Memphis Police Chief: Murders Down 44 Percent, Vehicle Thefts 62 Percent So Far This Year Compared to 2025

by Kaitlin Housler | Jun 24, 2026 | Justice, News, Tennessee, The South

New figures presented by Memphis Police Chief CJ Davis during Tuesday’s Memphis City Council meeting show crime continues to trend downward across the city in 2026. Speaking before council members, Davis reported that every major crime category tracked by the...

Pappert Praises Memphis Safe Task Force, Says ‘They’ve Seen Massive Success’ at 10,000 Arrest Mark

by Kaitlin Housler | Jun 12, 2026 | Justice, News, Tennessee, The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, The South

Tom Pappert, lead reporter at The Tennessee Star, praised the Memphis Safe Task Force after federal officials announced the coalition of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies had surpassed 10,000 arrests since its deployment in September 2025. Appearing...

Over 1,000 Gang Members Arrested Under the Memphis Safe Task Force, U.S. Marshals Service Announces

by Kaitlin Housler | Jun 1, 2026 | News, Policy, Tennessee, The South

Authorities operating under the Memphis Safe Task Force have recorded over 1,000 arrests of known gang members since the operation began last September, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) announced. On Thursday, USMS, which serves as the head agency of the Memphis Safe...

Democrat Opposed to Memphis Task Force Wins Shelby County Mayor Primary

by Zachery Schmidt | May 6, 2026 | News, Politics, Tennessee, The South

Shelby County Commissioner Mickell Lowery won the Democratic primary for Shelby County Mayor. According to unofficial election results, Lowery defeated seven other candidates in the primary, earning 32.03 percent of the vote. Memphis City Council Member JB Smiley, Jr....

Acting AG Todd Blanche Praises Tennessee AG Skrmetti for Win in Memphis National Guard Case

by Kaitlin Housler | Apr 28, 2026 | Justice, News, Tennessee, The South

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche praised Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti after the Tennessee Court of Appeals handed down a ruling clearing the way for the continued deployment of the National Guard assisting with efforts under the Memphis Safe...

Tennessee Court of Appeals Strikes Down Lawsuit Against National Guard Deployment in Memphis

by Kaitlin Housler | Apr 28, 2026 | Justice, News, Tennessee, The South, TN LEAD

The Tennessee Court of Appeals on Tuesday reversed a lower court’s temporary injunction blocking Governor Bill Lee from deploying the Tennessee National Guard in Memphis to assist with the Memphis Safe Task Force. In its ruling, a three-judge panel found that all of...

Blackburn Earns Support from Shelby County Suburban Mayors Council in Gubernatorial Bid

by Kaitlin Housler | Mar 31, 2026 | Elections, News, Tennessee, The South

A coalition of suburban mayors in Shelby County has endorsed U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) for Tennessee governor, citing her leadership on public safety and the success of the Memphis Safe Task Force. The Shelby County Suburban Mayors Council – including...

President Trump to Visit Memphis on Monday

by Kaitlin Housler | Mar 18, 2026 | News, Politics, Tennessee, The South

President Donald Trump will visit Memphis on Monday to highlight the city’s turnaround with regard to crime under the Memphis Safe Task Force, his regional press secretary announced this week. On Tuesday, White House Regional Press Secretary Liz Huston announced that...

State Senator Brent Taylor Highlights Falling Crime, School Intervention Plan as Memphis Turns Corner

by Kaitlin Housler | Mar 3, 2026 | News, Politics, Tennessee, The Michael Patrick Leahy Show, The South

Tennessee State Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis) detailed how his focused push to reduce crime and overhaul public education is producing measurable progress in Memphis and advancing his pledge to “make Memphis matter.” During an appearance Monday on The Michael...

Attorney General Skrmetti: Winter Storm Shows Why Governor Must Retain Authority to Deploy National Guard

by Kaitlin Housler | Feb 1, 2026 | Justice, News, Tennessee, The South

As Tennessee National Guard troops continue assisting communities in the aftermath of Winter Storm Fern, Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti says the emergency effort demonstrates why the governor’s authority to deploy the Guard is critical as the state appeals a court...