City of Memphis
Analysis: A printer breaks gridlock? And other budget-season takeaways
A few quiet moments during an eventful Memphis City Council day illustrated the new and evolving power dynamics at Memphis City Hall.
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 535 articles by Samuel Hardiman :
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June 2024
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City of MemphisHow much will city tax hike cost the average Memphian?
The Memphis City Council took three votes Tuesday that increased both fees and taxes but also balanced the city’s budget. What is the additional funding paying for?
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City of Memphis City budget comes with pay cut for interim police chief C.J. Davis
The city’s newly passed $858 million budget cut Memphis Police Department Interim Chief C.J. Davis’ pay by about $35,000.
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BusinessXAI will not seek local tax incentives; could build its own gray water plant
A person familiar with the matter told The Daily Memphian that xAI will not pursue tax incentives for the supercomputer it’s building in Memphis.
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Arts & Culture New book highlights how golf played a role in Memphis’ integration
Pastor LaSimba Gray’s book “Out of Bounds” is a history of how golf played an integral role in Memphis’ gradual path to desegregation.
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South Memphis Environmental groups push for transparency around xAI
Environmental groups are asking Memphis Light, Gas and Water to slow down approvals for xAI’s supercomputer construction in southwest Memphis.
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City of Memphis New Memphis budget proposal could have no tax increase, cut expenses
Chase Carlisle, the city council’s budget chair, proposed his version of a budget that stands at odds with Memphis Mayor Paul Young’s proposed 75-cent property tax hike.
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BusinessThe xAI gigafactory could be ready this summer or fall
The supercomputer intended to power and do computations for Grok, the chatbot run by xAI’s artificial intelligence, could be up and running as early as August, a source familiar with the matter told The Daily Memphian.
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City of MemphisHere’s what’s going on with MATA’s gaping deficit
Though MATA is expected to have a shortfall for the second year in a row, local leaders say bus service must continue to run.
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EducationEmail: MSCS HR chief didn’t know about personnel cuts
The district’s HR chief sent a late-night email to the MSCS Board of Education that said the superintendent ignored advice from himself and MSCS’ former general counsel.
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City of MemphisWhere will xAI rank among Memphis water users?
Information obtained by The Daily Memphian through a Tennessee Public Records Act request shows xAI could rank among the top-five Memphis Light, Gas and Water customers.
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South MemphisWhat does xAI’s arrival mean for Memphis’ water supply and electric grid?
The arrival of xAI’s “gigafactory of compute” could pose new challenges and opportunities for the region’s electric grid.
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City of Memphis MLGW sues tree-trimming contractor
Memphis Light, Gas and Water took one of its former tree-trimming contractors to court, alleging the company’s failure to perform put Memphis at risk of power outages.
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City of MemphisCity plans zoning update, looks to plan new growth
The City of Memphis could reshape how development happens with a wholescale zoning update, its first since the 1950s.
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BusinessExclusive: Other Musk companies could consider Memphis; supercomputer will use 100K Nvidia chips
A source who spoke with The Daily Memphian exclusively on Thursday shed light on why the company chose Memphis, including the city’s ample land at fair prices.
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Business Elon Musk-founded xAI to build ‘gigafactory of compute’ in Memphis
The facility could be worth billions of dollars and be one of the most advanced computing sites in the world.
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City of Memphis ‘The city has to stop doing bad deals:’ Council sounds off as Liberty Park is underwater
“This is a 100-year deal ... The city has to stop doing bad deals,” said Memphis City Councilman Chase Carlisle about development at Liberty Park.
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City of Memphis ‘What could we gain?’: Council remains skeptical of MLGW voting seats for suburbs
The Memphis City Council once again expressed broad skepticism of adding voting suburban seats to the Memphis, Light, Gas and Water board.
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City of Memphis City’s annual payment for Grizzlies’ shortfalls coming out of rainy day fund
On Tuesday, the Memphis City Council is scheduled to amend the existing budget so the city can pay the Grizzlies; the payment was not part of the budget when it passed last summer.
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May 2024
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State Government Taylor wants to hire former NYPD commissioner to study Memphis crime
State Sen. Brent Taylor is asking Gov. Bill Lee to hire a former NYPD commissioner to help combat Memphis’ crime problem.
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Public SafetyHomicide investigator headcount at MPD dwindles
Recently obtained records show that MPD’s homicide investigator count is shrinking in a city that saw almost 400 homicides last year and where more than 100 have occurred to date in 2024.
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City of MemphisPolitical Roundup: Camp GloJo and gavels drawn at City Hall
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Gloria Johnson campaigns in Memphis over the long holiday weekend and hopes Democrats throw national support behind her effort to upset incumbent Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn.
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Public SafetyCity responds to state legislator’s questions about MPD policies
John Gillespie questioned MPD’s policies in a Thursday news release. He and Brent Taylor sponsored the law that bans police departments from not pulling someone over when they have reasonable suspicion the person violated the law.
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City of MemphisYoung said Davis’ reappointment to MPD chief could come after budget
Memphis Mayor Paul Young said Wednesday, May 22, he plans to seek permanent status for Interim Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis and two other key executives after budget season.
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Shelby CountySheriff’s Office has the highest vacancy rate of county government
The Daily Memphian reviewed human resources data and the county budget to determine the number of SCSO vacancies and the amount of funding the sheriff’s office receives.
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