One of the most vocal critics of the countywide school board’s $1.18 billion budget proposal says the schools merger is imposing a failed education formula on legacy Shelby County Schools.

“Why is it that Shelby County Schools can provide more teachers, better salaries for their principals and so forth – they can provide more of that than Memphis (City Schools) can with more money?” Shelby County Commissioner Wyatt Bunker asked. “That is the failure of the school board that Tomeka (Hart) served on to do what needed to be done years and years and years ago.”

2. Funding Conundrum - Friday, May 24, 2013

There were times this week at the Shelby County Commission when the debate over school funding and the schools merger made the superintendent of the consolidated school system more spectator than presenter.

3. Commission Begins Busy Week on Schools Front - Monday, May 20, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners may not have much to say at their Monday, May 20, meeting about a critical decision to come on funding for the new consolidated school system.

That’s more likely to happen at a Wednesday committee session, where they will review the $1.18 billion budget proposal formally for the first time since it was approved Thursday by the countywide school board.

4. School Board Sends Merger Budget to County Commission - Friday, May 17, 2013

Countywide school board members approved Thursday, May 16, a $1.18 billion budget for the consolidated school system in its first fiscal year, which begins July 1.

The board approved the budget on a 17-3 vote, with no amendments to the budget plan proposed by interim superintendent Dorsey Hopson and his cabinet.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. Grizzlies Take Down Thunder in Overtime - Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Moments before Game 4 of the Grizzlies-Oklahoma City playoff series tipped off at FedExForum Monday night, Tony Allen, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol stood at midcourt to be recognized for making the NBA’s All-Defensive teams (Allen first-team, Gasol and Conley second-team).

9. Schools Budget Gap At $35.7 Million In New Budget Draft - Tuesday, May 14, 2013

The countywide school board should have a budget proposal ready for the Shelby County Commission by the end of this week. And as it stands now, it would require just under $36 million in new funding.

10. Hopson Says Merger Not Reason for Staff Cuts - Tuesday, May 07, 2013

The interim superintendent of Shelby County’s two public school systems says staffing changes at some schools to start with the first school year of the merger aren’t as draconian as they could have been.

11. APNewsbreak: States Fear Loss of Health Care Aid - Monday, May 06, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Thousands of people with serious medical problems are in danger of losing coverage under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul because of cost overruns, state officials say.

12. 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.

13. The No-Growth Rally - Friday, May 03, 2013

Over 200 S&P 500 companies have now reported earnings. While 70 percent or so have beaten expectations, the blended earnings growth rate has basically flat lined. Using revenues as a purer gauge adds little encouragement. Revenues have also flat lined over the last year. Without an uptick in global economic activity or the ability to pass on price increases to customers, US earnings look winded. How can the rally persist without growth?

14. Data Facts Leading by Example - Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Last week we highlighted Friends For Life Corp., which is an organization helping people affected by HIV/AIDS to live well. This week let us discuss an important trend in corporate philanthropy and spotlight a local company leading by example.

15. Carlisle Corp. Solidifies Development of Chisca - Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Paul Morris hesitated when he started organizing the project launch two weeks ago for the renovation and conversion of the old Chisca hotel into an apartment building.

16. Report: Richest 7 Percent Got Richer During Recovery - Wednesday, April 24, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The richest Americans got richer during the first two years of the economic recovery while average net worth declined for the other 93 percent of U.S. households, says a report released Tuesday.

17. Obama Budget: Cover Uninsured, Trim Medicare, Tax Cigarettes - Thursday, April 11, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama's new budget offers Medicare cuts to entice Republicans into tax negotiations, while plowing ahead to cover the uninsured next year under the health care law the GOP has bitterly fought to repeal.

18. Commission Starts County Budget Season - Wednesday, April 10, 2013

The Shelby County Commission opens its budget season Wednesday, April 10, starting down a road of pivotal decisions for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The process begins Wednesday with an overview of county finances from Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell.

19. US Trade Deficit Narrows to $43 Billion in February - Monday, April 08, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly narrowed in February as exports climbed close to an all-time high and the volume of imported crude oil fell to the lowest level in 17 years.

20. Conley Proving Adept at Stealing the Show - Friday, April 05, 2013

The question came at Lionel Hollins as a compliment, the way many questions after dramatic victories do.

The Grizzlies had just beaten the San Antonio Spurs, 92-90, at a rowdy FedExForum on a driving layup by point guard Mike Conley for the team’s 50th win – tying the franchise record. So the coach was asked to explain his team’s “resiliency.”

21. Hopson Goes ‘All In’ on Schools Post - Friday, March 29, 2013

Dorsey Hopson’s answer was quick and concise when he was asked Wednesday, March 27, if he wanted the job of being superintendent of the consolidated school system on a permanent basis.

“No,” Hopson said, as he stood with a “cabinet” of 10 school systems administrators from both school systems who will help him take city and county schools into the merger in the next four months.

22. Mississippi Capitol Rally Calls for Medicaid Expansion - Thursday, March 28, 2013

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – More than 200 health advocates, doctors and others rallied at the Mississippi Capitol on Wednesday, asking legislators to expand Medicaid to the working poor.

Expansion appears unlikely, however, because it's opposed by Gov. Phil Bryant and Republican leaders in the state House and Senate.

23. Coffee, Beer Bar Coming Downtown - Friday, March 22, 2013

Downtown residents and visitors will soon be able to grab a cup of joe, locally brewed beer and a fresh sandwich or salad in one convenient spot.

Taylor Berger, partner in YoLo Frozen Yogurt & Gelato, and partners Mitch Buckner (of Bella Café in Pink Palace) and Daniel Flanagan (of Chiwawa, the newly opened Southern-inspired eatery near Overton Square) have signed a lease for 2,755 square feet of retail space in the ground floor of Van Vleet Flats, 122 Gayoso Ave.

24. Feyer Cruises to Fourth ACPT Title - Thursday, March 21, 2013

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The American Crossword Puzzle Tournament is like an annual meeting for the cruciverbalism industry. At the 36th installment of this event, the three-peat crown wearer, Dan Feyer, a pianist from Manhattan, pretty much went wire to wire.

25. Coffee, Beer Bar Slated for Downtown - Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Downtown residents soon will be able to grab a cup of Joe, locally brewed beer and a fresh sandwich or salad in one fell swoop.

Taylor Berger, partner in YoLo Frozen Yogurt & Gelato, along with partners Mitch Buckner (of Bella Café in Pink Palace) and Daniel Flanagan (of Chiwawa, the newly opened Southern-inspired eatery near Overton Square), have signed a lease for 2,755 square feet of retail space in the ground floor of Van Vleet Flats, 122 Gayoso Ave.

26. US Budget Deficit Jumps in February by $204 Billion - Thursday, March 14, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. federal budget deficit jumped in February from January, though it is still running well below last year's pace. Higher taxes and an improving economy are expected to hold the annual deficit below $1 trillion for the first time since President Barack Obama took office.

27. Bearing Down - Monday, March 11, 2013

The old adage “loaded for bear” is fitting for a new full-service branding agency that’s emerged on the Memphis advertising landscape.

“We came up with Loaded for Bear after stepping back and looking at the Memphis creative landscape and what our goals were, which are to prove that great creative can happen in a ‘creative wilderness’ such as Memphis, but also to help our clients be prepared for anything,” said managing director Joel Halpern. “That is where the term came from, an old hiker’s saying that means going off in the prepared for the worst case scenario, or a bear.”

28. Retailers Report Slowing Sales Gains for February - Friday, March 08, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – Americans cut back on spending in February as cold weather and economic challenges chilled their appetite for spring merchandise.

The nation's retailers on Thursday reported that sales slowed in February, a time when most stores get rid of winter merchandise and bring in swimsuits, ankle length pants and other spring fashions.

29. The Path Forward for Schools - Monday, March 04, 2013

“We’re making our community, by disagreement and discord, a very unattractive place to live, visit and locate businesses.”

When discussing the new unified Shelby County Schools this recent statement by Shelby County Schools Chairman Billy Orgel pretty much sums up the state of affairs.

30. Hollywood Feed Expands, Renews Local Leases - Friday, March 01, 2013

Hollywood Feed has renewed and expanded two of its Memphis locations.

The Memphis-based natural and holistic pet food merchant is growing its 2648 Broad Ave. warehouse from 44,400 square feet to 77,763 square feet.

31. Obama, Top Lawmakers to Meet as Cuts Kick In - Thursday, February 28, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House conceded Wednesday that efforts to avoid automatic budget cuts are unlikely to succeed before they kick in and is initiating new talks with congressional leaders to confront seemingly intractable tax-and-spend issues.

32. Opposing Forces Cause Swirling Economy - Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Remember Relative Value One by-product of the Federal Reserve’s loose monetary policy is the widespread positive returns that numerous asset classes have been able to experience. For instance, from March 9, 2009 (the closing low on the S&P 500), thru Dec. 31, 2012, the cumulative returns of the SPDR Barclays High Yield Bond ETF (JNK) and the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) have been 128 percent and 127 percent, respectively. Whether your chosen investment was high-yield bonds or the 500 stocks in the S&P 500, returns have been identical since the bottom.

33. Seminar: Uncertainty Pervades Real Estate - Monday, February 18, 2013

2013 will be a big year on many real estate fronts – foreclosures, property taxes and property values.

That was the message industry professionals heard Thursday, Feb. 14, at real estate information company Chandler Reports’ 2012 year-end “Master Your Market” seminar at the Holiday Inn University of Memphis.

34. Potter Promotes Grizzlies With Memphis Flair - Friday, February 15, 2013

Although he didn’t know it at the time, Jason Potter got his first taste of event promotion while studying business at Indiana University.

35. School Budget Debate Far From Over - Thursday, February 14, 2013

The countywide school board’s $145 million “ask” is on its way to the Shelby County Commission.

There was much debate among board members about the amount but general agreement that they need more details about what would be in even a preliminary budget.

36. School Board Asks For $145 Million Extra - Wednesday, February 13, 2013

The countywide school board is asking the Shelby County Commission for $145 million in extra funding for the first fiscal year of the schools merger.

The “ask” is a preliminary number that goes to a county commission budget retreat scheduled for Feb. 23. It is extra funding beyond the $361 million county government currently provides both school systems.

37. School Board Meets as Budget Debate Grows - Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Countywide school board members meet Tuesday, Feb. 12, in special session to send a still-forming budget for the first fiscal year of the consolidated school system to the Shelby County Commission.

38. US Fourth-Quarter Growth Stronger on Export Gains - Monday, February 11, 2013

The U.S. trade deficit narrowed sharply in December because exports rose while oil imports plummeted. The smaller trade gap means the economy almost surely grew in the October-December quarter – an improvement from the government’s estimate last week that it shrank in the final months of 2012.

39. Commission to Vote on Teacher Residency - Monday, February 11, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners agree on an issue having to do with the coming merger of schools in Shelby County.

At least nine of the 13 commissioners favor giving Memphis City Schools teachers and other system staff who live outside Shelby County five years to move within the county and keep their jobs with the new consolidated school system that takes effect July 1.

40. Madewell Coming to Saddle Creek - Friday, February 08, 2013

The Shops of Saddle Creek in Germantown will soon gain another national retailer with no other presence in Tennessee.

Madewell, a subsidiary of J. Crew Group Inc., has signed a 3,061-square-foot lease in The Shops of Saddle Creek North, 7509 Poplar Ave., in part of the space that was previously The Gap in between James Avery Jewelry and Brighton Collectables.

41. Retailers Report Strong January Sales - Friday, February 08, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – Sometimes, the devil is in the deals. Americans shopped the winter clearance racks in January, resulting in strong sales during the month for retailers.

But spending is expected to slow as the deals dry up heading into the spring, and Americans digest rising gas prices and a 2 percent payroll tax hike that started in January.

42. School Board Drills Into Merger Budget Numbers - Tuesday, February 05, 2013

Here come the numbers. Countywide school board members have their first and very tentative look at what revenues and expenditures look like for the first fiscal year of the schools merger.

Those numbers are expected to change, perhaps dramatically, as the school board makes critical decisions on staffing ratios, salaries and outsourcing transportation and custodial services.

43. Goal for a Life Well-Lived - Monday, January 28, 2013

Lately I’ve talked with several people who were struggling with the question, “What is the goal of life?” Those of you who know me personally might remember that I have a daughter in college. Therefore, you might be thinking I’ve been talking with young students home for the holidays. Nope – most people pondering this question were adults well into their careers.

44. Leading in New Times - Friday, January 25, 2013

Keith Norman has heard the discussions about the generation gap and the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization, the NAACP.

45. Schools Merger Begins Move Into Parental Reality - Thursday, January 24, 2013

Countywide school board chairman Billy Orgel noticed lots of parents of school children from the county outside of Memphis at the annual camp-out for optional school enrollment over the long weekend.

46. Epic Marketing Failures of 2012 - Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Despite their considerable marketing budgets and extensive teams, some of the world’s most well-known brands made significant marketing missteps in 2012. Learn from these epic fails to protect your brand.

47. Final Bell - Saturday, January 19, 2013

From the moment he became Memphis City Schools superintendent, Kriner Cash had competition.

“I’ve been fighting since I got here,” he said in the early stages of what winds up as a five-year tenure that officially comes to an end July 31.

48. If a Tree Falls … - Thursday, January 17, 2013

Last week’s column concluded with Susan and me in a hotel room in a neighboring city, to which we’d journeyed in a roundabout way to escape a cold, dark house on my birthday. We and 200,000 others were without electricity.

49. US Trade Gap Grows to $48.7 Billion as Imports Surge - Monday, January 14, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. trade deficit expanded in November to its widest point in seven months, driven by a surge in imports that outpaced only modest growth in exports.

The Commerce Department report Friday suggests trade will drag on economic growth in the October-December quarter. A wider trade gap slows growth because it means Americans spent more on foreign products while U.S. businesses earned less in overseas sales.

50. Cash Exits At Critical Juncture In Merger - Friday, January 11, 2013

Countywide school board members approved Thursday, Jan. 10, a severance package that ends Kriner Cash’s tenure as superintendent of Memphis City Schools.

Cash will remain through the end of July as an employee in an advisory capacity. At the end of July he gets six months of regular pay and $17,000 in moving and legal expenses as well as a letter of recommendation from the school system.

51. UT Health Science Center Revives Bachelor of Nursing Program - Tuesday, January 08, 2013

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center plans to reactivate its baccalaureate program for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing beginning in the fall. The program was suspended in December 2009.

52. White House, GOP Draw Red Lines in Debt Debate - Tuesday, January 08, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Struggling for the upper hand in the next round of debt talks, Republicans and Democrats this weekend drew lines in the sand they said they'd never cross when it comes to the U.S. debt limit.

53. Countdown to Reform - Saturday, January 05, 2013

The Obama administration recently took the next step in implementing the new health care reform by laying out more specific guidelines regarding the health insurance market reforms. The Department of Health and Human Services published the new regulations on Nov. 20.

54. Retailers Report Higher December Sales - Friday, January 04, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – A last-minute surge in spending seems to have saved the holiday shopping season.

Major retailers including Costco, Gap and Nordstrom on Thursday reported better-than-expected revenue in December. That comes as a relief for stores, which can make up to 40 percent of their annual revenue in the last two months of the year.

55. Plenty is Happening in the 38104 ZIP Code - Saturday, December 22, 2012

Saying something different is happening in Midtown is like saying the sun will rise in the east each morning.

But the pockets of change particularly in commercial real estate in Midtown point to significant changes we haven’t seen before. And they represent some big opportunities to affect daily life for those who call Midtown home as well as those who pass through an area with three major east-west arteries – Poplar, Union and Madison Avenues.

56. Plenty is Happening in the 38104 ZIP Code - Saturday, December 22, 2012

Saying something different is happening in Midtown is like saying the sun will rise in the east each morning.

But the pockets of change particularly in commercial real estate in Midtown point to significant changes we haven’t seen before. And they represent some big opportunities to affect daily life for those who call Midtown home as well as those who pass through an area with three major east-west arteries – Poplar, Union and Madison Avenues.

57. International Paper Touts Community Support - Tuesday, December 18, 2012

The Memphis-Shelby County Industrial Development Board meets Wed., Dec. 19, to consider a request from International Paper Co. for government tax incentives to support an expansion of its headquarters here.

58. Give a Reboot This Year - Friday, December 14, 2012

REBOOTS FOR EVERYBODY. As I sat there on hold – again – listening to synthesizer Gap crap, or a good beat slowly beat to death, or Barry Manilow at the Copa, the Copacabana – I was reminded of a Lily Tomlin line from years ago, “I had a terrible dream last night. I dreamed that the man who invented Muzak invented something else.”

59. US Budget Deficit Reaches $172 Billion in November - Thursday, December 13, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. federal government's budget deficit widened in November compared to October, a sign that the nation is on a path to its fifth straight $1 trillion-plus deficit.

60. Concerns Continue Over Heritage Trail Tax Increment Financing - Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Shelby County officials have reservations about plans to create a tax increment financing zone for the city’s proposed Heritage Trails development area.

The reservations prompted county finance experts to move a recommendation against the proposed tax increment financing district to a private committee meeting last month.

61. Differences Discussed as Schools Move Ahead - Tuesday, December 04, 2012

Students and public schools in Shelby County’s six suburban towns and cities are almost certainly going to be part of the consolidated Shelby County public school system that debuts in August.

62. Board Votes to Close, Convert Schools - Monday, December 03, 2012

Countywide school board chairman Billy Orgel warned school administrators that they may be pushed aside if they don’t come up with recommendations that produce more efficiencies and save more money for the soon-to-be-merged school systems.

63. School Board Starts Process on School Closings-Transformations - Friday, November 30, 2012

Countywide school board members voted Thursday, Nov. 29, to begin the process of considering the closing of four elementary schools in western Memphis and the conversion of two other inner city schools in what amounts to a move to compete with the Achievement School District.

64. Investment Strategies After the Election - Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Status Quo After billions of dollars in campaign costs, thousands of TV and radio advertisements, hundreds of campaign rallies, fundraisers and speeches, the voters spoke on Tuesday. What was the result? We are essentially right back to where we started.

65. Beebe Proposes Another Arkansas Grocery Tax Reduction - Friday, November 16, 2012

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe proposed a $4.9 billion budget Thursday that calls for eliminating nearly all of the state's grocery tax next year if the state's payments to three school districts for desegregation and other key obligations decline over a six-month period.

66. US Government Runs $120 Billion October Deficit - Wednesday, November 14, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The federal government started the 2013 budget year with a $120 billion deficit in October, an indication that the nation is on a path to its fifth straight $1 trillion-plus annual deficit.

67. Saint Francis Introduces MAKO Knee Treatment - Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis this week becomes the first hospital in the city to offer the MAKOplasty partial knee resurfacing treatment.

The treatment uses a highly advanced, surgeon-controlled robotic arm system to correct early to mid-stage osteoarthritis that has not yet progressed to all three compartments of the knee. Saint Francis spent $1.5 million to acquire the new technology, and the first surgery is scheduled to take place Thursday, Nov. 15.

68. Sports Connection - Thursday, November 08, 2012

Between Jon Albright and Don Wade, hosts of the newly launched the “Jon & Don Show” on WHBQ Sports 56 AM 560/87.7 FM, any topic a sports fan could want to talk about is conceivable.

69. Data Show Tennessee Graduation Rate Improving - Friday, November 02, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee's high school graduation rate is up and assessment tests taken by elementary and middle school students improved last year, according to data released Thursday by the Education Department.

70. ‘Character on Line’ as Season Draws to Close for Tigers - Friday, November 02, 2012

The University of Memphis football team had lost its third straight game and its seventh in eight tries. But that wasn’t what inspired a team meeting that, by all accounts, was much closer to a lecture from first-year head coach Justin Fuente.

71. School Board to Vote on Supporting Tax Hike - Tuesday, October 30, 2012

The chairman of the Shelby County Commission and the newest county commissioner have different thoughts on the countywide tax hike on the Nov. 6 ballot.

But chairman Mike Ritz and commissioner Steve Basar, elected to the commission in August, agree that the countywide school board hasn’t been aggressive enough in carrying out the transition to the schools merger to come in August.

72. School Board To Make Stand On Tax Hike - Thursday, October 25, 2012

When the countywide school board votes next week on a resolution to endorse a half-cent countywide sales tax hike, the vote will not be unanimous.

And the resolution that backs the tax hike on the Nov. 6 ballot will not guarantee that the $30 million from the tax hike that goes to local education will be used for pre- kindergarten access for all children.

73. LeMoyne-Owen Gets $1 Million Gift - Monday, October 22, 2012

The estate of a 1940 graduate of LeMoyne-Owen College is donating $1 million to the college’s annual fund, college officials announced Friday, Oct. 19.

It is the largest single donation in the 150-year-history of the city’s only historically black college.

74. Diverse Career Brings Spickler Back to Public Defender’s Office - Thursday, October 18, 2012

Upon graduating from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2000, Josh Spickler took a fortuitous first step into his legal career with the Shelby County’s Office of Public Defender under A C Wharton Jr.

75. Race to the Finish - Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Republican state Sen. Brian Kelsey walked into the storefront at the Carrefour shopping center earlier this month and liked what he saw of the local effort for the Romney-Ryan presidential ticket.

76. Federal Deficit Tops $1 Trillion for Fourth Year - Monday, October 15, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The federal budget deficit has topped $1 trillion for a fourth straight year. But a modest improvement in economic growth helped narrow the gap by $207 billion compared with last year.

77. US Trade Deficit Rose to $44.2 Billion in August - Friday, October 12, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. trade deficit widened in August from July because exports fell to the lowest level in six months. The wider deficit likely dragged on already-weak economic growth.

78. Commercial Advisors Capital Markets to Zero In on ‘Untapped Segment’ - Friday, October 12, 2012

Cushman & Wakefield/Commercial Advisors Asset Services LLC has launched a Capital Markets Group, a new service line to complement the firm’s tenant representation and third-party leasing and management businesses.

79. Collaborative Zones - Monday, October 08, 2012

The practice of designing office spaces is trending away from inhibiting cubicles and foreboding conference tables and more toward creating collaborative zones.

Tenants are demanding alternatives that cut costs, improve productivity and increase morale. That’s because flexibility is key for modern-day office users, said Heather Averwater, interior designer with brg3s architects.

80. Government Leaders Tout Sales Tax Hike - Wednesday, October 03, 2012

Just before Shelby County Commission chairman Mike Ritz and others announced a political coalition in favor of a countywide sales tax hike on the Nov. 6 ballot, Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell approached Ritz.

81. AP-GfK Poll: Most See Health Law Being Implemented - Thursday, September 27, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – It still divides us, but most Americans think President Barack Obama's health care law is here to stay.

More than 7 in 10 say the law will fully go into effect with some changes, ranging from minor to major alterations, a new Associated Press-GfK poll finds.

82. Path Brings McKinnon Back to Initial Choice - Thursday, September 27, 2012

Andrea McKinnon’s fervor for the law was cultivated in middle school social studies classes.

“From a young kid, I always wanted to go to law school,” McKinnon said. “In fact, I thought I wanted to be a judge when I was a little kid. I’m not sure why, I think it was in sixth or seventh grade, I was fascinated with things about the courts and the Supreme Court. I sort of declared that that was something I was going to do later.”

83. Report: Premium Hikes for Top Medicare Drug Plans - Wednesday, September 26, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Millions of seniors enrolled in some of the most popular Medicare prescription drug plans face double-digit premium hikes next year if they don't shop for a better deal, says a private firm that analyzes the highly competitive market.

84. Three Elements of Planning - Monday, September 24, 2012

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II supposedly said, “In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.” This sounds like a very practical approach to planning to me and I like Ike’s thinking on this issue.

85. Census Data Another Sign Economy has Bottomed Out - Friday, September 21, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Five years after the housing bust, the U.S. economy is showing signs of finally bottoming out.

Americans are on the move again after putting their lives on hold and staying put. More young adults are leaving their parents' homes to take a chance with college or the job market, while once-sharp declines in births are leveling off and poverty is slowing.

86. Schools Case Continues in Federal Court - Thursday, September 20, 2012

When U.S. District Court Judge Samuel “Hardy” Mays resumes his hearing on municipal school districts, Thursday, Sept. 20, he will already have a desk full of reports, documents and depositions to consider.

87. School Board to Begin Merger Votes Next Week - Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Countywide school board members should begin voting up or down the first recommendations of the schools consolidation planning commission at their Thursday, Sept. 27, meeting.

The recommendations are the blueprint for how the merged school system will operate leading up to and past the merger start date of August 2013.

88. 3 Tips for Improving a Struggling Sales Team - Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Successfully managing a sales team takes a special touch, because great salespeople are wired differently than most. Their defining qualities – fearlessness and dogged determination – are what make them both stellar at closing business and, at times, a handful to manage.

89. City Could Back Countywide Sales Tax Hike - Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Shelby County Commission chairman Mike Ritz has been talking with some city of Memphis leaders about their opposition to the countywide sales tax hike he proposed for the Nov. 6 ballot.

The talks involve those city leaders supporting the countywide sales tax hike that pre-empted plans from City Hall for a citywide half-percent sales tax hike. The citywide sales tax hike would have been used to roll back the city’s property tax rate.

90. Agape Love Bus Offers Tours of Places Served - Monday, September 17, 2012

Agape is offering Mid-Southerners a chance to visit the people and places served by the nonprofit by reserving a spot on the Agape Love Bus.

The free, two-hour Agape Heart Shares tour will depart from Agape’s office at 111 Racine St. Sept. 26 and Oct. 10 at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Individuals and groups are welcome.

91. Gas Prices, Cars Push US Retail Sales Up - Monday, September 17, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. retail sales rose in August from July because consumers paid higher gas prices and bought more cars and trucks. They were more cautious elsewhere, suggesting the weak economy has made many selective about spending.

92. US Budget Deficit Hits $1.16 Trillion Through August - Friday, September 14, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. federal budget deficit increased by $191 billion in August and has topped $1 trillion for the fourth straight year.

The deficit for the first 11 months of the 2012 budget year totaled $1.16 trillion, the Treasury Department said Thursday. That's 6 percent less than the $1.23 trillion in the same period last year. The fiscal year ends Sept. 30.

93. Free People Set to Open in Saddle Creek - Friday, September 14, 2012

Free People, a high-end women’s retailer of apparel and other items, will open at The Shops of Saddle Creek in Germantown on Friday, Sept. 14.

The Philadelphia-based retailer fills part of the space formerly occupied by Gap, in between the new Brighton Collectibles and Anthropologie. The location marks Free People’s second boutique in Tennessee, after a location in Nashville.

94. US Poverty Rate 15 Percent; Record Numbers Persist - Thursday, September 13, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The ranks of America's poor remain stuck at a record 15 percent, the Census Bureau reported Wednesday.

Roughly 46.2 million people remained below the poverty line in 2011, unchanged from 2010. The figure is the highest in more than half a century.

95. Free People to Open in Saddle Creek - Thursday, September 13, 2012

Free People, a high-end women’s retailer of apparel and other items, will open at The Shops of Saddle Creek in Germantown on Friday, Sept. 14.

The Philadelphia-based retailer fills part of the space formerly occupied by Gap, in between the new Brighton Collectibles and Anthropologie. The location marks Free People’s second boutique in Tennessee, after a location in Nashville.

96. Refunds on Way to Cover CVS Business' Price Error - Wednesday, September 05, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – The Federal Trade Commission said that it is mailing refund checks to 13,000 Medicare Part D beneficiaries who were overcharged for drugs because a CVS Caremark Corp. business understated the price of the medications.

97. Ambassador Stresses Singapore’s Trade Importance - Friday, August 31, 2012

When David Adelman, the U.S. ambassador to Singapore came to Memphis this month, there was more than a little interest from FedEx Corp. in his visit.

98. Report: Foreclosure Sales Fell Sharply in Second Quarter - Friday, August 31, 2012

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Sales of bank-owned homes and those already on the foreclosure path fell sharply in the second quarter, reflecting a thinner slate of properties for sale in many cities as banks take a measured approach to placing homes on the market.

99. School Board Questions Processes - Thursday, August 30, 2012

The process that countywide school board members are using to filter school merger recommendations from the transition planning commission looks a lot like the commission itself.

The group of senior administrators from both school systems even has a similar name – the transition steering committee. And like the transition planning commission, it will explore hiring consulting firms to advise it.

100. Tax Hike Latest Shift in Funding Puzzle - Wednesday, August 29, 2012

The suburban cities and towns that raised their local sales tax rates in August will adapt with little trouble if the rest of Shelby County approves a countywide sales tax hike on the Nov. 6 ballot.