The top headlines of 2018 are recapped in this week's WKNO-TV's Behind the Headlines with local reporters Bill Dries, Laura Faith Kebede, Ryan Poe and Toby Sells. Among the topics: the midterm elections, police surveillance, and the search for a new Shelby County superintendent.
Daily Memphian reporter Bill Dries explains that a so-called “blue wave” did not affect Tennessee as predicted. Dries says that it’s been a pattern for Tennessee to alternate between a Republican and Democratic governor, but the 2018 midterm election broke that cycle as “a Republican Governor (Haslam) is being replaced by another Republican (Lee).” Dries mentions that this has not happened since 1970.
Laura Faith Kebede, a Chalkbeat Tennessee reporter, talks about what the 2018 election results mean for the Shelby County School system. Kebede says that Governor Lee’s campaign created a lot of energy for changing up the educational system, but explains that TN Ready remains one of the “biggest challenges” yet to be faced.
The Memphis Flyer’s Toby Sells explains that, in the year 2018, protesting and activism was popular with Memphians. Sells talks about the ACLU’s winning lawsuit against the Memphis Police Department, which conducted unwarranted undercover surveillance - violating a 1978 decree prohibiting the MPD from performing such actions.
To wrap up, guests talk about funding for schools and city transportation. Ryan Poe with The Commerical Appeal discusses a proposal for sports betting, of which a 10% tax would go towards improving schools and resources for children. Poe explains what this could mean for Shelby County Schools' parents and students.
