City of Memphis
Here’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.
Samuel Hardiman
Reporter
Samuel Hardiman is an enterprise and investigative reporter who focuses on local government and politics. He is a native Rhode Islander who lives Downtown. He has covered Memphis since 2018.
There are 432 articles by Samuel Hardiman :
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February 2025
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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.
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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.
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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.
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City of Memphis With $80M almost out the door, what’s next for the Grizzlies lease?
The Memphis City Council voted Tuesday to allocate $80 million in cash — supplied by the state — for repairs to outdated infrastructure at FedExForum and potentially reimburse the Grizzlies for work already done at the publicly owned arena.
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City of Memphis City: Small number of employees paid twice
Several employees confirmed to The Daily Memphian that two paychecks appeared in their accounts on Friday and late Thursday.
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Metro Sports authority sends $1M to city, county for Grizzlies subsidy
The Memphis-Shelby County Sports Authority is the board that owns FedExForum’s debt and pays the bonds for the publicly owned arena.
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City of Memphis With xAI intending to keep turbines, community concerned about pollution
On Thursday, xAI’s plans to use natural gas turbines in the long term became public after The Daily Memphian received the company’s recent application to the Shelby County Health Department for an air-emissions permit.
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City of Memphis ‘Clerical error’ delays payroll for some Memphis employees
The City of Memphis confirmed Thursday, Feb. 13, that payday is coming a tad later than normal for some of its 8,000-plus employees after a clerical error.
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City of Memphis XAI plans to use natural gas turbines long-term
CTC Property, a subsidiary of xAI, applied for air-emissions permits for its fleet of natural gas turbines in January.
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State Government Legislators bring back proposal for new Shelby County jail
State Rep. John Gillespie, R-Memphis, and state Sen. Raumesh Akbari, D-Memphis, have proposed a bill allowing Shelby County to ask voters if they want to raise the local-option sales tax from 2.75% to 3.75%.
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State Government Governor’s budget includes millions for Memphis Zoo, Downtown safety
Gov. Bill Lee’s inclusion of a proposed Downtown safety program comes as the city has embarked on a plan for hardening security on FedExForum game nights.
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State of the State: Gov. Lee proposes $1B toward $30B road projects backlog
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City of MemphisProposed xAI water plant is the ‘right thing to do’
Memphis Light, Gas and Water would lose revenue if a water-recycling plant is built. The utility’s CEO still says it’s “what we have been looking for.”
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City of MemphisProposed xAI greywater plant faces City Council skepticism
An xAI representative received a mixed reception from the Memphis City Council regarding the company’s plan to buy 13 city-owned acres where it will build the greywater plant.
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City of Memphis FedExForum renovations could last until 2032, mayor says
Memphis Mayor Paul Young outlined the next steps in the planned renovations of FedExForum on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
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City of Memphis Memphis could sell xAI land for greywater plant
XAI applied for a permit to construct the water reuse facility last year.
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City of MemphisXAI has been slow to pay MLGW
According to copies of its bills, MLGW has sent xAI at least three notices that its electric and water service could be cut off.
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January 2025
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MetroOfficials go two-by-two into Forum as Grizz ready renovations
Throughout the past week, pairs of elected officials have toured FedExForum two by two, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.
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City of MemphisCity auto-fee hike not collected for seven months, leaves $7M pothole
The city’s vehicle-registration fee was supposed to double — from $30 to $60 — as of July 1. But the Shelby County Clerk’s office has not implemented the change.
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City of MemphisAs city’s legal challenges mount, so does spending on outside firms
Last year, Memphis taxpayers paid $4.9 million in private legal bills, which have climbed each of the past four years.
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MetroFacing cash crunch, MATA wants Mayor Young to follow through on promise of more money
MATA’s interim chief financial officer urged Memphis Mayor Paul Young to find more funding for the bus system before it runs out of cash next month.
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Metro TVA ends voluntary conservation measures, passes peak demand
The Tennessee Valley Authority’s call for voluntary electricity conservation has ended.
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South Memphis ‘Conservative’ estimates show xAI could bring city, county $13.5 million in revenue
Two county officials told the Shelby County Commission last week that the xAI supercomputer could generate at least $13.5 million in tax revenue.
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City of Memphis TVA asks customers to start conserving electricity immediately
Conserving electricity means turning thermostats to 68 degrees or below, unplugging unused appliances, and avoiding running the washer, dryer, dishwasher and other appliances that use a lot of electricity.
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City of MemphisGun referendums don’t restrict firearms, city says. At least not yet.
The City of Memphis argued in court filings this week that gun-rights groups don’t have standing to sue the city about the gun-control referendums that passed this fall because they have no legal effect.
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