Over the last four years, the next chapter in the development of Beale Street has been a stop-and-go affair. First would come announcements followed by silence from official channels.

Along with that silence, though, was quiet activity on the side, a movement that culminated with the March announcement of Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr.’s strategic planning committee’s report, “A Framework for Beale Street.”

2. Critics Revive Past Promises to Knock Obama Budget - Friday, April 12, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Advocates for seniors say President Barack Obama is breaking his promise to protect Social Security, while conservatives say he is breaking his promise not to raise taxes on the middle class.

3. Restored Video Shows James Earl Ray in Memphis - Thursday, April 04, 2013

MEMPHIS (AP) – Newly-restored videotapes showing James Earl Ray's return to Memphis to face trial for the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. have been released on the 45th anniversary of the civil rights leader's death.

4. Choose901 Celebrates One Year of Upbeat Message - Monday, April 01, 2013

One phrase has been popping up in the local social media world with increasingly frequency over the past year.

Choose901.

It refers to a campaign led by the civic group City Leadership, and it’s designed to do exactly what the name says.

5. South Main’s New Life - Saturday, March 02, 2013

The history of the South Main Historic Arts District is as colorful as its present-day users, an alternating rhythm of sorts in Memphis’ songbook.

The area has oscillated from its ritzy suburban roots of the 1800s to the industrial era ghost town of the 20th century and now to its current status as Downtown’s flourishing arts and boutique district and the subject of some $100 million in investment. And it’s all due to stakeholders who braved the status quo in distinguishing the southern end of the Central Business District as that funky place with an indescribable vibe.

6. Beale Bankruptcy Terms Nearly Done - Monday, January 28, 2013

A federal bankruptcy court judge has adopted a settlement on the bankruptcy case involving control of the Beale Street Entertainment District.

But all sides in the legal action will be reading the fine print of the coming written court order carefully as one part of the long-running legal drama over the storied district nears an end.

7. Pinnacle Moving Memphis Headquarters to Minnesota - Friday, January 25, 2013

Memphis-based Pinnacle Airlines Corp. is moving its headquarters to Minneapolis by May as part of its bankruptcy reorganization.

The regional air carrier announced the move out of One Commerce Square Downtown Thursday, Jan. 24, saying the new headquarters will be in vacant space leased by Delta Air Lines at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

8. Judge’s Ruling Moves Beale’s Future Forward - Thursday, November 01, 2012

For at least a year, a box containing copies of a report on the future of Beale Street has been in storage awaiting a settlement of the two levels of court disputes for control of the entertainment district.

9. Weak Earnings Reports Pummel Stocks - Wednesday, October 24, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) — Nobody was expecting this round of corporate earnings reports to be great. But companies' underwhelming results are still rattling investors.

Stocks plunged Tuesday in one of the worst days on Wall Street this year. Big-name companies reported weak quarterly revenue and lowered their forecasts for the rest of the year.

10. Haslam Appoints Three to Court Panel on Hooker Case - Monday, September 24, 2012

Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Robert Carter Jr. and attorney Monica Wharton of Memphis are among two of the three new members of a Special Tennessee Supreme Court appointed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam.

11. IP Looks to Future Following Temple-Inland Acquisition - Wednesday, September 19, 2012

When International Paper Co. moved its headquarters to Memphis in 1987 it was an economic development milestone for Shelby County.

12. McBroom Joins Indie Memphis as Director of Operations - Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Mandy McBroom has been named director of operations for Indie Memphis, the first full-time staff member to hold the position. In her new role, she will oversee festival operations, shorts programming, volunteer opportunities and membership growth.

13. Visionary Project - Thursday, August 23, 2012

The reversal of fate for the blighted Chisca Hotel at the intersection of South Main Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, plagued by passive out-of-town ownership and environmental hazards, was set in motion during a phone call about 18 months ago.

14. Supreme Court to Hear Judge Selection - Thursday, August 02, 2012

A new Tennessee Supreme Court will hear the latest court challenge to how state appellate court judges are selected.

The case of John Jay Hooker vs. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam is a challenge to what is known as the Tennessee Plan – yes or no retention votes on all judges above the trial court level including the Tennessee Supreme Court.

15. Election Commission Admits Ballot Problems - Thursday, July 26, 2012

Challenges to the conduct of the Aug. 2 election may have reached a peak Tuesday, July 24.

The Shelby County Election Commission admitted a “limited number” of voters in some precincts got early voting ballots that included the wrong district races.

16. Beale Street Blues - Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Last September, a working group appointed by Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. completed its work on recommendations for the future of Beale Street.

The report has been printed and boxed up – but it won’t be released until a judge settles the federal bankruptcy case embroiling the entertainment district.

17. Polls Set to Open for Early Voting - Friday, July 13, 2012

Shelby County voters start deciding Friday, July 13, general election countywide races for assessor of property, General Sessions Court clerk, district attorney general and a race for a Shelby County Commission seat. The ballot also includes seven races for district seats on the countywide school board.

18. Redbirds Reconnection - Monday, April 16, 2012

One of baseball’s enduring maxims is that anytime you go to a game you’ve got a chance to see something you’ve never seen before.

Apparently, this now applies off the field too, because a few weeks ago a group that included Magic Johnson as the front man paid $2.15 billion to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers from financially troubled owner Frank McCourt.

19. Local Leaders Make Pitch For Bridge Funding - Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Memphis leaders will be in Washington Wednesday, March 14, to push for two projects they hope will win a share of federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery – or TIGER IV – grants.

20. Harahan Bridge Plan Now Centerpiece Connecting Main Streets - Tuesday, March 13, 2012

The plan to build a bicycle and pedestrian boardwalk on the northern side of the Harahan Bridge Downtown is now part of a larger plan to connect Main Street Memphis to Broadway Avenue, the Main Street of West Memphis, Ark.

21. Chamberlain Joins MBI - Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Jessica Chamberlain has joined MBI as a workspace consultant.

Hometown: Arlington, Tenn.

22. Trading Hands - Monday, January 16, 2012

It’s been something of a roller coaster ride for a little more than six months in the drawn-out process by Regions Financial Corp. to sell Morgan Keegan & Co. Inc., its Memphis-based investment unit.

23. Waiting For The Tip - Monday, October 31, 2011

Great seasons end.

Great cities endure.

That’s not just one of the Memphis Grizzlies’ new marketing slogans. Capitalizing on last season’s success and building an enduring franchise are aspirations for the organization as it copes with the reality of the NBA lockout and the ongoing dry spell of professional hometown hoops.

24. Rock for Love: A Benefit With Edge - Monday, August 15, 2011

Five years ago, Marvin Stockwell and Jeff Hulett, the Church Health Center’s guitar-swinging public relations duo, decided to throw a benefit concert featuring local and regional bands.

25. Senate Dems Give Way to GOP to End FAA Shutdown - Monday, August 08, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Senate approved legislation Friday ending a two-week partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration and President Barack Obama signed it into law, clearing the way for thousands of employees to return to work and hundreds of airport construction projects to resume.

26. Chamber Launches Free Wi-Fi ‘M Spot’ - Monday, May 23, 2011

The Greater Memphis Chamber will officially launch its free Wi-Fi space, “M Spot” Tuesday, May 24, at the Falls Building, 22 N. Front St. Speakers include Chamber CEO John Moore and Center City Commission president Paul Morris.

27. ‘Homage’ to Musical Greats on Display - Friday, April 29, 2011

After the echoes of this weekend’s Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival fade away, the images of some of its top 2011 performers will remain in a Downtown gallery.

“Homage,” a photographic exhibition by Leon Morris, reveals the passion of musicians like Betty Lavette, Jerry Lee Lewis and Magic Slim in the process of creating their art.

28. Culture of Loyalty Breeds Success for Jack Morris Auto Glass - Monday, February 14, 2011

In 1955, Jack Morris of Jack Morris Auto Glass went to work for his father-in-law, B.F. Howard.

At the time, a deal was proposed; if at the end of Morris’ first year, both men were happy working together, Morris would receive 50 percent of what was originally The Auto Glass Co., founded in 1951, along with the title of president.

29. Muller Brings Love for Memphis to Chamber - Monday, February 07, 2011

In the eyes of Dexter Muller, Memphis’ shining attribute is that it’s too big for its britches.

Memphis is the smallest city in the country that has a NBA team, an airline hub and a zoo with a panda exhibit.

30. Spending Data Show December Sales Strong - Thursday, January 06, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Americans spent more on clothes, shoes, luxury goods and electronics in December than a year earlier, extending retail sales momentum that had been building since August, according to data released Wednesday.

31. Early Deals Draw Shoppers, Raise Retail Spirits - Tuesday, November 23, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Shoppers spent a bit more in early November, raising retailers’ spirits about the holiday season right before it kicks into high gear.

Early discounting on everything from TVs and sweaters as well as free shipping deals helped pull in shoppers in the first two weeks of November. Consumers coming out of their shells could be a gift for an economy that has suffered from depressed spending for almost three years.

32. Daisy Déjà Vu - Monday, November 22, 2010

The head of the Beale Street Development Corp. (BSDC) plans to open the Old Daisy Theater on Beale Street in February as an interpretive center on the history of the entertainment district.

33. Pinnacle Decision, Pep Rally Required Collaborative Effort - Thursday, November 18, 2010

Howell Marketing CEO Amy Howell has a lot to say in a blog she posted this week about her firm’s deep involvement in media strategy for Pinnacle Airlines Corp.’s decision on a new headquarters location.

34. Motorsports Park Set for Auction Block - Thursday, November 11, 2010

Memphis Motorsports Park will soon have a new owner after being out of commission for the past year.

The property will be sold at a live, on-site auction Dec. 14 at one of the facility’s parcel locations, 5500 Tay-For Road, near Millington.

35. Commission Debates Charter Stand, Approves Terms For New Morgue - Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Shelby County Commissioners talked Monday about consolidation, education funding and minority business contracts during a session that also included a debate about building a new morgue.

A resolution approving the agreements between Shelby County and the state for the construction of a new Regional Forensic Center passed on an 11-0 vote. Commissioner Heidi Shafer abstained and Commissioner Justin Ford, who is a funeral director, recused himself from the vote.

36. Downtown Touchdown - Monday, October 11, 2010

Many of the dominoes that fell into place in advance of Pinnacle Airlines Corp. deciding to move its Memphis corporate headquarters to the landmark Downtown tower One Commerce Square happened in the public eye.

37. Events - Friday, October 08, 2010

The University of Memphis Department of Psychology will host the 2010 Spindel Conference Thursday through Saturday on the U of M campus. Stephen Darwall of Yale University of will deliver the opening address. The Emerging Scholar Prize Essay will be delivered Friday. For a complete list of speakers, times and locations, call 678-3352 or visit www.memphis.edu/philosophy/spindel_2010.php.

38. Beale Street Chaos - Friday, October 01, 2010

Four months after Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. announced the city was settling a Chancery Court fight over control of Beale Street with Performa Entertainment Real Estate Inc., Performa is in control of the daily business of the entertainment district.

39. Lasting Legacies - Monday, September 27, 2010

Consider the continent as it was when Memphis was founded in 1819. No railroads crisscrossed the land and Tennessee roads would not be paved until after World War I.

For a city to thrive and prosper, transportation would be paramount. For Memphis, the Mississippi River, an integral artery of commerce and communication in America, would be its gateway to greatness.

40. Grubb & Ellis’ deWitt Appointed To MAAR Commercial Council - Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Greg deWitt of Grubb & Ellis Co. has been appointed to the Memphis Area Association of Realtors Commercial Council. He will take over one of the council’s director seats next year before becoming the council’s vice president in 2012.

41. Mayoral Bid Awakens Ford Political Machine - Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Since the late 1970s, the Ford family, as a political organization, has had an interest in either the Memphis or Shelby County mayor’s office. In 1978, John Ford declared he was running for county mayor but then withdrew from the race. Five years later, he ran for city mayor.

42. Dim Retail Sales Hurt Economy as Fed Sees Weaknesses - Thursday, July 15, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) — A second straight month of declining retail spending will likely keep unemployment high and help weaken the recovery.

Not everyone is suffering, though. Shoppers with stable jobs and steady pay can find lots of bargains. The economy is bleaker for anyone seeking a job or at risk of losing one. Still, Americans as a group are spending less, and that threatens the pace of the recovery.

43. Controversy Remains Around City, Performa Settlement - Friday, July 09, 2010

Memphis City Council members critical of the Beale Street court settlement say the Wharton administration was too generous after the city publicly alleged Performa Entertainment founder John Elkington owed the city millions of dollars.

44. Events - Friday, June 04, 2010

Gallery Fifty Six will host an opening reception for artist JC Graham Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the gallery, 2256 Central Ave. Graham’s show, “One Room Schoolhouse,” will run through June 30. For more information, visit www.galleryfiftysix.com.

45. Cockadoos Brings Southern Spirit to Downtown - Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Between John Bradley Wells and his wife, Lana, the two have nearly 40 years of experience in the restaurant business.

46. Wynstone Mill Lots Hit Auction Block - Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Thirty-six lots in the Wynstone Mill subdivision of the Schilling Farms Planned Development have been foreclosed and will be sold in a substitute trustee’s sale, according to a pair of notices that begin on Page 38 of today’s print edition of The Daily News and also at The Daily News Online, www.memphisdailynews.com.

47. Big Tobacco Cutting Contracts with US Farmers - Thursday, May 20, 2010

CYNTHIANA, Ky. (AP) - After years of faithfully supplying leaf to tobacco giant Philip Morris International, farmer Jess Burrier received a postcard, thanking him for his contributions and telling him his service wasn't needed this year.

48. Applicants Submit Resumes to Head CCC - Thursday, April 08, 2010

A search for successors to departing Center City Commission president Jeff Sanford has generated significant local interest.

Out of more than 70 applicants who submitted resumes to the CCC’s executive search team, the field appears to be narrowing to around 20 people who most closely fit the job description.

49. Playhouse on the Square Readies for Building’s Debut - Friday, January 08, 2010

In anticipation of its grand opening production of “Pippin” Jan. 29, the new three-story Playhouse on the Square near Overton Square held its first preview event this week.

The new theater is the culmination of five years of fundraising and more than a year of construction.

50. Charter Commission Prepares for Nine-Month Mission - Friday, November 13, 2009

The 15 members of the Metro Charter Commission will need some time to get organized before they wade into the details of what a consolidated local government should look like.

The group met for the first time Tuesday in the “historic courtroom” of the Shelby County Courthouse, a third-floor courtroom restored to its original early 20th-century appearance including a rubber-tiled floor.

51. County Mayor Deadlock Moves to Next Week - Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The pressure of 24 roll call votes didn’t change any minds. Attempts at persuasion between the votes didn’t change any votes on the Shelby County Commission.

So now commissioners on both sides of the body’s deadlock over an interim county mayor are counting on another tactic to break the draw between Commissioners Joe Ford and J.W. Gibson – time.

52. October Sales Offer Relief to Merchants - Friday, November 06, 2009

NEW YORK (AP) – Consumers, enticed by cooler weather and an improving economy, spent a little more in October, handing the retail industry its second consecutive monthly sales gain after more than a year of declines.

53. Schuermann Elected To Design Review Board - Wednesday, October 14, 2009

David Schuermann has been elected to the Center City Commission’s Design Review board.

Schuermann is a principal at Architecture Inc. He is active with the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and currently serves on the Tennessee Board of Architectural & Engineering Examiners.

54. Bass Pro Shows Signs of Continuing Interest in Pyramid - Wednesday, October 07, 2009

John Morris, the founder of Springfield, Mo.-based retailer Bass Pro Shops, has traveled to Memphis three times in the past 90 days.

55. National Retail Group Offers Weak Holiday Forecast - Wednesday, October 07, 2009

NEW YORK (AP) – After parents cut back on clothes and accessories for children this past fall, the retail industry suspects they won’t be any more generous by the holidays.

The National Retail Federation, usually bullish about holiday sales, predicts a 1 percent decline in total sales to $437.6 billion for November and December combined. The projection from the world’s largest retail trade group comes amid forecasts that U.S. retailers saw a key measure of sales drop in September for the 13th month in a row compared to a year earlier.

56. Tenn. Legislative Staffers Laud Diversity Training - Thursday, October 01, 2009

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee legislative staffers who attended mandatory diversity training say it was worthwhile and they plan to adhere to what they learned.

State Rep. John Deberry, a Memphis Democrat, held two diversity training sessions this month following the revelation in June that a Tennessee legislative staffer sent a racist e-mail about President Barack Obama from her state computer.

57. U.S. Supreme Court Receptive to Freer Election Spending - Thursday, September 10, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. Supreme Court signaled Wednesday it may let businesses and unions spend freely to help their favored political candidates in time for next year's elections.

In a case that began with a movie attacking Hillary Rodham Clinton, newly seated Justice Sonia Sotomayor jumped right into the questioning. She appeared skeptical about taking the far-reaching step of lifting the ban, a move urged on the court by a lawyer for a group that made the 90-minute movie that sought to undermine Clinton's presidential ambitions.

58. Weak Retail Report Cards Likely, Analysts Say - Thursday, September 03, 2009

NEW YORK (AP) - It may be the beginning of the year for students, but for retailers, it's report-card time. Analysts expect the early grades on the back-to-school selling season to be weak when retailers report August results Thursday.

59. Dress Newest Pathologist At Pathology Group of the MidSouth - Wednesday, September 02, 2009

Dr. Matthew A. Dress has joined Pathology Group of the MidSouth PC as its newest pathologist.

Before joining Pathology Group of the MidSouth, Dress served as the chief resident in anatomic and clinical pathology at the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Tennessee. He then completed a fellowship in hematopathology at the University of Rochester Medical Center-Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, N.Y. 

60. Minister-Doctors Marry Medicine, Faith - Friday, August 14, 2009

Drs. Kenneth Robinson, Scott Morris and Clay Jackson use Bibles along with stethoscopes.

They are doctors who minister. Rather than seeing a divide between science and spirituality, they recognize correlations with what can be accomplished through medicine and what can be achieved through faith.

61. Signs Show Slow Start on Back-to-School Sales - Thursday, August 06, 2009

NEW YORK (AP) - It's still early, but analysts' grades already are coming in: the back-to-school shopping season is off to a lousy start.

"Back-to-school selling hasn't really started yet," said John Morris, BMO Capital Markets analyst, based on recent conversations he's had with store executives. "Retailers have a very foggy picture."

62. Events - Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence will present a workshop titled “Best Practices in Internal Controls” today from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Alliance office, 5100 Poplar Ave., Suite 502. Daniel Moore will lead the workshop. Cost is $65 for members, $125 for nonmembers and $55 for those in the Program for Nonprofit Excellence. For more information, call 684-6605 or visit www.npexcellence.org.

63. Events - Monday, June 22, 2009

Memphis City Schools will host its first Memphis Interscholastic Athletic Association Golf Classic today at 8 a.m. at Irene Golf & Country Club, 8141 Irene Blvd. Tournament fees are $250 per person and $1,000 for teams of four. For more information or tickets, call 748-8889.

64. Company Makes Tennis Training Available to Everyone - Monday, June 08, 2009

Vaught Sports is making it possible for people to learn tennis skills who don’t live near a court or can’t afford a country club membership.

The company, which is a division of Memphis-based Great Southern Corp., is marketing the Elasti-Stroke Tennis Training System and about to launch the Instant Tennis Kit.

65. Rosa Becomes GM at Holiday Inn-Wolfchase - Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Chris Rosa has been named general manger of the Holiday Inn and Suites Memphis-Wolfchase. Rosa will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the property. He previously served as vice president of operations for Equity Estates, general manger at the Sheraton Meadowlands and area manger of the Crowne Plaza Ravinia in Atlanta. Rosa also has been named General Manager of the Year by Patriot American Hotels and Hotelier of the Year by the Connecticut Hospitality Association.

66. Morris Discusses Intellectual Property Issues - Thursday, March 05, 2009

Paul H. Morris, director and shareholder at Martin Tate Morrow & Marston PC, provides general counsel to business clients and litigates in a variety of commercial areas, particularly in intellectual property. He has extensive experience in patent litigation and licensing, trademark, copyright, franchise and trade secret matters.

67. McDonald's Same-Store Sales Jump in November - Tuesday, December 09, 2008

NEW YORK (AP) - Consumers hungry for cheap meals boosted worldwide sales at McDonald's Corp.'s established locations by 7.7 percent in November, more proof of how the fast-food leader is thriving in a downturn that has eaten into sales at its competitors.

68. Holiday Shopping Season Off to a Modest Start - Tuesday, December 02, 2008

NEW YORK (AP) - The Thanksgiving shopping weekend may not have been the disaster some had feared, but unprecedented discounts and tempered buying likely resulted in overall soft sales as a buying binge on Friday quickly fizzled. Now, online retailers are ramping up deals to turn skittish shoppers into "Cyber Monday" spenders.

69. Harrah’s Footprint Shrinks in the South - Friday, November 21, 2008

Harrah’s Entertainment, which announced this week the closure of its Memphis operations, already had been shrinking its presence in the South although it remains the dominant player in the Tunica market.

70. Both Parties Expect Democratic Senate Pickups - Tuesday, November 04, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrats counted on solidifying their thin leadership grip on the Senate as voters flocked to the polls Tuesday to fill 35 Senate seats. Embattled Republicans braced for losses but hoped they would be modest ones.

71. Tobacco Bill Unlikely to Pass This Year - Wednesday, September 10, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) - Landmark legislation that would give federal health authorities the power to regulate the tobacco industry is unlikely to pass this year.

The House overwhelmingly approved the bill this summer, and a majority of senators, including presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain, support the legislation. But President Bush has threatened a veto, and the prospect of a drawn-out debate will probably keep the Senate from taking up the measure as it races through a tight schedule this month, senior congressional officials of both parties said.

72. Playhouse on the Square To Build New Theater - Tuesday, August 19, 2008

60 S. Cooper St.
Memphis, TN 38104
Permit Cost: $8.3 million

Project Cost: $12 million
Project Date: Aug. 12, 2008
Completion: Fall 2009
Owner: Playhouse on the Square
Tenant: Playhouse on the Square
Architect: Morris Architects Planners Inc.
Contractor: Montgomery Martin Contractors LLC

73. Cohen, Blackburn Lead Local Election Winners - Monday, August 11, 2008

More than half and possibly as much as 75 percent of Shelby County’s nearly 626,000 voters are expected to turn out for the Nov. 4 election that will be highlighted by the John McCain-Barack Obama battle for the White House.

74. Cohen Crushes Tinker - Jackson Upsets Turner - Charter Changes Pass-Fail - Friday, August 08, 2008
Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen was the big winner in Thursday’s primary elections. Cohen, with 80 percent of the vote, crushed challenger Nikki Tinker in the hard fought 9th District Democratic primary.

The upset of the evening was the general election contest for General Sessions Court Clerk where Democratic challenger Otis Jackson beat Republican incumbent Chris Turner.

And only one of two sets of Shelby County charter amendments on the ballot were approved by voters.

Voter turnout was just under 16 percent in Shelby County. Voter turnout was clearly driven by the 9th District Democratic primary. More people voted in that primary which covers most but not all of Shelby County than voted countywide in the state Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate. Turnout in the Democratic primaries was twice that of the Republican primaries in Shelby County.

All results are unofficial pending audit and certification by the Shelby County Election Commission and Tennessee election officials

9th Congressional District
Democratic Primary
Steve Cohen 50,284 79%
Nikki Tinker 11,814 19%
Joe Towns Jr. 914 1%

Not even close. Cohen won the primary for the open all Shelby County seat two years ago by 4,400 votes over Tinker and 13 other candidates. This time around he was the incumbent and Tinker’s challenge was more strident with a pair of controversial attack ads in the gap between the end of early voting and election day. Both were probably factors in the vote totals along with a smaller field of five candidates.

Cohen faces independent candidate Jake Ford in the Nov. 4 general election.

7th Congressional District
Republican Primary
248 of 265 precincts reporting
Marsha Blackburn 29,158 65%
Tom Leatherwood 15,636 35%

These are the results district wide which includes not only the eastern part of Shelby County but a strip of Middle Tennessee up to the Kentucky state line. In Shelby County’s part of the 7th district, Leatherwood beat Blackburn with 62 percent of the vote. But it was 62 percent of just over 19,000 votes. Outside Shelby County it was always going to be difficult for Leatherwood.. The low voter turnout in Collierville and other eastern parts of the county made Leatherwood’s task impossible.

Blackburn faces Democrat Randy G. Morris on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Shelby County Charter Amendment #360
Yes  49,506   49.73%

No   50,043   50,27%

Closest contest of the night in Shelby County with a 537 vote margin and the highest turnout with 99,549 votes total.

This set of charter changes was to fix a legal problem noted in a recent Tennessee Supreme Court ruling. Another part of the package deal was increasing term limits for the county mayor and the county commission from two consecutive four year terms approved by voters in 1994 to three consecutive four year terms. The County Commission meets Monday to ponder whether it should offer another charter amendment on the Nov. 4 ballot that would fix the legal problem.

Shelby County Charter Amendment #361
Yes 65,548 68%
No 30,188 32%

This set of charter amendment includes provisions for recalling elected officials. It also establishes a new method for filling a vacancy in the office of County Mayor.

General Sessions Court Clerk
Otis Jackson 51,438 52%
Chris Turner 43,971 45%

The upset of the evening. Turner, the Republican nominee and the incumbent was seeking a fourth term. Jackson, the Democratic nominee, was making his fourth bid for county-wide office after coming close in a 2006 bid for County Clerk.

Trustee
Paul Mattila 54,734 57%
Ray Butler 29,977 31%

Mattila beats Butler in a race featuring an energetic and misleading campaign by M. LaTroy Williams in which Williams billed himself as the “real Democrat.” He was, in fact, an independent candidate garnering 8 percent of the vote. Mattila fills the remaining two years left in the term of office of the late Bob Patterson, a Republican. Mattila, a Democrat, worked with Patterson. Butler, the Republican, was also a friend of Patterson’s and the race amounted to who would best continue to operate the office as Patterson did.

Criminal Court Judge Div. 6
John Fowlkes 44,581 52%
Latonya Burrow 21,874 26%
Michael G. Floyd 12,071 14%
Claiborne H. Ferguson 6,240 7%

Fowlkes serves out the remaining six years left of the eight year term of office of Fred Axley who resigned from the bench shortly after winning re-election in 2006. Burrow finished a close second to Axley two years ago and again ran an energetic campaign this time around. But Fowlkes status in the legal community and his appointment to the bench by Gov. Phil Bredesen proved to be the advantage.

Assessor of Property
Cheyenne Johnson 59,637 60%
Bill Giannini 39,057 40%

Johnson, the Democratic nominee, easily beat Giannini, who is also doubling as local GOP chairman. Local Democrats keep the county-wide position in their column as voters go for the candidate endorsed by outgoing Democratic incumbent Rita Clark.

U.S. Senate
Democratic Primary
2,192 of 2,290 precincts reporting
Bob Tuke 54,613 32%
Gary G. Davis 37,193 22%
Mike Padgett 32,190 19%
Mark Clayton 30,359 18%
Kenneth Eaton 13,718 8%
Leonard Ladner 4,431 3%

These are the statewide results. Tuke got 42 percent of the Shelby County vote with Clayton finishing second. Tuke, the former state Democratic Party chairman, faces Republican incumbent Lamar Alexander, one of the most successful politicians in the history of the state, in the Nov. 4 general election.

Judicial Retention Races

All seven state appellate court judges, including two Tennessee Supreme Court justices, won their yes/no contests on the ballot across the state. That includes Tennessee Criminal Appeals Court Judge Camille McMullen of Millington who was just appointed to the bench in June by Gov. Phil Bredesen.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

75. Events - Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Talk Shoppe will meet today from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South, 3693 Tyndale Drive. The topic is “Top to Bottom: How to Do Real Estate Evictions” with Craig Beard, an attorney with Gotten, Wilson, Savory & Beard PLLC. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call Jo Garner at 759-7808.

76. Events - Tuesday, July 01, 2008

The Memphis Rotary Club will meet today at noon in Ballroom B of the Memphis Cook Convention Center, 255 N. Main St. Political analyst Charlie Cook will speak. Lunch is $18 per person and reservations are required. For reservations, e-mail Taylor Hughes at taylor@memphisrotary.org.

77. Few Surprises At Filing Deadline - Monday, April 07, 2008

About half of Shelby County's delegation to the Tennessee Legislature won re-election at Thursday's filing deadline for candidates on the Aug. 7 ballot.

Eight of the 16 state House seats had only one candidate - the incumbent. And all three of the state Senate seats on the ballot were incumbent-only affairs.

78. Playhouse Celebration Slated For Thursday - Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Construction officially begins Thursday on the new home for Playhouse on the Square, the city's only professional theater company.

To celebrate the beginning of the $12 million project, theater officials plan to hold a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the site of the new theater, across the street from the current one at the corner of Union Avenue and Cooper Street.

79. Take Back! Mayoral Resignation Saga Marches On - Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Less than a week after he said he was going to give up the office of mayor in July, Willie Herenton has taken back what originally seemed to be a simple but stunning plan to leave the mayor's office with plenty of notice.

80. Conference To Provide Fuel For Transport Future - Wednesday, March 05, 2008

The Memphis World Trade Club will continue the momentum of its inaugural event of a year ago by hosting the second annual Memphis Multi Modal Conference March 19 and 20 at The Peabody hotel.

The first day's event is a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. followed by a selection of speakers the next day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

81. Obama, Huckabee Dominate Shelby in Tenn. Primaries - Thursday, February 07, 2008

The presidential primary season came to a rain-soaked and stormy end Tuesday evening in Memphis even as some voters were still showing up at the polls.

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Mike Huckabee carried Shelby County in Tuesday's Tennessee presidential primaries in which 24 percent of Shelby County's 611,000 registered voters cast ballots.

82. Obama, Huckabee Carry Shelby In Tn Primary - Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Mike Huckabee carried Shelby County in Tuesday’s Tennessee presidential primaries.

Huckabee went on to win statewide in the GOP contest while New York Sen. Hillary Clinton took the statewide Democratic primary.

83. Archived Article - Tuesday, February 05, 2008

60 S. Cooper St.
Memphis, TN 38104
Permit Cost: $7.5 million

Project Cost: $12 million (Phase 1)

Permit Date: Applied January 2008

84. Events - Tuesday, January 08, 2008

The Memphis Rotary Club will meet today at noon in Ballroom B of the Memphis Cook Convention Center, 255 N. Main St. A lunch buffet will be provided for $18. Dr. Vivian Morris, director of the New Teacher Center at the University of Memphis, will speak on "Seven Steps to Improve Student Achievement in Memphis." Reservations should be made to Taylor Hughes at 526-1318 or taylor@memphisrotary.org.

85. Events - Monday, January 07, 2008

The Shelby County Board of Commissioners committee meetings will begin today at 9 a.m. in the fourth floor conference room of the Shelby County Administration Building, 160 N. Main St. For a complete schedule of commission meeting times, call Steve Summerall, chief administrator, at 545-4301.

86. Frey Named Alpha Eta Society National President - Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Dr. William R. Frey recently was selected as the national president of the Alpha Eta Society, the largest scholastic honor for allied health professionals. The organization has more than 60 chapters throughout the U.S.

87. Gloves On, Gloves Off - Thursday, September 27, 2007

Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton has run for the same elected office five times.

He's won four and he'll know about the fifth try one week from today.

Herenton said he'll be glad when the week is over. He's been on a charm offensive for about the last month, which has included submitting to a series of one-on-one television interviews that have replaced the home-stretch candidates forums of past election seasons.

88. Events - Friday, September 21, 2007

The American Society for Training and Development will host a one-day conference for learning and networking today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hilton Memphis hotel, 939 Ridge Lake Blvd. Cost to attend is $30. Visit www.astdmemphis.org for more information.

89. Suit Filed to Stop Tonight's Mayoral Debate - Friday, September 21, 2007
     Much of the chatter among political observers over absentees from this election season's round of public mayoral debates has to do with incumbent Willie Herenton, who has by and large been a no-show for most of them.
90. Events - Thursday, September 20, 2007

The Institute of Management Accountants - Memphis Chapter will hold its monthly Technical Session today at 11:45 a.m. in the Medallion Restaurant in the Holiday Inn-University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave. The event is $20. For reservations or more information, visit www.imamemphis.org.

91. Mayoral Candidates Put Efforts Into Early Vote - Wednesday, September 19, 2007

If rain is the enemy of election day turnouts then a sunny late summer day might be the curse of early voting efforts.

Early voting in advance of the Oct. 4 Memphis city elections opened Friday at 15 sites with 4,290 voters showing up. The next day, which saw sunshine and tens of thousands of people jam the Cooper-Young Festival in Midtown, the turnout was less than half that - 2,040 early voters.

92. Events - Wednesday, September 19, 2007

The Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence will host its "Researching Grant Funding" workshop today from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the alliance office, 606 S. Mendenhall Road, Suite 108. The event is $65 for members, $55 for participants in the Alliance's Program for Nonprofit Excellence and $99 for nonmembers. Call Nancy McGee at 684-6605 for more information.

93. ACEC of Tennessee ChapterElects Officers - Friday, September 14, 2007
     The Memphis chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Tennessee, which is comprised of more than 30 Memphis engineering firms, has elected its officers and board.
    &nbs

94. Attorneys Seek Separate Trials for Lee and Ford - Thursday, September 13, 2007

The legal team representing former Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division head Joseph Lee in his federal bribery case has fired another salvo in defense of their client.

They want Lee and City Council member Edmund Ford to be tried separately.

95. Events - Thursday, September 06, 2007

The Mid-South Area Business Travel Association will host Sherry Fisher at its monthly luncheon today from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tower Room, 5100 Poplar Ave. The event is $20 for members and $30 for nonmembers. Fisher will speak on "RBC Travel Protection: Understanding How it Works for You." Visit www.msabta.com for more information.

96. Herman Morris Campaign Receives Prominent Backing - Monday, August 13, 2007

The first major endorsement in Memphis' mayoral race by a former or current area mayor is the product of a relationship that stretches back to the 1980s.

At the time, Shelby County's then-mayor Bill Morris had found himself interacting frequently with the chairman of an ad hoc commission that was recommending the county establish a home rule charter. Under that new form of government, the county would have the power to adopt its own ordinances without approval from the state legislature.

97. Smart Clings to Claim He's Broke, Represents Himself - Friday, August 10, 2007

Forest Hill cemeteries and funeral homes owner Clayton Smart will act as his own attorney at least for the time being.

Criminal Court Judge W. Otis Higgs made the ruling Wednesday at the end of another hearing in which Smart repeatedly claimed he didn't have any money to hire an attorney.

98. Things Go From Hot To Smoking Hot In Election Contests - Thursday, July 12, 2007

With one week to the filing deadline for the Oct. 4 Memphis city elections, 124 citizens have thought seriously enough about running for the 15 offices on the ballot to check out qualifying petitions. Nearly 40 had filed by the end of the first week.

99. Back in the Ring - Tuesday, July 03, 2007

This morning, Memphis mayor Willie Herenton, accompanied by supporters, is expected to stride up to the glass window in the office of the Shelby County Election Commission and do something he's long promised.

100. Morris Field Director Seizes Opportunity With Clinton Camp - Friday, June 29, 2007

For years, she'd courted local votes for candidates running for everything from the Shelby County Commission to Memphis mayor to the U.S. House of Representatives. Then, opportunity knocked - loudly.