National Guard won’t be making arrests, governor says
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.
Laura Testino
Laura Testino is an enterprise reporter who writes about how public policy shapes Memphis. She is currently reporting from Frayser about education and housing. Please write her with your suggestions and story tips.
There are 233 articles by Laura Testino :
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September 2025
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State Government -
Education MSCS recommends five schools close at the end of the 2025-26 year
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.
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EducationHow much could it cost to upgrade each MSCS school?
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.
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Behind The Headlines Reporters explore National Guard questions, remember Les Smith
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.
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City of Memphis National Guard to be ‘eyes and ears’ on the streets, mayor says
Memphis Mayor Paul Young said the National Guard will not be doing any detainment.
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Public Safety Do residents think National Guard is the answer to crime?
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
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Transportation & LogisticsWhat a giant train merger has to do with National Guard in Memphis
A former FedEx board member suggested President Donald Trump send the National Guard to Memphis.
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City of Memphis ‘The world will get an opportunity to watch us succeed,’ Mayor Young says
“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.
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Shelby County Embattled Shelby County director withdraws federal gun-rights suit
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.
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EducationOld Bayer building could become a campus for kids aging out of foster care
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.
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Education MSCS to reveal next year’s school closures, mergers
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.
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EducationNew Liza’s Library at St. Mary’s honors late teacher’s love for reading
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.
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Education MSCS’ Richmond rebuts arguments for state takeover
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.
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August 2025
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EducationMSCS activist arrested for violating board member’s restraining order
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.
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Education MSCS student numbers drop at start of school year
The district is dealing with teacher vacancies and laptop problems, but otherwise reports a “smooth” first day of school.
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Behind The Headlines Universal pre-K in Memphis navigates Head Start shakeup
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.
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Education Arts school or MLGW substation? MSCS to decide fate of Elvis’ alma mater
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.
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City of MemphisMSCS prepares for audit findings: ‘Something’s going to come out’
“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.
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State GovernmentTCAP results 2025: See how your Memphis-area school scored
The Daily Memphian’s chart includes scores for all public schools in Memphis and Shelby County, including charters and campuses in the suburbs.
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EducationMSCS could fight vandalism with $612K cameras
Memphis-Shelby County Schools could install new security measures its staff say would prevent vandalism at its vacant buildings.
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Education ‘Hard decisions’ ahead for group looking at MSCS school closures
A new Memphis-Shelby County Schools committee met for the first time Wednesday, Aug. 13, to guide looming decisions on school closures and consolidations, plus plans for repurposing facilities and building new ones.
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EducationAuditors arrive at MSCS looking for fraud in high-stakes probe
Results from the audit could chart a path for state legislation to take over Memphis-Shelby County Schools. New documents reveal what firm is doing the audit and what they may be looking for.
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EducationJudge declines to reinstate Feagins
A Shelby County Circuit Court judge declined to reinstate Marie Feagins to her former position as superintendent of Memphis-Shelby County Schools.
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Education ‘Pre-K to Ph.D': U of M launches second elementary school
With the launch of a second elementary school campus in Sherwood Forest this week, University of Memphis’ new K-12 district began its first expansion effort outside the college’s campus. Even more could be on the horizon.
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Behind The Headlines Two state lawmakers plan to push for MSCS takeover
Rep. Mark White and Sen. Brent Taylor, both Republicans, propose the next steps for their bills that would give the state more power over Memphis-Shelby County Schools.
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