2025 was the year we covered the city’s public transportation as it nearly collapsed. We followed as the mayor’s police reform task force sputtered. We added a long-missing accent mark to Tyré Nichols’ name. We were taken by surprise when another big company came into South Memphis, threatening its air. And again, when federal forces arrived, bringing chaos to the jails and fear to residents. Yet we told those stories too.
We’re proud of all the work we’ve done, but as 2025 ends, our journalists are sharing the work they like best. As we prepare for the work ahead, we hope you’ll enjoy or share them.
Get more stories like this in your inbox every Wednesday in The Weekly.
Subscribe to MLK50’s newsletter
and get Memphis-rooted news and insights
right-sized for your neighborhood.
The journalist: Brittany Brown
The story: A day and night in Memphis: Trump’s task force expands surveillance
The why: I loved the all-hands-on-deck approach we took to execute this piece. The entire newsroom banded together to answer one question: How is the federal task force impacting Memphis residents? This people-first approach to reporting provided a firsthand look at how police activity is impacting communities.
The journalist: Katherine Burgess
The story: ‘We deserve to breathe clean air’: Southwest Memphians take on Elon Musk’s xAI
The why: I loved that this story elevated the voices of Memphians living in the vicinity of the new xAI plant. The story was able to look at the historical context of the neighborhood, the rich community present and their very real fears about the new data center.
The journalist: Rebecca Cadenhead
The story: No school, no fresh air and isolated
The why: This article represents some of the most important work I’ve ever done. It was both very difficult to report and gratifying to write. It took me over a year to report this article — I’ve been working on it since I was hired at MLK50!
The journalist: Michael Finch II
The story: Tax breaks propped up a troubled Memphis apartment complex — and tenants paid the price
The why: I had watched members of the city’s Health and Ed Board discuss the fate of Grahamwood Place and Pinebrook Pointe Apartments for months. The discussions were at times candid but usually generic enough that I couldn’t tell what was going on at each apartment community. It wasn’t until I saw the deteriorating conditions at Grahamwood Place, a sprawling complex on Summer Avenue, that it became clear that tenants were paying the price for the board’s inaction. It reminded me of the importance of seeing things with your own two eyes.
The journalist: Andrea Morales
The image: Michoacana ice cream shop during a Nov. 26 vigil for deported neighbors along Summer Avenue.
The why: This image never ran with any of our coverage, but it’s my favorite from this most difficult year. The dancers mentioned that many of their members have been affected by the deportation dragnet, so they’ve had people drop out. When I look at it, I feel the loss we’ve been forced to deal with as a result of this occupation. But I also feel the warmth and strength of love that exists when we come together in community. The way people have shown up for each other in these dark days is unlike anything I’ve seen in Memphis previously. But it is exactly why I love to call this place home.
The journalist: Wendi C. Thomas
The story: They were sleeping, driving, walking in Memphis. Then Trump’s police task force came.
The why: I wrote this story in hopes of expanding the civic conversation about the Memphis Safe Task Force — and what safety actually looks like. Our reporting found that residents simply engaged in everyday activities found themselves ensnared in what activists would call a hyper-policed, militarized occupation. Of note: The federal and local law enforcement agencies engaged in these police encounters declined to explain what happened with the residents we interviewed, which also raises concerns about transparency and accountability.
The journalist: Natalie Wallington
The story: Their friend was killed, then their home was demolished: Inside a Memphis homeless encampment sweep
The why: This piece took a lot of work — an early-morning observation of a homeless encampment sweep in the woods, a late-night visit to a nonprofit resource pop-up in a parking lot, an in-person visit to the Memphis Police Department’s downtown headquarters and more. But all this on-the-ground reporting out in the community allowed me to tell a detailed, emotionally charged story of a little-known murder and its tragic consequences for some of Memphis’ most marginalized residents. I also had the great honor of hearing from the mother of the deceased that I did right by her son’s story, which affirmed to me that this piece was well worth the effort.
The journalist: Kevin Wurm
The image: Teen featured in investigation of solitary confinement at the juvenile detention center
The why: When I was given the assignment of anonymous portraits, I wanted to push beyond the expected silhouette and try something new. I had a clear vision, talked it through with Andrea, our creative director, and committed to seeing it through by mixing artificial light with the available sunset light. Photographing exactly what I had imagined was deeply rewarding, and the final image felt strong and distinct, unlike any portrait I had made outside of the studio.
This story is brought to you by MLK50: Justice Through Journalism, a nonprofit newsroom focused on poverty, power and policy in Memphis. Support independent journalism by making a tax-deductible donation today. MLK50 is also supported by these generous donors.
Got a story idea, a tip or feedback? Send an email to info@mlk50.com.
Journalism like this can’t exist without support from readers like you.
Thank you for taking a moment to read this article. Before you go, we invite you to support local, community-centered journalism by making a donation to our year-end campaign. Every single gift, regardless of the amount, enables us to continue reporting on the issues that matter most to our readers.