Week of: Occtober 8, 2026
The latest from tsdmemphis.com
Annual Freedom Award honors relentless fight for equality — Page 4 NEWS
NEWS
SHELBY COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE HITS HALFWAY MARK FOR CLEARING AUTO DEALERSHIP BACKLOG
MEMPHIS NATIVE’S HARLEM’S FASHION ROW OPENS INDUSTRY’S BIGGEST SHOW
— Page 6
— Page 13
Volume 75, Issue 40
facebook.com/TSDMemphis
instagram.com/thenewtristatedefender
twitter.com/TSDMemphis
tsdmemphis.com
■■ NEWS
Memphis school board taps new leadership TRI-STATE DEFENDER
tsdmemphis.com President Calvin Anderson
Editor Stephanie R. Jones
Published by The Tri-State Defender POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Tri-State Defender, 1509 Madison Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104. GENERAL INFORMATION: Inquiries may be submitted in writing or by calling (901) 523-1818 or by email. TELEPHONE: (901) 523-1818. The Tri-State Defender (USPS 780-220) is published weekly. The Tri-State Defender 1509 Madison Ave. Memphis, TN, 38104. Second-class postage paid in Memphis, TN. The Tri-State Defender is a member of The National Newspaper Publishers Association and the Tennessee Press Association. All materials covered by copyright. No materials herein may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. (901) 523-1818 | 1509 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN 38104 ••• $60 Annually/$5 Monthly Digital subscriptions are available online at tsdmemphis.com
Week of: October 8, 2026
By Melissa Brown Chalkbeat
The Memphis-Shelby County Schools board voted Tuesday, Sept. 29, to replace previous board chair Natalie McKinney with Tamarques Porter, the District 4 school board representative first elected to his seat in 2024. “Leadership is not simply about how you govern in a moment,” Porter said after he was nominated by new board member T.L. Harris. “It’s about who can collectively bring board members together, the community together, and how we can set a vision for the future.” McKinney was nominated for reelection but received one vote, and she ultimately voted for Porter after he received the majority of votes. Towanna Murphy nominated and voted for herself. Sable Otey will join Porter as vice chair, resulting in a complete leadership turnover for the board as it faces an uncertain year ahead amid a looming state takeover threat and major decisions like pending school closures. For its part, the board sued state Republicans this summer over the new takeover law, which aims to install a politically appointed oversight board with sweeping authority over Tennessee’s largest school district. The board won a temporary reprieve this summer, holding off the takeover for the time being. But board attorneys will be in federal court on Friday to argue over who gets to control the district in the coming months while the lawsuit plays out in court. It could take months or potentially years to resolve. If the federal judge again sides with the elected school board after Friday’s hearing, the elected school board and district administrators will continue to govern Memphis schools. If the court allows the state-appointed board to take control, it would have final say over MSCS’ annual budget and
charter approvals. Its members could also replace the district’s superintendent. The first move in 2023 for a similar takeover board in Houston was to replace the school superintendent. Republican lawmakers pushing for a Tennessee takeover have repeatedly referred to the Texas takeover as a model for Memphis. The intervention could last up to six years if MSCS continues to meet any four of the takeover laws’ six criteria, which cover student and school performance, financial management and leadership stability.
Criteria for State Takeover Law 1. Fewer than 50% of students are proficient in Math and English Language Arts (ELA)/reading.
Page 2
2. More than 25% of the district’s schools receive a “D” or “F” grade from the Tennessee Department of Education. 3. The district reports a chronic absenteeism rate of 25% or higher. 4. The district/schools are designated as a state priority or low-performing. 5. A state management or financial audit finds significant negative issues or deficiencies. 6. The district has more than two superintendents (or directors of schools) within a four-year period. Melissa Brown is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Contact Melissa at mbrown@chalkbeat.org. This story was originally published by Chalkbeat.
TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
■■ NEWS
Memphis schools takeover could begin once state takeover board is ready, judge says By Bri Hatch Chalkbeat
A federal judge appears poised to allow the state takeover of Memphis schools to move forward as soon as the oversight board says it’s ready to seize control of Tennessee’s largest school district. U.S. District Court Judge Waverly Crenshaw filed an order Monday indicating that he will soon remove a temporary block on the state-appointed board after months of delay. That came days after the first hearing on Memphis-Shelby County Schools’ lawsuit against the state takeover, where Crenshaw said he never intended the block to be long term. Crenshaw ordered the oversight board chair to notify the court under oath once the board is “ready, willing, and able” to begin its work, a step that could allow the politically appointed board to assume control of the district within days. Oversight board Chair Billy Orgel did not respond to Chalkbeat’s request for comment on whether or when he would file a statement of readiness with the federal court. Chalkbeat also reached out to the Tennessee Attorney General’s office, who is representing the oversight board, for comment. The state board was set to start its four-year term on July 1. But Crenshaw issued a temporary block on the takeover the day before, in an early win for MSCS and Shelby County officials challenging the law passed this spring authorizing the takeover. District officials argued then that the new governance structure had no processes in place to handle major financial decisions like maintenance contracts that could significantly affect
Week of: October 8, 2026
Attorneys for the Memphis-Shelby County school board faced tough questioning during a federal hearing on Oct. 2 over the district’s lawsuit challenging Tennessee’s state takeover law. (Larry McCormack for Chalkbeat)
school operations ahead of the new school year. Early meetings in June revealed the board did not have established state emails or even a set location to hold its meetings. It’s unclear whether the board has been working behind the scenes this fall to establish those processes, given Crenshaw’s earlier order. Under the state takeover, the new state board — which includes a former
MSCS superintendent and statewide teacher of the year — would seize control over the district’s annual budget and staffing decisions. During Friday’s hearing, Crenshaw expressed skepticism about MSCS’ argument that the state takeover violates students’ constitutional rights and partially ruled in favor of the state by dismissing Gov. Bill Lee and other state leaders as defendants in the lawsuit.
Page 3
Both sides are expected to file further court documents this month as Crenshaw considers dismissing the lawsuit altogether. The members of the state oversight board, appointed by Tennessee Republican leaders this spring, are: • Chair Billy Orgel, a local developer and former Memphis-Shelby County school board member • Vice Chair Shanea McKinney of Cigna, who is a member of the University of Tennessee’s board of trustees • Secretary Nisha Powers, who leads a Memphis civil engineering firm and has served on the Tennessee Board of Regents • Dorsey Hopson, a former district superintendent • Dedrick Brittenum Jr., a Memphis lawyer and former City Council member • Beverly Robertson, a marketing executive and former president and CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce • Tyrone Burroughs, a Memphis CEO who sits on the Tennessee Lottery Commission and the Youth Villages’ board of directors • David Mansouri, the sole board member who is not a Shelby County resident and the Nashville-based leader of one of Tennessee’s most influential education advocacy organizations • Karen Vogelsang, a former Memphis teacher and 2015 Tennessee Teacher of the Year who now runs a literacy nonprofit Bri Hatch covers Memphis-Shelby County Schools for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Reach Bri at bhatch@chalkbeat.org. This story was originally published by Chalkbeat.
TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
■■ NEWS
Annual Freedom Award honors relentless fight for equality By Judith Black Moore TSD Contributing Writer
The honorees at the National Civil Rights Museum’s 35th annual Freedom Award ceremony held at the Orpheum Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 1, reflected a changing era of civil rights leadership. Fred Gray Sr., one of the last surviving legal strategists of the Civil Rights Movement, helped dismantle segregation in America as the lawyer who represented Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. Gray’s pioneering legacy now rests with the generations he helped empower, including fellow award recipients Rev. Shavon Arline-Bradley, Nneka Ogwumike and Bakari Sellers. Arline-Bradley, an ordained minister, public health advocate, and president and CEO of the National Council of Negro Women since 2023, credits the women and civil rights legends who preceded her and built the organizations she now leads with making her work possible. Nneka Ogwumike, WNBA champion and fourterm president of the league’s players association, and Bakari Sellers, a lawyer, author, CNN political correspondent and former South Carolina legislator, represent a younger generation of human and civil rights activists. They are taking the fight into new arenas, from women’s sports and economic opportunity to voting rights, education and social justice. Together, their stories shaped the event’s overall theme and mood, which celebrated the courage of freedom fighters of the past while embracing what civil rights leadership looks like now — and what it may become. Before the ceremony, hundreds of guests gathered for photographs and interviews on the red carpet and hors d’oeuvres at the Halloran Centre for Performing Arts & Education next door to the Orpheum. Actor Larenz Tate hosted the event for the second consecutive year. Grammy Award-winning gospel artist Tamela Mann brought the audience to its feet with her performance of the hit song “Take Me to the King.” And local artist Garry Goin and the Freedom Award House Band performed a mix of R&B and liberation songs. Week of: October 8, 2026
Civil rights attorney Fred Gray Sr. was honored at the National Civil Rights Museum’s 35th annual Freedom Award on Oct. 1 at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis. Gray represented civil rights leaders including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. ON THE COVER: Members of Gary Goin Freedom Award House Band perform at the 35th Freedom Award ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 1 at the Orpheum Theatre. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/Tri-State Defender)
Freedom Award honoree Rev. Shavon Arline-Bradley, president and CEO of the National Council of Negro Women
Freedom Award honoree Bakari Sellers, lawyer, author, CNN political correspondent and former South Carolina legislator
Freedom Award honoree Nneka Ogwumike, WNBA champion and four-term president of the league’s players association
Taking the stage to accept the first award was Arline-Bradley, who reflected on the legacy that shaped her path to leadership. “This honor means more to me than you can ever imagine,” Arline-Bradley said, describing the moment Page 4
as the culmination of what she believes God had in store for her. She paid tribute to Dorothy Height, whose leadership helped secure the headquarters for the women’s advocacy nonprofit on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. Arline-Bradley described the building, located on the same street as the White House, as a representation of Black women’s history, power and resilience. “NCNW stands as the only Black and womTRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
■■ NEWS
Grammy Award-winning gospel artist Tamela Mann performs at the National Civil Rights Museum’s 35th annual Freedom Award ceremony.
Guests fill the Orpheum Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 1, for the National Civil Rights Museum’s 35th annual Freedom Award program.
en-owned building on Pennsylvania Ave,” she continued. During her speech, Arline-Bradley outlined what she believes it will take to achieve freedom and equality today. “If America wants to get her healing, we’ve got to climb to the rooftop of justice,” she said. And justice includes using Black economic power to support companies with compatible values, she continued. Fred Gray Jr. accepted the award on behalf of his father, who was unable to attend the ceremony. Gray, who practices law alongside his father and brother, recalled his father’s decision to become a lawyer and return to Montgomery, Alabama, determined to challenge segregation. Gray connected his father’s legal work to Memphis’ sanitation workers, whose 1968 strike became a defining moment in the city’s civil rights history. “At 95, if he was here, he would say to you, ‘I have done what I can do. The rest is up to you,’” Gray Jr. said. Ogwumike used her acceptance speech to connect the growing visibility of women’s sports to a broader conversation about opportunity and equality. “In this moment, there are greater and more opportunities for girls and women in sports,” Ogwumike said, pointing to the example provided by the WNBA’s professional athletes who serve as role models for young girls. Week of: October 8, 2026
She also addressed what she described as threats to women’s rights and access, including debates surrounding Title IX, voting rights, reproductive healthcare and gender violence. “We refuse to be bullied and we refuse to be silenced and made to disappear,” Ogwumike said. Her remarks were followed by a surprise video message from former Vice President Kamala Harris, who thanked Ogwumike for “being a fighter for the people” and congratulated the evening’s other honorees. The final honoree, Bakari Sellers, has family ties to Memphis. His mother grew up in the city. His grandfather, the Rev. E.W. Williamson, once served as pastor of Middle Baptist Church and Olivet Baptist Church. Sellers wrapped his remarks in light humor as he reflected on his conversations with other advocates and his own social justice journey. At one point, he paused, overcome with emotion, as he recalled visiting the National Civil Rights Museum earlier in the day and standing on the balcony where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. “The victories they won are being torn down all around us,” Sellers said. To illustrate the cost and cruelty of social injustice, he asked the audience to imagine a 10-year-old student who might one day cure cancer but is struggling in school because of hunger. Page 5
“Somewhere we have forgotten that we come from a people of dreamers,” Sellers said. “We have forgotten the price that was paid. “I am only 42 years old. I don’t really deserve this thing,” Sellers said. “But I will promise you this: Tomorrow I will work harder than I did yesterday.” A video montage at the black-tie ceremony paid tribute to influential figures who died this year, including civil rights organizer Bernard Lafayette, a leader in the Nashville Movement, Freedom Rides and the Selma voting rights campaign; Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights icon, minister and founder of Operation Push, Memphis civil rights activist Clara Ester; feminist leader and journalist Gloria Steinem; and country music legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton. Museum President Russ Wigginton commented ahead of the program on the generational evolution of Freedom Award honorees. He noted that earlier generations of civil rights leaders often could measure progress through changes in laws, court decisions and government policy. Marches, sit-ins and other forms of direct action helped produce the landmark legal changes achieved during the Civil Rights era of the 1950s and 1960s. But today, he said, the work can be more difficult to measure because much of it involves changing hearts and minds, increasing empathy and encouraging people to understand cultural differences. “It is a delicate balancing act that requires patience and commitment,” Wigginton said. He added, however, the fundamental goal remains unchanged: equal rights for everyone. TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
■■ NEWS
Shelby County Clerk’s Office hits halfway mark for clearing auto dealership backlog By James Coleman
TSD Contributing Writer
The Shelby County Clerk’s Office has cleared half of 34 crates of backlogged dealership packets that contain undelivered paperwork for car titles and registrations, officials said. Newly elected County Clerk La Sonya Hall and her staff found pallets containing the crates during a spot inspection of branch locations within the first week after she took office Sept. 1. The backlog was “inherited” from the previous county clerk, Wanda Halbert. “We came in and thought we’d immediately hit the ground running,” said Hall. “When we stumbled upon this, it immediately had us recalibrate.” To cover the cost to process the pallets, Hall made a quick visit to the county commission, which approved over $6 million from a clerk’s office reserve account. Some of the money pays for overtime costs to prepare packages for mailing. But the bulk of the funding will be allocated to technology upgrades to replace outdated computers used by employees. Most of their devices are slow and struggle to handle the software provided by the county. A spinning wheel lingers on their screens, along with a growing line of customers at their stations. So far, the backlog is being cleared swiftly, considering the volume of discovered documents. Half of the crates have been emptied in less than a month, and 17 remained as of this writing. A single crate contains 20 car dealership packets, each with 253 unprocessed applications, Hall said. County clerk officials also found Week of: October 8, 2026
“The middle of the month is typically the lowest volume of clients coming through the doors. Wednesdays just happen to be the smallest volume where we can direct our attention and focus on the dealer packets.” — La Sonya Hall five packets with more than $12,000 of unprocessed checks from dealerships and 15 packets that may contain unprocessed credit card payments. Both forms of payment represent revenue for the county and the state, and revenue from dealership payments is typically submitted monthly from the clerk’s office to the state. More payments could be found in the remaining pallets. “That’s why there is such an urgency to address it, because we are backlogged and all of us know we have a certain amount of time to get these checks processed,” said Hall. The longtime public servant credited office workers for the turnaround. “What gets lost in this is the dedication of the employees,” said Hall. “They volunteered to work overtime on Saturdays. They work hard on Wednesdays to get these packets done. Several of them work two to three hours after the office closes now to get these packets up to snuff.” A “dealership department” of three is working toward helping Hall fulfill a campaign pledge to keep the doors of eight branch offices open, said Hall. And
Packets containing unprocessed paperwork for vehicle titles and registrations is part of a backlog discovered by the Shelby County Clerk’s Office after La Sonya Hall took office Sept. 1. The office has cleared about half of the 34-crate backlog.
every staff member dedicates a few hours every third Wednesday of the month. “The middle of the month is typically the lowest volume of clients coming through the doors. Wednesdays just happen to be the smallest volume where we can direct our attention and focus on the dealer packets,” explained Hall. “Rather than have two or three work on the backlog, we can devote all of our clerks and people who work at the counters.” Since employees began addressing the problem in mid-September, the holidays have been set as a tentative deadline for completion. “What we were able to do in the week from September 12th to the 18th was work the dealer packets while still servicing individual customers,” said Hall. “We were literally working our team in a dual function. They were clearing dealer packets, but they were also servicing individual citizens. We have worked hard not to disrupt the daily flow of work.” Commissioners of both political parties, impressed by Hall’s aggressive
Page 6
Shelby County Clerk La Sonya Hall is overseeing an effort to clear a backlog of dealership packets containing unprocessed title, registration and payment paperwork. Hall said the office hopes to complete the work by the holidays.
and honest approach to the backlog, all voted in favor of granting her $6 million request. “I am extremely humbled by the unanimous support that we have from commissioners,” said Hall, whose meeting stood in stark contrast to many of Halbert’s visits to the county commission. During Halbert’s two terms, the clerk’s office endured frequent disruptions and issues. For example, an early warning sign of the current backlog occurred in 2022 when thousands of vehicle plates and tags went undelivered during the pandemic. A forensic audit in 2024, ordered by State Comptroller Jason Mumpower, was supported by some members of the commission after Halbert submitted faulty financial reports to the county trustee. Problems continued to snowball. And two outside attempts to oust Halbert failed, though some commissioners supported the efforts. For her part, the new county clerk is looking to the future and looking for ways to avoid her predecessor’s failures. “We’ll start to really try to get this backlog behind us,” said Hall. “That will give us an opportunity to assess where we need to be to never let this happen again.” TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
■■ NEWS
NAACP top lawyer calls Memphis ‘ground zero’ in fight for democracy By Lee Eric Smith
TSD Contributing Writer
“Memphis vs. Errbody” is supposed to be a simple, galvanizing slogan for community strength and pride. But lately, it may feel more like a news summary of the city’s specific challenges: Policing. Schools. Data centers. Congressional redistricting. National Guard troops on Beale Street. For Kristen Clarke, general counsel for the NAACP, the city has become “ground zero” in the national fight over voting rights and political power. Clarke served as the keynote speaker at Saturday’s Freedom Fund Celebration luncheon, hosted by the civil rights organization’s Memphis Branch. She issued an urgent exhortation to the annual event’s mostly Black audience: Everyone must vote. “We need to vote like we’ve never voted before in each and every election, big and small, up and down the ballot,” said Clarke. “Encourage mass turnout.” The luncheon, held at Reign Event Venue in Southeast Memphis, showcased the local branch’s work under the theme, “We the People,” while placing strong emphasis on the approaching election, fewer than 30 days away. Along with Clarke, local branch President Kermit Moore used apocalyptic language similar to Clarke’s to describe the importance of the election and its outcomes, citing the school takeover and data centers and warning that “democracy is at stake.” “I know we hear the old adage all the time, ‘This is the most important election in your lifetime,’” Moore said. “But I’m here to tell you today, it’s not an adage. Because in Memphis, we are at ground zero. Don’t just think your neighbors have voted. Talk to them. Talk to your family, your friends, your coworkers.” But Clarke’s keynote went well beyond a speech to get out the vote. Week of: October 8, 2026
As the former head of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice from 2021 to 2025, she offered a sweeping critique of the current state of federal civil rights enforcement, pointing to the Justice Department’s investigations involving the Memphis Police Department and fair lending practices that she said have been abandoned. But she credited the NAACP and other local advocates for continuing to press for change. “The Civil Rights Division today is nothing but a shadow of its former self,” Clarke said. “As the federal government turns its back on vulnerable communities and abandons the task of carrying out civil rights enforcement, this is a moment where we really need our local leaders to step into the breach.” She also cited the NAACP’s fight against SpaceXAI as part of a growing civil rights debate over artificial intelligence and data centers. “We need to confront the proliferation of data centers,” Clarke said, “and it’s why the NAACP is proud to be fighting back against xAI in partnership with communities here in Tennessee and Mississippi.” Tennessee, in particular, has been at the center of major voting rights battles, Clarke said, including the recent redrawing of the congressional district that was once anchored by Memphis. “Memphis has been ground zero,” she said. The NAACP has sued Tennessee, Clarke said, arguing the new congressional map violates the 14th and 15th Amendments, which include protections for equal rights and voting rights. “We know what was happening here,” she said. “We know that this was about race and race only. And we face headwinds, but we are not going down without a fight.” She also invoked Nolan Xavier Wells, the 18-year-old whose death has
prompted the NAACP and civil rights attorney Ben Crump to call for further investigation. Clarke said Wells had been looking forward to voting for the first time this November. “One thing that we can all do is make sure that we, and everyone that we know, go out and vote for Nolan this November,” she said.
A 10-point action plan Clarke argued that responding to the current moment requires more than defending previous civil rights gains. “We can’t be on defense all the time,” she said. “We need to create space to be on offense.” Her 10-point “action agenda” calls for constitutional amendments and reforms at all levels of government: • Reimagining democracy, including stronger safeguards against abuses of power. • Considering new constitutional amendments, including an explicit constitutional right to vote and limits on executive authority. • Supreme Court reform, including ethics requirements and term limits. • Reclaiming the conversation about racial discrimination amid attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. • Greater local civil rights enforcement as federal enforcement recedes. • Guardrails around artificial intelligence and scrutiny of the growth of data centers. • Addressing extreme concentrations of wealth. • New civil rights laws for challenges and loopholes that existing laws may not adequately address. • Strong voter turnout in every election, “big and small, up and down the ballot.” • Finding a lane to help all citizens determine how they can contribute through activism, education, faith com-
Page 7
Kristen Clarke, NAACP national general counsel, speaks at the Memphis Branch’s Freedom Fund Celebration luncheon Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Reign Event Venue. (Gary S. Whitlow/Tri-State Defender)
munities, the legal system or other work. “The issues that we face today are large in scope and complicated, and can feel daunting,” Clarke said. “But if we each lean into our skills and our expertise and think about what we can each bring to this fight, collectively, we can overcome this moment.”
‘We are not powerless’ That call for individual action echoed another story told Saturday. Speaking on behalf of event sponsor FedEx, longtime executive Rose Jackson Flenorl, who serves as the company’s global citizenship manager, recalled becoming the first Black valedictorian of northern Mississippi’s Clarksdale High School in 1975 — but barred from giving the valedictorian’s speech. The local NAACP recognized her accomplishment with an engraved trophy. “It represented being seen,” Flenorl said as her husband displayed the prized possession. “It represented being valued. Sometimes the most powerful work happens one person at a time.” Vickie Terry, executive director of the NAACP Memphis Branch, returned to the luncheon’s “We the People” theme during closing remarks. “We are not powerless,” Terry said. “We are the people. We have a voice. We have a responsibility.” But Terry issued a challenge to the critics who believe the NAACP should do more. “Then you need to get involved,” she said. “And show us what we need to do to make things happen.” TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
■■ NEWS
Tempers flare, fists fly after council delays data center moratorium vote again Councilwoman Yolanda Cooper-Sutton says she favors a pause on new data centers in Memphis because many questions remain about the contract between the city and SpaceXAI.
By James Coleman
TSD Contributing Writer
Once again, Memphis City Council members pushed pause on a moratorium on data centers in favor of further discussions during a tense Oct. 6 meeting that turned violent. Anger in the crowd boiled over after the 7-5 vote. Many in attendance were in favor of the moratorium. Their hopes were fueled by a councilman JB Smiley’s demand to hold a vote on a 12-month moratorium. It is the second time a third and final vote on Smiley’s proposal was added to the agenda. Third and final votes on a pair of ordinances that regulate the tech facilities were also pulled. A similar ordinance was offered by council attorney Alan Wade during the morning session. Councilman Chase Carlisle moved to postpone the vote on all proposals after discussions revealed the split on the moratorium. “We’ve got a little bit of time, not all the time in the world, to work this out,” said Carlisle. “So, I’m going to move to hold (agenda items) 19, 20, 21 and 31 … to the following meeting … under the precipice that we are going to convene a planning and zoning meeting.” Zoning is the primary means for the city to address data centers. The council and the Shelby County Commission are currently overhauling the unified development code. The effort dovetails with the data center proposals currently on the council’s table. Other concerns, such as pollution and other health hazards, are regulated by the federal government.
Week of: October 8, 2026
“I have been for a pause since day one since I found out about it. “I am in total agreement of the moratorium. But what I am not in total agreement of, I wasn’t at the table when this contract was signed with xAI.” — Yolanda Cooper-Sutton
Large groups protested outside and inside Memphis City Council chambers ahead of a scheduled vote to halt the building of new data centers in the city. (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/Tri-State Defender)
In the end, the majority of council members were in favor of keeping the ball rolling. A special called meeting was penciled in for Thursday, Oct. 8. Members will mull the three options on the table in hopes of finding a longterm solution. “(Council members) are trying their best to work quickly as possible to appease the desire of other members to move quickly, which is the idea of a working session on Thursday to try to bring this to a resolution,” Carlisle said. Voting in favor of the pause were Ford Canale, Rhonda Logan, Philip
Spinosa, Jeff Warren, Janika White, Yolanda Cooper-Sutton and Carlisle. Those opposed were chairwoman Jana Swearengen-Washington, Jerri Green, Pearl Eva Walker, Michalyn Easter-Thomas and Smiley. After the tally, activists and supporters of the moratorium refused to leave the council chamber. Police officers were called in to clear the room during an impromptu demonstration. As protesters continued to chant, a fist fight between two women broke out in the lobby outside the chamber. It was unclear if the scuffle was related to
Page 8
the protests or the council vote. One person was detained following the disruption. Judging from the discussion prior to the vote, there are still plenty of unanswered questions. One unknown is the contract the city signed with xAI, now SpaceXAI. According to one member of the council, no member has been privy to the contents of the document nor were they included in any discussions prior to its signing. Since that time, Space XAI owner Elon Musk has rapidly developed a Whitehaven data center. A companion facility is located just south of the border in Southhaven. Other data centers have rapidly popped up too. There are currently between 13 and 16 of the unregulated facilities in Memphis. “I have been for a pause since day one since I found out about it,” said Cooper-Sutton. “I am in total agreement of the moratorium. But what I TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
■■ NEWS
Edmund Ford, Jr. sentenced to 2 years in prison for tax evasion
By James Coleman
TSD Contributing Writer
A protester signals his opinion on data centers Monday, Oct. 6, during the Memphis City Council meeting where members were to vote on a proposed moratorium on the facilities. The council postponed the vote.
am not in total agreement of, I wasn’t at the table when this contract was signed with xAI.” Mayor Paul Young negotiated the pact and community benefits arrangement of the initial real estate transaction. However, the full details of the deal are shrouded in mystery. Copper-Sutton used the moment to defend the council from the hostile crowd. “There is a contract that’s lingering out there, and not one person said anything about that contract that’s lingering out there. And I wasn’t at the table. We were not at the table when they signed that contract. There were NDA’s (non-disclosure agreements) that were signed,” said Cooper-Sutton. “There’s a contract and we’ve got a trillionaire sitting out here and I don’t know what they said to him, or what the consequences are.” One positive from the arrangement Week of: October 8, 2026
was the Community Benefits Agreement, which is expected to generate $100 million in property taxes. Twenty-five percent of the revenue is slated for investments in a five-mile radius around the facility. Council members are still waiting for the city’s plans for the $3.2 million after the money arrived in July. Members will pick up the baton again on Thursday. In addition to Wade’s proposal, the council will consider a motion by Spinosa that would designate a “digital infrastructure district” to locate future data centers. Data centers would also be classified by their energy draw. The other proposal to receive a third and final vote delay was offered by Jeff Warren. In addition to revenue for further investments, it requires zero emissions technology and water-free cooling systems be used by data centers.
Former Shelby County Commission member Edmund Ford, Jr. has been sentenced to serve 24 months in prison for federal tax evasion. U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Parker delivered the sentence Tuesday, Oct. 6, after several postponements. Ford also faces 2-years of supervised release. Ford has 45 days to report to prison. Edmund Ford Jr. During sentencing Parker recommended his time be served close to Memphis. The federal prison camp in Millington is a possibility. “You can put this behind you. Memphis is a needy place, and there’s a lot to be done when you get out,” said Parker. In early 2025, Ford was arrested following a federal indictment alleging a kickback and bribery scheme. Commission grant dollars were awarded to area nonprofits, in exchange for patronage at a Ford-owned business, E&J Computer Services and Repair. Over $250,000 was funneled to the company in the scheme. Ford was also ordered to pay restitution. The amount will be set at a later
date. That could amount to around 10% monthly of any income he earns. “Dr. Ford came into this whole thing … he made some bad decisions. Okay, and he admitted he made some bad decisions and he’s trying to correct those,” said Ford’s attorney, Michael Scholl. “Again, this thing is taken care of payment-wise. He was ready to come in and take care of whatever punishment he had to receive today,” Scholl added. Ford denied the charges until a plea deal was reached in early February. He faced a maximum of 25 years in prison on five counts of tax evasion. One count of bribery and another count of tax evasion were dropped. During sentencing, the federal magistrate called Ford’s resignation letter from the commission “bold and arrogant.” He was required to resign from the body as a condition of his sentence. He was wrapping up his second and final term at the time charges were filed against him. Ford also is forbidden from holding public office again. In the letter, Ford largely touted his accomplishments while in office and failed to take responsibility for his criminal conduct by blaming others involved. He also did not mention the indictment and guilty plea. Ford’s parents accompanied him to the courthouse for sentencing. His father, Edmund Ford, Sr., is currently a member of the Memphis City Council.
“You can put this behind you. Memphis is a needy place, and there’s a lot to be done when you get out.” — Judge Thomas L. Parker
Page 9
TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
■■ NEWS
New clubhouse at The Links at Audubon golf course aims to open doors for Memphis youth By Lee Eric Smith
TSD Contributing Writer
Children in Memphis can easily find a basketball court. Hoops are everywhere — schools, parks, driveways. But golf? Golf calls for acres of land, clubs, instruction and someone to actually introduce youngsters to the game. The question of access to golf was at the heart of a groundbreaking on Tuesday, Sept. 29, attended by city and county officials and private philanthropic partners at The Links at Audubon for the Loren Roberts Family Clubhouse & Learning Center. The new permanent home expected to open in fall 2027 for First Tee Tennessee–Memphis, a youth development organization Along with instruction and practice facilities, the new golf center will offer mentoring, character development and financial literacy programs led by employees of major funder First Horizon as part of a first-of-its-kind initiative in a First Tee facility, bank officials said. It could become a model for other communities. Local children may enter the center’s doors to learn how to hit a golf ball, but leave knowing how to handle money and navigate life. Memphis City Councilman Ford Canale, a former golf coach who has championed investments in the city’s municipal courses, said golf can be especially difficult for young people to discover if their families aren’t already connected to the sport. “For too many of them, golf can seem like a sport that belongs to somebody else,” Canale said. He has advocated for the city to invest in public golf to create a pathway into the game, he said, “so that a kid who has never held a golf club has a chance to learn and does not have to belong to a private club or come from a Week of: October 8, 2026
family that already knows the game to feel like there’s a place for them.”
More than recreation For Memphis Mayor Paul Young, creating youth recreational and developmental opportunities fits into a larger strategy for the city, including the effort to reduce crime. “We all know that crime is the output of a lot of things that have gone wrong,” Young said when asked how providing activities such as golf for young people can show up elsewhere in the city. “The more opportunities that we have to engage our young people in something different, capture their mind and get them engaged in something else, then it changes their trajectory.” Not every child who comes through First Tee will become a professional golfer, Young acknowledged. But that would miss the point. “Just giving them an opportunity — whether sports or academics — that allows our young people to be occupied with something” is important, he said.
The bigger picture at Audubon Park The clubhouse is part of a much larger investment in Audubon Park. Justice Bolden, director of Memphis Parks, said the city previously invested about $9 million in renovations to The Links at Audubon, helping drive the city’s commitment of another $7.5 million to the clubhouse project. Nearby, the Leftwich Tennis Center has already transformed another section of the park across the street from the Memphis Botanic Garden. And a new splash pad is expected to break ground later this year. “Together, these projects are creating more than individual facilities,” Bolden said. “They’re creating a destination here at Audubon Park.”
PGA Tour veteran Loren Roberts, whose family name will grace the new clubhouse and learning center announced Tuesday, Sept. 29, for The Links at Audubon, said the project could become a model beyond Memphis.
Young described the clubhouse as roughly a 50-50 public-private partnership, with the city providing about half the funding, and the Tennessee Golf Foundation and private philanthropic partners contributing the rest.
Millions more for golf — and kids During Tuesday’s ceremony, additional private support also was announced. FedEx had announced a $1 million commitment to the project Monday. At the groundbreaking, Tennessee Golf Foundation President Witt Turnbow announced three more commitments of $1 million, each connected to the clubhouse and youth programming. The short course and practice areas will become the Martin Family Junior Golf Grounds, accompanied by a permanent First Tee scholarship. The financial support of Bill Rhodes, the former president and CEO of AutoZone, and his wife, Amy, will be recognized in a Hall of Fame-style entryway featuring memorabilia of Memphis golf greats. First Horizon’s contribution adds something that has little to do with keeping a tee shot in the fairway. Bank employees will volunteer to
Page 10
Memphis Parks Director Justice Bolden said the Audubon investments are about more than new facilities. “When we invest in places like Audubon Park, we’re investing in more than brick and mortar. We’re investing in quality of life and families. And we’re investing in our young people here in Memphis.” (Photos: Gary S. Whitlow/Tri-State Defender)
teach financial literacy to young First Tee participants. David Popper, chairman of the board for the First Horizon Foundation, said the Memphis program is intended as a pilot that could eventually be expanded elsewhere. “This is a one of a kind,” Popper said. “This is the first time within a First Tee facility there’s been a financial literacy aspect or teaching program as part of the curriculum — apart from just golf.” The 69 players who competed in this year’s FedEx St. Jude Championship also contributed $10,000 to the Loren Roberts Scholarship Fund, Turnbow said during the ceremony. The golf center’s building will carry the name of longtime PGA Tour professional Loren Roberts, a multi-PGA Tour winner who moved with his family from California to Memphis in 1992. TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
NEWS “Golf is, unfortunately, one of those sports — if you don’t have access to it, you’ll never be able to participate. And my daughter got involved in First Tee. She’s thriving because of that program.” — Shelby County Mayor Mickell Lowery Roberts said he also believes the new golf program at Audubon could serve as an example beyond Memphis. “This could be a nationwide footprint,” Roberts said, “what can be done for the game of golf, for kids, for communities.”
When access becomes personal For Shelby County Mayor Mickell Lowery, the promise of First Tee holds practical significance. His daughter participates. “Golf is, unfortunately, one of those sports — if you don’t have access to it, you’ll never be able to participate,” Lowery said after the ceremony. “And my daughter got involved in First Tee. She’s thriving because of that program.” Lowery said the program has introduced her to a sport she can play for years while teaching “life skills and lessons as well.” Still, access to the game has yet to translate into Lowery family bragging rights. Asked who wins when father and daughter play, Lowery laughed. “Man, I still beat her,” he said. “Now, I gave her strokes one time, she beat me. But, you know, I gotta stay on her right now. I can’t just let her have it easy.” Young, meanwhile, apparently has no plans to challenge either of them. After the media scrum ended and the conversation turned to the possibility of getting the mayor on the course, Young offered a blunt assessment of his golf game: “You don’t want me out there.” Week of: October 8, 2026
PUBLIC NOTICES / CLASSIFIEDS LEGAL NOTICE Request for Bids RFB Number 27-0004 Administrative Building Ancillary Furniture Sealed bids for Administrative Building Ancillary Furniture will be received on Opengov. com-MEM or by physical copy via USB at the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (Authority), Frederick W. Smith Airport – Receiving Dock, 4150 Louis Carruthers Drive, Memphis, TN 38118, until 1:00 pm local time, on Tuesday, December 1, 2026. Responses will be opened and publicly read in person at the Procurement’s Warehouse Conference room located at 4150 Louis Carruthers Drive Memphis, Tennessee 38118, thirty (30) minutes after the response deadline, with a Microsoft Teams option available. A complete Request for Bids Packet with submittal instructions, additional data, and response format may be found on the Authority’s website Flymemphis.com or Opengov.comMEM on or after Tuesday, October 13, 2026. A pre-bid meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 1:00 pm at Authority’s Board Room on the Mezzanine Level, Terminal B of the Frederick W. Smith International Airport, 2491 Winchester Road, Memphis, TN 3811. All attendees must register at Opengov.com-MEM. All Bidders are responsible for checking the Authority’s website or Opengov up to the submission deadline for any updates, addenda, or additional information. In accordance with the Authority’s purchasing policies, the Authority will give preference to businesses located in Shelby County, Tennessee when awarding contracts and making purchases, unless prohibited by law. The successful Bidder must sign a contract with the Authority that includes Federal Aviation Administration provisions, if applicable, regarding the Buy American Preference, Foreign Trade Restriction, Davis-Bacon, Debarment and Suspension, Prohibition on Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment, Domestic Preferences for Procurements, and Drug-Free Workplace, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all responses to this Request for Bids in whole or in part; to waive any informalities, technicalities, or omissions related to this Request for Bids; and to reject responses on any other basis authorized by the Authority’s purchasing policies. The Authority is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination based on the grounds of age, race, sex, color, national origin, disability, marital status, military service, or sexual orientation in its hiring and employment practices and in the admission to, access to, or operation of its programs, services, and activities.
TSD CLASSIFIEDS 1509 Madison Ave. Memphis, TN 38104 PH (901) 523-1818 HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Louis Carruthers Drive Memphis, Tennessee 38118, thirty (30} minutes after the response deadline, with a Microsoft Teams option available. A complete Request for Bids Packet with submittal instructions, additional data, and response format may be found on the Authority’s website Flymemphis.com or Opengov.comMEM on or after Tuesday, October 6, 2026. A pre-bid meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 11:00 am at DeWitt Spain Airport 2787 N 2nd St, Memphis, TN 38127 (Conference Room}. All attendees must register at Opengov.com-MEM. All Bidders are responsible for checking the Authority’s website or Opengov up to the submission deadline for any updates, addenda, or additional information. In accordance with the Authority’s purchasing policies, the Authority will give preference to businesses located in Shelby County, Tennessee when awarding contracts and making purchases, unless prohibited by law. The successful Bidder must sign a contract with the Authority that includes Federal Aviation Administration provisions, if applicable, regarding the Buy American Preference, Foreign Trade Restriction, Davis-Bacon, Debarment and Suspension, Prohibition on Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment, Domestic Preferences for Procurements, and Drug-Free Workplace, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all responses to this Request for Bids in whole or in part; to waive any informalities, technicalities, or omissions related to this Request for Bids; and to reject responses on any other basis authorized by the Authority’s purchasing policies. The Authority is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination based on the grounds of age, race, sex, color, national origin, disability, marital status, military service, or sexual orientation in its hiring and employment practices and in the admission to, access to, or operation of its programs, services, and activities. By order of: Terry Blue, A.A.E. President and CEO Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority
Notice of Auction Vehicle Auction KoJack’s Towing 4235 Pidgeon Roost Road Memphis, TN 38118 - 3610 VIN # 2FMDK3GCICBA11486 2012 Ford Edge Owner: Samuel Marshall, JR LIEN Holder: Title Max Vehicle Auction Priority One Towing 3320 Gazassa Road Memphis, TN 38116-3610 2017 KIA Sonata VIN # 5NPE24AF2HH436969 Owner: Linda Harris LIEN Holder: Hyundai Motors Finance
By order of: Terry Blue, A.A.E. President and CEO Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority
LEGAL NOTICE Request for Bids RFB Number 27-0011 DeWitt Spain Exterior Improvements Sealed bids for DeWitt Spain Exterior Improvements will be received on Opengov. com-MEM or by physical copy via USB at the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (Authority}, Procurement Department, Frederick W. Smith International Airport- Receiving Dock, 4150 Louis Carruthers Drive, Memphis, TN 38118, until 1:00 pm local time, on Monday, November 23, 2026. Responses will be opened and publicly read in person at the Procurement’s Warehouse Conference room located at 4150
Page 11
TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
Week of: October 8, 2026
Page 12
TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
■■ ENTERTAINMENT
Memphis native’s Harlem’s Fashion Row opens industry’s biggest show TSD Contributing Writer
From Memphis to fashion’s biggest stage
Memphis native Brandice Daniel once again put Black creativity at the forefront of one of fashion’s biggest weeks, opening New York Fashion Week with Harlem’s Fashion Row’s 19th annual Fashion Show & Style Awards. Held Sept. 8 at The Glasshouse in New York City, the annual event brought designers, stylists, editors and other fashion leaders together to celebrate the work and influence of creatives of color. This year’s theme, “Peace by Piece,” reflected both the process of building a career one step at a time and the importance of protecting one’s peace along the way. For Daniel, founder and CEO of Harlem’s Fashion Row, the message was particularly fitting. She has spent nearly two decades building a platform dedicated to increasing visibility, access and opportunities for designers of color in an industry where those opportunities historically have been limited. “You don’t have to build everything overnight, in chaos or afraid. You can build in peace,” the Brooklyn resident told the audience during her opening remarks. Daniel also reminded those gathered that the community Harlem’s Fashion Row has built is intentional. “Nobody is here by accident,” she said. “We all believe that designers of color matter, and … you’re welcome at this table.”
Daniel’s journey began far from New York runways. A graduate of White Station High School, Daniel eventually made her way into the fashion industry and founded Harlem’s Fashion Row in 2007. She created the organization to connect multicultural designers with the resources, relationships and exposure needed to grow their businesses. What started as an effort to create space for overlooked talent has developed into an influential platform in the fashion industry. Harlem’s Fashion Row has worked to provide designers of color with financial, professional and creative support while connecting emerging talent with major brands and industry decision-makers. Nearly 20 years later, Daniel’s organization has become a fixture of the opening lineup for New York Fashion Week. This year marked another expansion of Daniel’s vision with the debut of Harlem’s Fashion Row’s first print magazine, HFR. Actress, producer and Pattern Beauty founder Tracee Ellis Ross graces the cover of the inaugural edition. Ross, who has been connected to the HFR community since receiving its Fashion Icon Award in 2015, spoke about the organization’s longevity and impact during the launch celebration for the new title, which features conversations with Ross as well as designers,
By Brianna Smith-Herman
Week of: October 8, 2026
Memphis native Brandice Daniel founded Harlem’s Fashion Row 19 years ago. This year, the company’s annual Fashion Show & Style awards opened for New York Fashion Week.
Brandeis Daniel’s Harlem’s Fashion Row debuted its first print magazine, HFR this year. Actress, producer and Pattern Beauty founder Tracee Ellis Ross, right, who has known Daniel since 2015, graces the cover.
stylists and editors recognized during this year’s awards.
Celebrating Black fashion and creativity The awards show honored a cross-section of influential Black creatives who have helped shape contemporary fashion and culture. Designer Brandon Blackwood was named Designer of the Year, while Jahleel Weaver — known for his work with Rihanna — received Stylist of the Year. Recho Omondi received Editor of the Year, and fashion industry veteran Audrey Smaltz, received the Ann Lowe
Page 13
Maverick Award. Wisdom Kaye,was honored with the Virgil Abloh Award presented by LVMH, while Grammy Award-winning artist and style icon Erykah Badu received the Fashion Icon Award. But HFR’s mission extends beyond recognition. The evening’s runway showcased Spring 2027 collections from emerging designers, including Waina Chancy’s Atelier Ndigo. Chancy left the evening with an opportunity capable of materially changing the trajectory of her business: the $100,000 Runway Ahead Prize to help scale her brand. That investment represents the larger purpose behind what Daniel has built. For nearly two decades, Harlem’s Fashion Row has worked to create an ecosystem where designers of color can gain visibility, develop relationships, access capital and build sustainable businesses. From Memphis to Harlem and now one of the first major events on the New York Fashion Week calendar, Daniel’s journey demonstrates what can happen when creating a seat at the table turns into building an entirely new table.
TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com
■■ ENTERTAINMENT
Malcolm Gladwell takes a closer look at gun violence epidemic in ‘The American Way of Killing’ Book review By Terri Schlichenmeyer Lately, you’re almost afraid to check the news. You can’t bear to see footage of another mass shooting or read about another young man losing his limbs or life. It’s all too much and you feel helpless. In the new book, “The American Way of Killing,” author Malcolm Gladwell says maybe we’re looking at gun control the wrong way. Abdullah Pratt has always had “a passion for science,” growing up in a Black community in Chicago, visiting museums, attending college and medical school, and now working in the city. Recently, Gladwell asked Pratt how many people he knew growing up had died of gun violence. “… it’d probably be like in the 30s, 40s,” Pratt said, including his brother and at least 14 other close friends. The statistics, says Gladwell, fail to show the whole picture about gun violence because the perspective is wrong and the conversation is “dishonest.” First of all, he says, “robbery and homicide are not siblings.” Gun crimes should not be lumped into a category that includes gun deaths. And before public safety can be thoughtfully examined, it must be specifically defined. We must know exactly what is — and what is not — in gun control bills that Congress passes or doesn’t, he asserts. “Assault-rifle bans are gun control theater,” Gladwell says, “they pretend to be something they are not.” As for the Second Amendment, the era when it was written and language used to understand what it means “The American Way of Killing: The Invention of an Epidemic” by Malcolm Gladwell
Week of: October 8, 2026
should be considered. And when it comes to crime data, the police should separate the level and degree of gun violence in their official reports. Was someone killed Malcolm or did the victim Gladwell survive? Without that information, although doctors may save a life, critical facts will remain hidden about the impact of weapons, making “it easier for Americans to live with their gun violence.” Is there any American left who doesn’t have an opinion one way or another about gun ownership or control? Probably not. That’s why “The American Way of Killing” is essential reading today. Gladwell’s nuanced work in this book is calm, contemplative and balanced. But this book isn’t overtly pro-gun control, nor does Gladwell seem against it. Instead, he methodically shows readers the mistakes we make in our understanding of the issue, how we misunderstand laws, and where collective thinking can overwhelm an overall argument. In many ways, the two sides, for and against, are closer than they may believe, especially when presented with commonsensical, important and shocking statistics that illuminate the facts. “The American Way of Killing” may not change minds, but it may open them considerably. It’s a deep read for both sides and for anyone who wants to save lives. Gun violence, as Gladwell shows, isn’t new news, but our attitudes and our work to end it might start here.
c.2026, Little, Brown $34.00 304 pages
Page 14
TRI-STATE DEFENDER | tsdmemphis.com