Governor says he has the authority to deploy Guard to Memphis
The administration is “confident” it will win in court.
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 570 articles by Samuel Hardiman :
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October 2025
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Public Safety -
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City of MemphisMemphis’ pothole problem is jarring. But leaders have a plan to smooth the faults in asphalt.
Director of Development and Infrastructure John Zeanah and Public Works Director Scott Morgan hatch a schedule to patch teeth-rattling roadways and clean stormwater inlets.
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Public Safety Judge Norris defends himself: ‘I do not harbor any bias toward MPD’
U.S. District Judge Mark Norris wrote that he recused himself “because of the apparent bias of others against the Court.”
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Public Safety State, local leaders sue Gov. Lee about guard, although City of Memphis opts out
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Commissioners Erika Sugarmon and Henri Brooks are among those seeking a preliminary injunction to stop the guard’s deployment.
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Metro Urban League CEO says Black America is in ‘state of emergency’
Marc Morial told Memphis’ business and elected leadership the nation is a facing a full frontal assault on voting rights, civil rights and diversity programs.
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City of MemphisAbout 1,500 feds working in Memphis, US Marshals director says
Gov. Bill Lee declined to set an end date for when the task force’s work would be completed in Memphis. He said it could last forever.
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Business ‘This is what progress looks like,’ xAI breaks ground on water recycling plant
During the groundbreaking, no one said xAI primary owner Elon Musk’s name aloud, but he was referenced multiple times.
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City of Memphis National Guard patrols to begin Friday, city says
It remains unclear how many guard personnel will be in the city. MPD Chief C.J. Davis has stated that the guard will serve as a deterrent in high-traffic areas.
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City of Memphis Memphis guard deployment could last into 2026, defense secretary says
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth could authorize the use of up to 1,000 Tennessee National Guard troops for a whole year as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force.
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City of Memphis More than 700 Task Force members in city, police chief says
The first significant deployment of Tennessee National Guard troops to Memphis is expected by Friday, Oct. 10.
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City of MemphisArrest info suggests task force focused on outstanding warrants, traffic stops
Recent arrest affidavits suggest the Memphis Safe Task Force is reliant on traffic stops and instances of stop-and-frisk policing.
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City of Memphis City, Police Association headed to mediation in one lawsuit
The negotiation could resolve a dispute about the legality of at least one of the City of Memphis’ employee associations.
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Shelby CountyAs federal task force arrives, Republicans focus ire on Steve Mulroy
The stark partisan lens that many Republicans have brought to President Trump’s crime-fighting efforts was on display during the Tuesday Senate hearing where state Sen. Brent Taylor spoke.
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September 2025
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City of Memphis First National Guard deployments expected within 2 weeks, MPD chief says
Chief C.J. Davis said the Memphis Safe Task Force is still evolving and the Memphis Police Department is still learning information every day.
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Public Safety Federal judge declines to dismiss civil rights lawsuit against City of Memphis
U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman ruled that the City of Memphis’ motion to dismiss the case was denied in part.
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Metro Bondi, Hegseth to visit Memphis this week
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could visit Memphis this week, Bondi said in a cable news interview Tuesday morning, Sept. 30.
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City of Memphis Some documents in Tyré Nichols’ civil rights lawsuit could become public
For about a year, the City of Memphis has sought information from a California family who were close with Nichols. However, attorneys for Nichols’ mother sought to prevent the records from being handed over.
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City of MemphisAsk the Memphian: Why are my lights off but my neighbor’s are on?
To understand why the lights may be on on one side of a street but not on the other is to gain a window into the intricate, man-made spiderweb that is MLGW’s distribution system.
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State GovernmentIn a city plagued by crime rate, leaders hope Memphis Safe Task Force can shift the narrative
In detailing specifics of the Memphis Safe Task Force, Gov. Bill Lee didn’t dwell on the city’s crime rate. Instead, flanked by Mayor Paul Young and Police Chief C.J. Davis, he pledged that the crime reduction that could come would be lengthy and sustainable.
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State Government National Guard won’t be making arrests, governor says
Gov. Bill Lee outlined plans for Trump’s Memphis Safe Task Force on Friday, saying that the first personnel could be in the Bluff City on Monday, Sept. 29.
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Shelby County Ford Jr.'s federal trial pushed back
Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr.’s trial on bribery and tax evasion charges has been moved back two months.
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City of Memphis City Council gives MLGW go ahead for new operations center
The resolution the City Council passed authorizes MLGW to buy a Cordova property for up to $31.4 million.
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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.
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City of Memphis TN Supreme Court declines to overturn second lieutenant decision
The Tennessee Supreme Court ruled that it would not stay a trial court’s decision while the City of Memphis appeals a decision in the lawsuit between the city and the Memphis Police Association.
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City of Memphis Cohen questions FBI leader about National Guard in Memphis
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., asked FBI Director Kash Patel about the Memphis Safe Task Force, which President Donald Trump established Monday.
See The Daily Memphian’s full coverage of the Memphis Safe Task Force
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