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 548 articles by Samuel Hardiman :
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
The Tennessee Supreme Court had initially stayed the ruling while the case worked its way through the appellate court.
MLGW previously considered moving the utility’s headquarters to the same building, but backed off on that plan.
Gov. Bill Lee described the Memphis Safe Task Force as a “long-time” mission that could last six months or longer.
“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.
The city argues that there’s nothing in its charter that gives city employees the right to collectively bargain as a union.
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.
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.
“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.
“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.
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.
President Donald Trump teased that he would announce another city for National Guard deployment.
“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. White House, Memphis leaders have discussed National Guard deployment in city, source saysRelated content:
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.”
The Tennessee Supreme Court has briefly halted the pending demotions of more than 100 MPD second lieutenants.
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.
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.
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.
The draft financing proposal obtained by The Daily Memphian spells out the sources of the money — and the timeline for spending it.
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.
The reset came amid a broader rescheduling of a case that is approaching two-and-a-half years old.
MATA does not have enough money to operate the trolleys even as it works to ready vehicles for a potential return.
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.
After closing, Carlisle Development Corp. will take over running the hotel that’s attached to Renasant Convention Center and start the process for redeveloping it.
New documents shed some light on xAI’s long-term plans for the former Duke Energy Plant in Southaven that it bought last month.