WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumer prices rose slightly last month, as higher energy costs partly offset cheaper food. The small increase is further evidence that consumers are benefiting from mild inflation.

2. World Looks to Bernanke to Clarify Stimulus Plans - Tuesday, June 18, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Is the era of ultra-low interest rates nearing an end? That's the question – and the fear – Chairman Ben Bernanke will face this week when he takes questions after a Federal Reserve policy meeting.

3. Villas at Cordova Apartments Owner Files $17.9 Million Loan - Tuesday, June 18, 2013

The owner of the 256-unit Villas at Cordova apartment complex at 8341 Macon Road has filed a $17.9 million loan on the property.

4. James Lee House Owner Files Construction Loan - Tuesday, June 18, 2013

690 Adams Ave.
Memphis, TN 38105
Loan Amount: $1 million

Loan Date: June 4, 2013

Maturity Date: June 4, 2019

5. City Council Again Tackles Budget, Tax Rate - Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Some Memphis City Council members say they are prepared for a long day Tuesday, June 18, at City Hall as they continue down the arduous path to a tax rate and budget for the coming fiscal year.

“Let’s just be ready to spend the night,” said council member Harold Collins last week. He commented as council-mediated discussions between the administration of Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. and municipal union leaders on possible cuts in employee benefits got nowhere quickly and ended after less than an hour.

6. US Wholesale Prices Rise 0.5 Percent in May - Monday, June 17, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – A rise in food and gas costs drove a measure of wholesale prices up sharply in May. But outside those volatile categories, inflation was mild.

The Labor Department said Friday that the producer price index rose 0.5 percent in May from April. Gas prices rose 1.5 percent last month, and food costs increased 0.6 percent.

7. Retirement Home Owner Files $8.1 Million Loan - Monday, June 17, 2013

The owner of the 120-unit Foxbridge Assisted Living and Memory Care center at 2160 Mangum Road in Northeast Memphis has filed an $8.1 million loan on the property.

8. Hattiloo Another Step in Square Comeback - Saturday, June 15, 2013

The latest milestone in the comeback of Overton Square came the weekend of the Tony Awards in New York City with the groundbreaking for the new Hattiloo Theater.

For Ekundayo Bandele, the founder of the black repertory theater company who named it for his two daughters, the groundbreaking on what is now a parking lot fronting on Cooper Street represented a milestone for theater in Memphis.

9. US Retail Sales Jump 0.6 Percent in May - Friday, June 14, 2013

Americans stepped up purchases at retail businesses in May, spending more on cars, home improvements and sporting goods. The gain shows consumers remain resilient despite higher taxes and could drive faster growth later this year.

10. US Chief Executives Optimistic About Hiring - Thursday, June 13, 2013

Chief executives for the largest U.S. companies are more optimistic about sales over the next six months and plan to add more workers.

The Business Roundtable said Wednesday that its April-June quarterly survey found 32 percent of its members expect to expand payrolls in the next six months. That’s up from 29 percent in the January-March survey. And 78 percent expect their sales to increase. That’s up from 72 percent from the previous survey.

11. Sevierville Bank Transferred to First Tennessee - Tuesday, June 11, 2013

The 12 branches of Mountain National Bank of Sevierville reopened for business at the start of this week under the banner of First Tennessee Bank.

12. City Council Calls Special Meeting - Tuesday, June 11, 2013

The Memphis City Council has called a special meeting June 25 to finish up its budget work before the June 30 end of the fiscal year.

A notice of the special meeting for 3:30 p.m. at City Hall, 125 N. Main St., published in The Daily News, is signed by 11 of the 13 council members “to consider items related to the fiscal year 2014 operating budget, capital improvement programs and tax rate.”

13. Oakhaven Warehouse Sells for $11.3 Million - Tuesday, June 11, 2013

5155 Citation Drive
Memphis, TN 38118
Sale Amount: $11.3 million

Sale Date: May 21, 2013

14. Hattiloo to Complete Overton Square Comeback - Tuesday, June 11, 2013

The latest milestone in the comeback of Overton Square came the weekend of the Tony Awards in New York City with the groundbreaking for the new Hattiloo Theater.

For Ekundayo Bandele, the founder of the black repertory theater company who named it for his two daughters, the groundbreaking on what is now a parking lot fronting on Cooper Street represented a milestone for theater in Memphis.

15. Commission OKs Sale for Penny Hardaway Courts - Saturday, June 08, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners approved Monday, June 3, the transfer of nearly 10 acres of land in Cordova on the west side of Herbert Road at Fischer Steel Road to Gameday Health Kids Foundation as the location of “Penny’s Fast Break Courts Sports Facility” – the children’s basketball site named for NBA and University of Memphis basketball star Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway.

16. SunTrust Contributes $1 Million to Operation HOPE - Saturday, June 08, 2013

SunTrust Banks Inc. is adding Operation HOPE financial counselors to select branches in Atlanta and Memphis as part of its ongoing efforts to promote financial well-being.

17. Next Goal for City Budget: Consensus - Monday, June 10, 2013

For now, Memphis City Council members have more questions than consensus about which end is up on the proposed city budget for the fiscal year that is three weeks away.

Beyond the questions awaits a significant difference of opinion among council members about the general direction city finances should take with the new fiscal year and beyond.

18. Editorial: A Few Suggestions for Our City Leaders - Saturday, June 08, 2013

For the last three years or so the game at City Hall has been to move money around from one pocket to another to try to make projects happen in the toughest economic downturn since the Great Depression.

19. Keller Finds Right Culture at RedRover - Friday, June 07, 2013

Catherine “Kitty” Keller is one of the newest members of the team at RedRover Sales & Marketing, and her addition comes at a time of a steady swelling of the ranks, a recent batch of awards and consistent business growth for the firm.

20. SEC Considers Tougher Rules for Money Funds - Thursday, June 06, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Investors could lose principal from money market investment funds that perform poorly under regulations proposed Wednesday by the Securities and Exchange Commission. But the change would affect mainly institutional rather than individual investors.

21. Survey: US Private Employers Add 135,000 Jobs in May - Thursday, June 06, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – A private survey shows U.S. businesses added just 135,000 jobs in May, the second straight month of weak gains.

Payroll provider ADP said Wednesday that May's gain was above April's revised total of 113,000. But it's much lower than the gains ADP reported over the winter, which averaged more than 200,000 a month from November through February.

22. SunTrust Contributes $1 Million to Operation HOPE - Thursday, June 06, 2013

SunTrust Banks Inc. is adding Operation HOPE financial counselors to select branches in Atlanta and Memphis as part of its ongoing efforts to promote financial well-being.

23. Owner Files Loan on Humphrey Hampton Inn - Thursday, June 06, 2013

The owner of the 121-room Hampton Inn at 33 Humphrey Center Drive in East Memphis has filed a $5.4 million loan on the property.

24. Commission OKs Land Sale for ‘Penny’ Hardaway Courts - Wednesday, June 05, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners approved Monday, June 3, the transfer of nearly 10 acres of land in Cordova on the west side of Herbert Road at Fischer Steel Road to Gameday Health Kids Foundation as the location of “Penny’s Fast Break Courts Sports Facility” – the children’s basketball site named for NBA and University of Memphis basketball star Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway.

25. Commercial Advisors Adds Jensen to Capital Markets Group - Wednesday, June 05, 2013

Luke Jensen has joined Cushman & Wakefield/Commercial Advisors’ Capital Markets Group. In his new role with the commercial real estate firm, Jensen focuses on investment sales, debt and equity, development, and principal deal sourcing and structuring.

26. Wharton Proposes 14-Cent Tax Hike Above Recertified Rate - Tuesday, June 04, 2013

The administration of Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. is proposing a 14-cent city property tax hike on top of the 25 cents added to the current rate of $3.11 to compensate for property value lost in the 2013 property reappraisal.

27. Commission Approves Budget and 1st Reading of Tax Rate - Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners approved an operating budget for Shelby County government Monday and approved on the first of three reading a $4.38 property tax rate to fund that budget.

The votes that signal the end of the county’s budget season came after a prolonged commission debate about the basic role of county government.

28. Take It From 30 Years of Experience - Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Ray’s Take I started my career as a professional financial planner 30 years ago this month. Just as I do with my clients every year, I think it is important to review what has happened, what has worked and what has not, in order to improve.

29. University Cabanas Sell for $2.1 Million - Tuesday, June 04, 2013

2059 Vollintine Ave., Memphis, TN 38107

Sale Amount: $2.1 million

Sale Date: May 20, 2013

30. Budget Vote Faces Postponement - Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Memphis City Council members have final votes on their agenda Tuesday, June 6, on an operating budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 in addition to setting a city property tax rate.

But before the council meets at 3:30 p.m. at City Hall, 125 N. Main St., the group’s budget committee will hear from Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. and his administration one more time on possible changes to the budget and the tax rate.

31. US Durable Goods Orders Rise 3.3 Percent in April - Saturday, June 01, 2013

U.S. orders for long-lasting manufactured goods rebounded in April, buoyed by more demand for aircraft and stronger business investment. The gains suggest economic growth may be holding steady this spring.

32. City Budget Reset Stalls for Council - Monday, June 03, 2013

Memphis City Council members looking for a five-year budget plan of some kind last week were told by city Chief Financial Officer Robert Lipscomb that most of the ideas hadn’t been properly vetted yet.

33. US Consumers Cut Spending 0.2 Percent in April - Monday, June 03, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans cut back on spending in April after their income failed to grow, a sign that economic growth may be slowing.

Consumer spending dropped a seasonally adjusted 0.2 percent in April, the Commerce Department said Friday. That was the first decline since last May. It followed a 0.1 percent increase in March and a 0.8 percent jump in February.

34. Argent Hire Underscores Firm’s Growth - Saturday, June 01, 2013

The hiring of Phil Buchanan by Argent Financial Group as the company’s new president underscores what’s been a continual growth story at Argent.

Even before the Ruston, La.-based financial services firm established a Memphis presence in 2010, but especially since then, Argent has opened new offices, added staff, solidified its presence here and still managed to prepare for growth to come.

35. Wharton Pitches Options But No Recommendations On Budget Reset - Friday, May 31, 2013

Memphis City Council members were looking Thursday, May 30, for a new budget plan to get City Hall on new financial footing after a state comptroller’s office report critical of city financial practices.

36. Applications for US Unemployment Aid Rises - Friday, May 31, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose 10,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 354,000. Still, the level of applications is consistent with steady hiring and remains near a five-year low.

37. US Economy Grew at Modest 2.4 Percent Rate in First Quarter - Friday, May 31, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at a modest 2.4 percent annual rate from January through March, slightly slower than initially estimated. Consumer spending was stronger than first thought, but businesses restocked more slowly and state and local government spending cuts were deeper.

38. City’s Scarboro Passionate About Sharing Memphis - Friday, May 31, 2013

Born and raised in Fayetteville, N.C., Douglas Scarboro has chosen to make Memphis his home. As the executive director of the Office of Talent and Human Capital for the City of Memphis, his job is to help others realize the opportunities and recognize the same assets that he has found here.

39. FTN Financial Makes Several New Hires - Thursday, May 30, 2013

The capital markets division of First Tennessee Bank has made several new hires.

FTN Financial Capital Markets has brought on four new professionals as part of the continued expansion of its national municipal bond platform.

40. MED Issued $1 Million Mechanical Permit - Thursday, May 30, 2013

The city-county Office of Construction Code Enforcement has issued a $1 million mechanical permit to the Regional Medical Center at Memphis for renovations to Turner Tower at 877 Jefferson Ave.

41. US Durable Goods Orders Rise 3.3 Percent in April - Monday, May 27, 2013

U.S. orders for long-lasting manufactured goods rebounded in April, buoyed by more demand for aircraft and stronger business investment. The gains suggest economic growth may be holding steady this spring.

42. County Commission OKs Capital Improvements - Saturday, May 25, 2013

The Shelby County Commission also approved Monday a capital improvements plan budget of $29.9 million for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The biggest part of that amount – $13.6 million – is pay-as-you-go projects funded from county savings with another $10 million in CIP funding from the federal government.

43. Editorial: Convention Center Likely Years Away - Saturday, May 25, 2013

Nashville cut the ribbon this month on Music City Center, its massive new convention center that some Memphis leaders would like to match.

It is very tempting to point out that we have chased other cities in the past with these kind of massive civic projects and not fared well at all.

44. State Concerns Blow Up City Budget - Thursday, May 23, 2013

When the administration of Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. went to the state earlier this year for approval of a $112.4 million refunding bonds issuance, it was the second time in four years City Hall had used a debt tactic known as “scoop and toss.”

45. Local Startup Chosen for Launch TN Conference - Thursday, May 23, 2013

Memphis’ startup community will have a presence next month at Southland, Launch Tennessee’s new conference highlighting Southern culture and technology to be held in Nashville.

Kufikia, a subsidiary of Memphis-based startup venture Work for Pie, is one of 50 companies that will participate in the June 12-13 event. And the benefits are many, some of which carry the prospect of big rewards.

46. County Commission Approves Capital Improvements Budget - Wednesday, May 22, 2013

The Shelby County Commission also approved Monday a capital improvements plan budget of $29.9 million for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The biggest part of that amount – $13.6 million – is pay-as-you-go projects funded from county savings with another $10 million in CIP funding from the federal government.

47. The 'Sell in May' Story - Wednesday, May 22, 2013

The “Sell in May, and Go Away” slogan is common vernacular within the investment sphere. However, for some of our readers who might not be as familiar with this phrase, we will use this week’s writings to review.

48. Measuring Innovation With Money - Wednesday, May 22, 2013

But will it make real money? Innovation is such a heady, ill-defined concept. Innovation is one of those words – like strategy or creativity – that means either nothing or something different to anyone who hears it. But when handled correctly, genuine innovations are the lifeblood of any company’s continued health and success.

49. Commission Approves Certified Tax Rate As Prelude To Tax Debate - Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners established a certified county property tax rate of $4.32 Monday, May 20, after much debate about what the calculation means in a reappraisal year where reappraisal values went down instead of up or staying roughly even.

50. City Council Mulls Ending Auto Inspections - Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Memphis City Council member Lee Harris will propose Tuesday, May 21, exempting Memphis auto owners for two years from required auto emissions inspections.

51. Gauge of US Economy’s Future Health Up in April - Monday, May 20, 2013

A measure of the U.S. economy’s future health rose solidly in April, buoyed by a sharp rise in applications to build homes and a better job market.

The Conference Board said Friday that its index of leading indicators increased 0.6 percent last month to a reading of 95. That followed a 0.2 percent decline in March.

52. Capital of ’Cue - Monday, May 20, 2013

Before the sizzle on the grill, the first sounds of the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest heard in Tom Lee Park are hammers and nail guns.

53. Changing the Fiber of Your Nonprofit - Friday, May 17, 2013

A capital campaign – or any other quantum leap in your fundraising – will pull at every fiber of your nonprofit. These are not “business as usual” activities. If you want to grow from one level of donated revenue to another you have to do things differently. It’s no different than a business seeking to enter a new market or release a new product. New, more and different thinking, actions and people are required for new, more and different results.

54. ZeroTo510 Accelerator Launches New Season - Friday, May 17, 2013

Dr. Steve Bares, president and executive director of the Memphis Bioworks Foundation, is clear-eyed and unequivocal about what success looks like for the startup accelerator program his foundation operates and which launched its new season this week.

55. Past Due - Friday, May 17, 2013

In the last five years, the 600 computers in the Memphis Public Library & Information Center were used 1.2 million times.

In that same five years, the budget for the library system of 18 locations has been cut 21 percent and there has been a 20 percent reduction in hours over the same five years.

56. Southwest to Save by Delaying Delivery of Planes - Thursday, May 16, 2013

DALLAS (AP) – Southwest Airlines Co. is delaying delivery of new airplanes and filling the gap with used planes to reduce spending over the next five years.

57. More Tips on Selling the Business - Thursday, May 16, 2013

I’d like to offer a counterpoint to a recent Daily News column that I presented a slanted view of the process used by investors to acquire the business of an entrepreneur (April 19, Selling the Business: Games Buyers Play).

58. School Board Considers Funding Shifts - Thursday, May 16, 2013

When countywide school board members begin considering changes Thursday, May 16, to the $1.18 billion budget proposal before them, there will be few easy choices.

First reactions and questions from school board members Tuesday at the first of three board sessions this week revolved around ways to shift funding in order to expand pre-kindergarten to more schools.

59. School Board Examines Budget Fine Print - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

The funding gap for the still tentative schools merger stands at an even $35 million in new funding.

The new total came Tuesday, May 14, after interim schools superintendent Dorsey Hopson told countywide school board members he and his staff had eliminated a “district initiative department” that would have cost $737,366.

60. Hospital Billings Vary Widely in Memphis - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Government data released for the first time last week showed that hospitals across the nation bill Medicare widely different amounts for the same procedures.

St. James Mercy Hospital in Hornell, N.Y., charged $29,637 for patients who received a respiratory system diagnosis and remained on a ventilator more than 96 hours, while Stanford Hospital in Stanford Hospital, Calif., charged $929,119.

61. US Retail Sales Rise in April on Cars, Clothing - Tuesday, May 14, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Lower-priced gas allowed Americans to step up their spending at retailers in April, from cars and clothes to electronics and appliances. The rebound from a weak March suggests consumers remain resilient in the face of higher taxes and could continue to drive economic growth this spring.

62. New ZeroTo510 Teams Chosen for 2013 Cohort - Tuesday, May 14, 2013

The ZeroTo510 medical device accelerator program has chosen the six new teams that will participate in the program’s 2013 cohort.

They include AIS Inc., a local team led by a biomedical engineering student from the University of Memphis. It’s building a leadless, single surgery GPS- and Bluetooth-enabled hybrid cardioverter defibrillator.

63. Oakhaven Warehouse Sells After Foreclosure - Tuesday, May 14, 2013

4120 Air Trans Road, Memphis, TN 38118

Sale Amount: $2.5 million

Sale Date: May 7, 2013

64. Grocery Gadgetry - Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Kroger’s Memphis-area shoppers might not have noticed, but the supermarket chain is paying more attention to them these days.

The high-tech proof doesn’t necessarily call attention to itself, but that’s not to say it’s not hidden, either. Television screens mounted near the front of its Memphis stores are a product of Kroger making a big investment a few years ago in new infrared camera technology.

65. Bernanke: Fed Increasing Financial Monitoring - Monday, May 13, 2013

The Federal Reserve has broadened its oversight beyond banks and now monitors a wide-range of financial institutions that could hasten another financial crisis, Chairman Ben Bernanke said Friday.

Bernanke said the Fed is still monitoring banks and other systematically important financial institutions. But it has widened its scope to include other important participants that could either trigger a crisis or make the system more vulnerable.

66. Two Memphis Krystals Sell for $2.5 Million - Monday, May 13, 2013

A pair of Memphis Krystal restaurants – 2663 Mount Moriah Road in Hickory Hill and 4431 Summer Ave. in Berclair – have sold for a combined $2.5 million.

67. Thomas & Betts CEO Sees Growth Post-Acquisition - Monday, May 13, 2013

Dominic Pileggi, the retired CEO of Thomas & Betts Corp., remembers being concerned more than a year ago when the Memphis-based maker of low voltage electrical and utility hardware was in talks with ABB Group of Zurich to buy Thomas & Betts.

68. Jobless Aid Applications Fall to Five-Year Low - Saturday, May 11, 2013

The number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits fell by 4,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 323,000, a five-year low. Layoffs have returned to pre-recession levels, a trend that could lead to more hiring.

69. Inman Keeps Construction Business Running Strong - Saturday, May 11, 2013

Page Inman had no intention of joining the family construction business, but 20 years and a couple $40 million construction jobs later, he has no regrets.

Cyclical economic changes and the need for competitive diversification are par for the course in an industry that depends on the availability of capital to survive.

70. Jobless Aid Applications Fall to Five-Year Low - Friday, May 10, 2013

The number of Americans who applied for unemployment benefits fell by 4,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 323,000, a five-year low.

Layoffs have returned to pre-recession levels, a trend that could lead to more hiring.

71. Oakhaven Warehouse Sells After Foreclosure - Friday, May 10, 2013

The 224,749-square-foot warehouse at 4120 Air Trans Road in Oakhaven has sold for $2.5 million following a foreclosure.

72. Nurturing Social Capital - Friday, May 10, 2013

“Trusting relationships and reflection/rejuvenation are required for building strong networks and collaborations.”

That’s the word from Patricia Brandes, executive director of the Barr Foundation. She didn’t say more funding, more collaboration, lower expenses or greater impact. She focuses on the three R’s – relationships, reflection and rejuvenation.

73. Police Changes Continue Amid Budget Talks - Friday, May 10, 2013

With the start of the new year, Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong began a reorganization of the department that changed the boundaries of the city’s nine police precincts, evening out the amount of territory and calls each area handles.

74. Celebrating Rails - Thursday, May 09, 2013

More railroad passengers boarded and stepped off Amtrak trains at Memphis Central Station in 2012 as travelers turned to trains amid higher gas prices and improved rail reliability.

Passengers who embarked and alighted in Memphis gained 11.2 percent to 73,116 travelers in the 2012 fiscal year ended Oct. 31, compared with 65,769 passengers a year earlier.

75. Bank of Fayette County Repays TARP Funds - Saturday, May 04, 2013

The Bank of Fayette County has finished paying back the slightly more than $6 million it got from the federal government as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, initiative.

76. Argent Trust Co. Acquires South Carolina Firm - Saturday, May 04, 2013

Argent Trust Co., which has its executive headquarters in Nashville, has acquired South Carolina-based East Broad Trust Co.

77. Editorial: City, County Budgets Need Sustainability - Saturday, May 04, 2013

There is always a reason, always a graph or charter that explains why something in a government budget can’t be cut.

Ask why funding for something that may be nice to have but isn’t essential can’t be used for something that is essential and you might get the analogy about the money coming from a different pocket. Or you could just get an earful of double talk.

78. US Factory Orders Down 4 Percent in March - Monday, May 06, 2013

Orders to U.S. factories fell in March by the largest amount in seven months but a key category that signals business investment plans managed a small increase. Factory orders dropped 4 percent in March, reflecting a big plunge in the volatile category of commercial aircraft, the Commerce Department reported Friday. Orders had been up 1.9 percent in February. Orders in a category considered a proxy for business investment plans rose 0.9 percent, a modest gain but an improvement from a preliminary report last week that had shown a decline.

79. US Trade Deficit Falls to $38.8 Billion in March - Friday, May 03, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. trade deficit narrowed in March for a second month as the daily flow of imported crude oil dropped to the lowest level in 17 years. The deficit with China hit a three-year low.

80. Argent Trust Co. Acquires South Carolina Firm - Friday, May 03, 2013

Argent Trust Co., which has its executive headquarters in Nashville, has acquired South Carolina-based East Broad Trust Co.

81. National, Local Leaders Discuss Nonprofit Challenges - Friday, May 03, 2013

Nonprofits need multifaceted ways to inform their stakeholders in a world that has grown more volatile, uncertain and complex, Jacob Herold, the president and CEO of GuideStar, told a sold-out audience at the annual Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence conference Wednesday, May 1.

82. International Paper’s Net Earnings Up - Thursday, May 02, 2013

Memphis-based International Paper Co. reported net earnings Thursday, May 2, of $318 million for the first quarter of 2013, a $130 million increase from a year ago.

Quarterly net sales for International Paper of $7.1 billion were up $400 million from a year ago but the same as for the fourth quarter of 2012.

83. Bank of Fayette County Repays TARP Funds - Wednesday, May 01, 2013

The Bank of Fayette County has finished paying back the slightly more than $6 million it got from the federal government as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, initiative.

84. Pilot Flying J Lauds Denial of Witness-Tampering Claim - Tuesday, April 30, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – A Knoxville judge on Monday rejected a claim that Pilot Flying J CEO Jimmy Haslam is tampering with potential witnesses in a lawsuit stemming from an FBI raid on the country's largest diesel retailer.

85. Capital Requirement - Saturday, April 27, 2013

In early April, U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., joined a handful of other senators in drafting a letter in part about new rules of the road governing bank capital requirements.

That letter was sent to Federal Reserve Gov. Daniel Tarullo, Comptroller of the Currency Thomas Curry and Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Martin Gruenberg.

86. Orders for US Durable Goods Fall 5.7 Percent in March - Thursday, April 25, 2013

Orders for long-lasting U.S. factory goods fell in March by the most in seven months. The drop reflected a steep decline in commercial aircraft demand and little growth in orders that signal future business investment.

87. FedEx Wins $10.5 Billion Contract With USPS - Thursday, April 25, 2013

FedEx Corp. said Tuesday, April 23, it won a $10.5 billion contract to carry mail between domestic airports for the U.S. Postal Service.

88. New-Homes Sales Rise 1.5 Percent in March to 417,000 - Wednesday, April 24, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. sales of new homes rose in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 417,000. The increase added to evidence of a sustained housing recovery at the start of the spring buying season.

89. Wright Joins Magna Bank as Senior Vice President - Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Andy Wright has joined Memphis-based Magna Bank as senior vice president and manager of commercial banking. Wright, who previously held senior vice president positions at Iberiabank and First Tennessee Bank, has experience working with a variety of industries, with in-depth expertise in the transportation and logistics industries.

90. Tennessee Lags in Hospital Care Spending - Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Hospital care spending in Tennessee averaged $2,160 per person in 2009, a figure that is among the 10 lowest in the nation on a state-by-state comparison.

Tennessee ranked No. 10 in the country for the states with the lowest hospital care spending, including services for outpatient care, operating room fees and the services of physician residents, data from the Kaiser Family Foundation showed. Nationally, hospital spending averaged $2,475 per person in 2009. That’s about 14.6 higher than the average per person hospital spending in Tennessee.

91. First Horizon Grows Profit in Quarter - Monday, April 22, 2013

Memphis-based First Horizon National Corp., the parent company of First Tennessee Bank, kicked off its first quarterly earnings announcement of 2013 by meeting analyst expectations and reporting a profit of $42.2 million, up from $30.5 million during the first quarter of 2012.

92. First Horizon Grows Profit as Expenses Fall - Friday, April 19, 2013

Memphis-based First Horizon National Corp., the parent company of First Tennessee Bank, kicked off its first quarterly earnings announcement of 2013 by meeting analyst expectations and reporting a profit of $42.2 million, up from $30.5 million during the first quarter of 2012.

93. Bryce to Keep 318 Workers in Memphis - Friday, April 19, 2013

A packaging maker for retail brands like Frito-Lay and General Mills is getting a tax incentive worth $3 million to keep 318 workers in Memphis and add 95 new employees as part of a $21 million expansion here.

94. Martin Named Interim U of M President - Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Brad Martin, the retired chairman and CEO of Saks Inc. and current chairman of the private investment firm RBM Venture Co., will be the interim president of the University of Memphis.

95. Harold Ford Sr. Buys Sycamore View Property - Tuesday, April 16, 2013

1670 Sycamore View Road Memphis, TN 38134

Sale Amount: $1.8 million

Sale Date: April 8, 2013

96. U of M President Raines Announces Retirement - Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Shirley C. Raines is retiring at the end of June after 12 years as president of the University of Memphis.

Raines announced her retirement Monday, April 15. John Morgan, the chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents, will name an interim president for the university possibly as early as this week for the transition.

97. US Retail Sales Fall 0.4 Percent in March - Monday, April 15, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Sales at U.S. retailers fell in March from February, indicating that higher taxes and weak hiring likely made some consumers more cautious about spending.

Retail sales declined a seasonally adjusted 0.4 percent last month, the Commerce Department said Friday. That followed a 1 percent gain in February and a 0.1 percent decline in January. Both February and January figures were revised lower.

98. JPMorgan CEO: 'Work to Do' on Controls, Compliance - Monday, April 15, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – Jamie Dimon, head of JPMorgan Chase, says that grappling with new regulations and strengthening internal controls are the bank's top priorities.

In a call with reporters Friday to discuss first-quarter earnings, he said that the bank would be aggressive in making changes, opting for quick decision-making over consensus building.

99. Houston REIT Moody Buys Germantown Hyatt Place - Monday, April 15, 2013

An affiliate of Houston-based Moody National REIT I Inc. has paid $11.3 million for the Hyatt Place hotel at 9161 Winchester Road in Germantown.

100. Carson Takes Charge of Shelby Democrats - Friday, April 12, 2013

The new chairman of the Shelby County Democratic Party says the 2014 big ballot of county elections will require more than a conclusion that there are more Democrats than Republicans in Shelby County.