Week of: August 13, 2026
The latest from tsdmemphis.com
ELECTION RESULTS Pages 2–7
Volume 75, Issue 32
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Week of: August 13, 2026
Shelby County voters chose Lowery for mayor, Buckner as sheriff Democrats on general election ballot win majority of party contests By James Coleman
TSD Contributing Writer
The victory speech was likely welcomed by early education advocates. In June, outgoing Mayor Lee Harris froze funding for the county’s “pre-k for all” program at 2026 levels. As a result , the endeavor could stall a few percentage points short of its goal. During the campaign, Lowery promised to revisit the issue if elected. The 49-year-old FedEx executive
was battled-tested by an expansive seven-candidate primary field. DeBerry was a last minute primary entry to allow the GOP to field a candidate. The erstwhile Democrat is a former advisor to Republican Gov. Bill Lee. Many other Democratic candidates experienced similar margins of victory. Shelby County Chief Deputy Anthony Buckner will move into a
Democratic candidates appear to be the clear choice of Shelby County voters heading into the fall. Overall, the party snagged 19 wins out of a total of 23 party contests during the Thursday, Aug. 6 general election. Along with giving Democrats an iron grip of the direction of the county for the next few years, the results could also portend an off-year wave election. The day’s biggest winner, office-wise at least, was mayor-elect Mickell Lowery. The second generation politician surged past Republican John DeBerry by a 2-1 margin. Lowery’s 85,000-plus votes were good enough for 66% of the vote. His opponent gathered just shy of 44,000 votes, or 33.9% “In this position, you’re going to have a mayor that is going to be a partner with every mayor that’s in Shelby County. You have a strong partner for Mayor Paul Young. Because we have to do something to make sure we are tackling the poverty gap that’s in Shelby County,” said Lowery. “And for me that starts with early childhood education. We have to give them every opportunity to succeed. We’ve got to give them an early start as well.” Page 2
TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
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Supporters celebrate Mickell Lowery’s victory at his Shelby County mayoral election night watch party on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. ON THE COVER: Clockwise from top left, Anthony Buckner, Justin Pearson, Mickell Lowery, Heidi Kuhn and Chaz Molder (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/Tri-State Defender)
Mickell Lowery celebrates his election as Shelby County mayor on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, after defeating Republican John DeBerry in the general election.
bigger office after eclipsing Republican co-worker Brad Less. The current second-in-command pulled in nearly 90,000 votes for almost 70% of the vote to succeed term-limited Sheriff Floyd Bonner. Less, meanwhile, will return to his post as the commander of the SCSO uniform patrol. “When I came to this agency 24-years ago, I never imagined running for sheriff, let alone becoming the next sheriff,” said Buckner. “So when I think about my journey as a deputy over the last 24 years, and now to stand here and receive a badge from a sitting sheriff after 46-years, the first elected African American sheriff, this is a very special moment for me tonight.” Buckner inherits a department saddled with long-term issues. Foremost is the Shelby County Jail at 201 Poplar. Along with the dilapidated state of the facility, the over 40 years old lockup is Week of: August 13, 2026
also overcrowded. The main jail was originally built for a maximum head count of 2,400. However, between 2,500 and 2,900 inmates often sit behind its concrete and brick facade. Much of the increase is due to the ongoing Memphis Safe Task Force. Since September, the federal-state-local law enforcement operation has netted over 10,600 arrests. Many swept up in the crackdown have spent time at the facility. Lowery and Buckner will be among the county stakeholders leading the conversation about a new jail. Last September, the former helped vote down a proposal that would have placed a new jail in North Memphis. Both of their predecessors locked horns on an annual basis. Most of the disagreements occurred during budget seasons. In the past few negotiations, Bonner accused Harris of attempting
to eliminate unfunded positions to get the mayor’s revenue-neutral budget proposals over the finish line. This year, the Shelby County Commission was Anthony Buckner caught in the middle of another quarrel. After Bonner emerged victorious in circuit court in a lawsuit over unbudgeted overtime pay, the council was obligated to settle the 2026 budgetary matter. The original settlement amount of $18 million was eventually talked down to $4.93 million. Much of the OT costs were accrued in support of the Memphis Safe Task Force. Lowery likely will hope for a more harmonious relationship with Buckner. Fortunately, the incident will be water over the bridge for only a minority of the upcoming commission. Only five members return from the previous class. A total of seven members, including Lowery, will exit the commission on term limits. First term commissioner Britney Thornton will return to civilian life after losing in the Democratic
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primary for the Shelby County clerk. The familiar faces from last term include current chairwoman Shante Avant, Charlie Caswell, Henri Brooks, Miska Clay Bibbs and Erika Sugarmon. All are Democrats. They will be joined by Will Richardson, Karen Streeter, Lashanta Rudd, and Amber Huett-Garcia. Together, they will wield a commanding 9-4 majority. All five Republicans currently on the commission are leaving via term limits. Mark Billingsley returns to the commission after a four-year layoff. He previously served from 2014-2022. The nonprofit executive will be joined by newcomers Rhonda O’Dell, Derek Mills and Michele Dial. They will be the only elected Republicans in the Shelby County government. Speaking of the county clerk race, Democratic Party nominee LaSonya Hall easily topped Republican selection Tina Montgomery 66% to 33.9%. Hall, a current appointee of Mayor Harris, will succeed Wanda Halbert. The outgoing clerk has faced repeated attempts to remove her from office during her tenure. The winners will be sworn into office on September 1. TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
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Pearson wins big as Memphis gets three shots at Congress Molder, Kuhn join District 9 nominee in testing new state map’s effects on city’s political clout By Lee Eric Smith
TSD Contributing Writer
State Rep. Justin J. Pearson won the most closely watched Democratic congressional primary in Memphis by a landslide Thursday, then quickly turned his attention to the fight that put the race on the map in the first place. Literally. Standing before supporters after winning the Democratic nomination for Tennessee’s newly redrawn 9th Congressional District, Pearson reached back exactly 61 years, to Aug. 6, 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, before drawing a line to the congressional boundaries Tennessee Republicans approved this spring. “The political dilution and deprivation of our rights is happening in our lifetime,” Pearson said. “It’s a blatant attempt to keep people like us out of power and an attempt to make us quit.” Then, to cheers, he added: “That’s a lie. We’re one step closer to Washington, D.C.” Pearson took 19,209 votes, or 66.2%, in the Shelby County portion of District 9, more than double state Sen. London Lamar’s 8,049 votes, or 27.8%, according to complete unofficial Shelby County returns. His victory sets up a November showdown with Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor — and the first major test of what Tennessee’s dramatically redrawn congressional map will ultimately mean for Memphis. But Pearson will not be testing that map alone. Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder won the Democratic nomination in the newly configured 5th District, while outgoing Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk Heidi Kuhn captured the nomination in District 8. Together, the three races raise an intriguing possibility about a map designed to weaken Democratic voting strength in Memphis: Could dividing Memphis among three congressional districts ultimately give the city influence in three congressional offices instead of one? The odds remain decidedly against it. Republicans drew all three districts to favor GOP Week of: August 13, 2026
State Rep. Justin Pearson celebrates his victory in the 9th Congressional District Democratic primary election surrounded by supporters at his campaign headquarters on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. (Gary S. Whitlow/Tri-State Defender)
candidates, breaking apart the compact, majority-Black and reliably Democratic 9th District that retiring U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen has represented for nearly two decades. The new districts stretch Shelby County voters into more conservative territory across West and Middle Tennessee. But Thursday established the Democratic trio that gets a chance to test that arithmetic.
Pearson: ‘We’ve got a lot more work to do’ Pearson’s election-night speech made clear that he views Thursday not as the conclusion of a campaign, but as the end of its first stage. “We’ve got a lot more work to do,” he told supportPage 4
ers. “We have a lot more doors to knock. We have a lot more phone calls to make.” He urged supporters not only to stay involved but to bring someone else with them. “We are going to celebrate tonight because the first leg is won,” Pearson said, describing the November general election as the more important second leg. That next leg pits two sitting Shelby County legislators against each other in a district drawn specifically to stretch Memphis’ political influence far beyond the city. Taylor took 3,252 votes, or 70%, among Shelby Republicans in District 9. Pearson took nearly the identical share — 66.2% — among Shelby Democrats. The result sets up a sharp ideological contrast. Taylor has made crime, immigration and public TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
■■ NEWS Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, who delivered one of the night’s biggest Republican upsets by knocking off incumbent U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles. Ogles entered the primary with Trump’s endorsement. Hatcher had the backing of Gov. Bill Lee, under whom he served as agriculture commissioner. Shelby Republicans backed Hatcher as well, giving him 1,416 votes to Ogles’ 1,064. For Memphis, Molder presents an interesting version of the redistricting paradox. He is not a Memphis politician. His political base is in Columbia. Yet thousands of Memphis voters are now part of the constituency he would have to represent if elected.
Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder celebrates his victory in the Democratic primary for Tennessee’s newly redrawn 5th Congressional District on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. (Chaz Molder)
safety central to his political identity. Pearson, who became nationally known as one of the “Tennessee Three” after his 2023 expulsion from the state House, used his victory speech to frame the race more broadly around working families, corporate power, health care, environmental issues and voting rights. “This is about the billionaire class against us,” Pearson said. “Whether you’re a Republican or Democrat, an independent, this race is about protecting our state, our home and our future from the corrupt politicians in D.C. and the billionaires seeking to destroy our lives.” He also acknowledged the difficulty of what lies ahead. “If this gathering is the last time that you engage with this campaign for Congress, we’re going to lose,” Pearson told supporters. “If this celebration is the last time we see your face, this is the last time you donate, this is the last time you show up — look, we got 89 days.” “You can do anything for 89 days,” he said. Lamar, meanwhile, conceded graciously on social media, congratulating the winners and turning her attention toward Democratic unity in November. “Tonight, the voters made their choice, and while this isn’t the outcome we worked and prayed for, I am incredibly proud of the campaign we ran and the people who stood with us,” Lamar wrote. She urged supporters to “make sure we focus on getting Democrats elected up and down the ballot this November.” Lamar said she would return to her work in the Tennessee Senate and emphasized that losing the congressional race did not change her commitment to public service. “This chapter ends tonight,” she wrote. “The work does not.” Week of: August 13, 2026
Shelby County Criminal Court Clerk Heidi Kuhn captured the nomination for the 8th Congressional District on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026. (Gary S. Whitlow/Tri-State Defender)
One city, three districts For decades, Memphis formed the center of its own congressional district. That ended this spring when Republican lawmakers divided Shelby County among congressional Districts 5, 8 and 9, each extending outward into more Republican portions of Tennessee. Cohen subsequently announced that he would not seek reelection under the new District 9 map. Thursday provided the first election results under those new congressional boundaries. And they revealed three very different relationships between Memphis and the Democrats who now carry their party’s banner into November. Pearson won Shelby overwhelmingly. Kuhn built her victory squarely on a Shelby County political base. Molder did something altogether different: He won District 5 without winning Shelby County. Molder loses Shelby, wins District 5 Molder emerged from the five-candidate District 5 Democratic primary even though Memphis City Councilwoman Yolanda Cooper-Sutton beat him among Shelby County voters. Cooper-Sutton received 9,680 votes, or 41.4%, in the Shelby County portion of the district. Molder received 8,796, or 37.6%. The rest of the sprawling district made the difference. That may offer a glimpse at the coalition Molder would have to assemble in November. The radically reconfigured 5th reaches from parts of Memphis north along the Mississippi River, then across Tennessee toward Molder’s Middle Tennessee base. AP estimates that 82% of the district’s voters are new to the 5th. Molder will face former Tennessee Agriculture Page 5
Kuhn carries her base for District 8 victory Kuhn’s route to the Democratic nomination looked much more familiar. She received 19,734 Shelby County votes — 59.3% of the Democratic ballots cast in the District 8 primary there. Dewey Gordon Bryan finished a distant second in Shelby with 6,422 votes. Kuhn, who has served as Shelby County Criminal Court clerk since 2018, will face incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. David Kustoff, who had no primary opposition. Kustoff has represented West Tennessee in Congress since 2017. The new 8th contains the largest share of Shelby County among the three redrawn districts, including parts of Memphis and several suburban communities, before extending through rural West Tennessee. Kuhn therefore enters November with an identifiable Shelby County base, but must expand well beyond it to defeat an established Republican incumbent in a district drawn to favor him. Divide — or multiply? No one should mistake three Democratic nominations for three Democratic congressional seats. The map was designed to make that outcome unlikely. Even one Democratic victory would require outperforming the partisan lean built into the new districts. Winning all three would amount to a dramatic political reversal. But the new map creates a different relationship between Memphis and Congress regardless of which party wins. Instead of most of Memphis looking to one representative, Shelby County residents will now be constituents of three members of Congress. If Republicans sweep the three races, critics of the map will likely point to the results as confirmation that Memphis’ heavily Democratic electorate was divided to reduce its ability to choose its representatives. But if Pearson, Molder and Kuhn somehow run the table, the political irony would be difficult to miss. TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
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Molder makes Memphis ‘ground zero’ in bid to flip redrawn District 5 Cohen, Lowery and Franklin rally around Columbia mayor who promises to support the city after Democratic primary victory By Lee Eric Smith
TSD Contributing Writer
With prominent Democrats at his side, Chaz Molder launched his general election campaign Friday, Aug. 7, on Beale Street, the morning after he won the Democratic nomination for a congressional district drawn to make it harder to build a coalition. U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, a Democrat who represented Memphis for nearly 20 years and will retire at the end of his term in January 2027, attended the event held at Handy Park to show support for Molder. Shelby County Mayor-elect Mickell Lowery – fresh off his own election night victory – also was there. So were A C Wharton, former mayor of both Memphis and Shelby County, and Dr. Telisa Franklin, who had just won the Democratic nomination for Tennessee House District 96, beating incumbent Democrat Gabby Salinas. And standing in the middle of them all was Molder, the mayor of Columbia, Tennessee, laying out where he believes his path to Congress begins. “We ended our day yesterday with the primary election in Memphis, and we’re beginning today the general election in Memphis,” said Molder. “And we’re doing that because we know that Memphis deserves a voice and Memphis needs a champion.” Later, in a one-on-one interview with Tri-State Defender, he offered a practical and blunt assessment of his campaign strategy. “Memphis is ground zero for this campaign and for this race,” said Molder. “Memphis is going to be the reason that we win, because we’re going to show up for Memphis. And I have great confidence that they’re going to show up for us.” But persuading some Memphis Democrats to show up may be his first challenge to overcome if he hopes to win the state’s 5th Congressional District. City Councilwoman Yolanda Cooper-Sutton beat Molder in Shelby County by a nearly 4-point margin in Thursday’s Democratic primary with 9,680 votes, or 41.5%. Meanwhile, Molder drew 8,796, or 37.7%, Week of: August 13, 2026
of votes cast. Molder’s strength in other parts of the 17-county district that stretches from West Tennessee to Middle Tennessee carried him to the nomination. By Friday morning, however, Molder said he had already spoken with Cooper-Sutton. “I want to say thank you to the other candidates in our primary,” said Molder, who named Cooper-Sutton, DeVante Hill, Rachel Hurley and Carrie Iacomini in his speech. “They saw the terrible injustice done by the last-minute gerrymandering and they stepped up. I would be honored to have their support in this general election.” Molder’s swift outreach underscores the task facing him now to unite Democrats who competed Thursday, maximize support in Memphis and then capture enough votes across rural counties to win in the sprawling district deliberately drawn to favor Republicans. In November’s general election, Molder will face Republican Charlie Hatcher, the former Tennessee agriculture commissioner who defeated incumbent U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles in Thursday’s GOP primary. Hatcher is a fifth-generation dairy farmer who lives on the land his family has cultivated for 200 years, according to his campaign website, which also describes him as “pro-gun, pro-life, pro-Trump.”
Cohen: Molder may be Democrats’ best shot Cohen offered perhaps the strongest endorsement of the morning. “Yesterday was an interesting night in that the three people expected to win in Districts 8, 5 and 9 won,” said Cohen. “But in my opinion, the person most likely to win the seat, to get the Democrats a seat in Congress, is Chaz Molder.” Alongside Molder in District 5, the other Democratic nominees are Heidi Kuhn in District 8 and state Rep. Justin J. Pearson in District 9, representing the three districts that Republican lawmakers created last spring by dividing Shelby County. Cohen argued that Molder’s existing ties to Memphis distinguish him from someone who simply Page 6
Standing with Chaz Molder, left, 5th Congressional District Democratic nominee, are Telisia Franklin, Democratic nominee for Tennessee House District 96, and Shelby County mayor-elect Mickell Lowery.
inherited part of the city through redistricting. “He knows how to campaign. He knows people in the district. He works hard,” said Cohen. “He knows Memphis, went to law school here, lived in Midtown. He will have an office in Memphis.” “That’s what Memphis needs,” said Cohen. “We need a congressman to help with constituent services, help with community services and help us with the needs of the largest cities in America that need government help.” Cohen gave Molder his “unconditional support.”
Lowery: Molder has ‘a heart for Shelby County’ Lowery added his endorsement without much ambiguity. The Shelby County mayor-elect told Molder that what mattered most to him was having congressional representatives who remained attentive to the county even within new political boundaries. “What’s most important for me is that whoever is in these seats has a heart for Shelby County,” Lowery TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
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Outgoing Congressman Steve Cohen speaks on behalf of 5th District Democratic nominee Chaz Molder Friday, Aug. 7, at Handy Park. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/Tri-State Defender)
said. “We know that Mayor Molder has that heart for Shelby County, but also for the entire district as well.” Then Lowery shared a detail that made clear his support had preceded Molder’s nomination. “I was proud to be able to cast my vote for you,” Lowery told him. “And I look forward to seeing you in that seat and working with you to make sure we’re changing our country for the better.” For his part, Lowery defeated Republican John DeBerry Jr. in Thursday’s Shelby County mayoral election with more than 65% of the vote. Lowery’s comments also highlighted a new political reality created by the new congressional map. Representatives no longer have to be from Memphis for Memphis voters to demand that they show support for Memphis. Molder appears eager to make that case. “I want to visit schools and churches and parks and community centers,” he told TSD. “I want to be a part of this community, because I know that they are starving for leadership that pays attention to them and for leaders who are accountable to the public.” He repeatedly invoked Cohen’s emphasis on constituent service. “Congressman Cohen … knew that Memphis had Week of: August 13, 2026
to have good constituent services in their congressional office,” said Molder. “I want to be that kind of congressman who provides the services to those who need it, and to be a congressman they can be proud of.”
Bridging 17 counties The Republican logic behind the new map was based on a simple calculation: Split a strong Democratic Memphis voting bloc and reassign those voters to districts with enough Republicans to outnumber them. But Molder’s theory of the race is that the perceived chasm between those voters may not be as wide as their party labels suggest. Asked how he intends to bridge voters in Memphis with those in rural and suburban communities elsewhere in District 5, Molder pointed to economics. “I think the reality is that the issues are the same,” he said. “Gas prices are rising in Memphis just like they’re rising in Union City. Healthcare affordability is a concern for folks who live in Midtown, just as it’s a concern for those who live in Martin.” The challenge, he said, is having a representative in Congress willing to listen across that geography. Page 7
“As a mayor of a community, I understand you have to focus on solutions to problems,” said Molder. “But you also have to pay attention to everybody.” Molder said his campaign has already traveled to all 17 counties. “That was important to me because I want people to know that it’s not just what I say,” he said. “It’s my actions that I do.” At the Beale Street event, Molder said the next phase of his campaign would continue that approach to voter outreach, with a tour stretching from Memphis to Obion, Montgomery and Williamson counties, and his hometown of Columbia. Winning District 5 also will require Molder to reach beyond the Democratic electorate that nominated him. He has already seen signs that this might be possible, he said. “I lost count of the number of Republicans that sent me messages over the last couple of weeks that said that they pulled a Democratic ballot for the first time in their lives, because I was actually focused on issues that were important to them,” said Molder. “Folks are ready and willing to put their country over their political party, as long as it’s a candidate who is speaking to the issues that are important to them,” he said. “And that’s why we feel so good about our chances in November.” His campaign message Friday focused on issues related to the cost of living, such as groceries, gasoline, healthcare and the pressures facing farmers, rather than partisan labels. “Voters don’t want a reason to vote against someone,” Molder told TSD. “They want a reason to vote for something.”
‘Whatever it takes’ Franklin, who leads a community outreach organization, offered both a personal endorsement and a call to action. She said she had gotten to know Molder through church. “He has a heart for God. He has a heart for God’s people,” Franklin said of Molder. “I am challenging everybody that loves me to make sure we get out here and let’s register people to vote. Let’s get people to the polls. Let’s knock on some doors. Let’s make some calls. Whatever it takes, we’ve got to get moving.” Her appearance alongside Cohen, Lowery and Wharton lent political cachet to Friday’s event that elevated it to something more than a routine post-primary news conference. It signaled the beginning of a Memphis coalition around a candidate who does not live here but says he intends to advocate for the city. “Memphis, you were done wrong,” he told the crowd at Handy Park. “If I know anything about this city, it’s this: Never count Memphis out. Let’s show them that Memphis will not be silenced.” TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
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Local women’s foundation helps build new playground for children living near downtown Former Grizzlies player Jaren Jackson Jr.’s nonprofit pitches in TSD Newsroom Children near the Vance Avenue Youth Development Center south of downtown now have a dedicated space to work their after-school and weekend jobs — playing hard and having a whole lot of fun. With the help of several donor organizations, the center cut the ribbon on a new playground on July 30. The Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis, an anti-poverty advocacy group founded in 1995, led the development of the playground with seed money from former Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr.’s Much Required Initiative, a philanthropic foundation, and other funders. The playground is meant to provide safe outdoor recreation, physical activity and community connection for children living in the Vance Avenue neighborhood. “Jaren has always believed in investing in young people and creating opportunities that can positively impact their lives,” said Terri Carmichael Jackson, speaking for the basketball player’s foundation. “This playground is a tangible reflection of that commitment. It creates a space where children can play, connect and create memories, while also strengthening an important
Week of: August 13, 2026
community resource that has served Memphis families for decades.” The youth center, a family services agency that receives grant money from the women’s foundation, has served close to 200 children and families daily since its inception in 1994. It provides after-school tutoring, mentoring, counseling, health and social service referrals, food assistance, and job readiness programs. But, until now, the youth center had no playground. It has filled what was once a gap in its services. “The Vance Avenue Youth Development Center has always been committed to creating opportunities for children to thrive, and this playground adds something our families have needed for a very long time,” said founder and executive director Barbara Nesbit. “We are grateful to everyone who recognized that need and came together to make this playground a reality.” For its part, the women’s foundation has awarded $41 million to 189 nonprofits for more than 700 programs since it was founded, including investments in advocacy and research, according to a July 31 news release. “Supporting the whole child means making sure children have opportunities to learn, grow and simply be children,” said Shante Avant, president and CEO of the women’s foundation. “We listen to what communities need, and bring partners and resources together to help meet those needs. This playground is a wonderful example of what that collaboration can make possible.”
Vance Avenue Youth Development Center’s new playground, officially opened July 30, 2026, fills a gap in the center’s portfolio of services and resources, which include tutoring, social services referrals, food assistance and job placement services.
Children of all ages join members of the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis and the Much Required Initiative to cut the ribbon on a new playground at the Vance Avenue Youth Development Center on July, 30, 2026.
Other supporters of the project include the Kresge Foundation and the Lichterman-Loewenberg Foundation. “As a parent, it means a lot to know that our children now have a safe
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place right here in their community to play and have fun,” said local resident Angela Johnson. “It is something our families will be able to enjoy for years to come.”
TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
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Free fare and new fleet additions improve outlook at MATA By James Coleman
TSD Contributing Writer
MATA’s two-man leadership team delivered a rare upbeat assessment of the troubled transit system’s operations to Memphis City Council members on Tuesday, August 4. Since March, ridership has increased by upwards of 30% along MATA’s 23 fixed routes. The ongoing free fair offer has been given much of the credit. MATA began the pilot program offering free rides in late 2025 to gauge its impact on ridership. “We will continue to evaluate it and I am hopeful over the next 45 days we will be able to reach a decision,” said interim CEO Roderick Holmes. Moreover, new buses will be added to an aging fleet in the midst of an overall replacement. Over the past several years, wait times have expanded as breakdowns became commonplace. With the additions, a total of 21 new large buses will be in operation by next week. Another 12 buses were previously added to the fleet. A larger convoy will roll into town next year. Nearly
Week of: August 13, 2026
50% of MATA’s current fleet buses “are past their useful life.” “Just over the last two weeks, through a series of negotiations over the last few months, we’ve been able to get an allocation of over 32 additional buses in the spring or early summer of 2027,” said Holmes. The goal is to have 56 new large buses. A total of 51 buses is considered a “full compliment.” The fleet transformation will be completed by the refurbishment of 15 existing buses. When the overhaul is done, they will be added to the fixed routes. MATA brass hope to bring routes back to former scale, prior to 2024 cuts. They also hope to expand the number of routes across the MATA service area. Holmes is currently one of a twoman team attempting to shepherd the hardpressed division back from the financial abyss. Fiscal trustee Art Davis was appointed two weeks ago. Already, he has implemented controls for review processes and signoffs. Meetings are also planned to discuss cashflow and the budgeting process.
“I take this responsibility as a great opportunity to help improve MATA’s and the transportation system and I am very excited to be able to do that,” said Davis, who previously served as the CFO of the City of Memphis. Council members withheld financial questions for a later update. There are sure to be many. In 2023, an annual budget deficit at MATA came to light. A 10-year study revealed a red line that stabilized at $60 million after rising as high as $91 million. Outrage swelled after an independent audit revealed questionable spending under former leadership. This list of infractions included unaccounted for credit card charges, luxury travel, Grizzlies tickets and a $4 million rented Downtown office space that sat largely empty. Council responded by taking a hatchet to MATA’s annual budget. The transit authority’s FY2027 budget is $32 million, down from over $55 million 10 years prior. One council member complimented the “tremendous job” being accomplished with the limited resources. “You walked into a chaotic mess
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for over decades and I know that it’s going to take some time,” noted council member Yolanda Cooper-Sutton. “At first, we were in the blind, and we didn’t know anything. We thank you for all the hard work that you’re doing and being transparent with us. I don’t think I would have known half of the stuff that you all have revealed.” Along with a new fleet, steps have also been taken to improve the rider experience. New signage is being added that will replace the familiar green aluminum marker. The new signs will note the stage, bus number and destination of the route. A phone number for rider inquiries and a QR code are included. New shelters continued to be installed too. A total of 16 have been installed with plans for two to three to be added per month. Meanwhile, MATA’s trolley system is on track for return in the fall. System integration testing is underway, after braking systems testing was completed. A 180-day notice has also been submitted to the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Four trolleys have been selected for service.
TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
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MSCS FY2027 budget passes, though tardy for the first day of school By James Coleman
TSD Contributing Writer
With the first day of school in the buses’ rearview mirror, Shelby County Commissioners approved a $1.799 billion FY2027 budget for the Memphis-Shelby County Schools on Monday, Aug. 10. The combined operating and capital improvement budgets were passed 7-4. Voting in favor of the amended proposal were Michael Whaley, Miska Clay Bibbs, Charlie Caswell, Matthew Szalaj, Henri Brooks, Mickell Lowery and Chairwoman Shante Avant. Members Amber Mills, Mick Wright, Britany Thornton and Brandon Morrison voted against the item. Commissioners Erika Sugarmon and David Bradford recused themselves due to conflicts of interest. MSCS budgets are typically passed during the annual budget season, which ends on June 30. After the school board approved the budget in late May, it was promptly submitted to the county’s finance team for review. However, commissioners did not receive copies until “much later.” Streamlining the process for a future commission was discussed during a previous committee meeting. It will be the final MSCS budget vote for a majority of the members. Seven of the 13 board members are exiting via term
limits at the end of the month. Britany Thornton opted not to seek a second term. “One of the things we did discuss is to make sure we change the process for the future, such that there is some redundancy in how the budget is submitted, so it can be prepared concurrently with the county budget. Which is how it should have happened,” said Budget Committee Chairman Whaley. Commissioners left the meeting unclear about which budget Shelby County’s schools were operating under on their first day back. When asked, county attorney Meghan Smith passed the buck. “I would defer to the county schools for that answer. I do not know,” said Smith. The proposal was amended by $120 million in late June. Shelby County Director of Finance Audrey Tipton deferred to the MSCS school board for the breakdown. During the meeting, a
MSCS representative did not speak on behalf of the proposal. “I don’t think it is a good look for someone from MSCS not to be here during this moment. You know, we’re talking about a $1.7 billion budget. There are lots of questions. Constituents deserve to have answers in real time,” said Thornton. Wright agreed that it was a “bad look.” Caswell later informed members that MSCS board member Stephanie Love attempted to attend the meeting, but wasn’t allowed entry into the parking garage. “She was out there. I’m sorry I missed her, because she was sitting outside trying to get in,” explained Caswell. The budget includes $200 million to address building updates. Another $11.9 million is redirected from unspent funds from the East Memphis High School construction project. It will go towards deferred maintenance and repairs. Meanwhile, the budget
seeks a 2% staff reduction, or 345 positions, from recent school closures. Funding for the state-ordered oversight board is also contained in the budget. Each of the nine-member appointees would receive $30,000. Still, the status of the board is currently uncertain. On July 1, a federal judge issued an injunction pausing the takeover. The administration of Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and MSCS filed a lawsuit, arguing the state intervention was unconstitutional. The judge’s ruling allowed the budget to pass without state interference. Still, if the lawsuit fails, the takeover board would gain power of the spending plan. It could also ignore the wishes of the school board and commission. One thing the budget doesn’t include is new devices for high school students. This year’s seniors were slated to receive new Ipads, but will have to make due with their previously issued devices. Other students will have to provide their own. Moreover, textbooks for many subjects are only issued online. “Not everyone can afford a device,” said Sugarmon. “So I would like the school board to address that this year and please provide all students with a device.” The sticker price for a new Ipad starts at around $500.
“One of the things we did discuss is to make sure we change the process for the future, such that there is some redundancy in how the budget is submitted, so it can be prepared concurrently with the county budget. Which is how it should have happened.” — Michael Whaley
Week of: August 13, 2026
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TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
■■ NEWS
PUBLIC NOTICES / CLASSIFIEDS TSD CLASSIFIEDS
Commission sets universal pre-K funding at ‘26 level; expects to revisit in the fall By James Coleman
TSD Contributing Writer
Universal pre-K has been officially put on hold after the Shelby County Commission adopted an ordinance amendment that locks the county’s funding at the FY2026 level. Commissioners approved the item with a 11-0 vote. However, the revision may be short-lived. Outgoing commissioner and county mayor-elect Mickell Lowery has picked early childhood education as his top priority after winning the Aug. 6 contest. During the meeting, the onus was put on the commission members-elect to do likewise. “So we’re going to have eight new commissioners after Sept. 1. I cannot say enough how important this is. This is the future of Shelby County, said Commissioner Britany Thornton. “I really hope that you work with Mayor-elect Lowery to renegotiate this contract and to allow the commission to make the investment we are ready to make into our universal pre-k. We need to stay on this fiveyear plan and we need to see this through.” Commissioners and Memphis City Council members adopted the joint ordinance with the City of Memphis in 2019 to fund universal pre-K. The agreement put the county on the hook for the majority of the costs. In 2025-26, Shelby County invested $11.5 million of a total $20 million in funding for the local head start program. Memphis covered the remainder. The plan ultimately called for a combined $22 million in funding to reach the goal.
Week of: August 13, 2026
Instead of an expected annual incremental increase towards the endeavor, outgoing Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris froze funding at FY2026 levels. Over the years, Harris soured on the payment split. In 2022 — the first year of the program — the county invested $8.5 million. Of course, Harris doesn’t deserve all the blame. Memphis essentially tied the county’s hands when it reaffirmed its 2025-26 funding commitment. To boil it down, for every $1.35 the county gives, the city pays $1.00. If the county gives one penny more, or less, the program is terminated. “We are off-track on our universal pre-k plan, which is to provide 3 and 4 year olds access all across Shelby County to universal pre-k,” said Thornton. “It has recently had an amendment that has put a tethering between the county and the city. So even when the county was interested to go all the way and to stay on track, it couldn’t because our investment increased above a new threshold that has been put into the contract.” That could quickly change. Along with Lowery’s vow, nine Democrats will hold office on the commission next fall. The headcount is an instant supermajority. Only four Republicans were elected to the commission on Aug. 6. Voting in favor of the joint ordinance amendment were Michael Whaley, Miska Clay Bibbs, Charlie Caswell, Erika Sugarmon, Mick Wright, Brandon Morrison, David Bradford, Chairwoman Shante Avant, Matthew Szalaj, Thornton and Lowery. Members Amber Mills and Henri Brooks did not vote. The amendment required a nine vote majority to pass.
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NOTICE TO BIDDERS Shelby County Government has issued Request for Qualification number 20271006, Countywide Architectural Design Services for the Engineering Department. Information regarding this RFQ is located on the County’s website at www.shelbycountytn.gov . At the top of the home page, click on the dropdown box under “Business”, Click on “Purchasing” and “Bids” to locate the name of the abovedescribed RFQ. REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION 20271006 DUE DATE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2026 @ 4:00 PM (CST) (RFQ 20271006) Countywide Architectural Design Services Shelby County is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, drug-free with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service. By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT
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■■ NEWS
‘A girl from North Memphis’: Hayslett’s life was on the rise before fatal shooting The 34-year-old health care administrator had earned a doctorate just months before she was killed at a college send-off By Lee Eric Smith
TSD Contributing Writer
Six days before completing her doctorate, Shandrika Hayslett described herself on social media as “a little black girl from North Memphis.” From Trezevant High School to Tennessee State University. From one degree to another. A career in health care. A home. A husband. And this spring, at 34, a doctorate. A motivational speaker, Hayslett made clear that she hoped her accomplishments might inspire others. “It was never about the degree but the woman He created me to be!” she posted. “I didn’t do it for me but all of the women who look like me! Be DELUSIONAL when it comes to your Dreams.” It was a Saturday night, and she was back in North Memphis, this time helping celebrate a relative preparing to take an important step of their own — leaving for college. She would not survive the night.
Violence erupts Hayslett was killed and four other people were wounded on Aug. 8 after gunfire erupted during a large trunk party in the 1700 block of Brookins Street in the Douglass community. “What happened Saturday night was senseless. A family gathered to celebrate a young person heading off to college, and it ended with a life lost to gun violence,” Memphis Mayor Paul Young said in a statement. “Her life had so much promise, and her loss is devastating.” Memphis police said officers re-
Week of: August 13, 2026
sponded shortly after 11 p.m. Saturday after a fight broke out and multiple shots were fired. Two 25-year-old men — Naskial Wilson and Damion Thomas — have since been arrested. Police say each faces first-degree murder, six counts of attempted first-degree murder, reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon and employment of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony. Police initially said investigators had identified three suspects. Wilson and Thomas were arrested in Arlington after warrants were issued. No charges have been publicly announced against the third person investigators said they had identified. Three of the four surviving shooting victims have been released from the hospital, according to police. The fourth was upgraded from critical to stable condition.
A community responds At a community gathering Monday, Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis said investigators were continuing to work the case and indicated additional arrests could follow. But even as police focused on who killed Hayslett, Young and other community leaders urged Memphis to remember who had been killed. She had recently earned her doctorate, and she and her husband had been looking forward to starting a family, Young said. Former co-workers at Christ Community Health Services, where Hayslett worked during the COVID-19 pandemic, remembered someone who “cared deeply for others and dedicated
Shandrika Hayslett
herself to serving this community,” Young said. State Rep.-elect Telisa Franklin, whose district includes the Douglass area, challenged the community not to allow the shooting to erase what had brought hundreds of people together that night. “How do we make sure that one tragic act does not overshadow the gathering and what it was truly about: Celebrating one of our young people?” Franklin asked.
A life on the rise Hayslett’s social-media pages offer snapshots of the life behind the headline. A member of Trezevant High School’s Class of 2009, she later attended Tennessee State University and proudly returned for homecoming as an alumna. In 2018 came another cap and gown, this time celebrating a master’s degree from Strayer University. Her career was in health-care ad-
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A college send-off party on Brookins Street on Saturday, Aug. 8, turned deadly when gunmen opened fire after a fight, killing Shandrika Hayslett and injuring four others. (Gary S. Whitlock/Tri-State Defender)
ministration. A biography published by the Arts Over Odds Foundation, where Hayslett sat on the board, says she held a Bachelor of Health Science and a master’s degree in health care administration and had worked as an administrator for a primary care and urgent care practice. Other posts marked milestones beyond work and school: buying a home with her fiancé in 2019, marriage, and a relationship she frequently described through the language of faith and prayer. Then came the doctorate. Her Instagram biography charted the educational climb in three abbreviations: “BS.. MHA.. DBA.” The final initials stand for Doctor of Business Administration, an academic doctorate rather than a medical degree. And this spring, she celebrated the newest title. “New Chapter loading,” Hayslett wrote. “Shandrika Hayslett signing out! Dr. Hayslett signing in!”
TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
■■ ENTERTAINMENT
Beyond Harriet Tubman: The untold stories of the Underground Railroad and the fight for freedom Book review By Terri Schlichenmeyer Head down. Keep it covered. Make yourself as small as possible. Say nothing. Do not even sneeze. But when the time is right, be ready to jump, run, zig-zag – crouched and quiet. And never stop. In “Daily Life Along the Underground Railroad” by historian and college professor Cassandra Newby-Alexander, escaping slavery was unimaginably hard, but enslaved people did it every day for decades. It was 1853 and Harriet Jacobs was “miserable,” because “the monster who owned her” was sexually abusing her, and his wife was jealous. Jacob’s children “bore too strong a resemblance to him.” The enslaved woman eventually ran away from her slaveholder and wrote a book in 1861 about her experiences. She is credited with becoming the first woman in the U.S. to write a fugitive slave narrative. Author Newby-Alexander says Jacob’s story “represents the life of many who were victims of slavery yet managed to escape … ” And those who helped enslaved people also faced danger. The Underground Railroad, a network of secret escape routes, was supported by many people willing to shelter and shield those on the run. Cooks and stewards, Quakers, stationmasters and the formerly enslaved did their part, knowing that if they were caught, it could mean imprisonment or worse.
Week of: August 13, 2026
Slavery was “big business,” says Newby-Alexander, often more lucrative than the grain and tobacco crops that enslaved people of African descent planted and harvested. So, escaped slaves were considered lost money. Still, many sought freedom. And the methods of escape varied. Some formerly enslaved people walked away from their owners, just like that. Some ran in broad daylight or overnight, leaving behind spouses and children, hoping to reunite later. Some made their way to seaports, where Black mariners would ferry them to northern American cities. Others went to Mexico or Canada, or found their way to free black communities, the Great Dismal Swamp near Norfolk, Virginia, Maroon communities or shelter among Indigenous people. But getting caught was a constant threat. And returning to slavery as a known runaway could mean harsher conditions or death for the individual. And though enslaved people desperately sought freedom, Newby-Alexander notes it was “not a perfect, happy ending … ” when they achieved it. No doubt, you have heard the legendary story of Harriet Tubman, called “Moses” by her people. But her largerthan-life tale of guiding people to freedom can sometimes overshadow the help that others lent. Because Moses was not the only conductor, according to “Daily Life Along the Underground Railroad,” which brings to readers stirring tales of terror, abuse and righteous despair about stealth conductors and enslaved people who were unknown
“Daily Life Along the Underground Railroad” by Cassandra Newby-Alexander c.2026, Bloomsbury Academic $75.00 184 pages
until now. Readers may be struck by those who left family behind, often out of necessity, and by the complicated planning an escape required. These true stories, told plainly and with an urgency that still rings over the decades, will capti-
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vate you. If you study Black history, “Daily Life Along the Underground Railroad” is a must-have book you will read again and again for its clear examination of a dark and painful period in our nation’s past.
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