Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Laura Testino

National Guard won't be making arrests, governor says

hardiman@dailymemphian.com (Samuel Hardiman) — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 16:35:30 -0500

Gov. Bill Lee outlined plans for Trump’s Memphis Safe Task Force on Friday, saying that the first personnel could be in the Bluff City on Monday, Sept. 29.

MSCS recommends five schools close at the end of the 2025-26 year

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 21:39:52 -0500

About 1,200 students will have to attend a new campus in the fall if the board approves Memphis-Shelby County Schools' plan to close four buildings and transfer a fifth.

How much could it cost to upgrade each MSCS school?

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 08:36:04 -0500

Assessments of Memphis-Shelby County Schools' buildings estimated repair costs throughout the next 10 years. Costs to keep buildings in shape are expected to be among the factors that determine which Memphis schools may close.

Reporters explore National Guard questions, remember Les Smith

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Sat, 20 Sep 2025 04:00:15 -0500

WKNO’s “Behind the Headlines” remembered Smith, who died Sept. 17, for his early contributions to the show. The reporter’s roundtable edition also discussed the pending National Guard deployment to Memphis.

National Guard to be ‘eyes and ears’ on the streets, mayor says

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 12:28:52 -0500

Memphis Mayor Paul Young said the National Guard will not be doing any detainment.

Do residents think National Guard is the answer to crime?

lwilliams@dailymemphian.com (Lydia Williams) — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 13:20:49 -0500

Daily Memphian reporters talked to Memphis residents to find out if they support President Donald Trump’s new task force.

See The Daily Memphian’s full coverage of the Memphis Safe Task Force

What a giant train merger has to do with National Guard in Memphis

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 12:07:58 -0500

A former FedEx board member suggested President Donald Trump send the National Guard to Memphis.

'The world will get an opportunity to watch us succeed,' Mayor Young says

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 23:24:47 -0500

“I did not ask for the National Guard, and I don’t think it’s the way to drive down crime. However, that decision has been made,” Memphis Mayor Paul Young said.

Embattled Shelby County director withdraws federal gun-rights suit

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 9 Sep 2025 13:22:02 -0500

Shelby County Re-Entry executive DeAndre Brown, who was recently indicted on a slate of felony charges related to alleged misappropriation of public money, has stopped another legal effort to regain his gun rights.

Old Bayer building could become a campus for kids aging out of foster care

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 9 Sep 2025 04:00:05 -0500

MSCS received one bid for the property on 3030 Jackson Ave. from New Day Tennessee, which seeks to create a workforce development training ground for teens aging out of foster care across the state.

MSCS to reveal next year’s school closures, mergers

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 4 Sep 2025 22:44:57 -0500

The closure proposals, set for the school board’s review in the coming weeks, will be the first part of a larger plan that’s now expected in December. A committee recently reviewed the types of data that district officials will rely upon to determine which schools will be slated to close.

New Liza’s Library at St. Mary’s honors late teacher’s love for reading

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 4 Sep 2025 11:19:56 -0500

Several donors supporting the renovations at the private school for girls gave in memory of Eliza “Liza” Fletcher, the former student and teacher who was killed three years ago in Memphis after being kidnapped during a morning run.

MSCS' Richmond rebuts arguments for state takeover

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 4 Sep 2025 07:48:47 -0500

Roderick Richmond, the interim leader of Memphis-Shelby County Schools, pointed to failures of Tennessee’s state-run Achievement School District during a town hall meeting opposing takeover of the school system.

MSCS activist arrested for violating board member's restraining order

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 13:40:04 -0500

Damon Curry Morris, a frequent critic of Memphis-Shelby County Schools, faces a misdemeanor charge for violating a restraining order brought by MSCS board member Stephanie Love, according to police and court records.

MSCS student numbers drop at start of school year

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 12:43:39 -0500

The district is dealing with teacher vacancies and laptop problems, but otherwise reports a “smooth” first day of school.

Universal pre-K in Memphis navigates Head Start shakeup

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 14:35:17 -0500

As Porter-Leath works to enroll thousands more prekindergarten students, early-childhood education organization First 8 Memphis is continuing efforts toward free, quality classrooms for kids.

Arts school or MLGW substation? MSCS to decide fate of Elvis' alma mater

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:15:04 -0500

Memphis-Shelby County Schools has offers to purchase Humes Middle School in North Memphis from public utility Memphis Light, Gas and Water and local dance studio New Ballet Ensemble and School.

MSCS prepares for audit findings: 'Something’s going to come out'

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 05:36:48 -0500

“Something’s going to come out of this audit. And what we’re going to have to be able to talk about — and it’s not good, bad or indifferent — is how we strengthen our internal controls,” a top official told school board members.

TCAP results 2025: See how your Memphis-area school scored

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 05:38:39 -0500

The Daily Memphian’s chart includes scores for all public schools in Memphis and Shelby County, including charters and campuses in the suburbs.

MSCS could fight vandalism with $612K cameras

Ltestino@dailymemphian.com (Laura Testino) — Fri, 15 Aug 2025 04:00:05 -0500

Memphis-Shelby County Schools could install new security measures its staff say would prevent vandalism at its vacant buildings.