Behind the Headlines Podcast

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.”