Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Samuel Hardiman

City of Memphis investigating 2 council members

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 16:35:58 -0500

It is not clear what the city’s independent counsel is investigating, but a person familiar with the matter said it could be for potential violations of state, local and federal laws.

Could Memphis ban data centers? Maybe.

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Tue, 7 Jul 2026 21:16:59 -0500

On Tuesday, the Memphis City Council discussed potential zoning changes that would impact data centers.

State of Mississippi defends Elon Musk's Southaven turbines

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 18:46:51 -0500

Mississippi aruges that the lawsuit from the Mississippi NAACP about SpaceX’s private power plant in Southaven is a threat to its ability to regulate the state’s environment.

MPD chief dismissed from Tyré Nichols civil lawsuit

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Wed, 1 Jul 2026 13:27:05 -0500

Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis’ dismissal could get the civil case against the City of Memphis, which has dragged on for more than three years, moving again.

Incoming County Commissioner accused of misusing taxpayer dollars

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:41:47 -0500

Incoming Shelby County Commissioner Lashanta Rudd is accused of buying a Nissan Sentra and incurring at least $5,000 in improper expenses using City of Memphis taxpayer dollars.

Memphis budget passes during fractious day at City Hall

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 05:50:08 -0500

Memphis sanitation workers did not receive the 5% raise they wanted, raising the possibility that city trash might not get picked up.

SpaceX recommits to building water recycling plant

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 22:06:11 -0500

SpaceXAI representatives met with Memphis Mayor Paul Young and MLGW President Doug McGowen earlier this week.

MLGW could charge SpaceX, other big users more for water

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 11:36:45 -0500

Memphis Light, Gas and Water could soon charge heavy water users a fee based on how much water they consume and when they consume it.

Memphis drops consultant, weighs AutoZone Park overhaul

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 19:57:07 -0500

The City of Memphis is pondering a $55 million renovation of the taxpayer-owned AutoZone Park baseball stadium, but has ended a consulting contract with a firm tasked with reimagining the ballpark and the surrounding area.

MLGW proposes battery storage projects to strengthen electric grid

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 18:47:20 -0500

Memphis Light, Gas and Water is taking steps to make the broader electric grid more resilient.

Lawsuit says Trump administration is trying to silence Southaven residents on SpaceX pollution

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:15:24 -0500

The lawsuit is turning into a much bigger fight over whether the federal government can shut down citizen enforcement of the Clean Air Act in the name of national security.

US government says Grok helped it bomb Iran

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 06:59:03 -0500

The legal fight over SpaceX’s private power plant in Southaven, Mississippi, became a matter of national security on Monday, June 15.

SpaceX says Mississippi regulators approved turbines

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 21:09:01 -0500

In a motion to dismiss a lawsuit, attorneys for SpaceX argued that the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality had signed off on the natural gas turbines and that Mississippi’s air-quality regulations allowed the turbines.

SpaceX adds more turbines as court fight continues

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 05:27:08 -0500

The Southern Environmental Law Center filed new documents in the NAACP’s lawsuit against SpaceX, claiming the company had added 24 more turbines.

Funding for Audubon Park splash pad, clubhouse moves forward

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:10:17 -0500

The Memphis City Council approved funding for a new splash pad, parking and tree planting at Audubon Park.

Redbirds, City Council tangle over AutoZone Park plans

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:19:25 -0500

The Memphis Redbirds reacted on Thursday, June 11, to the Memphis City Council’s pushback on paying $5 million for repairs and renovation planning to city-owned AutoZone Park.

City of Memphis confident that SpaceX will finish water recycling plant

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Wed, 10 Jun 2026 13:31:22 -0500

SpaceX paused construction of the plant in April, which The Daily Memphian first reported.

DeSoto County residents sue SpaceX over noise

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Tue, 9 Jun 2026 22:20:47 -0500

A class action lawsuit alleges that the noise from SpaceX’s natural gas plant has eroded quality of life, and that the company hasn’t taken steps to mitigate the noise.

Tax season drumbeat grows louder at City Hall

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Mon, 8 Jun 2026 15:28:02 -0500

City Council members have some amendments to Mayor Paul Young’s budget, and they could move closer to closing out the budget season at Tuesday’s council day.

Memphis council chair warned her behavior could violate city charter

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Fri, 29 May 2026 06:49:31 -0500

Memphis City Council Chairwoman Jana Swearengen-Washington has been accused of using her position to benefit her niece, who worked in the city’s IT department.