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

SpaceX facing $6.1M in penalties for potential environmental violations

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 16:38:05 -0500

The AI company said Mississippi’s environmental regulator is seeking civil penalties for potential violations of the state’s policies across three Southaven sites.

Cohen, NAACP address voting machine problems in separate events

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Fri, 23 Oct 2026 16:23:17 -0500

As concerns about Tennessee voting machines have gone viral in recent days, U.S. Congressman Steve Cohen and other local Democratic leaders urged Memphians to vote — and check their ballots.

An obscure board and the clearest evidence yet the Grizzlies plan to stay

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 10:48:01 -0500

New public documents indicate that local government and the Memphis Grizzlies could come to a new lease at FedExForum in the “near future.”

'Temporary parking lots everywhere' — councilwoman calls for solution to SpaceXAI traffic

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 08:06:28 -0500

For years, the intersection of Tulane and Holmes roads in Whitehaven has been a four-way stop. Despite an influx of traffic due to SpaceXAI’s construction, it could remain that way for another eight to 12 months.

Pickleball at Pipkin could save taxpayers more than $3K a month

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Wed, 7 Oct 2026 16:36:39 -0500

If Bluff City Pickleball moves into Liberty Park, it could save the city up to $40,000 a year in operating costs.

City Council business paused after data center discord

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Tue, 6 Oct 2026 20:32:33 -0500

The Memphis City Council abruptly stopped business during its regular meeting after the hundreds gathered at Memphis City Hall erupted in displeasure.

100 N. Main has $13M to $14M money gap, developer says

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Tue, 6 Oct 2026 20:11:36 -0500

The businessman painted a stark, dire picture of Downtown.

Assessor says SpaceXAI, data centers need new tax code

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Tue, 6 Oct 2026 20:07:22 -0500

New Shelby County Assessor Javier Bailey said he and other county assessors are working on legislation to tax data centers differently than they’re currently assessed.

Why was your September MLGW bill so high?

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Tue, 6 Oct 2026 12:01:28 -0500

The jump in electric bills is directly tied to customers using much more electricity during the September “heat dome” that hovered over Memphis and Shelby County for days.

'There's plenty of room' — MLGW says Memphis is ready for growth

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Tue, 6 Oct 2026 10:12:16 -0500

MLGW CEO Doug McGowen told the Memphis City Council that the utility’s electric distribution system has enough capacity to accommodate nearly double the residential customers.

Where the money stands on Regional One's new hospital

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Mon, 5 Oct 2026 07:50:02 -0500

Taxpayers have paid for land, demolition and a project manager, but most of the county money tied to Regional One’s new hospital hasn’t been approved yet.

‘What an honor’: Loren Roberts emotional as work starts on clubhouse named for him

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 06:09:52 -0500

Gifts from the Martin and Rhodes families, along with $1 million from First Horizon, are helping fund the clubhouse and a new six-hole short course.

Memphis Land Bank fires CEO after questionable credit card spending

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 12:56:57 -0500

The City of Memphis-funded nonprofit fired its head after he allegedly used the corporation’s credit card for personal expenses.

At street renaming, Lee Harris said he doesn't know how much Regional One has cost

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 06:22:57 -0500

As the ceremony honoring the former county mayor got underway, demolition work continued at the former Commercial Appeal building less than half a mile west.

A data-center moratorium in Memphis won't stop SpaceXAI from growing across the border

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 08:29:04 -0500

Build-out and activity is bustling at SpaceXAI’s DeSoto County operation, less than a mile from Memphis and unperturbed by the political winds blowing to the north.

Could Memphis ban data centers? Maybe.

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 15:01:49 -0500

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

What we do and don't know about TVA's data center rate hikes

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 14:49:09 -0500

When the TVA Board of Directors approved the new rate class for data centers in Memphis on Aug. 20, it held back some important information.

Fight about data center pause builds at City Hall

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 14:46:35 -0500

As the Memphis City Council prepared to take the second of three necessary votes on the moratorium ordinance, efforts emerged to find middle ground. The council’s longtime attorney also openly questioned whether the proposed moratorium was legal.

Data centers looking to expand in Memphis but are months away

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 14:44:50 -0500

Memphis Light, Gas and Water CEO Doug McGowen told the Memphis City Council on Tuesday, Sept. 1, that two companies plan to build significant data centers in Memphis.

Regional One commits to new $1B hospital with no plan to pay for it

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 07:25:03 -0500

It is unclear how much the work currently underway at 495 Union Ave. is costing Shelby County taxpayers or where the money to pay contractors’ invoices is coming from.