Tag: Memphis

Memphis Considers Data Center Moratorium, Renewable Energy Requirements Despite Tennessee Law, TVA Rules Protecting Ratepayers

Tom Pappert
Memphis City Council

The Memphis City Council will consider three ordinances on Tuesday that would affect data centers, particularly those used for artificial intelligence (AI) products. These include a moratorium that would block all construction of new AI data centers, an ordinance that would require AI companies to use 100 percent renewable energy after 10 years, and an ordinance that would allow data centers but set standards for their construction.

The moratorium proposal, whose sponsors include Tennessee Democrat gubernatorial candidate Jerri Green, would prohibit Memphis from processing, scheduling, hearing, or approving a rezoning, planned development, special-use permit, site plan, building permit, or other approval requested by companies seeking to build data centers for one year.

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Owner of Tennessee Daycare Where Child Died Runs Network that Received COVID Relief, PPP Funds and Includes Behavioral Health Provider

Tom Pappert
Daycare

The Memphis daycare where a 6-year-old girl died last month, prompting the indictment of three employees, is actually part of a six-location daycare network that received community support grants and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans during the COVID-19 pandemic. The woman behind the daycare locations, Raven Marshall-Lewis, is also listed as an owner and healthcare provider for a community and behavioral health clinic in Cordova.

The Memphis Police Department (MPD) originally confirmed on August 13 that officers were called after “a six-year-old female victim had been transported to the hospital after being discovered in a vehicle,” and has since confirmed the indictments and subsequent arrests of daycare workers Amilya Hardin, Sabrina Powe, and Tametria Norry.

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Tennessee Democrat, Shelby County Commissioner Maintains Innocence After Arrest on Felony Tax Charges

Tom Pappert
Will Richardson

The vice chair of the Shelby County Democratic Party, who was recently sworn in as a member of the Shelby County Commission, is claiming his innocence after being arrested for felony tax charges earlier this week. 

Officially named the First Vice Chair for the Shelby County Democrats last year, Shelby County Commissioner Will Richardson (District 8) joined the commission earlier this month after winning his election in August. Despite his rise in Democratic politics, Richardson was reportedly indicted on August 25, then arrested after a warrant was issued Tuesday, reportedly for felony sales tax fraud charges related to his Fat Charlie’s Speakeasy restaurant and bar. 

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Illegal Bug Eggs from Tanzania Seized by CBP in Memphis in Second Bust Involving Praying Mantis Materials Since 2021

Tom Pappert
mantis eggs

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Monday reported seizing a shipment from Tanzania containing “mantis egg masses.” The CBP Office of Field Operations in Memphis made the discovery, and it is the second seizure involving praying mantis parts in the Tennessee city since 2021.

In a social media post, the CBP Office of Field Operations confirmed that agriculture specialists in Tennessee were brought in to investigate the illicit shipment, in which bug eggs had apparently been disguised within a photo frame.

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DHS Confirms Arrest of Previously Deported Illegal Alien Who Sought Beer Permit for Memphis Nightclub Raided by ICE

Tom Pappert
ICE arrests in Memphis Bar

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday told The Tennessee Star that Marco Sabillon-Urbina, who was among the more than 120 arrests made on Sunday at the Memphis nightclub El Corralón, is a previously deported illegal alien who previously pleaded guilty to using a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm.

The confirmation from DHS came one day after the Memphis Permits Office told The Star that El Corralón, which also uses the name Marisqueria El Corral, had obtained neither a beer permit nor a dance permit from the City of Memphis. 

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DOJ Announces 14-Year Sentence for Armed Robber Who Had Multiple Charges Dismissed Under Soros-Backed Memphis D.A.

Tom Pappert
Clayton Bratcher

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday announced that Clayton Bratcher, who was convicted of committing armed robberies in Memphis, was sentenced to 14-years in federal prison. Bratcher’s conviction by federal prosecutors followed the decision by Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy to enter into a plea agreement that dropped charges against the defendant.

The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee’s office said that Bratcher committed armed robberies at two McDonald’s locations, as well as a Taco Bell store, during late night hours between July 8-9 2023.

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Tunnel to Towers Opens New Memphis Veterans Village to House, Support Homeless Veterans

Kaitlin Housler
Tunnel to Towers

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation officially opened its new Memphis Veterans Village, providing housing and supportive services for up to 110 veterans and their families.

The grand opening ceremony occurred Friday morning, marking the completion of the foundation’s project to transform a former hotel on Riverdale Bend Road into permanent housing for homeless veterans.

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Justin Pearson Blasts ‘Elon Musk and His Toxic Data Centers’ After Winning Democrat Primary for TN-9

Tom Pappert
Justin Pearson

After securing the Democratic Party’s nomination for the 9th Congressional District on Thursday, State Representative Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) named SpaceXAI owner Elon Musk in his Thursday victory speech. In a post to social media, Pearson said the victory came despite “attacks” from Musk and his company. 

“Exactly 61 years from the signing of the Voting Rights Act, we won our primary despite a redistricting blow that cracked Memphis’s representation in Congress,” wrote Pearson in a post to X, including a portion of his victory speech.

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State House Speaker Cameron Sexton Asks if Memphis Is ‘Tired of Being Blue’ After Shelby County Borrows $125 Million to Meet Payroll

Tom Pappert
Cam Sexton

Following the Shelby County Commission’s decision to borrow more than $100 million to meet its payroll expenses, State House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) questioned whether Memphis voters were “tired of being blue” in a social media post.

“This is what happens when liberals are in charge: higher taxes, more debt, and budgets so poorly managed they have to borrow money just to make payroll,” Sexton wrote in a post to social media. 

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Exclusive: TN-09 Candidate Brent Taylor Reflects on Building Business from $60K Home Equity Loan, Says Private-Sector Experience Prepared Him for Congress

Kaitlin Housler
Brent Taylor

State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis), who recently secured President Donald Trump’s endorsement in Tennessee’s Republican primary for the newly redrawn 9th Congressional District, reflected on his journey from small-town businessman to state lawmaker during an exclusive interview with The Tennessee Star’s CEO and Editor-in-Chief Michael Patrick Leahy, arguing his experience in both business and government has prepared him to serve in Congress.

During the interview, which aired during Tuesday’s edition of The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, Taylor recounted growing up in a small town where his father owned a retail lumberyard and hardware store before discovering a career in the funeral industry as a teenager.

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Federal Judge Sentences India-Educated, Mayo-Trained Doctor to 20 Years for 15,000 Procedures with Dirty Devices in Memphis

Tom Pappert
Sanjeev Kumar

A federal district judge on Wednesday handed down a 20-year sentence to Sanjeev Kumar, who operated a women’s health clinic in Memphis, Tennessee, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Kumar (pictured above) to 20 years in prison, plus two years of supervised release, about six months after the Memphis jury found him guilty of 18 counts of adulteration of medical devices, 16 counts of misbranding medical devices, and six counts of healthcare fraud.

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TBI Investigating Deadly Shooting of Man Who Allegedly Turned Gun on National Guard Troops in Memphis

Kaitlin Housler

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred early Sunday morning in downtown Memphis involving Tennessee National Guard soldiers assigned to the Memphis Safe Task Force.

According to TBI, the shooting occurred at approximately 4 a.m. near the intersection of Ida B. Wells Avenue and Union Avenue. The Memphis Police Department (MPD) said its officers had responded at approximately 3:56 a.m. to reports of shots fired in the area of Ida B. Wells Avenue and Gayoso Avenue.

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Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk Suspended for 60 Days Following Federal Indictment Alleging Theft, Fraud, Money Laundering

Tom Pappert
Tamara Sawyer

Shelby County General Sessions Clerk Tami Sawyer was suspended from her position on Wednesday, just days after the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee unsealed a federal grand jury indictment in a “significant” public corruption case that could land the Memphis Democrat behind bars for up to 20 years if she is convicted.

A court order first reported by NewsChannel 3 revealed that Sawyer was suspended from her office for 60 days by the General Sessions Court for Shelby County, effective on Wednesday, in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) 18-1-302.

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Steve Cohen, Justin Pearson Join Tennessee Democratic Party in Dropping Lawsuit Challenging New Congressional Map

Kaitlin Housler
State Rep. Justin Pearson and Rep. Steve Cohen

U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), State Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis), the Tennessee Democratic Party, and several other voters and candidates moved to voluntarily dismiss their federal lawsuit seeking to halt the implementation of the state’s newly enacted congressional map and election law changes ahead of the 2026 election cycle.

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HUD Housing Crackdown Under Operation Clean House Leads to 24 Arrests in Memphis

Kaitlin Housler
CBP arrest

Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies have arrested 24 individuals during a coordinated enforcement effort targeting criminal activity in and around federally subsidized housing in Memphis, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) announced Monday.

The operation, known as Operation Clean House: Memphis, was conducted through a partnership between USMS, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General (HUD OIG), and the Memphis Safe Task Force.

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Embattled Shelby County Democrat Sues to Challenge Primary Loss amid Ouster Effort

Tom Pappert
Wanda Halbert

Embattled Shelby Criminal County Clerk Wanda Halbert last week filed a lawsuit against the Shelby County Election Commission over her narrow primary election loss to State Representative Joe Towns (D-Memphis), with just 126 votes deciding the election. 

In her lawsuit, Halbert claims that about 1,700 absentee ballots cast during the May 5 election are “unprocessed, unresolved, uncounted, or otherwise not reflected in the certified election totals.”

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Shelby County DA Alleges White House Pressured Tennessee Lawmakers over ‘Political Differences’ in Lawsuit Challenging Accountability Bills

Tom Pappert
Steve Mulroy

Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy on Tuesday filed a lawsuit seeking to block new accountability laws, passed this year by the Tennessee General Assembly and recently signed by Governor Bill Lee, arguing his office is being unfairly targeted.

The lawsuit lays partial blame on top members of the Trump administration, who it claims instructed state lawmakers to “deal with” Mulroy.

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ACLU Files Federal Lawsuit over Tennessee Redistricting

Kaitlin Housler
protest

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and its Tennessee chapter filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a coalition of voters and Memphis-based organizations on Monday challenging Tennessee’s newly enacted congressional redistricting plan, alleging that Republican lawmakers intentionally dismantled the state’s only “black-majority” congressional district in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, the lawsuit accuses the “all-white supermajority” in the Tennessee General Assembly of unlawfully “cracking” Memphis into three separate congressional districts in order to “dilute” the black “voting power” and eliminate black voters’ ability to elect a candidate of their choice to Congress.

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Tennessee Democrat Calling for ‘Secession’ in Memphis Previously Questioned Whether Assassination Attempt on Trump Was ‘Staged Act’

Tom Pappert
Antonio Parkinson

The Democratic state lawmaker calling for Memphis to secede from the State of Tennessee over the new congressional districts signed into law by Governor Bill Lee previously drew controversy in 2024, when he questioned whether the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump was “staged.”

The call by State Representative Antonio Parkinson (D-Memphis) for the city to secede was first highlighted by a reporter for The Tennessean, and the Democrat later wrote in a post to X, “SECESSION NOW! Enough is enough!”

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‘Mob Rule’: State Rep. Rusty Grills Describes Firsthand Account of Tennessee Capitol Chaos During Redistricting Vote

Kaitlin Housler
Rusty Grills

State Representative Rusty Grills (R-Newbern) strongly defended Tennessee’s newly passed congressional map during an exclusive interview Friday morning, describing the day prior’s protests inside the Tennessee Capitol during proceedings as “mob rule” and accusing Democratic lawmakers and activists of deliberately disrupting legislative business.

On Thursday, the Tennessee General Assembly approved legislation creating a new congressional map that, among other changes, divides the City of Memphis among three congressional districts.

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State Democrat Floats Memphis Secession After Redistricting

Zachery Schmidt
Antonio Parkinson

A Tennessee state Democrat is calling for the City of Memphis to secede from Tennessee after the state passed a new congressional map.

The Tennessee General Assembly approved a new map that turns the state’s 9th Congressional District into a district where Republicans are now favored. Previously, the district had been the state’s only majority-black district and a Democratic stronghold.

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Tennessee Lawmakers to Convene Tuesday for Special Session to Rework Congressional Map

Kaitlin Housler
Bill Lee

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee ordered state lawmakers to convene next week for a special legislative session to formally review the state’s congressional map in the wake of a high-stakes ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court opening the door for states to redraw racial gerrymandered districts.

In the case of Louisiana v. Callais, the Court ruled Wednesday that Louisiana’s revised congressional map, which was designed to create a second majority-black district, constituted an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.

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Trump Says Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee Agrees to Redraw 9th Congressional District After Supreme Court Decision

Tom Pappert
President Donald Trump, Governor Bill Lee

President Donald Trump announced in a Thursday post to his social media website, Truth Social, that Governor Bill Lee confirmed he will work to redraw Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District after the U.S. Supreme Court decision that narrowed how the Voting Rights Act can be applied when drawing congressional districts. 

“I had a very good conversation with Governor Bill Lee, of Tennessee, this morning, wherein he stated that he would work hard to correct the unconstitutional flaw in the Congressional Maps of the Great State of Tennessee,” wrote Trump. 

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U.S. Attorney Confirms DOJ Will Examine Memphis Safe Task Force Cases Dropped by Shelby County DA

Tom Pappert
Steve Mulroy

U.S. Attorney Michael Dunavant on Friday confirmed prosecutors will review the reports submitted to his office by Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy, in compliance with the recently passed Memphis Safe Task Force Accountability Act, to determine whether to bring federal charges against alleged offenders. 

Dunavant confirmed his office will review the cases during his Friday appearance on WKNO’s Behind the Headlines, when he said it is “entirely the point” of Tennessee’s legislation, which will require Mulroy’s office to notify the Tennessee Attorney General, speakers of the State House and State Senate, and District Attorneys General Conference, in addition to the federal prosecutor’s office, any time the county enters into a plea agreement, reduces or drops charges, or declines to prosecute a case generated by the task force.

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Shelby County D.A. Complains Memphis Safe Task Force Accountability Work Will Create ‘Busy Work’ for Staff

Tom Pappert
Steve Mulroy

After lawmakers passed the Memphis Safe Task Force Accountability Act, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy described the bill’s requirement for his office to explain decisions to dismiss, modify, or enter into plea agreements for charges brought as a result of the task force as “busy work” during an April 17 interview.

Mulroy shared the interview with the public on Friday, writing in a newsletter that his remarks, “addressed how narratives not rooted in data—or taken out of context—can shift focus away from the core work of reviewing cases, supporting victims, and making decisions based on facts and the law.”

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Musk’s xAI Remains ‘Committed’ to Memphis Water Recycling Plant, but ‘Prioritizing More Immediate Projects’ amid Mississippi Expansion

Tom Pappert
XAI - Memphis

Elon Musk’s xAI said on Wednesday that it remains committed to building a water recycling plant in Memphis, which the company originally announced last year, but said that it was presently focused on “more immediate projects” related to its Colossus supercomputers, which power artificial intelligence (AI) products including Grok. 

The company wrote in a post to X, “xAI is committed to building a state-of-the-art water recycling plant in Memphis,” which they said would eventually, “protect billions of gallons of water each year,” before confirming that it was not at the top of its priority list. 

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Tennessee Partners with Tech Firm to Transform I-40 into Autonomous Freight Corridor

Kaitlin Housler
Will Reid

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced last month it selected Cavnue, LLC as its private-sector partner for a major smart freight initiative along Interstate 40, which the department said marks a significant step toward modernizing one of the state’s busiest transportation corridors.

TDOT said the Memphis/West Tennessee Smart Freight Corridor Pilot will focus on improving safety, easing congestion, and advancing freight technology between Memphis and Blue Oval City by testing Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) technologies in real-world conditions.

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Knoxville Reports Zero Murders in First Three Months of 2026 Amid Falling Crime Rates in Tennessee, Nationwide

Tom Pappert
Knoxville Police Department

The Knoxville Police Department (KPD) on Thursday shared that zero murders were reported during the first three months of 2026, a record previously set in 1988, as crime rates fall across Tennessee and the United States under the Trump administration. 

Explaining the city typically sees five murders between January and March, the police department announced on Thursday, “From January 1 through March 31, 2026, there were no murders in Knoxville, down from four at the same time in 2025.”

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TDOT Announces ‘Smart Freight Corridor’ Pilot to Test Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Technology in West Tennessee

Tom Pappert
car on road

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) on Monday selected a “Smart Roads” company to test Connected and Autonomous Vehicle (CAV) technology in a pilot program and to create a “smart freight corridor” on I-40 in West Tennessee.

TDOT announced that it has partnered with Canvue, LLC, to complete a two-year pilot program aimed at reducing congestion, improving safety, and utilizing emerging freight technology in the Volunteer State.

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State Senate Passes Bill to Ban School Districts from Suing Tennessee with Public Money as Potential Memphis Takeover Looms

Tom Pappert
Students Learning

The Tennessee State Senate last Thursday passed Senate Bill (SB) 712 by State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis), which, as amended, would prohibit school districts from using public funds to sue the state, any of its agencies, or a public official, in order to, “challenge a school or district accountability measure,” established as part of Tennessee’s education laws.

After the amendment to SB 712, which prohibits schools from using taxpayer dollars to launch lawsuits against the state, was added, the bill passed in a 26-6 vote. It will now be considered by the State House, where the Education Committee is expected to review its version of the legislation on Tuesday.

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President Trump Highlights ‘Historic’ Drop in Memphis Crime During Roundtable

Kaitlin Housler
Trump at Grantland

President Donald Trump visited Memphis on Monday, where he participated in a roundtable discussion with local, state, and federal leaders, highlighting what he described as dramatic progress in reducing violent crime through the Memphis Safe Task Force.

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi were among those who joined Trump at the event, held at the Tennessee Air National Guard Armory near the Memphis airport.

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Tennessee Democrat Pledges Challenge, Write-In Campaign After Reportedly Falling One Signature Short in Petition for Reelection Bid

Tom Pappert
GA Hardaway

After the petition returned by Tennessee State Representative G.A. Hardaway (D-Memphis) for his 2026 reelection campaign was determined to have included an insufficient number of signatures, a spokesman reportedly confirmed the 10-term lawmaker intends to challenge the decision, or else begin a write-in campaign in order to keep his seat.

Following the March 10 deadline, the Commercial Appeal reported on Thursday that Hardaway was one valid signature short, leaving no candidates qualified for the District 93 race. The outlet reported that Hardaway would need to launch a write-in campaign for the Democratic Party’s nomination by June 16, or if he decides against running in the party’s primary, to declare his write-in candidacy for the general election by September 14.

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Memphis Safe Task Force Announces 48 Arrests in One Day, Including Illegal Alien Accused of Fatally Shooting Man 14 Times

Tom Pappert
CBP arrest

The Memphis Safe Task Force (MSTF) arrested 48 people last Thursday, according to the U.S. Marshals Service, who reported the arrests in a Friday press release.

The Marshals highlighted three of those arrested, including Allishon Torres, 18, who was charged with first-degree murder, and allegedly found in possession of a handgun with defaced serial numbers. 

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