The Early Word: Groups ask MLGW to slow xAI; Olympic dream is dashed
Good morning, sunshine. It’s Thursday, June 20, the first official day of summer! But we all know summer in Memphis started weeks ago when temps hit the mid-80s. Load up on sunscreen, hydrate and settle in because we’ve got at least three more months that’ll be hotter than a stolen tamale.
Also today: Students from PURE Academy, who have been busy developing their own flavored, non-alcoholic fizzy drinks at Grind City Brewing this week, will wrap up the school project with a presentation at Memphis City Hall. The Daily Memphian’s Jane Roberts watched the kids in action as they experimented with flavors like honeysuckle (sounds refreshing) and peanut butter (not so much).
Environmental groups are asking Memphis Light, Gas and Water to slow its role with Elon Musk’s xAI supercomputer. The gigafactory project is reportedly ahead of schedule, but Memphis Community Against Pollution; Young, Gifted & Green; and Protect Our Aquifer want the utility to consider xAI’s environmental impact before moving ahead with approvals. On Wednesday, the groups presented MLGW’s board with a list of questions, including ones addressing xAI’s potential for air pollution in southwest Memphis and its impacts to drinking water infrastructure.
Memphis-raised Gabrielle Rose, who at age 46 is believed to be the oldest swimmer to qualify for the U.S. Swimming Olympic Trials, won’t be making her third trip to the Olympics this year. Rose qualified for the semifinals of the women’s 200-meter breaststroke on Wednesday morning, but she came in last in the semifinal on Wednesday night. She also failed to advance in the 100-meter breaststroke semifinals earlier this week.
Plus, a DeSoto inmate escaped through a “soft spot,” Lakeland’s vice mayor is stripped of his title and we consider what to do about Luke Kennard.
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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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