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.
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 575 articles by Samuel Hardiman :
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August 2025
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Behind The Headlines -
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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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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 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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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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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 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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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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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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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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September 2025
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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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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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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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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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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 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 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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State GovernmentNational Guard should be ‘force multiplier’ for MPD, Lee says
Gov. Bill Lee described the Memphis Safe Task Force as a “long-time” mission that could last six months or longer.
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City of Memphis MLGW takes step toward buying Cordova property
MLGW previously considered moving the utility’s headquarters to the same building, but backed off on that plan.
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State Government Tennessee Supreme Court sides with police union — again
The Tennessee Supreme Court had initially stayed the ruling while the case worked its way through the appellate court.
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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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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 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 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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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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