As one of Shelby County’s ten Judicial Commissioners, I must decide whether or not a person should have an order of protection against another person. Our office reviews and makes decisions on thousands of petitions every year in an effort to provide abuse victims legal protection from their abuser. Although we rarely know the outcome of individual cases, we are all keenly aware that an order of protection is an important and powerful tool for helping victims escape abusive situations.
Read MoreFuture 901 has been instrumental in cultivating grassroots successes across our community. They have recruited and supported candidates in our most important swing seats. They have created opportunities for the wider community to plug in and participate in electoral politics. I am pleased to have received their endorsement. This is an important electoral season and Future901 has demonstrated time and time again they understand this process.
Read MoreIn this Q&A, Justin Pearson, co-founder of Memphis Community Against the Pipeline (MCAP), shares his experience on how he got involved with the Byhalia Connection Pipeline, what he sees as the next top environmental concerns for Memphians, and offers some encouragement to others wanting to make Memphis a healthier place to live.
Read MoreEvery week I sit with a group of leaders and law enforcement officials from around our community to discuss the shootings in our city the prior week. We look at each case, each victim, each life forever altered by gun violence. We methodically go through every precinct, every shooting, every injury, every hospital admission, every death. And while we look for patterns, connections, ways to help, ways to serve our heartbroken community, every week it becomes more and more clear - we are fighting not just the COVID-19 pandemic, but a pandemic of gun violence as well.
Read MoreIn Making the Grade 2020, the Educational Law Center (ELC) gave Tennessee a grade of “F” for public school funding level and funding effort, as the state spends on average $3,655 less per student than the national average. But this isn’t a new problem. According to the ELC, “if they had made the same effort to fund schools as in 2008, Tennessee would have raised $1,065 more per pupil in 2018.” But the issue isn’t just a lack of effort, it’s a problem with the formula.
Read MoreVictories for the victors are short and sweet. The victory of Memphis and Shelby County over the multi-billion dollar Byhalia Pipeline was a triumph of common sense. The threat of an oil spill was an accident waiting to happen. All of us who live in this part of the world know that our drinking water is not worth the risk. The community was galvanized by the fight – but this was a potential threat to our water supply. What about the existing pollution?
Read MoreTennessee Governor Lee, aided and abetted by his all too compliant “Republican” majority legislature has launched various executive orders and pushed legislative actions to insist on: Prohibited Concepts in Public Instruction, prohibiting mask mandates in schools (and communities), refusing to allow vital virtual education for students or educators homebound due to quarantine or isolation as well as opting to reduce the number of students schooled in-person to reduce the risk of covid infections surging.
Read MoreSince March of 2020, Baptist Memorial Hospital has seen many patients affect by COVID-19. This letter from Dr. Jeff Wright, a Pulmonologist and critical care medical director, addresses Baptist Hospital staff—and the general public—as there are still many questions surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines. Here’s Dr. Wright’s letter:
Read MoreRecently, Gov. Bill Lee announced and Executive Order that would allow parents to “opt out” of any masking requirements put on their kids by schools or county Health Departments. Unfortunately, doing this has the effect of reducing the effectiveness of masking policies. The primary benefit of a mask is that it greatly reduces the risk that someone who is infected will transmit the virus to others. The natural consequence of Gov. Lee’s EO is that people who are infected will end up not wearing masks
Read MoreThe exciting new Equality Trailblazers Suffrage Monument for Memphis incorporates 6 portraits in the round (including the indomitable Ida B. Wells and racial champion Mary Church Terrell) placed in front of a 60-foot wall depicting the 100 Year March in silhouette, and glass etchings and bios of many other notables from Shelby County.
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