MLK50: Justice Through Journalism

MLK50: Justice Through Journalism obtained a report on one day’s worth of activities of the ‘Memphis Safe Task Force.’ It contradicts claims made by the governor about how the task force is focused on violent criminals. mlk50.co/4qkfz6b

Tennessee to give more average per-pupil funding to voucher participants than public school students

A pending federal court decision could make it easier for religious leaders to endorse political candidates right from the pulpit without losing their organization’s tax-exempt status. mlk50.co/3JNvnh1

The Memphis Chamber of Commerce’s misleading messaging about Elon Musk’s xAI facility is “propaganda ... at the behest of a multibillion-dollar corporation,” said State Rep. Justin J. Pearson, who represents a majority Black district.

Tennesseans in the expanding pool of people who must work for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits should supply reasons for being exempted from that rule by Oct. 31 mlk50.co/4oyyacU

Fewer Black women died of breast cancer in Memphis, but the gap between Black and white deaths widened. Hopeful health advocates outline steps toward turning things around.

Library workers’ civil service push adds to Memphis labor tensions amid city’s union disputes

Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself and others in your community when encountering immigration enforcement officials and other law enforcement officers. mlk50.co/4oJKyHb

In the current political climate, the last bulwark against the abusive deployment of corporate-owned generative artificial intelligence might just come from union shareholders.

Following a fatal shooting at a Memphis homeless encampment, residents’ belongings were confiscated and thrown away. Now, they’ve been forced to start over. mlk50.co/48LemhL

“What has happened here is we have 13 federal agencies (in the task force), and ICE is one of them. However, their charge is to focus on violent crime, and so the busier we can keep them with MPD, the less time they will have to focus on immigration," Mayor Paul Young said. mlk50.co/42REIuP

In Tennessee, if you don’t think you should be included in the new, bigger group of people who must work for what are commonly known as food stamps, tell state officials why by Oct. 31. mlk50.co/4oyyacU

MLK50 reporters spent one night and day observing how the Memphis Safe Task Force is operating in Memphis. Highway patrol is working with state and federal agencies to pull over people, search their vehicles and issue citations.

Tennessee, feds provide few details on cost, arrests three weeks into Memphis task force