Behind the Headlines Podcast

If masks have been the face of the nation’s political divide during the pandemic, what are COVID vaccinations?

On “Behind the Headlines,” Porter-Leath’s Rob Hughes discusses the future of preschool in Shelby County after the abrupt end to its partnership with Shelby County Schools. 

On “Behind The Headlines,” county commissioners Van Turner and Mark Billingsley clashed over whether the commission should reopen its budget season later this month to consider a one-cent property tax hike.

The nonprofit’s new executive director talked on “Behind the Headlines” about the end of a truce between the City Council, County Commission and the builders of the proposed Byhalia Connection oil pipeline. Final votes on several new local hurdles for the pipeline are set for next month. Sarah Houston also talked a long-term goal of a regional groundwater trust.

Collierville Mayor Stan Joyner and Bartlett Mayor Keith McDonald talked on “Behind The Headlines” about property tax hikes passed and up for a final vote, respectively, in the cities they lead and why the estimated share of federal ARPA funds in each of their cities took a tumble in the latest estimates.

The County Commission’s vote approving a one-cent property tax hike and the City Council’s consideration next week of a 29-cent city property tax hike were the dominant topics in a reporter’s roundtable on “Behind The Headlines.”

The path of the two budget seasons and the use of federal funds to close financial gaps — plus other topics — are the focus of a reporters roundtable on “Behind The Headlines.”

Executive Director of BLDG Memphis Deveney Perry and the Executive Director of Stand for Children Tennessee Cardell Orrin join host Eric Barnes to discuss the budget priorities for 2021-22 budgets for both the City of Memphis and Shelby County. In addition, guests talk about local economical issues the new budgets are and are not addressing.

City parks and neighborhoods director Nick Walker, on “Behind The Headlines,” talks about the new Gaisman Park and community center, the success of David Carnes Park in Whitehaven and the transition of the nonprofit group “Bloom.”

City Council budget committee Chairman Worth Morgan and city Chief Financial Officer Shirley Ford talked about revenue estimates and the impact of federal American Rescue Plan funds as well as restrictions on its use during “Behind The Headlines.”