The Early Word: BlueOval EV plan is dead; Crosstown CEO’s life was saved
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Howdy, Memphis! It’s Tuesday, Dec. 16, and a 2% raise for Memphis firefighters tops the Memphis City Council’s agenda today.
Ford shifts gears: Ford Motor Co. is abandoning its plan to produce electric trucks at BlueOval City.Â
XAI gets to keep permit: Elon Musk’s xAI can go ahead with building permanent natural-gas turbines.
From the courts: Former Evolve Bank & Trust CEO Robert “Bob” Hartheimer plans to plead guilty to child pornography charges.Â
Commission keeps tabs on Halbert: Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert is cooperating with county auditors for now. But there’s a back-up plan if that changes.
A Crosstown hero: Crosstown Concourse founder Todd Richardson’s life was saved by the building’s maintenance leader.
JJJ slays: Memphis Grizzlies’ star Jaren Jackson Jr. finally had a good game.
County’s top PD to retire: Phyllis Aluko was the first woman to serve as chief public defender for the county.
Hello, 2026! Check out our New Year’s Eve party guide to plan your midnight toast.Â
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Bianca Phillips
Bianca Phillips is a Northeast Arkansas native and longtime Memphian who’s worked in local journalism and PR for more than 20 years. In her days as a reporter, she covered everything from local government and crime to LGBTQ issues and the arts. She’s the author of “Cookin Crunk: Eatin’ Vegan in the Dirty South,” a cookbook of vegan Southern recipes.
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