Tennessee's Republican legislature approves a new congressional map that splits the state's majority-Black district in Memphis, a move expected to favor Republicans in the 2024 midterms. The redistricting follows a Supreme Court ruling limiting racial gerrymandering protections.
Posts tagged as “Shelby County”
Former Memphis police officer Desmond Mills Jr. pled guilty to federal and state charges on Thursday for the beating death of Tyre Nichols. As part of a larger agreement, Mills agreed to plead guilty to excessive force and obstruction of justice, and to act as a cooperating witness in both federal and state investigations. The Shelby County District Attorney's Office released a statement regarding Mills' plea, and the plea agreement is still subject to approval by the court.
Cleotha Abston of Memphis, Tennessee has been charged with first-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping after snatching Eliza Fletcher from a street near the University of Memphis. Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy has filed notice with the court that prosecutors will seek the death penalty if Abston is convicted. The trial is set to begin on November 18th, and the prosecution is determined to seek justice for Fletcher and her family.
Key takeaways: The Supreme Court ruled that Alabama violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting the Black vote when it drew new congressional maps. The…
The family of Tyre Nichols has released a statement acknowledging the results of the medical examiner’s report, which confirms that he died from blunt force trauma. The attorneys representing the family are now calling for justice and accountability for the officers involved in the incident, and are demanding that the police department implement reforms to ensure similar incidents do not occur in the future. The Shelby County District Attorney’s office has yet to announce any charges in the case.
On Monday, six people, including five teenagers, were found dead in rural Oklahoma in what is believed to be a murder-suicide. The shooter, Jesse McFadden, was a 39-year-old convicted sex offender who was on trial for child pornography charges. The victims included his wife and her three children, as well as two of their friends. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are trying to understand why McFadden was free while awaiting trial on new sex charges.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy announced Tuesday that former Memphis police officer Preston Hemphill, who used a stun gun on Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop that preceded his fatal beating by other officers, will not face criminal charges. An internal investigation found that Hemphill violated multiple department policies, and the District Attorney's office is continuing to investigate the other officers involved in the incident.
Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones, who was expelled from the GOP-dominated House of Representatives last week, is shocked at reports of legislators threatening local officials with funding cuts if he is reappointed. Rep. Gloria Johnson, who also participated in the protest, survived the vote and was not expelled. The Metro Council is meeting Monday to consider reappointing Rep. Jones, and the outcome of the meeting will show whether they stand up to the threats made by the state legislature.