Last week on WKNO's Behind the Headlines, Memphis mayoral candidate Tami Sawyer got more specific about her economic plans for the city under her leadership. Sawyer wants to take a closer look at tax incentives and PILOT programs being awarded to companies who can't promise to make a more substantial impact. 

"Any mayor should pay close attention to how much generosity the taxpayers are giving," says political analyst Otis Sanford, adding that Sawyer is finally putting the "meat on the bones" of her progressive campaign. 

Changes in the economics of recycling have affected cities across the United States, including here in Shelby County. As the costs of recycling services rise, municipalities are looking for new ways to keep their programs afloat. 

As of this month, the City of Collierville is saving money by trucking its curbside materials out of the county, but that also means one popularly recycled item—glass—can no longer be dropped in the bin. It will affect about 12,000 homes.   

The Arcade is Memphis' oldest restaurant, founded in 1919 by Speros Zepatos after he immigrated from Cephalonia, Greece to Memphis.  Originally a wooden structure, the beloved eatery has stood the test of time.

Ayile Arnett is driving through North Memphis in her Chevy Trailblazer, making deliveries.

Google maps leads her to a modest home, where she retrieves a small cardboard box from her backseat containing a 90-day supply of prescription drugs.

Arnett introduces herself at the door. “Hi, my name is Ayile, and I have a medication drop-off [from] Good Shepherd,” which results in some initial confusion.

These packages usually come through the mail.

But today, Arnett is demonstrating a smartphone app she created to transport people and things at no cost. 

“ScripRide is basically a platform that is similar to Uber or Lyft, except for we leverage the volunteer spirit of community members in different locations,” Arnett says.  

Artist Justin Bowles has transformed the Beverly and Sam Ross Gallery at Christian Brothers University into Temple of the Cha-Cha-Hua, a fantasy environment that will hopefully speak to a sacred space inside each of us: the essence of our childhood dreams. 

For 35 years, Memphis College of Art (MCA) students have been following in the footsteps of American artist Walter Inglis Anderson (1903-1965) as they make a 10-day excursion to Horn Island, an uninhabited barrier island off the coast of Mississippi. This year marked the 35th, and final, Horn Island expedition for MCA. 

Shelby County Commissioner Tami Sawyer is a young progressive running to unseat Mayor Jim Strickland in the October election. This week on WKNO-TV's Behind the Headlines, Sawyer joins Daily Memphian reporter Bill Dries and host Eric Barnes to discuss her political platform.

Sawyer believes that Strickland's administration is oppressing black people, "especially black women." She says she wants to be an influencer and advocate for Memphis citizens who are often marginalized by government. 

If elected mayor, Sawyer says she plans to institute new budget priorities and stronger oversight of the judicial system and tax incentive programs in the city and county.

As the end of summer nears, the three top candidates running for Memphis Mayor are embracing different campaign styles.

Memphis singer-songwriter -- and upright bass player-- Amy LaVere is frequently shelved under "Americana," but her latest solo album, Painting Blue (Nine Mile Records), has enough soul in it to stretch any strict definition of the genre. 

I am about to make a statement that may ruffle some feathers in a town East of us … but I can say with certainty that Memphis has the best fried chicken in the state of Tennessee.