Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Otis Sanford

Sanford: Justice for Tyré Nichols is being impeded. And we all deserve better.

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 04:00:09 -0500

At some point, U.S. District Judge Mark Norris will need to address his accusations against MPD publicly and either produce proof or issue a meaningful apology to the police department.

Sanford/Hunt: Memphis' National Guard presence demands collaboration over partisanship

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 04:00:10 -0500

“When President Donald Trump announced Monday, Sept. 15, federal troops will now be deployed to the streets of Memphis, the cheerleading by Tennessee’s top three elected officials ... seemed much more concerned with revealing no trace of daylight between themselves and Trump.”

Sanford: Republican assault on DEI exacts harsh toll at U of M

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 04:00:02 -0500

“In a way, I sympathize with the dilemma facing the U of M and other state colleges and universities. But, what’s next?”

Brilliance, courage defined journalist, and amigo, Karanja Ajanaku

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Sat, 12 Jul 2025 21:27:17 -0500

One day in late May 1977, a young Black man took a seat at a desk for his first day as a reporter at The Commercial Appeal.

Sanford: Addressing Memphis' challenges requires more than talk

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 06:07:11 -0500

First it was Kash Patel — then Stephen A. Smith and Roland Martin.

Sanford: City’s violent crime problem needs solutions — not sound bites

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Thu, 29 May 2025 04:00:10 -0500

“Our crime problem remains the No. 1 issue on the minds of area residents. And last week FBI Director Kash Patel added to the angst by summarily declaring Memphis ‘the homicide capital of America per capita.’”

Sanford: Taylor, White put MSCS takeover bill in spin cycle

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Thu, 1 May 2025 04:00:13 -0500

After the Memphis-Shelby County Schools takeover bills failed to make it to the finish line, state Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Eads, and state Rep. Mark White, R-Memphis, changed their messaging.

Sanford: Proposal puts state's human rights enforcement in jeopardy

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 04:00:05 -0500

State lawmakers are looking to eliminate the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, which looks into about 180 complaints about discrimination every month.

Sanford: A Delta newspaper and an assault on freedom of the press

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 04:00:01 -0600

The Clarksdale Press Register garnered national attention recently after a judge ordered the paper to take down an editorial critical of Clarksdale’s elected officials.

Sanford: Firing Feagins was unwise, but she shares the blame

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 05:41:58 -0600

“Now what we have is chaos on steroids. The board is seen as a laughingstock, except no one is laughing.”

Sanford: Five stories that defined 2024 and two to watch for in 2025

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 04:00:03 -0600

From the DOJ’s report on the MPD to Elon Musk and the xAI supercomputer, here are Otis Sanford’s top five local stories for 2024.

Sanford: Abusive behavior of Crisis Intervention Team belies intent

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 04:00:04 -0600

The Crisis Intervention Team has strayed far from its initial goals of treating those with mental-health issues more humanely.

Sanford: We can welcome Musk to Memphis without embracing his views

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Mon, 9 Dec 2024 18:15:33 -0600

The billionaire owner of SpaceX and the largest shareholder of Tesla Inc. has been heavily criticized for being tolerant of antisemitic and white nationalist content on the X platform since he bought it in 2022.

Sanford: It's time to end protracted effort to oust Wanda Halbert

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 04:00:12 -0600

I say it’s time to end the costly courtroom haggling. It’s clear that Halbert is not leaving on her own, and conditions in the Clerk’s Office don’t appear to have further deteriorated. And soon she’ll be a lame duck.

Sanford: From one legend to another, it's time to give Jesse Turner his due

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 10:18:27 -0600

In an opinion piece, Otis Sanford says Jesse Turner has a section of Regional One Health named in his honor, as well as a South Memphis park and a small bridge on Elvis Presley Boulevard. But is it enough?

Sanford: Heated presidential race still a spectator sport for Tennessee

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Fri, 25 Oct 2024 08:49:44 -0500

Opinion: Our votes will decide nothing. Only the swing states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia, Arizona and possibly Nevada and North Carolina will determine the next president.

Sanford: Deception and poor taste are hallmarks of 2024 political campaigns

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 09:24:43 -0500

In today’s political climate, honesty and good taste are in short supply.

Sanford: It's time for squabbling Democrats to put aside their differences

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 04:00:13 -0500

Bickering is nothing new for Tennessee Democrats. But party chair Lexie Carter’s removal, at the hand of the state party chair, also could not come at a worse time.

Sanford: Liberated state rep. exits politics with harsh words for GOP

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 04:00:07 -0500

“Dwayne Thompson’s caucus has repeatedly tried to steer the Legislature, particularly the House, toward more compromise, less rancor and far less dictatorship. It hasn’t worked. And Thompson has had enough.”

Sanford: Tennessee is red, but state is getting some love at DNC

o.sanford@memphis.edu (Otis Sanford) — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 10:11:56 -0500

The convention is showcasing three current Democratic House members from Tennessee, whose race and gender would have barred them from holding political office before 1920.