TVA’s image takes a hit as it fights to keep Memphis contract
Secrecy, political “jockeying” hurts Tennessee Valley Authority’s message, critics say.
Marc Perrusquia
Investigative Reporter
There are 84 articles by Marc Perrusquia :
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June 2022
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Metro
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May 2022
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Metro Public or private? TVA again declines to release employee salaries
As Memphis frets over possibly leaving TVA in search of cheaper electricity, the federal agency again rejects a Freedom of Information request seeking details on salaries it pays its employees.
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April 2022
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Criminal Justice Victim confronts former police official who destroyed evidence of her rape
Rape survivor Debby Dalhoff has been searching for decades for answers in her still-unsolved 1985 home-invasion attack by a masked intruder.
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City of Memphis Deposition renews controversy in hotly contested rape kit lawsuit against city
Attorneys for rape victims suing the City of Memphis presented new allegations contending that kits were indeed destroyed.
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March 2022
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City of Memphis Strickland says city through ‘first quarter’ of MLGW-TVA decision
The three returning and two new MLGW board members breezed through City Council approval Tuesday, as a move to hire an energy consultant was put on hold.
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Elections MLGW commissioners to step down from board amid political house cleaning by Strickland
Longtime MLGW board members will not be reappointed by Mayor Strickland. The decision follows an investigation by the Institute for Public Service Reporting that found all five board members were serving after their terms had expired.
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Business TVA withholds salary data, claims competitive concerns
As it fights to save its Memphis power contract, the Tennessee Valley Authority is irritating critics by an alleged lack of transparency that includes withholding the salary of its West Region vice president Mark Yates.
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City of Memphis City Council to consider tightening MLGW’s financial disclosure rules
A committee will review MLGW’s ethics policy to determine why its financial disclosure statements aren’t posted on the web — and why those statements require less information than state of Tennessee forms do.
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February 2022
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City of Memphis MLGW reviews ethics policy after failure to post financial disclosures
Memphis Light, Gas & Water confirms it is reviewing its failure to post financial disclosure forms on the Internet — just as City Council members begin asking critical questions.
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City of Memphis MLGW board member takes rare step of recusal
Mired in a separate controversy involving a perceived conflict, MLGW commissioner Carlee McCullough takes a rare step and abstains from voting on a nearly $400,000 contract involving a proposed disparity study.
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City of Memphis Facing a possibly historic decision, MLGW board continues serving — all on expired terms
The most recently appointed commissioner saw his term expire more than 18 months ago. The other four commissioners also remain seated, despite last being appointed nearly six years ago.
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MLGW stays silent on failure to post financial disclosure forms on the web
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Metro MLGW stays silent on failure to post financial disclosure forms on the web
Two weeks after a news investigation found that MLGW isn’t honoring a 2007 pledge to post financial disclosure forms on the Internet, the city-owned utility remains silent.
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Metro MLGW fails to post financial disclosure forms online
City-owned Memphis Light, Gas & Water is failing to post financial disclosure forms of its officers and directors on the Internet as contemplated in its 2007 ethics policy.
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Business Popular restaurant connects MLGW board member, TVA exec. But is it a conflict of interest?
As Memphis explores severing its decades-long ties to the Tennessee Valley Authority, a business seemingly jointly owned by an MLGW board member and the wife of a TVA vice president is causing critics to cry foul.
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December 2021
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Metro U.S. Senate passes bill to remove ex-Klansman’s name from Memphis’ federal building
U.S. Senate has passed a bill to remove a former Klansman’s name from Memphis’ federal building. The measure now goes to President Biden.
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August 2021
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City of Memphis ‘Hidden hero': The overlooked civil rights activism of Adjua Naantaanbuu
As Memphis’ pandemic-delayed Africa In April festival starts Friday, supporters say it’s time to honor one of its early organizers, Adjua Naantaanbuu.
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June 2021
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Metro Critics advocate reforms to limit bodycam fees and redactions
Transparency advocates say reforms are needed to make police body camera footage less expensive, more accessible to the public.
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Lack of Transparency: Bodycam footage often costly, heavily edited and takes months to get
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Metro Lack of Transparency: Bodycam footage often costly, heavily edited and takes months to get
Police bodycam programs were created to promote transparency and build public trust, yet high costs and long waits for heavily edited footage makes those programs a ‘bait and switch,’ critics say.
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Critics advocate reforms to limit bodycam fees and redactions
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May 2021
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City of Memphis ‘Taserface’ bodycam footage reveals officer’s liberal use of stun gun
A former MPD patrolman escapes prosecution for the liberal use of his Taser, yet a new District Attorney unit aims to hold brutal cops accountable.
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City of Memphis New Shelby prosecution unit targeting police brutality off to fast start
Amy Weirich’s new unit targeting police brutality is off to a fast start, charging two officers so far, yet faces challenges ahead.
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City of Memphis Former MPD officer faces criminal charge
A former MPD officer accused of pepper spraying a handcuffed, mentally ill man is the second law enforcement officer to face criminal charges brought by a new prosecution unit aimed at cracking down on police brutality.
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March 2021
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Metro Confirmed MPD excessive force cases to undergo criminal review
MPD begins sending confirmed excessive force cases to prosecutors for criminal review following Daily Memphian investigation.
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Metro MPD adds excessive force data to city website
Memphis Police Department launches new dashboard with use-of-force data to promote police transparency and accountability.
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January 2021
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EXCLUSIVE
MetroFrom Memphis to Capitol attack: How Richard Barnett ended up inside Pelosi’s office
Richard Barnett, the man charged with seizing Nancy Pelosi’s office during the Capitol riot, was born and raised in Memphis and worked briefly as a firefighter here before moving in his 30s to Northwest Arkansas.
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November 2020
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Metro Should ex-Klansman’s name remain on Memphis’ federal building?
For 50 years the name of the late congressman and one-time Klansman Clifford Davis has clung to the federal building in Downtown Memphis. His family says it’s time to take his name down.
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