Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | News Happening in the City of Memphis | City of Memphis News

Data centers looking to expand in Memphis but are months away

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Tue, 1 Sep 2026 17:15:51 -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.

MLGW to keep chipping in on FedExForum costs

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Tue, 1 Sep 2026 13:36:57 -0500

Memphis City Council’s Memphis Light, Gas and Water committee gave the utility the green light to keep paying the city $2.5 million a year towards the arena.

Storm cleanup could cost $18M, MLGW says

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Tue, 1 Sep 2026 17:27:57 -0500

Memphis Light, Gas and Water shared a time lapse of the recovery efforts — and an estimate of how much it would cost ratepayers — with the Memphis City Council on Tuesday.

Free the 901 asks leaders to oust Task Force from city

nmclane@dailymemphian.com (Noah McLane) — Tue, 1 Sep 2026 05:35:42 -0500

More than 20 small business owners gathered at Tamboli’s Pasta & Pizza in Midtown Monday afternoon to call for elected leaders to do more about the Memphis Safe Task Force’s presence in the city.

City Council talks data center pause and votes on new MATA board

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:36:36 -0500

The one-year moratorium on new data centers would be to develop guidelines and regulations for the centers as part of the county’s Unified Development Code.

Central library's long-stalled escalators are back in motion

wrogin@dailymemphian.com (Wallis Rogin) — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 14:39:01 -0500

The library escalators are back on the up and up.

Photo Gallery: 901 Day on Beale

editors@dailymemphian.com ( The Daily Memphian Staff) — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 18:54:03 -0500

Photographer Brad Vest was on hand to capture the action.

Art therapy program helps juveniles make and break patterns

wrogin@dailymemphian.com (Wallis Rogin) — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 04:00:13 -0500

The Brooks Museum’s Art Therapy Access Program allows at-risk youth to tap into “something within them that they maybe didn’t know existed before.”

Meals on Wheels turns 50 as MIFA's 'flagship' program

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 17:31:24 -0500

The new president and CEO of the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association spoke on Behind The Headlines about MIFA’s work addressing poverty and food insecurity in Memphis and beyond.

Memphis adds fourth option to 911 calls: mental health

wrogin@dailymemphian.com (Wallis Rogin) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:58:14 -0500

The City of Memphis announced Wednesday, Aug. 26, that it is introducing a new mental health services option callers can request in emergency situations.

Outages leave Memphis intersections dark, drivers confused

wrogin@dailymemphian.com (Wallis Rogin) — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 05:39:37 -0500

Traffic light outages and blinking signals are creating hazardous driving conditions across Shelby County.

Opinion: Other cities have limited data center development. Memphis can, too.

editor@dailymemphian.com (Richard Massey) — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 15:59:01 -0500

“Memphians have been given a false choice: either accept AI data center development without safeguards or be left behind. Memphis must treat clean air, clean water and affordable energy as non-negotiable, as other cities and regions have.”

How AOC, Cohen shared flight illustrates the Democratic divide

bdries@dailymemphian.com (Bill Dries) — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:30:09 -0500

Also in the political roundup: more from state Senator Brent Taylor on Behind The Headlines, a closer look at the 5th Congressional District Democratic primary results and Mongo’s campaign art.

Opinion: We can have data centers while also protecting Memphis and Memphians

kelly.lomax@dunavant.com (Kelly Lomax) — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 04:00:02 -0500

“Some of my neighbors feel unheard, and that is a gap we have to close. But a blanket moratorium fixes none of the problems. It stops new construction jobs and increases in the tax base while leaving the plants already running exactly where they are.”

This Week in Memphis: Tiger football kicks off; County Commission wraps

editors@dailymemphian.com ( The Daily Memphian Staff) — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 17:00:06 -0500

Also happening this week: Germantown appoints a new school board member.

600 employees and contractors working on power restoration, MLGW says

jcallahan@dailymemphian.com (Jody Callahan) — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 15:42:59 -0500

MLGW officials have warned that full restoration may not happen until Thursday.

Watchdog, activist Joe Kent dies after battle with cancer

jklyce@dailymemphian.com (John Klyce) — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 09:17:21 -0500

Local watchdog and activist Joe B. Kent, who regularly harshly criticized local politicians, officials, and organizations at public meetings, died at age 63.

Wolf River Greenway could be completed in 2031

wrogin@dailymemphian.com (Wallis Rogin) — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:15:58 -0500

“I hope that the Greenway provides access for every Memphian to go out and enjoy and experience the incredible natural heritage of their community,” said Wolf River Conservancy Executive Director Erik Houston.

Piece of Grizzlies' funding moves forward

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 12:22:43 -0500

Memphis Light, Gas and Water has amended an agreement to send funds annually to the City of Memphis.

Data centers could soon pay full cost of power infrastructure, TVA CEO says

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 22:50:57 -0500

Tennessee Valley Authority CEO Mike Skaggs said the change would, in his opinion, put TVA ahead of other utilities in the country in charging data centers for their costs.