Desmond Nugent

2 days ago | localmemphis.com | Desmond Nugent

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Tennessee State Board of Education held a public hearing Monday, May 12, about the rules on the Education Freedom Scholarship program, also known as the school voucher program. Despite the controversy surrounding the new law, the hearing lasted less than 10 minutes and drew only one comment, a question that went unanswered publicly.

5 days ago | localmemphis.com | Desmond Nugent

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — State Representative Justin Pearson is sounding the alarm once again, this time with renewed urgency, as fellow lawmakers and community advocates join him to demand action against the air quality in Memphis and Shelby County. Pearson claims some of the health risks his constituents have endured are linked to the controversial xAI project and a broader pattern of environmental neglect.

6 days ago | localmemphis.com | Desmond Nugent

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A state jury found three former Memphis Police officers not guilty on all charges, and questions are being raised about how the verdict will affect their upcoming sentencing in federal court. The former MPD officers, Tadarrius Bean, Justin Smith and Demetrius Haley, were all found not guilty on Wednesday in a high-profile state case stemming from the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop in January 2023.

1 week ago | localmemphis.com | Desmond Nugent

MEMPHIS, Tenn — More than a week after a devastating fire tore through the historic Clayborn Temple, leaders from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) stood on the church’s charred grounds Tuesday, pledging their full support to restore the civil rights landmark. Once a vital hub during the 1968 Sanitation Workers’ strike and home to the iconic “I AM A MAN” signs, Clayborn Temple holds deep historical and emotional significance for many in Memphis and across the country.

1 week ago | localmemphis.com | Desmond Nugent

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Despite soggy weather conditions, the 2025 Riverbeat Festival opened its gates Friday evening as thousands of people began arriving downtown for a weekend of music, food and entertainment. The Memphis Police Department increased its presence at Tom Lee Park, aiming to ensure safety for the nearly 30,000 people expected to attend throughout the weekend. Col.