City of Memphis
Here’s what the city’s overnight stay at Bass Pro cost taxpayers
The Daily Memphian reported July 21 that the city paid a Memphis consulting firm $10,000 to facilitate the one-and-a-half-day retreat. Here’s what it cost taxpayers.
Samuel Hardiman
Reporter
Samuel Hardiman is a reporter who focuses on government and politics. He began his career at the Tulsa World where he covered business and K-12 education. Hardiman came to Memphis in 2018 to join the Memphis Business Journal, covering government and economic development. He then served as the Commercial Appeal’s city hall reporter and later joined The Daily Memphian in 2023. His current work focuses on xAI, energy needs and how local governments spend money.
There are 524 articles by Samuel Hardiman :
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August 2025
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City of Memphis -
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City of MemphisSouthaven mayor on xAI, more MLGW customers eligible for cutoff and 2026 campaign updates
This Political Roundup dives into what the Southaven mayor said about Elon Musk’s xAI buying a former energy plant, MLGW customers who could be cut off skyrocket, TVA’s demand highs and more.
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BusinessPlans for Southaven xAI site could mean more air emissions for Memphis
New documents shed some light on xAI’s long-term plans for the former Duke Energy Plant in Southaven that it bought last month.
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City of Memphis Spat between city and attorneys for Tyré Nichols’ family unworthy of sanctions, judge says
The issue stems from a May news release attorneys for Nichols’ family and estate issued.
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July 2025
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Public SafetyThe fight over MPD is headed to the Supreme Court. Here’s what the police union turned down.
The City of Memphis and the police union remain locked in a dispute over promotions. The Daily Memphian has obtained the city’s most recent offer — an offer the union refused.
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City of MemphisCity plans $55M AutoZone Park renovation, mixed-use development
The City of Memphis is planning a $55 million renovation of AutoZone Park and potential redevelopment of the area around the stadium, according to public records reviewed by The Daily Memphian.
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City of MemphisTrips, Grizz sponsorships and a $1.2M office design: MATA audit reveals bus system spending
The report details further expenditures from the embattled bus system that raised questions with auditors about how taxpayer money for bus-riders was being spent.
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Public Safety MPD Assistant Chief Don Crowe to retire
Crowe, an MPD veteran with more than 30 years of experience, was often seen in the field and frequently attended public events.
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Public Safety City asks Tennessee Supreme Court for help in fight with union
The City of Memphis has asked the state high court to intervene in its lawsuit against the Memphis Police Association and prevent the demotion of 131 second lieutenants.
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Update
MetroXAI’s second data center to come online within weeks
On Tuesday afternoon, a company representative, speaking on background, held a call with local reporters and took questions about the project.
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City of MemphisDeal to keep Grizzlies in Memphis won’t be done this summer, mayor says
The slow-moving Grizzlies’ negotiations come as the public sector continues to invest in FedExForum and officials work to keep Downtown safer and cleaner.
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North MississippiElon Musk’s xAI buys former power plant in Southaven
The purchase indicates the artificial intelligence company’s continued investment in the MidSouth, which now spans state lines.
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City of MemphisMemphis Mayor Paul Young shook up his cabinet. Here’s why.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young has reshuffled his cabinet in recent months and on July 10, hosted an overnight executive retreat at Bass Pro Shops, which he called “an opportunity to really recalibrate the team.”
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North Mississippi XAI exec addresses jobs, controversy, skepticism and Elon Musk
A group of Memphians got a rare glimpse into the workings of Elon Musk’s xAI, and a key executive spoke about the company’s potential plans for a former natural gas plant in Southaven.
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Shelby County Environmental groups appeal xAI air permit
Environmental groups have appealed the Shelby County Health Department’s decisions to grant Elon Musk’s xAI an air emissions permit for 15 natural gas turbines.
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City of Memphis Memphis Fire Fighters Association sues city over budget decisions
The Memphis Fire Fighters Association has sued the City of Memphis over reneging the union’s planned 5% raise for the current fiscal year.
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City of Memphis Nichols’ attorneys want civil trial pushed until late 2026
The requested trial date would be more than three and a half years after five now-former Memphis Police officers beat Tyré Nichols, who later died from his injuries.
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South Memphis Grok’s antisemitism isn’t good for Memphis. At least according to Grok.
Grok, a chatbot that can have conversations with people and generate computer code and images, is powered, in part, by advanced computer chips in two Memphis data centers.
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City of Memphis Memphis asks court to reconsider MPD demotions
The City of Memphis has asked the Tennessee Court of Appeals to reconsider its recent decision not to block the demotions of 100-plus Memphis Police Department second lieutenants.
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City of Memphis Here’s how Memphis could spend portion of xAI tax money
The city on Monday released the proposed ordinance that would set aside 25% of xAI’s tax bill.
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City of Memphis City must demote MPD second lieutenants, court rules
The Tennessee Court of Appeals threw a wrench into the City of Memphis’ efforts to stop the pending demotions of the Memphis Police Department’s second lieutenants.
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BusinessHow the fight over Elon Musk’s air permit could change Memphis
The conversation about air pollution in the 38109 ZIP code has focused on xAI. Government data shows that there’s been a lot of pollution in that zip code before Elon Musk’s company took up residence in the former Electrolux plant.
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BusinessWhat Mitch Graves wants to bring to the TVA board
The CEO of West Cancer Center plans to provide the perspective of the federal agency’s largest customer: MLGW.
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South MemphisXAI raises $10 billion. What does it mean for Memphis?
News of xAI securing more funding also comes as the company looks to move ahead on one of its key promises to Memphis — a water recycling plant that could cut long-term usage of the Memphis Sand Aquifer by about 9%.
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City of MemphisCity Council Scorecard: Setting the budget past the impasse process
The City Council Scorecard tracks how the 13 council members voted on the critical events of the budget season.
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