MLK50: Justice Through Journalism
@mlk50.com
Based in Memphis, Tenn., MLK50 is a nonprofit newsroom reporting at the intersection of poverty, power & public policy. Our beats: government, enterprise, environmental justice, youth life, public safety, Radical King https://mlk50.co/m/mlk50memphis
In Boxtown, air carries the weight of pollution and a history of resistance. Currently, Elon Musk’s company, SpaceXAI, operates three data centers within 10 miles of Boxtown; they release smog-forming pollution and many hazardous materials like formaldehyde. mlk50.com/2026/08/04/t...
The Weight of Air
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We are excited to announce that staff members from MLK50: Justice Through Journalism earned three Diamond Journalism awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, Arkansas chapter.
MLK50 scores regional prizes
The judges’ comments about MLK50’s Charlotte Tillar Schexnayder Public Service Award on screen during the Diamond Journalism awards ceremony on July 25.
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Tennessee GOP candidate Monty Fritts: "When pressed on the 1st Amendment — which reads, in part, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion” — Fritts argued the amendment’s opening word limits its scope to the federal government, not the states." www.wsmv.com/2026/07/29/t...
Tennessee state representative, candidate for governor plans to ban mosques, non-Christian religions if elected
State Rep. Monty Fritts, 63, a Republican candidate for governor, made the remarks in a sit-down interview with four days remaining in the state’s primary early voting period.
wsmv.com
‘The Democratic Party is not a monolith’: Lamar, Pearson vie for District 9 nomination. mlk50.com/2026/07/29/i...
In District 9 race, Lamar and Pearson showcase a split in Democratic Party
State Sen. London Lamar (left) and state Rep. Justin J. Pearson took a moment for prayer with the audience at the New Sardis Baptist Church District 9
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Between 1995 & 2019, 163 children were sentenced to die in prison by Tennessee. Most were prosecuted under a little-known aspect of Tennessee law, known as “the felony murder rule.” In a 4-part investigation, we found how the rule has changed kids' lives forever. mlk50.com/2026/07/27/p...
Power and Prejudice: How a little-known Tennessee law convicts Black children for murders they didn't commit
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For a year, @mlk50.com collected data on a little-known aspect of TN law, known as “the felony murder rule.” Our work reveals, for the first time, how prosecutors use the rule against kids. While the law itself does not mention race, prosecutors almost exclusively use it to prosecute Black kids.
Power and Prejudice: How a little-known Tennessee law convicts Black children for murders they didn't commit
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Clara Ester, an activist who as a 20-year-old college student rushed to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s side when he was shot, has died. apnews.com/article/clar...
Clara Ester, activist who rushed to Martin Luther King Jr. after he was shot, dies at 78
Clara Ester, an activist and minister who rushed to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s side when he was shot, has died at 78.
apnews.com
On Tuesday, the Young administration pitched the Memphis City Council on how it plans to spend about $3.3 million on the 5-mile area around Colossus I. Young has proposed no money for healthcare. dailymemphian.com/section/busi...
How will Memphis spend $3.3M in tax money collected from SpaceXAI?
Mayor Paul Young’s administration pitched how it plans to spend about $3.3 million on the 5-mile area around SpaceXAI’s Colossus I data center.
dailymemphian.com
More than 75,000 voters have cast ballots in first two days of Tennessee early voting for the August primary --- outpacing the same 2022 early voting period by 47%, reports @cstephenson.bsky.social @tennesseelookout.com tennesseelookout.com/briefs/75k-v...
75K voters cast ballots in strong start for Tennessee early voting • Tennessee Lookout
More than 75,000 Tennesseans voted in the first two days of early voting for the August primary, according to the Tennessee Secretary of State.
tennesseelookout.com
Pearson rally centers ‘movement for the working people’ with support from Congressional ‘squad’ members Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley and Summer Lee. The rally drew about 1,200 people to New Direction Christian Church in Hickory Hill. mlk50.com/2026/07/20/t...
Top Democrats stump for Pearson at Memphis rally
Congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (from left), Ayanna Pressley and Summer Lee stand with Tennessee state representative Justin J. Pearson at a rally
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Last November, MLK50, @dailymemphian.bsky.social , The Commercial Appeal and WREG filed a lawsuit against Memphis and Shelby County and Juvenile Court Judge Tarik B. Sugarmon for violating the Tennessee Rule of Juvenile Practice & Procedure, which governs access to juvenile court.
The Jackson City Council voted Tuesday to approve a citywide data center moratorium. It is the first city in Mississippi to do so.
Jackson passes state’s first data center moratorium - Mississippi Today
The moratorium is the latest step in a months-long debate over the future of data centers in Mississippi’s capital city.
mississippitoday.org
On the 164th anniversary of the birth of investigative journalist and MLK50 inspiration Ida B. Wells, we share her ode to Black women. mlk50.com/2026/07/16/i...
It’s a great day to celebrate the ‘Princess of the Press’
A statue of Ida B. Wells-Barnett at the plaza bearing her name is unveiled in 2021. Photo by Andrea Morales / MLK50 In celebration of the birth date of
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As Meta’s Louisiana data center’s price tag continues to rise, now exceeding $250 billion, the Black community in its shadow faces a test of its future and faith. capitalbnews.org/meta-richlan...
Meta’s AI Data Center Sparks a Crisis in the Bible Belt Over the Power of Faith
In rural Louisiana, white and Black churches see the company's plan to build America's biggest AI complex very differently.
capitalbnews.org
MLK50: Justice Through Journalism and other media have won access to juvenile court delinquency proceedings after filing a lawsuit. mlk50.com/2026/07/10/l...
Local media wins access to juvenile court proceedings
MLK50: Justice Through Journalism and other media have won access to juvenile court delinquency proceedings after filing a lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed
mlk50.com
Yeah, that’s him’: MPD worked closely with ICE in February traffic stop when detaining 18-year-old Yasser Lopez Soza, video shows. The videos appear to contradict a statement from Memphis Mayor Paul Young about how immigration officials became involved in the stop. mlk50.com/2026/07/08/v...
Video shows MPD worked with ICE to identify 18-year-old soccer player before his two-month detention
A screenshot from body camera footage from a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer shows Memphis Police Officers and Homeland Security agents working together
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Report: Tennesseans Living Near Data Centers See Bigger Jumps in Electricity Costs nashvillebanner.com/2026/07/07/t... @nashvillebanner.bsky.social
Data centers drive up electricity costs for Tennessee residents - Nashville Banner
Residents near data centers in Tennessee face higher electricity bills, while commercial consumers see a decrease, according to a report from Think Tennessee.
nashvillebanner.com
Local law enforcement found a body on Horn Island matching the description of Nolan Wells. capitalbnews.org/nolan-wells-...
As Search Ends, Nolan Wells’ Family Is Still Waiting For Answers
Local law enforcement found a body on Horn Island matching the description of the 18-year-old's and is waiting for DNA testing.
capitalbnews.org
There are many issues with lethal injection as an execution method. Brittany Brown of @mlk50.com reports: -Lethal injection is most likely to cause botched executions -Corrections does not disclose how it obtains and stores the drugs or name medical personnel Read more: mlk50.com/2026/07/02/l...
Lethal injections are more likely to be botched, experts say
Ricky Bell, warden at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville, Tenn., gives a tour of the prison's execution chamber in 1999. AP Photo/Mark
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Memphis City Council will decide from a list of projects how to spend more than $3 million set aside for southwest Memphis. Residents and community advocates say the process that produced the recommendations downplayed their biggest priority: environmental health.
Basic city services included on long list Memphis lawmakers will consider. mlk50.com/2026/06/26/m...
Residents worry health concerns will be sidelined for $3 million AI funds
Residents against the xAI data centers protest on Shelby Drive in February. Photo by Kevin Wurm / MLK50 / CatchLight Local / Report For America The
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A group of congressional candidates from across the country is forming a coalition to push back against “racist gerrymandering” in the U.S. Congress — if they win in November.
In Memphis, congressional candidates from across U.S. gather to start ‘revolution’ against gerrymandering
A group of congressional candidates from across the country is forming a coalition to push back against “racist gerrymandering” in the U.S. Congress — if
mlk50.com
Tennessee Department of Health has warned parents their children will be reported to a state immigration enforcement division after June 30.
Advocates for critically ill kids urge Lee to intervene before deadline to report immigration status
Advocates on Tuesday urged Gov. Bill Lee to reverse a policy requiring immigration reporting of of kids enrolled in Children’s Special Services, a program
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If you want the tea on what’s going on with your local government, then Katherine Burgess is your girl! She is MLK50’s government accountability reporter. Next week, Katherine will dive into her article on how ICE’s mandatory detention policy violates immigrants’ rights and separates families.
Critics say the SAVE America Act’s structure would add burdens for some people, especially women and others who have changed their legal names because of marriage, assimilation or to better align with their gender identity.
What is the SAVE America Act?
President Donald Trump refuses to sign bipartisan housing legislation until Congress passes the SAVE America Act.
19thnews.org
Heart of Opportunities House will eventually double as transitional housing for young men.
Community resource hub and men's shelter opening soon in South Memphis
The single-story red house sits beside a vacant corner lot where insects buzz in the tall grass. Inside, it's mostly empty, with three gray bedrooms and a
mlk50.com
From creating law to assisting with passport issues: Here are some tasks of a U.S. Congressperson and why who holds the role matters.
Why your congressperson matters
Tennessee Republicans enacted a new U.S. House map on May 7 that carved up Memphis’ majority-Black district. Photo by Kevin Wurm/MLK50/CatchLight
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Tony Carruthers’ family says he is struggling to walk, cannot use his right hand and is not communicating as he did before the botched lethal injection attempt on May 21. mlk50.com/2026/06/17/b...
‘Botched’ lethal injection causing health issues for Tony Carruthers, his family and attorneys say
Rafiah Muhammad-McCormick, director of community outreach for Tennesseans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, speaks at a press conference held by
mlk50.com
Justin Pearson challenged the last Tennessee Democrat in the House. Now he’s up against the threat of total GOP control. theintercept.com/2026/06/16/j...
Bernie Sanders Backs Justin J. Pearson, House Candidate at the Heart of Tennessee Voting Rights Fight
State Rep. Justin J. Pearson challenged the last Tennessee Democrat in the House. Now he’s up against the threat of total GOP control.
theintercept.com
Trump administration issued final rules on how states should ensure that millions of Medicaid enrollees prove they’re working or completing other activities.
Final rules for Medicaid work requirements are out. Here’s what you need to know.
A view of Regional One Health’s crosswalk over Jefferson Avenue. Photo by Brandon Dill for MLK50 This story was republished with permission from KFF
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