‘One down, and more to go’ as polluter closes in South Memphis
South Memphis residents were celebrating Tuesday as Sterilization Services of Tennessee left its home of nearly 50 years.
Keely Brewer
Reporter
Keely Brewer is a Report for America corps member covering environmental impacts on communities of color in Memphis. She is working in partnership with the Ag & Water Desk, a sustainable reporting network aimed at telling water and agriculture stories across the Mississippi River Basin.
There are 322 articles by Keely Brewer :
-
May 2024
-
South Memphis -
Premium
MillingtonData centers will gobble more energy. Powering them can be a problem
As more data centers are built in the U.S., they’re consuming more energy. And in Shelby County, RWE’s Graceland Solar project unwittingly became a case study for how new facilities might be powered.
-
-
April 2024
-
Shelby County Despite county vote, Millington-area solar farm will move forward
The developers and Shelby County reached an out-of-court settlement to allow the 1,500-acre solar farm to be built.
-
Premium
MetroKeep the power on or keep it green? The paradox of tree trimming
Foliage has historically caused about 40% of power outages in Memphis, but thick canopies shelter residents from the sun and harsh winds, meaning tree trimming is a balancing act for MLGW.
-
North Memphis North Memphis tree project withdrawn for 5 years; confusion lingers
The developers shouldn’t be able to pursue any similar projects for five years, but a representative of the project said otherwise.
-
Premium
South MemphisIndustrial polluter moving out, but community still has questions
After decades of toxic emissions and nearly two years of community pressure on the company, Sterilization Services of Tennessee is leaving its South Memphis facility.
-
City of Memphis MLGW board agrees to give suburban members a vote
Since 2017, the MLGW board has allowed for two members who live outside the Memphis city limits, but they don’t get a vote. That could soon change if the City Council and residents agree.
-
Premium
City of MemphisWhat new limits on ‘forever chemicals’ mean for Memphis’ drinking water
Because Tennessee has never regulated PFAS, it’s unknown how much of the forever chemicals are in Memphis’ drinking water.
-
City of Memphis More MLGW salaries, contracts will have to go before City Council
The Memphis City Council will have more direct control over Memphis Light, Gas and Water’s spending for at least six months.
-
City of Memphis Contentious North Memphis project comes to a head — again
The developers “withdrew” their application but say they only meant to postpone the vote. Council member Easter-Thomas doesn’t buy it.
-
South Memphis EPA issues stricter rules on companies like Sterilization Services in South Memphis
Under new federal guidelines, one Memphis company will have to slash emissions and another seems to be in the process of shutting down.
-
-
March 2024
-
Premium
DowntownMemphis bridges designed for ‘barge impact’
There are a litany of things that can cause a ship or barge to collide with a bridge, with “Mother Nature being a primary one,” according to a waterways management chief with the U.S. Coast Guard.
-
Premium
North MemphisDecades into Velsicol cleanup, community remains skeptical
At a rare community meeting Thursday evening, tensions between about 30 community members and a couple company representatives boiled over. One message was clear: The community doesn’t trust Velsicol.
-
Premium
City of MemphisMLGW’s smart meter saga continues
Nearly a year and a half after Memphis Light, Gas and Water’s smart meters started breaking — and just as the utility thought it was almost done repairing them — another issue has arisen.
-
City of Memphis MLGW pushes back on council proposal for more say-so on contracts, salaries
Had the proposed limits been in place last year, the Memphis City Council would have needed to approve about a tenth of MLGW’s new external hires, or 23 employees.
-
City of Memphis Memphis City Council approves $200K salary for Ursula Madden, MLGW’s newest VP
The former TV journalist was supposed to start work at the utility in early March, but a month-long delay by the City Council left her in limbo.
Related story:
MLGW pushes back on council proposal for more say-so on contracts, salaries
-
Premium
City of MemphisContentious North Memphis tree upcycling project scrapped
Memphis Urban Wood planned to turn a vacant 10-acre property on North Watkins Street into a facility that transforms wood waste into lumber and wood compost.
-
Midtown Fenced-off area of Overton Park to reopen
For decades, a dozen acres of old-growth forest have been separated from Overton Park by a chain-link fence, but the area could reconnect to the park’s existing trail system by the end of the year.
-
State Government Proposed federal legislation targets TVA
A new federal bill could require the Tennessee Valley Authority to consider more public input in its long-term planning process.
-
State Government Clash about Tennessee wetlands ends with ‘summer study’
A bill that would have allowed more development on certain types of Tennessee wetlands stalled Wednesday, March 6.
-
Suburbs Light switches: Arlington and Millington getting LED streetlights
They’re following suit with the City of Memphis, Collierville and Bartlett.
-
City of Memphis Ursula Madden’s MLGW salary vote punted to next meeting
The Memphis City Council has to approve any MLGW salary more than $180,000, but that number could soon change.
-
City of Memphis Council postpones vote on Ursula Madden’s MLGW salary
The Memphis City Council has to approve any MLGW salary over $180,000.
-
Arts & Culture New Sultana museum could open by April 2025
Construction is beginning on the new museum, which will be nearly 20 times bigger than the existing one. The developers hope to have it open by April 27, 2025, the 160th anniversary of the disaster.
-
Business ‘Compost Fairy’ returns, but on a smaller scale
Compost Fairy Mike Larrivee once had more than 2,000 customers. After he announced the business’ return, more than 100 people signed up within days, and he’s got a waitlist of hundreds more.
-