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Cohen Fights for Rail Planning Funding

Credit: JK on Unsplash

Tennessee’s plans for passenger rail — and similar plans around the country — are likely on hold during the Trump Administration but a group of Congressional Democrats are trying to get them back on track. 

The Biden-era Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), a $1.2 trillion bipartisan law, provided $1.5 billion in 2021 to encourage intercity passenger rail projects, through planning grants and more. However, the portion of the law funding these projects is set to expire next year. 

Hope seems dim for passenger rail planning as President Donald Trump slashes government funding for agencies across the federal government. For rail projects specifically, Trump pulled a $64 million planning grant in April for a Texas high-speed rail project that would connect Dallas and Houston. On Tuesday, Trump told reporters he pulled $4 billion from a California rail project, citing cost overruns.  

However, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-9th District) and a two other transportation leaders in Congress filed a bill Wednesday to extend passenger rail funding to 2031.

The bill would reauthorize rail planning programs with $7.5 billion between Fiscal Years 2027 and 2031. It has the support of Rail Passengers Association, SMART Transportation Division, Southern Rail Commission, and Transportation for America, Cohen said.

“As a longtime advocate of passenger rail service, I urge my colleagues to support the federal-state partnership that is preparing the United States for a surge in rail travel,” Cohen said in a statement. “I am looking forward to one day taking Amtrak along the recently identified Memphis-Nashville-Chattanooga-Atlanta corridor that is being funded by a Corridor ID grant and, eventually, along a route linking Memphis to Little Rock and beyond. Passenger rail is the future, and this bill ensures its ongoing support.”

Cohen is a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He is joined in filing the legislation by U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (Nevada-1st District), a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials; and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (Michigan 3rd District).

While it may seem implausible in Tennessee that any issue has support from both sides of the aisle, passenger rail does. In a 2022 bipartisan effort, Tennessee lawmakers asked a group of government experts to study the potential of linking Tennessee’s biggest cities via passenger rail. 

In March 2023, Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly submitted an application for federal funds in partnership with the mayors of Atlanta, Nashville, and Memphis to begin planning for a new Amtrak route through those cities. 

Credit: State of Tennessee

In 2023, that group of state government experts — the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) — reported that passenger rail lines here would increase connectivity and tourism here. In December 2023, the Atlanta-Chattanooga-Nashville-Memphis group of mayors announced they’d won a $500,000 planning grant from the feds to study possible routes here.

It was not immediately clear whether those funding efforts were still underway or still funded through the federal grant. We’ll update this story as we hear from state officials and/or other experts on the matter.

The 2023 TACIR report said the top priority for rail service in Tennessee should be a line that connects Nashville and Atlanta through Chattanooga. The line would connect the largest amount of people and create the biggest economic impact. 

Credit: State of Tennessee

The report said the second priority for rail service here would be a route to connect Memphis and Nashville on population size. 

“The route would connect Tennessee’s two largest cities, and connecting areas with large populations is often a key to success for passenger rail projects, although neither of these cities has as many people as Atlanta,” reads the report. 

But the route would give Nashville (and other cities along the route) a connection to Memphis’ Amtrak service, which runs from Chicago to New Orleans, the report said. Freight volumes on existing lines from Memphis to Nashville are lower than other cities. Also, the route lacks “geographic barriers” of other proposed lines, apparently meaning the lack of hills and mountains would make it easier to build.

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‘Gutted,’ ‘Heartbroken’: Reactions to ‘Devastating’ Verdict in Tyre Nichols Trial

Tyre Nichols (Photo: Family of Tyre Nichols)

Attorneys, local officials, and more are reacting to the verdict for three former Memphis Police Department officers charged in the death of Tyre Nichols.

On Wednesday, a state jury from Chattanooga decided that Tadarrius Bean, Justin Smith Jr., and Demetrius Haley have been found not guilty on all state criminal charges. These included second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and aggravated kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and unauthorized exercise of official authority.

Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci

“Today’s verdicts are a devastating miscarriage of justice. The world watched as Tyre Nichols was beaten to death by those sworn to protect and serve. That brutal, inhumane assault was captured on video, yet the officers responsible were acquitted.

“Tyre’s life was stolen, and his family was denied the justice they so deeply deserve. We are outraged, and we know we are not alone.

“We thank the Memphis community and people across the nation who have stood by Tyre’s family, lifted their voices, and demanded accountability. Your solidarity has been a beacon of hope in this painful journey. We remain fiercely committed to civil justice and ask for your continued support as we press forward with the civil trial and push for meaningful, lasting reforms needed to stop the cycle of police brutality.

“Let this be a rallying cry: we must confront the broken systems that empowered this injustice and demand the change our nation –– and Tyre’s legacy –– deserves.”

Senate Minority Leader Sen. Raumesh Akbari (D- Memphis)

“I am heartbroken — and I am angry. What happened to Tyre Nichols was not just a tragedy; it was a brutal injustice. The world watched as his life was stolen in a horrific, senseless beating. And now, his mother, Mrs. RowVaughn Wells, and his loved ones are left to carry a pain no family should ever endure.

“We should not have to keep witnessing this. We should not have to keep burying our sons, our brothers, our friends. We are tired of demanding justice that comes too late — if at all. Tired of asking if our lives truly matter in a system that continues to treat them as disposable. Days like these are unbearably cruel. They leave us searching for answers — about the worth of a life, the unbearable weight of losing one, and whether justice truly exists for us all.

“Tyre deserved better. And we will fight — for his name, for his memory, and for the justice that still feels too far away.”

Senate Democratic Caucus Chairwoman Sen. London Lamar (D-Memphis)

“I am shocked. I am gutted. This verdict is a devastating blow to a community still grieving the brutal killing of Tyre Nichols—a 29-year-old Black man who died after being violently beaten by members of the Memphis SCORPION police unit.

“We all saw the video. We saw Tyre cry out for his mother. We saw officers act without humanity or restraint. This case was supposed to show that police can be held accountable. Instead, this jury’s decision leaves too many of us wondering if justice is ever possible. 

“My heart is with Tyre’s family and everyone in our community carrying the weight of this painful outcome. More than ever, Memphis—and communities across our state—need police officers who protect and serve, not intimidate and harm.

“As difficult as today’s news is, I take some comfort in knowing that all five officers involved still face sentencing in federal court. That process must reflect the seriousness of their actions and the value of Tyre’s life.

“We have so much work to do to rebuild trust, reimagine public safety, and ensure that accountability in policing is not the exception— but the expectation.”

State Rep. Torrey Harris (D-Memphis), Chairman of the Shelby County Legislative Delegation

“Shock and surprise was my reaction to today’s verdict in the Tyre Nichols case.

The most important thing to remember, first and foremost, is that all of the officers have already been found guilty on numerous charges in federal court and are awaiting sentencing on those charges. Today’s verdict does not change the fact all are facing considerable time in prison.

For those who watched the video and were sickened by the savage beating of Mr. Nichols, we all must remember that our faith in the system has been justified, justice is still being served and today’s verdict does nothing to change that.”

Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy

“We are disappointed in today’s verdict. From the beginning, we believed the evidence supported the charges and pursued this case in the interest of justice and accountability.

Tyre Nichols should be alive today. His death was a preventable tragedy that devastated his family and deeply affected our entire community.

We respect the jury’s decision and appreciate their service. While this is not the outcome we hoped for, our commitment to justice and to the people of Shelby County remains unwavering.

I hope we can learn from this tragedy as Memphis continues to work to improve its policing practices. We remain committed to transparency, justice, and the work of building public trust. Our office will continue to pursue accountability wherever the facts and the law lead us.”

Josh Spickler, executive director Just City

“We are shocked and saddened by today’s verdict. We extend our deepest sympathies to Tyre’s family and all who continue to mourn his loss. No matter the outcome of this trial, no one — in our city or any city — should live in fear of the police or in fear of a system that releases them from accountability even when inexcusable killings are caught on camera.

Just City is committed to working with our allies to build a justice system that holds power to account, keeps people safe, and ensures no community ever has to endure this again.”

State Rep. Antonio Parkinson (D-Memphis)

“Although, we all watched the horrific death of #tyrenichols unfold before our eyes, today a jury found the former officers involved not guilty.

All I can think about is the family of Tyre Nichols and how incredibly heartbreaking this must be for them. A truly unfathomable pain.”

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis)

“I am disappointed with the verdicts. But as an attorney, I understand the role of a jury in our system of justice and the verdicts must be respected. These former officers were found guilty in federal court so justice will be done.”

Shelby County Commissioner Miska Clay Bibbs

“I am heartbroken by the verdict — and deeply frustrated by what it represents.

What happened to Tyre Nichols was not just a failure of accountability; it was a horrific act of violence that stole a son, a friend, and a bright light from our community. My heart is with the family & Tyre’s loved ones as they carry an unimaginable pain no family should ever have to endure.

This moment also underscores the critical importance of transparency. The Skycop video — captured right here in District 11 — was a key piece of evidence in exposing the truth. Cameras like these are not just tools; they are lifelines to justice when silence or systems fail us.


We should not still be asking if our lives matter. Tyre deserved better. Memphis and Shelby County deserved better. And we must keep pushing for accountability and justice that so many are still waiting for.”

State Rep. Karen Camper (D-Memphis), House minority leader

“As the Tennessee House Minority Leader, a parent, and a grandparent, I am heartbroken by the verdict delivered in the Tyre Nichols case.

The decision to find three former Memphis police officers not guilty of second-degree murder and related charges under Tennessee law has left a deep wound in our community and renewed calls for justice and accountability.

It is particularly troubling that an all-white jury from Hamilton County was brought into Shelby County to hear this case — a decision that distanced the proceedings from the very community most impacted by this tragedy. That move has understandably raised concerns about fairness and trust in the legal process.

Let us be clear: this is not the end of the road. These officers still face federal charges, including civil rights violations, excessive force, and obstruction of justice. While state charges deal with criminal conduct under Tennessee law, federal charges focus on the violation of constitutional rights — and those proceedings must continue with the full weight of the law.

Tyre Nichols was a young man full of life — a son, a father, and a member of our Memphis community — whose life was taken in a horrific and senseless act of violence. The pain his family has endured is immeasurable, and my thoughts remain with them as they continue to seek truth and accountability.

I stand with the Nichols family and with all Tennesseans demanding a justice system that is fair, transparent, and rooted in the protection of human dignity. We owe it to Tyre and to every family who fears the same fate to keep pushing for meaningful reform.”

State Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis)

“I struggle to find the words that can fully express the heartbreak and outrage I feel today. My thoughts and deepest prayers are with Mrs. Wells, Mr. Wells, Tyre’s siblings and entire family. They have already borne unimaginable pain — and today’s verdict only deepens that wound.

This outcome is both painful and profoundly upsetting. Justice was not served today.

No one should be above the law — especially those sworn to uphold it. The system has once again failed a grieving family, a devastated community, and a nation crying out for justice. Still, I remain committed to standing with the Nichols family and all those seeking justice and dignity for every Black life.

May God carry Tyre’s loved ones through this dark and difficult time.”

Tennessee Democratic Party Chairwoman Rachel Campbell

“The pain in Memphis today is immeasurable, not just for Tyre Nichols’ family but for every mother who knows it could have been her son.

Grief deserves public witness that a life was taken, and we were all denied that today. All Tennesseans of every race need to understand that this grief won’t stay buried forever, and it’s our responsibility to build a state that can deliver justice.”

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Temporary xAI Turbines To Be Removed in Coming Months

Photo Credit: Southern Environmental Law Center

As the xAI project prepares to enter its second phase, some of the temporary gas turbines will be removed over the next two months.

An announcement from the Greater Memphis Chamber said the project reached “full operational capacity” on Thursday, May 1st, as it is now receiving 150 megawatts of grid power from Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW) and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

The chamber said an additional 150 megawatts of Megapack Batteries have been added and will be used in case of an outage or “peak grid demand.”

Prior to connecting to the grid, the company used natural gas turbines as a source of power, which the chamber said are now being demobilized. As the project prepares for Phase II, half of the turbines will remain until a second substation is completed and ready to connect to the electric grid.

Officials said the substation is already in construction and is planned for fall 2025, to which the remaining turbines “will be relegated to a backup power role.”

“xAI is committed to Memphis through their sustainable environmental practices,” the chamber said in a statement. “The company is participating in the Demand Response program as outlined by MLGW and is exploring ways to provide energy to the grid for the benefit of the community, especially in emergency situations or other times of need.”

The gas turbines have been a source of controversy for community members and advocacy groups. Groups such as the Southern Environmental Law Center have criticized xAI for the amount of power these turbines have generated.

“Our analysis shows these turbines together have a power generating capacity of 421 megawatts — comparable to an entire TVA power plant — all constructed and operating unlawfully without any air permit in Southwest Memphis, a community that is profoundly overburdened with industrial pollution,” SELC said in a statement.

The Shelby County Health Department is currently in the process of deciding whether or not they will grant air permits for the gas turbines. Officials said the decision could take weeks, as their next steps are responding to comments made during their official public comment period.

Health department officials have noted that the permit is for 15 permanent turbines, and not 35, which SELC brought attention to in a letter to Michelle Taylor, director and health officer for the Shelby County Health Department.

The announcement of xAI’s connection comes after a resolution was passed on Monday by the Shelby County Board of Commissioners for an update to be given from both TVA and MLGW for the “remaining steps and time necessary to connect xAI to the local utility grid.”

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Volatile Times

Photo: Denise Chan | Unsplash

There’s no way around it — market volatility can be scary, especially if you are nearing retirement or have other major expenses on the horizon. Whenever you see your portfolio value drop by 10 percent to 20 percent over a short period of time, you may be tempted to sell out and stash a pile of cash. But as unnerving as volatile markets may be, they’re a normal part of investing. So, because volatility is inevitable, the following are tips to help you weather the storm as a long-term investor. 

1. Stay invested.

Fear-driven selling may be the single biggest mistake investors make during periods of market volatility. These significant portfolio adjustments are typically driven from panic rather than sound investment principles. It’s very difficult (I’d dare go so far as to say it’s impossible) to time the market. Most investors who try doing so end up missing out on significant growth opportunities.

There has never been a time in history where the market has not eventually recovered from a downturn. Yes, sometimes it takes years for the recovery to occur — and the rebound may not coincide with your investment timeline — but history shows markets will eventually rise again. However, if you take your money out of the market altogether, you’ll realize any portfolio losses and miss out on an opportunity for future growth.

2. Maintain a diversified portfolio.

Portfolios that are highly concentrated in a few investment types, sectors, or industries can be risky. The performance of various asset classes varies greatly from year to year, which is why it’s important to spread your risk out across multiple asset classes and investment types. Diversification typically helps avoid the severe downside of market fluctuations. To dampen volatility over time, diversify across asset classes, sectors, and geography. 

3. Understand your risk tolerance.

When navigating volatile market conditions, it’s important to commit to and maintain an appropriate level of portfolio risk. Consider your risk tolerance, current financial situation, future income needs, and long-term goals. Develop a financial plan and determine a level of portfolio risk you feel comfortable with in advance. And when volatility inevitably comes, hold true to this risk profile regardless of what the market is doing. Having a portfolio that’s too aggressive increases the likelihood you’ll make an emotionally driven decision to sell at the wrong time. On the other hand, having a portfolio that’s too conservative reduces long-term returns and could make it more difficult to outpace inflation and accomplish your financial objectives. 

4. Differentiate between long-term and short-term goals, and invest accordingly.

I always stress the importance of maintaining a long-term, goals-based approach to investing. Market volatility is no fun. Not only can a market drop result in a steep decline in your portfolio’s value but many news outlets and other investors can make volatility feel like the end of the world. 

One way to deal with short-term market volatility while remaining focused on your long-term goals is by following something called the five-year rule. Using this approach, any assets you plan to use within the next five years should be conservatively invested. So, if in the next five years you anticipate a large expense, such as retirement, a new car, college tuition for a child or grandchild, a wedding, etc., you should have a sum of money invested in a short-term, semiliquid account. Your other assets should remain invested in a diversified portfolio in order to support your long-term goals. 

By using this strategy, you can solve the challenge of funding short-term obligations while also remaining focused on your long-term goals because:

• Short-term assets are sheltered from daily market fluctuations, which can provide you with peace of mind that you will be able to fulfill your upcoming financial obligations. 

• Long-term assets remain invested in a diversified portfolio with the potential to outpace inflation, take advantage of market opportunities and grow to fund your long-term goals. 

Ultimately, the best way to grow your wealth in a volatile marketplace is by having a financial plan in place to help keep you on track toward your specific financial goals, regardless of market volatility. 

Katie Stephenson, JD, CFP, is a Private Wealth Manager and Partner with Creative Planning. Creative Planning is one of the nation’s largest registered investment advisory firms providing comprehensive wealth management services to ensure all elements of a client’s financial life are working together, including investments, taxes, estate planning, and risk management. For more information or to request a free, no-obligation consultation, visit CreativePlanning.com.

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Who Controls Your Smart Thermostat?

Dan LeFebvre on Unsplash

Would you let a company control your home thermostat to help Memphis Light, Gas & Water (MLGW) and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) save energy at peak-demand times?

MLGW and TVA announced a new program Tuesday that would do just that. The Smart Thermostat Rewards program will pay residential customers to conserve electricity when demand spikes. 

TVA will pay customers $65 to enroll in the program. If they participate in at least 65 percent of the energy savings events, they’ll get $65 annually.   

“Customers who participate will allow their thermostat to be temporarily adjusted — by no more than four degrees for no more than four hours — on high-energy-demand days,” reads a statement from MLGW. “Thermostat companies, not MLGW or TVA, will make the temperature adjustment remotely. 

“Participants will receive an in-app notification of each energy event from their thermostat company and may choose to opt-out of events at any time, maintaining full control of their thermostat.”

To enroll, participants must:

• Be an MLGW residential customer.

• Have an eligible Wi-Fi enabled smart thermostat in the home or purchase a smart thermostat through the program.

• Maintain an always-on and stable home Wi-Fi network connected to the internet.

• Have an HVAC unit connected to their smart thermostat.

“We are empowering customers to be smart energy consumers while helping them enjoy the financial benefits of energy conservation,” said MLGW president and CEO Doug McGowen. “Integrating the power grid with smart home technologies will help meet our region’s growing energy needs while saving consumers money on their power bills.”

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Memphis Crime Beat Seeks Data For Improving Justice System

Photo Credit : Tingey Injury Law Firm via Unsplash

The Memphis Crime Beat has asked elected officials for help in improving transparency in the city’s justice system.

“Without data we don’t know how our systems are performing, and it’s really important that we do,” Leslie Taylor, president of Memphis Crime Beat, said during today’s meeting of the Memphis City Council’s Public Safety and Homeland Security committee. “There are lots of opportunities to improve our systems, but if we’re not identifying them, then how do we know where to begin?”

Taylor, along with Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis, discussed the work that Memphis Crime Beat is doing while also asking for help in procuring data.

The nonpartisan group was founded as a way to help citizens better understand crime in Memphis through data collection and informing citizens on crime-related policies and the judicial system.

The group analyzes data to make this information accessible for citizens. It was initially inspired by its Court Watch initiative where members observed and evaluated the application of justice in Shelby County.

“Through our Court Watch experience we started realizing how important the justice system is to reducing crime,” Taylor said. “What we didn’t realize when we started is the justice system is a huge piece of that and needs to work hand and glove with law enforcement … to reduce crime.” 

She said the way they analyze the life of a crime through what they call the “crime funnel” from the time a crime is committed to when the perpetrator is sentenced. These stages also include factors such as rearrests, reoffenses, and rehabilitation. 

The organization cited information from the University of Memphis that 12 percent of people who commit crimes are rearrested within 120 days, and 21 percent are arrested within 500 days. 

While they were able to present this data to the council, they noted that there is an absence of data from the justice system. Taylor said law enforcement does a “reasonably good” job on collecting transparent data, but they’re in a “black hole” when it comes to other statistics.

According to the Administrative Office of the Courts, 56 percent of cases were dismissed out of 111,000 offenses. However, Taylor noted they do not have any data as to why they were dismissed. Nor is there information on rehabilitation efforts.

A report from the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury on the Shelby Criminal Justice System further illustrated this need by recommending that the system “collect and publicly report data for key metrics on a regular basis.”

“There are numerous opportunities for enhancing the transparency, accessibility, and usability of aggregate data on the operations and outcomes of the Shelby County criminal justice system,” the report said.

Taylor said areas of opportunities include publishing how well judges manage their docket. She said this is a piece of information they would like to have immediately, and encouraged the council to help urge clerks to share this information.

“We know what data we need to track life of a crime through the crime funnel and we know who has it,” Taylor said. “We don’t have the authority to make people provide us with the data. We hope y’all can help us in that regard.”

Davis said they only have the information they can provide, which is available on the city’s dashboard. She called Taylor’s work invaluable since police “don’t have the manpower or time to do it.”

“We need that data to put on our dashboard about what happened in the court,” Davis said.

Councilwoman Janika White requested that Taylor provide the council with a list of missing data points needed.

“I’m an advocate for transparency and data as well, because we can’t figure out what’s working and what’s not, as well as figuring out where our gaps are,” White said.

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Trump Order Leaves Transgender Tennesseans Without ID

Transgender story Molly Quinn, executive director of OUTMemphis. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

For more than a year, state LGBTQ advocates spearheaded a campaign that helped hundreds of transgender individuals obtain U.S. passports that reflect their gender identity and physical appearance after Tennessee ended gender updates for state drivers’ licenses. 

But an executive order issued on President Donald Trump’s first day in office — declaring U.S. policy is to “recognize two sexes, male and female” — ended the ability of transgender people to get passports that reflect their gender. A federal court temporarily blocked the order last month, but a final legal outcome has yet to be decided.

In Tennessee, where state officials in 2023 denied trans people the right to make gender changes on driver’s licenses, Trump’s executive order has jeopardized the only available form of government-issued ID available that accurately reflects the gender of transgender and nonbinary Tennesseans.

“Tennessee has the least amount of access to change gender markers,” said Molly Quinn, executive director of OUTMemphis. “A lot of transgender people here used passports as their primary gender marker.”

Trump’s order, she said, has created anxiety and uncertainty. On the day the president issued it,  Quinn’s organization fielded 27 calls from individuals anxious to learn whether they could still begin the passport application process, she said. 

Tennessee has long prevented trans people from amending their gender designation on birth certificates, the only state in the nation to explicitly do so. 

The 1977 law was upheld last year by the United States Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, which found “there is no fundamental right to a birth certificate recording gender identity instead of biological sex.”

Tennessee has the least amount of access to change gender markers. A lot of transgender people here used passports as their primary gender marker.

– Molly Quinn, OUTMemphis

Gender, however, could be amended on Tennessee drivers’ licenses until Republican-backed legislation in 2023 defined “sex” in Tennessee law as “a person’s immutable biological sex as determined by anatomy and genetics existing at time of birth.” Evidence of biological sex, the law said, is listed on a birth certificate.

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security then posted notice of new rules that it would not accept requests for gender marker changes that were inconsistent with an individuals’ birth certificate.  A legal challenge to the department’s rules, filed last year by the ACLU of Tennessee in Davidson County Chancery Court, remains ongoing.

Immediately following the drivers license notice, OUTMemphis, ACLU of Tennessee and other advocacy organizations made a statewide push to help individuals secure U.S. passports.

Between the passage of the 2023 Tennessee legislation and Trump’s inauguration, the groups assisted more than 200 people in obtaining a U.S. passport to reflect their gender identity and physical presentation, Quinn said.

“I was thinking it was finally my time,” said Christian Mays, community center coordinator for OUTMemphis. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Government issued documents that reflect accurate gender identity and appearance can be critically important, Quinn noted. 

Interactions with police or Transportation Safety Agency officers at security checkpoints examining IDs that appear at odds with an individual’s physical appearance may subject individuals to interrogation, allegations of fraud or criminal behavior and harassment. IDs are also checked by employers, financial institutions and election officials.

Christian Mays, community center coordinator for OUTMemphis, said all his official identity documents identify him as female. Mays, a transgender man, said he was pulled over once by police who accused him of impersonating someone else, because he presented as a man but his ID listed him as a woman. 

Mays recently got his name legally changed. He submitted his passport application to include his male gender identity the day before Trump’s executive order. His chief concern at the time was the ability to apply for a part time job at a pizza restaurant, which would require an ID. 

He said he is now uncertain whether a passport reflecting his gender identity will come through.

“I was thinking it was finally my time,” Mays said. 

Tennessee Lookout is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Tennessee Lookout maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Holly McCall for questions: info@tennesseelookout.com.

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U of M Community Demands Answers on School’s Response to Trump Initiatives

Photo Credit: University of Memphis via Facebook

A letter signed by 42 University of Memphis faculty, staff, and students was delivered to the offices of President Bill Hargrave and Provost David J. Russomanno on Thursday. It expressed concerns about federal “attacks” on academia, academic freedom, and student safety. The letter asked that university officials “recommit publicly” to these issues.

“Academic freedom is essential to the United States’ system of higher education,” the letter said. “Yet the Trump administration has attacked academic freedom in countless ways, including withdrawing federal funding from subjects or universities they oppose ideologically, demanding dramatic overhauls of academic programs, and removing critical data from government websites.”

The sentiments reference a slew of executive orders and initiatives from President Donald Trump to defund colleges and universities and dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion  (DEI) practices. 

In response to these actions, the American Association of Colleges and Universities released a statement signed by collegiate leaders that condemned these efforts, calling them “unprecedented government overreach.” University of Memphis students have asked that Hargrave sign the letter to show his commitment to protecting the integrity of the school.

The university has also been urged to protect international students. This call comes as five students had their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records reinstated after being terminated by the Immigration, Customs, and Enforcement (ICE).

Students and staff voiced their concerns for those detained by ICE, specifically for those who are involved in pro-Palestininan movements. They went on to cite fear of deportation along with attacks on free speech, and how some universities have assisted ICE in these actions.

“We deserve to know how the university will protect our students and faculty from such actions, ” the letter said. 

The letter asked that the university deliver a response outlining how it will protect students from detention and deportation. It sought information about whether the administration has worked with ICE and if it plans to do so in the future, and questioned how the administration will protect the U of M community from measures censoring free speech.

Lastly, the letter criticized the university for a “profound lack of transparency” — specifically about how they will respond to “federal directives.” 

“Students cannot be successful if they live in fear of deportation, or when faculty are prohibited from teaching freely within their areas of expertise,” the letter said.

While the letter noted that the university held a recent town hall, it asserts that questions from students and faculty were “censored and no questions were fielded from the audience.” As a result, the signees have requested an “honest, open discussion about community concerns,” to be attended by Hardgrave and Russomano.

The writers said they see this as an opportunity for the administration to “reconfirm their commitment to academic freedom and protecting students.” They have requested a response to the letter by Wednesday, May 7.

University of Memphis officials have not yet responded to the letter.

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xAI Air Permit Decision ‘Could Take Weeks’

Elon Musk. Photo by Trevor Cokley / Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Shelby County Health Department’s (SCHD) decision as to whether or not they will grant air permits for xAI’s gas turbines could take weeks, officials said.

During Wednesday’s Shelby County Board of Commissioners meeting, Kasia Smith-Alexander, deputy director of SCHD, said that as the public comment period closes, the agency’s next step is to respond to the comment. 

“To give you a timeline on when or if a decision will be made on that permit — probably weeks out, I don’t want to put a date on it,” Smith-Alexander said. 

She noted that on Friday the health department held a public hearing regarding the permits, and since then they had received about 300 additional comments.

Officials said the permit is only for 15 permanent turbines, and not 35, which the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) brought attention to in a letter to Michelle Taylor, director and health officer for the Shelby County Health Department.

At the commission’s  hospitals and health committee meeting, Commissioner Erika Sugarmon sponsored a resolution that asks for an update from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and Memphis Light, Gas, and Water (MLGW) regarding the “remaining steps and time necessary to connect xAI to the local utility grid.” 

The resolution requests that this update be given by June 1

Smith-Alexander said the permanent turbines are supposed to go on the grid “at some point in time.”

The commissioner said her original intent was to have a six-month moratorium for the operation of the turbines, but was informed this would be a request and not a requirement of the health department.

Megan Smith, a staff member of the county attorney’s office, said there is no legal definition of moratorium “in this process as defined by law.”

“This body only has authority that is granted to it by law,” Smith said. “There is no authority to issue a moratorium on this process.”

Sugarmon went on record and requested that the public comment period be extended as TVA, MLGW, and the Chamber of Commerce have not come before the commission to provide updates on the grid. She also asked for a list of people who signed NDAs

While elected officials are working to stop the turbines, this has not stopped the public from asking the health department to deny the permits.

“We call on Shelby County Health Director Dr. Michelle Taylor and Mayor Lee Harris to deny the permit and shut the xAI plant down,” Rep. Justin J. Pearson said before a “Deny the Permit Rally” held Wednesday. “xAI is poisoning our air, and we are organizing to stop it. We want less pollution, not more. Our health is not for sale.”

Orion Overstreet, a University of Memphis student organizer, said they are watching and researching and promised to keep showing up on the issue.

“The young folks in the city are coming together around this issue,” Overstreet said. “We have all eyes on this right now.”

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West Virginia Sculptor Chosen for Crockett Statue at State Capitol

Credit: Jamie Lester via LinkedIn

West Virginia sculptor Jamie Lester will create the sculpture of West Tennessee frontiersman and statesman David Crockett for an iconic spot on the Tennessee State Capitol. 

State lawmakers agreed to erect a statue of David Crockett on the capitol grounds in 2021. Efforts to do so go back to at least the creation of the David Crockett Commission in 2012. (Read our previous story on this here.)

Photo: Tennessee State Museum

Crockett’s statue will replace a statue of racist, segregationist newspaper editor and politician Edward Carmack. He was, among other things, the editor of the Memphis Commercial newspaper when he incited a mob against anti-lynching activist, journalist, editor, and business woman Ida B. Wells. The mob destroyed her newspaper office.

Carmack was shot and killed by political rivals in Nashville, near where his statue was erected in 1927. The statue was installed, however, by a prohibition group (Carmack was also a staunch prohibitionist) that thought his big-profile death could further their cause. 

Photo: Natalie Allison

Protesters tore down Carmack’s statue in 2020 during the turmoil following the police killing of George Floyd. One of the 2021 bill’s sponsors, Sen. Steve Southerland (R-Morristown), even told The Chattanooga Times Free Press at the time, he “didn’t think it would be possible to remove Carmack.” The newspaper story said, Southerland “smiled and then added: ‘Someone removed it for us, so they did us a favor.’”

VANDALIA BRONZE

Lester and his company, Vandalia Bronze, were selected Tuesday by the State Capitol Commission (SCC). The vote came after several meetings of a group to find sculptors, receive proposals, and narrow down 28 proposals to the finalists for the SCC. That group of technical advisors included David Crockett experts, sculptors, legislators, state officials, Tennessee Arts Commission members, architects, and historians.

Photos credit: Jamie Lester/Vandalia Bronze

Lester and his team have produced projects for the World Golf Hall of Fame, the Brooklyn Wall of Remembrance, and he created a life-sized sculpture of actor Don Knotts for the city of Morgantown, West Virginia. His work also includes numerous sculptures of people in business, sports, politics, and religion. 

Artists for the Crockett statue were scored in three categories. Lester scored highest of them all in each category. His proposal for Crockett shows the man as a “guardian of the frontier” standing atop a stone with his dogs Rattler and Tigger beside him. Crockett’s body for the statue will likely stand eight to nine feet tall, according to State Architect Ann McGauran.  

Crockett’s dogs, it seemed, helped to win Lester’s design admiration and votes. 

“I personally love the incorporation of the dogs,” said Tennessee Finance and Administration Commissioner Jim Bryson after the vote Tuesday. “I’m a dog person. I think the dogs make it really special.”

To this, McGauran said the dogs got plenty of discussion from the group of technical advisors working on the Crockett statue project. 

The State Building Commission will soon vote on Lester’s contract. If approved, his team will deliver a one-third scale model of the final design. If the design is approved, the Crockett statue will be delivered and ready for installation on the south side of the capitol by 2026.