Metro
XAI’s second data center to come online within weeks
On Tuesday afternoon, a company representative, speaking on background, held a call with local reporters and took questions about the project.
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 515 articles by Samuel Hardiman :
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July 2025
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City of MemphisDeal to keep Grizzlies in Memphis won’t be done this summer, mayor says
The slow-moving Grizzlies’ negotiations come as the public sector continues to invest in FedExForum and officials work to keep Downtown safer and cleaner.
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North MississippiElon Musk’s xAI buys former power plant in Southaven
The purchase indicates the artificial intelligence company’s continued investment in the MidSouth, which now spans state lines.
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City of MemphisMemphis Mayor Paul Young shook up his cabinet. Here’s why.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young has reshuffled his cabinet in recent months and on July 10, hosted an overnight executive retreat at Bass Pro Shops, which he called “an opportunity to really recalibrate the team.”
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North Mississippi XAI exec addresses jobs, controversy, skepticism and Elon Musk
A group of Memphians got a rare glimpse into the workings of Elon Musk’s xAI, and a key executive spoke about the company’s potential plans for a former natural gas plant in Southaven.
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Shelby County Environmental groups appeal xAI air permit
Environmental groups have appealed the Shelby County Health Department’s decisions to grant Elon Musk’s xAI an air emissions permit for 15 natural gas turbines.
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City of Memphis Memphis Fire Fighters Association sues city over budget decisions
The Memphis Fire Fighters Association has sued the City of Memphis over reneging the union’s planned 5% raise for the current fiscal year.
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City of Memphis Nichols’ attorneys want civil trial pushed until late 2026
The requested trial date would be more than three and a half years after five now-former Memphis Police officers beat Tyré Nichols, who later died from his injuries.
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South Memphis Grok’s antisemitism isn’t good for Memphis. At least according to Grok.
Grok, a chatbot that can have conversations with people and generate computer code and images, is powered, in part, by advanced computer chips in two Memphis data centers.
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City of Memphis Memphis asks court to reconsider MPD demotions
The City of Memphis has asked the Tennessee Court of Appeals to reconsider its recent decision not to block the demotions of 100-plus Memphis Police Department second lieutenants.
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City of Memphis Here’s how Memphis could spend portion of xAI tax money
The city on Monday released the proposed ordinance that would set aside 25% of xAI’s tax bill.
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City of Memphis City must demote MPD second lieutenants, court rules
The Tennessee Court of Appeals threw a wrench into the City of Memphis’ efforts to stop the pending demotions of the Memphis Police Department’s second lieutenants.
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South MemphisHow the fight over Elon Musk’s air permit could change Memphis
The conversation about air pollution in the 38109 ZIP code has focused on xAI. Government data shows that there’s been a lot of pollution in that zip code before Elon Musk’s company took up residence in the former Electrolux plant.
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BusinessWhat Mitch Graves wants to bring to the TVA board
The CEO of West Cancer Center plans to provide the perspective of the federal agency’s largest customer: MLGW.
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South MemphisXAI raises $10 billion. What does it mean for Memphis?
News of xAI securing more funding also comes as the company looks to move ahead on one of its key promises to Memphis — a water recycling plant that could cut long-term usage of the Memphis Sand Aquifer by about 9%.
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City of MemphisCity Council Scorecard: Setting the budget past the impasse process
The City Council Scorecard tracks how the 13 council members voted on the critical events of the budget season.
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South Memphis Despite community concern, xAI gets air-emissions permit
The Shelby County Health Department received more than 1,000 public comments on the project.
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Metro Trump names Memphian to TVA board
TVA board members are nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Trump fired three board members this spring, leaving the board without a quorum.
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June 2025
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Public Safety City wants access to docs in Memphis officers’ criminal case
On Wednesday, June 25, the city’s private attorneys filed a motion requesting that the city, which is not a party to the case, be granted access to 16 sealed documents in the case.
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City of Memphis Federal judge removes himself in another high-profile case
Judge Mark Norris’ removal of himself follows his recusal in the federal criminal case of the five former Memphis Police Department officers who were charged in relation to Tyré Nichols’ 2023 death.
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South Memphis City tests air quality near xAI sites
The city conducted the testing following community concern about Elon Musk-founded xAI’s use of natural gas turbines at its supercomputer in Southwest Memphis.
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Business ‘Most important Memphian of all time’ has died
FedEx founder and executive chairman Frederick W. Smith, who changed the face of global commerce and his adopted hometown of Memphis, has died at age 80.
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MetroElon Musk talks xAI in Memphis and beyond
Billionaire Elon Musk shed new light last week on exactly what technology his artificial intelligence company has in Memphis, and what his plans are for the future of xAI.
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City of Memphis City loses another round vs. Memphis Police Association
Shelby County Circuit Judge Damita Dandridge ruled that she would not stay her ruling over the city and the police union’s fight over the controversial second lieutenant position.
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North MississippiXAI stockpiling massive equipment at vacant Mississippi lot
Filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission shed further light on xAI and Solaris Energy Infrastructure’s joint venture. They also offer further confirmation that xAI’s plans in the Memphis metro area will likely cross state lines.
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