Artificial intelligence company xAI received a key approval last week to permanently operate 41 natural gas turbines in Southaven. The Daily Memphian’s Samuel Hardiman traveled to Jackson, Miss, for the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Permit Board’s vote on the turbines, which have been the subject of widespread community outcry. “You are the last people with the authority to decide whether my community will continue to be harmed, and what you decide today will become part of the public record of how my community was treated,” Southaven resident Shannon Samsa told MDEQ board members before they voted to approve the permit.

A January fire ravaged the former Frayser Flea Market in the north Memphis neighborhood. But many longtime Frayser residents referred to the burned building as Skateland, harkening back to the important outpost in Frayser’s growth and subsequent decline as a blue-collar suburb. Bill Dries, a lifelong Memphian who grew up in Frayser, wrote about the neighborhood’s past, present and future in a recent feature column.

There’s a plumbing job at Oakhaven Middle School that’s expected to cost Memphis-Shelby County Schools $80. There’s HVAC work needed at Craigmont High that will cost more than $3 million. These are just two of the nearly 1,000 projects on MSCS’ punch list that if, fully funded, would cost about $200 million. Laura Testino compiled the data for a story that included a searchable database of the projects.

Lastly, Geoff Calkins caught up with former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins. Turns out, he’s still gritting and grinding in Memphis all these years later. Hollins was recently tapped as board president of Heal the Hood, a youth mentoring organization that aims to change the lives of young Memphians through the arts.

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The vote followed widespread community outcry about the turbines’ impact on the quality of life for neighbors and residents. 

County Commission fills Ford's former seat By Bill Dries

Skateland fire stirs memories, hope in Frayser By Bill Dries

Four Tenn. Legislature incumbents win reelection at filing deadline By Bill Dries

$200M would buy nearly 1,000 Memphis school upgrades. Will the money be there? By Laura Testino

Wing Guru owner gets diversion but must repay more than $335,000 By Jody Callahan

Calkins: Lionel Hollins has never left Memphis — or stopped working to make it a better place. By Geoff Calkins

As forensic audit results loom, MSCS to update certain processes By Laura Testino

Calkins: The Medicine Man used to rally Memphis fans. Now his old friends are rallying to help him. By Geoff Calkins

Before driving in Tennessee, Republicans want people to pass the written exam in English By Noah McLane

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