City of Memphis
As city faces tight budget, consulting contracts add up
The Daily Memphian examined city consulting contracts executed in 2025, which focus on technology, improving the police department’s efficiency and more.
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 453 articles by Samuel Hardiman :
-
April 2025
-
Premium
City of Memphis -
Premium
City of MemphisColossus: The race to build the world’s most powerful machine in Memphis
XAI’s first Memphis data center Colossus dwells in a former Electrolux plant in Southwest Memphis. It is arguably one of the most valuable machines in the world controlled by someone with unrivaled wealth and galactic ambitions.
-
-
March 2025
-
Premium
NeighborhoodsTrump could exempt xAI from air-emissions permit
President Donald Trump could potentially exempt a large portion of heavy industry from emissions standards. Here’s what that could mean for xAI in Memphis.
-
City of Memphis Mayor faces community uproar about xAI
Environmental advocates are looking to stop Elon Musk’s xAI from receiving an air-emissions permit for the natural turbines that partially power its data center in Southwest Memphis.
-
Public Safety City wants MPD Chief protected from Nichols lawsuit
The push to exclude C.J. Davis came amid a flurry of legal filings Friday, including one that argued that Nichols’ family’s attorneys had access to federal documents that were supposed to be sealed.
-
City of Memphis Memphis City Council gives final approval to xAI land deal
The Memphis City Council voted again Tuesday to approve a land sale for Elon Musk’s xAI to build a wastewater facility in Southwest Memphis.
Related content:
City Council sets early start to budget season in return from spring break
-
City of Memphis City Council approves land sale to xAI
The company’s first effort to buy the land,which would be used for a water recycling facility, was derailed by council skepticism in early February.
-
City of Memphis Memphis City Council approves $80M in cash for arena renovations
The renovations to FedExForum and a second long-term lease for the Memphis Grizzlies inched closer to reality Tuesday.
-
Premium
Public SafetyWho pays when Memphis police work special events?
MPD spends more than a million dollars a year on overtime to staff special events. But it’s billing for only 60%, leaving taxpayers on the hook for the other 40%.
-
City of Memphis MATA employee placed on leave after questionable credit card charges
Purchases included about $5,000 in PayPal and Venmo money transfer transactions, $10,000 in Amazon purchases, $7,000 at Best Buy, more than $1,000 at Montblanc, a maker of fine pens, and money on massages.
-
Real Estate XAI building new data center in Whitehaven
It sits a few hundred yards from the Tennessee Valley Authority Southaven Combined Cycle Plant. The plant will provide a power source for the energy-intensive data center.
-
Premium
Public SafetyWith ruling, dozens of MPD second lieutenants could revert to previous ranks
A Shelby County judge ruled Thursday, March 6, that the City of Memphis violated its contract with the Memphis Police Association when it created the controversial rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
-
Premium
Public SafetyMemphians ‘too hard on themselves,’ city crime consultant says
In his first interview since he came to Memphis last year, public safety consultant Fausto Pichardo said citizens should expect a further reduction in violent crime as the the police department builds cases against gang members.
-
Premium
Public SafetyMPD consultant: ‘It’s not about throwing a net and grabbing everybody’
Looking at a city spanning 300-plus square miles, public safety consultant Fausto Pichardo has some thoughts about traffic stops, consent decrees and what needs to be done next.
-
City of Memphis If MLGW moves headquarters, utility will stay Downtown, CEO says
Memphis Light, Gas and Water’s massive operations could change in the coming years, shifting the city’s industrial geography and potentially opening up key real estate for other uses.
Related content:
-
City of Memphis MLGW looks to bring solar, battery storage onto the grid
Memphis Light, Gas and Water could generate electricity for the first time in decades.
-
City of Memphis Edmund Ford Jr. placed on leave from city job
Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr., who was indicted last week, has been placed on leave without pay from his city job, the City of Memphis said Tuesday, March 4.
-
Premium
Shelby CountyHere are the nonprofits tied to Edmund Ford Jr.'s alleged bribery scheme
While the indictment does not name the nonprofits, The Daily Memphian analyzed meeting minutes from the Shelby County Board of Commissioners and the Memphis City Council to determine which nonprofits were likely involved.
-
Shelby County Edmund Ford Jr. indicted on bribery, tax evasion charges
Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. has been indicted on one count of alleged bribery and kickbacks and six counts of attempted tax evasion, according to federal court documents filed Friday, Feb. 28.
Related content:
Edmund Ford Jr. turns himself in to federal authorities
Ford indictment spotlights County Commission ethics guidelines
-
-
February 2025
-
City of Memphis Memphians ask mayor questions about Elon Musk, MSCS and drive-out taggers
Memphis Mayor Paul Young took his town hall approach to a corner of the internet this week, responding directly to Reddit users’ top concerns.
-
City of Memphis Here’s how one expert would reform TVA
Author Jared Sullivan wrote a book critical about TVA but he doesn’t think the state should give up on the federal power provider.
-
City of Memphis Memphis names task force in wake of DOJ report on police
Former federal Judge Bernice Donald will lead a team of nine local task force members, including Toney Armstrong, former director of MPD.
-
Premium
City of MemphisHere’s what xAI could use 552 acres for
Last year, xAI agreed to lease 552 acres from the Economic Development Growth Engine. For months, it has been unclear what plans xAI had for the land.
-
Premium
City of MemphisWhy Elon Musk chose Memphis for xAI facility
At the end of a product-release broadcast on X, Elon Musk explained why xAI chose the Bluff City and the former Electrolux building in Southwest Memphis.
-
City of Memphis City moves to dismiss Nichols lawsuit — again
The city filed a motion on Monday, Feb. 17, to dismiss the suit, just like it did in 2023 when the lawsuit was filed.
-