scanners that are part of the new system will be used in the August vote count and again in November. She expects the November presidential general election Shelby County to be a record-setter in terms of turnout.
Director of the Shelby County Health Department Alisa Haushalter and the Medical Director for Infectious Disease at Baptist Memorial Health Care Stephen Threlkeld discuss the ongoing COVID-19 battle in Memphis with host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Bill Dries.
Executives from Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Regional One Health, and Baptist Memorial Healthcare discuss how Memphis hospitals are fighting the COVID-19 pandemic with host Eric Barnes.
Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dr. Joris Ray discusses reopening schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, including changes in how schools will operate in order to maintain the health and safety of students and staff with host Eric Barnes and Bill Dries with the Daily Memphian.
Memphis City Councilman JB Smiley joins host Eric Barnes and Bill Dries with The Daily Memphian to discuss police reform in Memphis and Shelby County.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris discusses COVID-19, next year’s County budget, and more with host Eric Barnes and the Daily Memphian’s Bill Dries.
The New Tri-State Defender’s Karanja Ajanaku joins host Eric Barnes for a journalist roundtable with The Daily Memphian reporter Bill Dries to discuss the local protests that have taken place. Ajanaku explains why the Black Lives Matter movement has recently gained momentum and the effects it is having locally and across the nation. Dries also talks about the Memphis city council passing an ordinance requiring individuals to wear face masks in public. In addition, guests discuss the City of Memphis’ decision to halt phase three of reopening the city.
Faith Morris, Chief Marketing and External Affairs Officer for the National Civil Rights Museum, and Archie Willis, President of ComCap Partners, discuss the protests in Memphis.
Dr. Jon McCullers, Pediatrician in Chief at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, discusses where Memphis and Shelby County stand in the fight against COVID-19 and discusses how efforts of social distancing have contributed to a positive measure of containment, but stresses that we must be vigilant as we re-open our communities.
President and CEO of Memphis Light, Gas and Water J.T. Young joins host Eric Barnes and Bill Dries with the Daily Memphian to talk about the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which is a process to help MLGW find the most cost effective, eco-friendly, reliable energy source. In addition, Young discusses the positive and negative effects of finding a new power source.
President and CEO of Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Jeff Lyash joins host Eric Barnes and The Daily Memphian reporter Bill Dries to discuss the benefits of MLGW’s partnership with TVA, as well as the effects of MLGW ending its 80-year-old contract with TVA.
Karl Schledwitz and Jim Gilliland with $450 Million for Memphis join host Eric Barnes and The Daily Memphian's Bill Dries to discuss the proposed plan for MLGW to leave the Tennessee Valley Authority, including other possible energy sources and the obstacles the City of Memphis is weighing.
Darrell Cobbins and Kemp Conrad join host Eric Barnes to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic in Memphis, including the impact it has had on businesses and future developments.
City of Memphis Chief Operating Officer Doug McGowen joined host Eric Barnes and Daily Memphian reporter Bill Dries to discuss the metrics that the City of Memphis’ elected officials and health officers studied to determine when to start gradually reopening the city. In addition, McGowen talked about initiatives taken by the local, state, and federal government to alleviate the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Manoj Jain, infectious disease physician and epidemiologist, discusses how Memphis moves forward during the pandemic with host Eric Barnes and Bill Dries with the Daily Memphian.
This week on WKNO’s Behind the Headlines, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland discusses the ways the city is working to meet the needs of Memphians during the COVID-19 pandemic with host Eric Barnes and the Daily Memphian’s Bill Dries.
Director of Memphis Housing and Community Development Paul Young joins host Eric Barnes and Bill Dries with the Daily Memphian to discuss the city’s efforts to help people living in public housing and experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.