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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December 2024
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Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI could invest tens of billions more into its Memphis supercomputer with the data center reaching up to 1 million high-tech Nvidia semiconductors, Brent Mayo, xAI’s top Memphis executive, said Wednesday, Dec. 4. -
City of Memphis ‘A rush to judgment’: Memphis won’t enter agreement with DOJ
The City of Memphis does not plan on entering an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice following the department’s civil rights investigation into the Memphis Police Department, City Attorney Tannera Gibson said in a letter to the DOJ this week.
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Education Shelby County-MSCS announce funding for new Frayser high school
The funds would have to be allocated at the Shelby County Commission’s meetings on Dec. 11 and Dec. 16, the last two before the end of the year.
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November 2024
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City of Memphis Mental health access could get easier for Memphis police, fire
“Acknowledging PTSD is a step forward to normalizing this conversation around mental health, reducing stigma and encouraging officers to seek help when they need it,” said Memphis City Council member Jerri Green.
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City of Memphis MLGW budget sails through Memphis City Council vote
MLGW’s $2.5 billion budget doesn’t include any rate increases for the current year, but a previously passed 4% electric rate increase will take effect next year.
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City of Memphis City could ask MLGW to study cost of moving offices
The Memphis City Council has an eye toward the future of Downtown and MLGW’s place in it.
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Public SafetyAhead of enhanced security measures, Downtown crime down 27%, city says
A planned surge of public-safety resources into Downtown Memphis comes after years of public perception souring on safety in the central business district.
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Public Safety Memphis looks to add more officers, new police branch Downtown
The City of Memphis plans to invest additional resources Downtown — including almost 200 more cameras — to make the area safer.
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DowntownMemphis eyes new tax for Downtown security and beautification
The City of Memphis is eyeing a single-item tax on food and other items sold Downtown to fund the district’s security, beautification and assistance for the area’s unhoused population.
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Public Safety Former state senator resentenced for wire fraud conviction
The new sentence includes no prison time. Robinson received a sentence of time served in 2022. Instead, U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman imposed a fine of $48,600.
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City of MemphisMemphis’ claims against Nichols, family meant to ‘poison’ jury pool
Attorneys for RowVaughn Wells, Tyre Nichols’ mother, said that the city “misused” the court docket and is attempting “to poison the jury pool” in a case set for trial next year.
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Public SafetyCity makes claims about Nichols, family in new court filing
The claims add a new twist to the $550 million civil rights lawsuit that Tyre Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, and his estate have filed against the City of Memphis following Nichols’ 2023 beating and death at the hands of five now-former Memphis Police Department officers.
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City of MemphisCity council members split on making C.J. Davis permanent chief
It is unclear whether MPD Interim Chief C.J. Davis has the council votes to become the full-time chief again, but she appears to have gained at least one vote since January.
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City of Memphis Gun-rights groups sue City of Memphis
Two groups want to stop the city from enforcing the nonbinding gun-control measures voters approved during a referendum last week.
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ElectionsPolitical Roundup: What happened in the 2024 elections?
Local Democrats are examining their tactics in a low-turnout presidential general election. Meanwhile, fewer local Republicans voted for President-elect Donald Trump than four years ago even as U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn grew her countywide totals.
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Update
South MemphisTVA board votes to serve xAI, but not without questions
Multiple TVA board members asked questions about the impact xAI has had on surrounding neighborhoods in Westwood and Boxtown.
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Elections How runoffs would change Memphis politics
On Tuesday, Memphis voters also approved giving the City Council the ability to set its own salaries. Previously, the council’s salaries were indexed to the Shelby County Board of Commissioners.
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Elections Gillespie outperforms Trump and other takeaways from election night
“I think that he’s made a name for himself in the Legislature in a way that voters are fairly excited about some of the issues, particularly about crime,” a political consultant said.
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Elections Johnson, Blackburn campaign in Shelby County for U.S. Senate seat
The two U.S. Senate candidates didn’t cross paths. They each told supporters turnout is important in an election each believes has high stakes.
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Elections 3 ballot questions could change Memphis politics
Voters could bring back mayoral runoffs, approve a residency requirement for city candidates for office and give the City Council more control over salaries.
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Elections In two purple districts, blue challengers hope to unseat red incumbents
If Democrats are going to dent the Republican supermajority in the Tennessee General Assembly, Districts 83 and 97 will be key.
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Elections In Orange Mound, voters hopeful for change
Some say they’re excited about the prospect of the nation’s first woman president. But wording of the gun control referendums may have led to ballots cast against the measure they intended to support.
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Elections How did Memphians vote on the non-gun referendums?
Memphians remade how future mayors are elected Tuesday night, where they must live and how salaries are set for key members of city government.
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Elections Who won the state race for Memphis’ District 97?
The Tennessee Republican supermajority did not crack in Memphis on Tuesday with Rep. John Gillespie beating Democratic challenger Jesse Huseth and retaining the state House of Representatives District 97 seat.
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Elections Abortion access, civil rights on minds of voters at Glenview Community Center
One voter said he voted for Kamala Harris because he saw her as strong and “borderline cocky,” which is what he felt she needed to deal with Trump.
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