City of Memphis
President Trump creates ‘Memphis Safe Task Force’
“This task force will be a replica of our extraordinarily successful efforts here (in Washington D.C.), and you’ll see it’s a lot of the same thing (in Memphis),” the president said.
Samuel Hardiman
Reporter
Samuel Hardiman is a reporter who focuses on government and politics. He began his career at the Tulsa World where he covered business and K-12 education. Hardiman came to Memphis in 2018 to join the Memphis Business Journal, covering government and economic development. He then served as the Commercial Appeal’s city hall reporter and later joined The Daily Memphian in 2023. His current work focuses on xAI, energy needs and how local governments spend money.
There are 544 articles by Samuel Hardiman :
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September 2025
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Update
City of Memphis -
City of Memphis City of Memphis questions legality of its employee unions
The city argues that there’s nothing in its charter that gives city employees the right to collectively bargain as a union.
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City of Memphis President Trump and Gov. Lee plan to talk next week about deploying National Guard to Memphis
Gov. Bill Lee’s call with President Donald Trump followed the president’s Friday morning announcement on Fox News that he would send the guard to Memphis.
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City of Memphis TN Supreme Court declines to overturn 2nd Lieutenant decision
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that it would not review the City of Memphis’ appeal regarding the lawsuit between the city and the Memphis Police Association.
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Metro Gov. Lee, President Trump to ‘work out details’ on National Guard deployment to Memphis
“I’ve been in close contact with the Administration throughout the week, and will be speaking with President Trump this afternoon to work out details of the mission,” Gov. Bill Lee said.
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City of Memphis ‘The world will get an opportunity to watch us succeed,’ Mayor Young says
“I did not ask for the National Guard, and I don’t think it’s the way to drive down crime. However, that decision has been made,” Memphis Mayor Paul Young said.
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City of Memphis C.J. Davis to remain Memphis’ top cop amid National Guard deployment
Chief C.J. Davis will remain the city’s top law enforcement officer when the National Guard arrives, Davis and Memphis Mayor Paul Young said Friday.
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Metro White House, Memphis leaders have discussed National Guard deployment in city, source says
President Donald Trump teased that he would announce another city for National Guard deployment.
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Public Safety National Guard could be deployed to Memphis, mayor says
“What we need most are financial resources for intervention and prevention, additional patrol officers, and case support to strengthen MPD’s investigations,” Memphis Mayor Paul Young said.
Related content:
White House, Memphis leaders have discussed National Guard deployment in city, source says
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August 2025
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Premium
Public SafetyTwo area legislators want TBI to audit MPD crime stats
State Sen. Brent Taylor and state Rep. John Gillespie say they have heard about instances of felony crimes being reclassified as misdemeanors. They say an audit is “critical to maintaining transparency, accountability, and the public’s trust in our justice system.”
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State Government Tennessee Supreme Court halts MPD demotions. For now.
The Tennessee Supreme Court has briefly halted the pending demotions of more than 100 MPD second lieutenants.
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Memphis Grizzlies It’s official: Sports authority OKs funding agreement for FedExForum renovations
The Memphis and Shelby County Sports Authority will be the conduit for public funds to flow to the Grizzlies during the planned $550 million in FedExForum renovations.
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City of Memphis MLGW eyes Smith & Nephew building for new control room
MLGW has an existing space in mind for a new control room CEO Doug McGowen says is needed. And it’s a property the city-owned utility has looked at before.
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Grizzlies Podcast Grizzlies podcast: Schedule announcement, FedExForum lease discussions
Drew Hill and Chris Herrington analyze the 2025-26 Grizzlies schedule and are joined by Samuel Hardiman to discuss the franchise’s lease situation at FedExForum.
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City of MemphisHere’s where the $550 million for FedExForum renovations is coming from
The draft financing proposal obtained by The Daily Memphian spells out the sources of the money — and the timeline for spending it.
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City of MemphisThe city plans to keep the Grizzlies. Here’s a look inside the negotiations.
Records and sources say there is a real, tangible pathway for Memphis to keep the Grizzlies. However, barriers remain for what is one of the country’s smallest NBA markets to keep its sole major league franchise.
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Public Safety Tyré Nichols’ civil rights trial reset to November 2026
The reset came amid a broader rescheduling of a case that is approaching two-and-a-half years old.
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City of MemphisMATA proposes hope for Downtown trolleys but says it needs more money to run them
MATA does not have enough money to operate the trolleys even as it works to ready vehicles for a potential return.
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Behind The Headlines TVA likely to be backup power for xAI
MLGW will not be providing more than a small amount of power to xAI and the Tennessee Valley Authority may not provide a lot either, according to CEO Doug McGowen.
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Update
Real EstateCity hopes to close on Sheraton by mid-September
After closing, Carlisle Development Corp. will take over running the hotel that’s attached to Renasant Convention Center and start the process for redeveloping it.
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BusinessPlans for Southaven xAI site could mean more air emissions for Memphis
New documents shed some light on xAI’s long-term plans for the former Duke Energy Plant in Southaven that it bought last month.
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City of MemphisHere’s what the city’s overnight stay at Bass Pro cost taxpayers
The Daily Memphian reported July 21 that the city paid a Memphis consulting firm $10,000 to facilitate the one-and-a-half-day retreat. Here’s what it cost taxpayers.
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City of MemphisSouthaven mayor on xAI, more MLGW customers eligible for cutoff and 2026 campaign updates
This Political Roundup dives into what the Southaven mayor said about Elon Musk’s xAI buying a former energy plant, MLGW customers who could be cut off skyrocket, TVA’s demand highs and more.
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City of Memphis Spat between city and attorneys for Tyré Nichols’ family unworthy of sanctions, judge says
The issue stems from a May news release attorneys for Nichols’ family and estate issued.
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July 2025
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Public SafetyThe fight over MPD is headed to the Supreme Court. Here’s what the police union turned down.
The City of Memphis and the police union remain locked in a dispute over promotions. The Daily Memphian has obtained the city’s most recent offer — an offer the union refused.
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