City of Memphis
What happens after the Task Force leaves?
The Memphis Safe Task Force could help deliver Memphis its lowest crime rate in years, but it remains unclear what the temporary law enforcement surge has done to the city’s trajectory.
Samuel Hardiman
Reporter
Samuel Hardiman is an enterprise 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.
There are 652 articles by Samuel Hardiman :
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November 2025
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City of Memphis Council approves $2.5M loan for meals along with fire chief, general services head
Both appointments received standing ovations at City Council chambers. The 0% loans will go to Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA), the Hospitality Hub, the Mid-South Food Bank and Feed the Needy.
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Public Safety2 men electrocuted at xAI’s Southaven power plant
The September event sent one of the men to a hospital, where he remains.
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October 2025
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City of Memphis Young commits to giving firefighters another 2% raise
The raise comes after the Young administration and Memphis City Council gave all employees a 3% raise at the start of the fiscal year in July.
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Update
City of MemphisCity appeals key piece in Tyré Nichols’ case
Attorneys for Tyré Nichols’ estate and the City of Memphis have spent much of the year wrangling over certain aspects of discovery.
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State Government State argues National Guard is army, not ‘militia.’ Why it matters
Recent legal filings and a statement from the governor’s office shows that the legality of the guard’s Memphis deployment could hinge on whether the Tennessee National Guard is an army or a militia.
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EducationJudge in Feagins case scolds attorneys for lack of communication
In a court hearing, Shelby County Circuit Judge Chris Frulla urged attorneys for Marie Feagins and the school district to move quickly during discovery so he could set a trial date.
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Public Safety Governor says he has the authority to deploy Guard to Memphis
The administration is “confident” it will win in court.
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City of MemphisMemphis’ pothole problem is jarring. But leaders have a plan to smooth the faults in asphalt.
Director of Development and Infrastructure John Zeanah and Public Works Director Scott Morgan hatch a schedule to patch teeth-rattling roadways and clean stormwater inlets.
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Public Safety Judge Norris defends himself: ‘I do not harbor any bias toward MPD’
U.S. District Judge Mark Norris wrote that he recused himself “because of the apparent bias of others against the Court.”
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Public Safety State, local leaders sue Gov. Lee about guard, although City of Memphis opts out
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and Commissioners Erika Sugarmon and Henri Brooks are among those seeking a preliminary injunction to stop the guard’s deployment.
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Metro Urban League CEO says Black America is in ‘state of emergency’
Marc Morial told Memphis’ business and elected leadership the nation is a facing a full frontal assault on voting rights, civil rights and diversity programs.
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City of MemphisAbout 1,500 feds working in Memphis, US Marshals director says
Gov. Bill Lee declined to set an end date for when the task force’s work would be completed in Memphis. He said it could last forever.
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Business ‘This is what progress looks like,’ xAI breaks ground on water recycling plant
During the groundbreaking, no one said xAI primary owner Elon Musk’s name aloud, but he was referenced multiple times.
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City of Memphis National Guard patrols to begin Friday, city says
It remains unclear how many guard personnel will be in the city. MPD Chief C.J. Davis has stated that the guard will serve as a deterrent in high-traffic areas.
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City of Memphis Memphis guard deployment could last into 2026, defense secretary says
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth could authorize the use of up to 1,000 Tennessee National Guard troops for a whole year as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force.
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City of Memphis More than 700 Task Force members in city, police chief says
The first significant deployment of Tennessee National Guard troops to Memphis is expected by Friday, Oct. 10.
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City of MemphisArrest info suggests task force focused on outstanding warrants, traffic stops
Recent arrest affidavits suggest the Memphis Safe Task Force is reliant on traffic stops and instances of stop-and-frisk policing.
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City of Memphis City, Police Association headed to mediation in one lawsuit
The negotiation could resolve a dispute about the legality of at least one of the City of Memphis’ employee associations.
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Shelby CountyAs federal task force arrives, Republicans focus ire on Steve Mulroy
The stark partisan lens that many Republicans have brought to President Trump’s crime-fighting efforts was on display during the Tuesday Senate hearing where state Sen. Brent Taylor spoke.
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September 2025
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City of Memphis First National Guard deployments expected within 2 weeks, MPD chief says
Chief C.J. Davis said the Memphis Safe Task Force is still evolving and the Memphis Police Department is still learning information every day.
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Public Safety Federal judge declines to dismiss civil rights lawsuit against City of Memphis
U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman ruled that the City of Memphis’ motion to dismiss the case was denied in part.
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Metro Bondi, Hegseth to visit Memphis this week
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could visit Memphis this week, Bondi said in a cable news interview Tuesday morning, Sept. 30.
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City of Memphis Some documents in Tyré Nichols’ civil rights lawsuit could become public
For about a year, the City of Memphis has sought information from a California family who were close with Nichols. However, attorneys for Nichols’ mother sought to prevent the records from being handed over.
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City of MemphisAsk the Memphian: Why are my lights off but my neighbor’s are on?
To understand why the lights may be on on one side of a street but not on the other is to gain a window into the intricate, man-made spiderweb that is MLGW’s distribution system.
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