Tuesday, June 18 2013 9:21 PM EDT2013-06-19 01:21:02 GMT
(WMC-TV) - With the third and final reading scheduled for later Tuesday evening, the battle over the budget rages at city hall. "There are no easy answers to this," said Mayor A C Wharton after a livelyMore >>
With the third and final reading scheduled for later Tuesday evening, the battle over the budget rages at city hall. Latest updates in this story. More >>
Tuesday, June 18 2013 7:48 PM EDT2013-06-18 23:48:44 GMT
(WMC-TV) - A U.S. Marshals Service task force was going door-to-door in a California community Tuesday asking residents for help finding a fugitive Mid-South couple, according to NBC Los Angeles. JanetMore >>
A U.S. Marshals Service task force was going door-to-door in a California community Tuesday asking residents for help finding a fugitive Mid-South couple, according to NBC Los Angeles.More >>
Tuesday, June 18 2013 7:05 PM EDT2013-06-18 23:05:00 GMT
(WMC-TV) - The Memphis City Council is trying to balance the city's budget before the state is forced to take over. With the third and final reading scheduled for later Tuesday evening, the battle overMore >>
The Memphis City Council is trying to balance the city's budget before the state is forced to take over.More >>
Tuesday, June 18 2013 6:59 PM EDT2013-06-18 22:59:05 GMT
(WMC-TV) - Southaven Mayor Greg Davis is leaving office early with extra money. But where is it coming from? The money comes from the state's retirement system. Mayor Davis plans to leave his officeMore >>
Southaven Mayor Greg Davis is leaving office early with extra money. But where is it coming from?More >>
MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - The Shelby County Election Commission is asking if suburban voters can join the vote in February's special election to transfer city schools to the county.
Shelby County Election Commission Chairman Bill Giannini said an argument being used by proponents of Memphis and Shelby County governmental consolidation could now be used against those who wish to merge city and county schools.
"One of the questions out there about this one is the dual-majority vote," said Giannini.
The dual-majority vote is at the center of an unrelated court battle that began in October. The current law says the majority of county voters must approve any form of consolidation separate from the majority of Memphis voters.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit claimed that since there are fewer people in Shelby County, the dual-majority law gives county residents 2.5 votes for every one vote in Memphis and violates the one-person, one-vote law.
However, the plaintiff's argument supports the resistance to merge city and county schools.
"There are arguments that state law provides for dual-majority vote in this case as well," said Giannini.
Giannini requested an opinion from the Tennessee Coordinator of Elections Office regarding the dual-majority law and the upcoming vote to surrender the city schools charter.
The Election Commission wants the Coordinator's Office to answer if the dual-majority law requires that residents who live in the suburbs be included in the upcoming vote to transfer city schools to the county.
"We are waiting on the coordinator of elections to come back with opinions regarding who votes," said Giannini.
The opinion from the Coordinator's Office and threats by county school leaders to sue if the schools merge could send the school merger into legal purgatory.
"In the consolidation vote, we haven't been able to certify that vote because of a court order," said Giannini.
The Election Commission also asked the Coordinator's Office to give opinions on whether or not city schools filed its request for a special election properly and does the Memphis City Council have right to vote on the matter.
Giannini said he hopes to have the opinions of the Coordinator's Office before the Election Commission's January 5 meeting.
"The General Assembly may provide for the consolidation of any or all of the governmental and corporate functions now or hereafter vested in municipal corporations with the governmental and corporate functions now or hereafter vested in the counties in which such municipal corporations are located; provided, such consolidations shall not become effective until submitted to the qualified voters residing within the municipal corporation and in the county outside thereof, and approved by a majority of those voting within the municipal corporation and by a majority of those voting in the county outside the municipal corporation."
"(1) declares that Tennessee's dual-majority voting requirement is violative of the one person, one vote principle of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments in that it impermissibly dilutes the voting strength of voters residing in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee in a countywide referendum election for the adoption of a metropolitan form of government;"
"(2) declares that the dual-majority voting requirement is violative of the one person, one vote principle of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments in that it impermissibly dilutes the voting strength of African-Americans residing in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee in a countywide referendum election for the adoption of a metropolitan form of government;"
"(3) declares that the dual-majority voting requirement is violative of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 in that it impermissibly dilutes the voting strength of African-American voters residing in Memphis, Shelby County in a countywide referendum election for the adoption of a metropolitan form of government;"
Tuesday, June 18 2013 2:25 PM EDT2013-06-18 18:25:40 GMT
(WMC-TV) - Three people suspected in a carjacking reportedly led police on a brief chase through Memphis Tuesday. The chase started when police tried to pull the vehicle over on the 1600 block of PoplarMore >>
Three people suspected in a carjacking reportedly led police on a brief chase through Memphis Tuesday.More >>
Monday, June 17 2013 11:54 PM EDT2013-06-18 03:54:56 GMT
(WMC-TV) - A Memphis teenager is in jail for pointing a loaded gun at a family. Memphis Police said it was a bad case of road rage. Investigators said Carlissa Rodgers got so mad that she pointed a revolverMore >>
A Memphis teenager is in jail for pointing a loaded gun at a family.More >>
Tuesday, June 18 2013 12:53 PM EDT2013-06-18 16:53:33 GMT
(WMC-TV) - A car caught fire at Memphis International Airport Tuesday morning. The fire broke out on the upper deck of the parking garage around 7 a.m. The fire department was able to respond and put theMore >>
A car caught fire at Memphis International Airport Tuesday morning.More >>
Tuesday, June 18 2013 10:40 AM EDT2013-06-18 14:40:35 GMT
(WMC-TV) - Higher property taxes, voluntary buyouts, and hundreds of layoffs will all be on the table when the City of Memphis' budget battle reaches a fever pitch at city hall. The city council committeeMore >>
Higher property taxes, voluntary buyouts, and hundreds of layoffs will all be on the table when the City of Memphis' budget battle reaches a fever pitch at city hall.More >>
Monday, June 17 2013 10:34 PM EDT2013-06-18 02:34:31 GMT
(WMC-TV) - A man is charged with vehicular homicide and DUI after driving home from a club and falling asleep at the wheel. The crash killed one woman. Police identified the victim of a deadly DUI crashMore >>
A man is charged with vehicular homicide and DUI after driving home from a club and falling asleep at the wheel. The crash killed one woman.
Monday, June 17 2013 9:54 PM EDT2013-06-18 01:54:17 GMT
Last night was the 62nd annual Miss USA pageant held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Contestants from all 50 states and territories of the Unites States went heel to heel on stage at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. Miss Connecticut, Erin Brady, ended up walking away with the grand title of Miss USA, but it was Miss Utah who really stood out from the rest of the competitors.More >>
Last night was the 62nd annual Miss USA pageant held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Contestants from all 50 states and territories of the Unites States went heel to heel on stage at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. Miss Connecticut, Erin Brady, ended up walking away with the grand title of Miss USA, but it was Miss Utah who really stood out from the rest of the competitors.More >>
Monday, June 17 2013 10:20 PM EDT2013-06-18 02:20:39 GMT
Authorities in Mississippi are confirming that the suspect in a Selma resident's death is now charged with murder after giving the patient injections to enhance her buttocks even though she had no medicalMore >>
Authorities in Mississippi are confirming that the suspect in a Selma resident's death is now charged with murder after giving the patient injections to enhance her buttocks even though she had no medicalMore >>
Tuesday, June 18 2013 1:25 PM EDT2013-06-18 17:25:41 GMT
(WMC-TV) - More people move in June than in any other month, which means more people get ripped off by unscrupulous moving companies in June. With in-state movers, interstate movers, and ever-changingMore >>
More people move in June than in any other month, which means more people get ripped off by unscrupulous moving companies in June.More >>
Monday, June 17 2013 11:57 PM EDT2013-06-18 03:57:25 GMT
(WMC-TV) - An upstart electric car company made the promise of providing hundreds of new jobs in North Mississippi almost one year ago. Taxpayers helped foot the bill to land Greentech Automotive, andMore >>
An upstart electric car company made the promise of providing hundreds of new jobs in North Mississippi almost one year ago. Taxpayers helped foot the bill to land Greentech Automotive, and now they want a return on their investment. More >>
Tuesday, June 18 2013 6:27 PM EDT2013-06-18 22:27:50 GMT
(WMC-TV) - The Tipton County Adult Developmental Center serves children, teens, and adults with mental disability in Tipton County. Parents who have kids at the center say they got a letter from theMore >>
The Tipton County Adult Developmental Center serves children, teens, and adults with mental disability in Tipton County.More >>
