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Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Looking deeper into Carter Malone Group's invoices to Memphis Shelby County Schools
SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — The Memphis Shelby County School board hired a public relations firm behind closed doors last fall. It sparked concerns among some taxpayers as they demanded to see how the board is spending their money. 'Who's paying the fees for outside legal and PR firms? Is it us taxpayers?' one taxpayer asked the board during a meeting in January. The hire came just weeks before the board voted to fire the MSCS Superintendent, Dr. Marie Feagins. How much is MSCS paying Carter Malone Group for public relations? 'I think people were more concerned about it being done at the time it was done,' said school board Chairwoman Joyce Dorse-Coleman. This wasn't the first time the board hired the Carter Malone Group to help them with their PR. Last summer, Feagins cancelled the previous contract. Dorse-Coleman said that soon after, the internal communications department fell apart. Records WREG obtained show that at least four communications staffers resigned within months. 'When we were reaching out for communications support, we weren't receiving it,' said Dorse-Coleman. 'We had no support.' The board entered into another contract with the Carter Malone Group in November. A move that wasn't discussed or voted on publicly, because the bill would 'not exceed $70,000.' The policy states board approval is only necessary for professional service contracts above $75,000. Because there was no vote, the contract wasn't posted for you to see, either. WREG Investigators received a copy through someone connected within the district. It stated the firm would keep a detailed log of their work and then bill the board every month based on the hourly rates listed in the contract. Deidre Malone opens up about why MSCS hired her PR firm 'A public relations agency is just like a law firm. We believe it is important for our clients to know everything that we do for them,' said the firm's president and CEO, Deidre Malone. 'If my director of public relations is writing the chair's report, then she's going to document that. What that time looks like and what that costs.' In January, we asked for those invoices, and four months later, the district handed them over. In December, the invoice totaled more than $23,000. A majority of it had to do with the board's efforts to fire Feagins. The firm charged $900 for a communications strategy with the chair and another $1,200 to attend the meeting. They also prepared videos, statements and press releases based on various outcomes and provided media training and scripts. MSCS-Dec-2024-SubstantiationDownload The line items are similar in January's invoice, but the bill was slightly cheaper at around $19,000. The firm was again charged to prep for and attend the second special-called meeting where Feagins was terminated. They also charged $40 for a snow day social media post that month, $150 to meet with a lawmaker, and another $200 to tag along for an appearance on Your News Leader. That's right, their bill grew with each media appearance as the media asked your questions. 'It shouldn't be awkward because our role is to work with the media to get you what you need, and if your interview is an interview with the chair or one of the board members, then it's our role to coordinate that,' Green stated. The firm also charged $175 to help the chair draft a response in April when another board member threatened to deport a Hispanic woman who criticized her work. Original story: School board member won't apologize for deportation threat Followup story: School board member apologizes for deportation threat MSCS-Apr-2025-SubstantiationDownload There were more interview preps, press releases, and phone calls. Plus, another $1,700 for the new interim superintendent's media training. Malone said they wanted to detail everything they did, so the public could understand what they were paying for. 'When you're dealing with clients that are government clients, it's so important for them to understand everything that an agency does for them, so that's the reason why we itemize,' she said. The chair admits that information should be easier to obtain. 'We as a district have to do better at explaining why and the hows of certain things, like why do we have to feel like we needed an outside PR firm?' Dorse-Coleman said. 'Yes, the trust has been distorted. We know that,' Dorse-Coleman said. 'We have to do better, and our interim superintendent is committed and the board is committed to being more transparent.' The chair said she wanted every contract published, but it's unclear when that will happen. Get the latest from the WREG Investigators in your inbox The Carter Malone Group's contract ended last month. They reached the $70,000 limit before that, but continued to work through May without charging the district. Dorse-Coleman said the board is now utilizing the internal communications team again, but stated if they do not provide the support they need, she's not opposed to entering into another contract with the Carter Malone Group. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
29 of 49 Rolling Thunder suspects already out of jail
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Mugshots shown at City Hall Wednesday showed some of the 160 suspects arrested in the City of Memphis's Rolling Thunder Operation. 'These are the faces of violent individuals tied to murders and other gun violence, drug trafficking, auto theft, illegal weapons and other crimes that destabilize entire communities,' Police Chief C.J. Davis said. But of the 49 criminals that were publicly shown, a further investigation from Your News Leader reveals that 29 of the 49 suspects shown here have already been released from jail. (See graphic below) Memphis mayor: 'The era of unchecked violence in our city is over' While some of the men still locked up were charged with serious crimes, some charged with non-violent offenses like drug possession. Operation Rolling thunder was designed to target gang activity in the city from April 23 to May Keith Norman who has been following what's happening in the city closely believes the mayor announcing successful crime statistics was an appropriate response, given FBI Director Kash Patel saying Memphis was the homicide capital of America over the weekend. FBI Director calls Memphis 'homicide capital of the USA' 'We do have a crime problem,' Norman said. 'However, to call us the homicide or murder capital, on that large of a scale was just really not an appropriate statement. And so for the mayor and the chief of police to make a counter statement by suggesting what we are doing does bring leadership and calmness to the law abiding citizens of our city to know that we're not just sitting around, twiddling my thumbs, so to speak.' And as far as the 160 arrests in just 17 days, Pastor Norman believes while it might be harsh, but sometimes it's required. 'Ok, this is a high number. We're not happy with having to arrest our way out of this, but if it's required we've got to do it,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
TDOT, city crews work to fill Memphis potholes
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Potholes are something that Memphians are familiar with and after months and weeks of winter weather and heavy rainfall, more are popping up in the city. However, city and state leaders say they're working around the clock to make commutes smoother for drivers. One particular area of concern is along North Parkway. There is good news though — TDOT says this specific area will be resurfaced soon. Other areas with damage are the ramp at Interstate 40 and Highway 51. However, that ramp will be revamped soon — it's a part of TDOT's three-year pavement program. Memphis Public Works is also working to improve roads. So far this year, crews have filled thousands of potholes across the city. From Jan. 1 to April 30 of this year, they've filled more than 24,000 potholes, and they expect that number to keep growing. Last year, the Public Works Director at that time, Robert Knecht, told Your News Leader how AI is helping identify potholes. 'We're working on that now and it's really showing huge benefits. I get contacted by other cities and they're like wow you guys are doing this cutting-edge technology tool, how? How can we do it?,' Knecht said at the time. First look: Plans submitted for Oak Court Mall site Memphis Public Works attaches the device to a city car. That device is specifically trained to accurately identify potholes. It's one of the many efforts to make roads and streets in Memphis safer and smoother. Memphis Public Works wants the community to know that many of the major routes in the city are state routes, which means TDOT is responsible for the pothole repairs. However, if you notice a pothole on a city street, call 311. To report a pothole for repair on a state road, you can either fill out an online Maintenance Request form, or you can call the TDOT Road Repair Hotline at 833- 836- 8349. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
72-year-old man left stranded in Serenity Towers
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A 72-year-old man who has been living at Serenity Towers since 2015 says he was stranded on the ninth floor with no working elevators for days, unable to get his meals or even move out. Elmer Montgomery lives on the ninth floor of Serenity Towers and says elevators help him get around. However, up until Friday morning, he was confined to his room. The elevators have now been fixed, but he says the issue delayed his move-out date. ► MORE ON SERENITY TOWERS 'I was supposed to move Monday. I found a new location, I found it last week, signed the lease and all, and they gave me a move-out date of the 17th. Seventeenth came around, no elevators, so I have been stuck up there since,' Montgomery said. He says he was also unable to receive basic needs. 'Last Saturday when the elevators went out, we had no way of getting off that ninth floor, I didn't. I receive Meals on Wheels, the Meals on Wheels people wouldn't walk up nine flights,' Montgomery said. A friend of Montgomery's was able to get in contact with Mayor Paul Young's office and meals were delivered to his home this week. However, broken elevators at Serenity Towers are just one of the issues Your News Leader has uncovered. Serenity Towers tenants set to move due to elevator issues For years, the WREG investigators have exposed unsafe living conditions at the property. In January, an environmental court judge ruled the building is 'uninhabitable' and a chronic nuisance. The City of Memphis must vacate the building and relocate residents by May 23. City plans to vacate Serenity Towers before summer For the time being, Montgomery hopes to see some changes. 'What they need to do is be more conscious of the needs of the tenants here. A lot of us, have eating issues, feeding issues, and a bit more concerns. For the most part, they're tryna help the people, but some people they just turn their back on,' Montogermy said. WREG reached out to Serenity Towers about the broken elevators but they did not have any comment about the matter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
Concerns after horses fall pulling carriage
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Some Memphians are saying horse-drawn carriages and passengers in downtown Memphis should be banned. For years, horse-drawn carriages transported passengers, many of whom were tourists, and have been a part of the downtown Memphis landscape. On Thursday, the sight of what some thought were injured horses lying on the ground near a white carriage left some people disturbed. Parents arrested after 3-year-old found dead at Arkansas home One of them was Memphian Annalisa Kirchner, who reached out to Your News Leader to share her concerns. 'So, I was driving onto Mud Island taking the back way and saw a horse under a carriage laying down on the grass on the side of the road, people standing around it. It appeared to be sick or hurt,' said Annalisa Kirchner, a Memphis resident. Some of the photos sent to WREG show carriage workers, witnesses, and first responders tending to the animals. Woman says MSCS paid another company $34k for work she never did 'There were a few people standing around and looked like the people who had been on the carriage and some people who stopped their cars to get out and help,' said Kirchner. WREG learned the horses belong to Mark Bills, who owns Uptown Carriage Company. In a statement, Bills tells WREG what he says happened. 'We were testing a team of new horses to make sure they are safe for the public,' said Bills. 'But on the way to the barn, one of the horses stumble,d causing the other horse to fall.' Burglars bust into Memphis gas station with sledgehammer 'Our team arrived on the site to transport the horses to the barn. Memphis Animal Services came by and inspected the horses,' said Bill. 'There was not even a scratch on the horses, and they are fine.' On the website some are calling for a ban on horse-drawn carriages on Memphis streets, similar to what was done in cities such as Chicago, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, and others. Kirchner said she and her friends signed the petition to see if they could make a change that way. Man critically injured in Orange Mound shooting 'This incident is extremely rare, and we've been in business for almost 30 years and like any industry you're going to have mishaps and at the end of the day the animals are safe,' said Bills. Kirchner said that she is still troubled that Memphis is continuing carriage rides and that the horses are being treated so poorly. WREG also reached out to the City of Memphis and Memphis Animal Services for an official comment but have yet to receive a response. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
