NASHVILLE (AP) – Republican Gov. Bill Haslam is urging people to reserve judgment about an FBI raid of his family's Pilot Flying J chain of truck stops.

An affidavit unsealed Thursday alleges that members of the Pilot sales team withheld rebates for trucking companies to boost company profits and their own commissions.

2. The New Beale - Saturday, April 20, 2013

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.”

3. Senate Votes to Block Access to Gun Carry Records - Thursday, April 11, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Before last year's elections, the Senate Republican Caucus obtained a copy of the entire database of handgun carry permit holders in Tennessee. On Wednesday, the GOP-controlled chamber voted to block public access to those records.

4. Haslam School Voucher Bill Dead This Session - Friday, April 05, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – The Republican leader carrying Gov. Bill Haslam's proposal to create school vouchers in Tennessee said he's decided to let it die this session because he's tired of the "gamesmanship."

5. Lofty Company - Thursday, April 04, 2013

For creating the overnight package-delivery business four decades ago, and for everything his company has done since, FedEx Corp. founder Fred Smith has been placed among an elite group of chief executives by the business magazine Barron’s.

6. Commission to Consider Residency Ballot Item - Monday, April 01, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners take a final vote Monday, April 1, on a referendum ordinance that would do away with county government’s residency requirement for employment.

The commission meets at 1:30 p.m. at the Vasco Smith County Administration Building, 160 N. Main St.

7. House OKs Bill to Require Proof of Immunization - Friday, March 29, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – The mother of a Middle Tennessee State University freshman who died after contracting meningitis says she hopes legislation headed to the governor for his likely signature will prevent the deaths of other college students.

8. Youth Concussion Policy Bill Headed to Governor - Friday, March 22, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Coaches and school athletic directors would be required to complete a concussion safety education course under legislation that's headed to the governor for his consideration.

9. Haslam Opposes at Least 22 Proposed Bills - Tuesday, March 12, 2013

A proposal that would allow school faculty and staff to carry guns is one of at least 22 proposed bills Gov. Bill Haslam is against this legislative session.

In response to a recent request from the Knoxville News Sentinel, the governor’s office provided copies of all “philosophical flag” letters that have been sent to legislators this year as of last Friday.

10. Mississippi House OKs List of Tax Breaks for Businesses - Thursday, February 28, 2013

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – The Mississippi House has approved tens of millions of dollars' worth of tax breaks for businesses, but it's unclear if the proposals will survive the Senate.

A top budget writer, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Herb Frierson, estimated Tuesday that the proposed tax breaks would be worth at least $50 million a year and he said that's a big problem. Frierson, R-Poplarville, said the $5.5 billion state budget is already stretched thin. He said even if legislators spend all the available cash for the fiscal year that starts July 1, they'd still be $172 million short of paying for critical needs. Taking out another $50 million would put the shortage at $222 million.

11. 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.

12. Commission to Disband Schools Capital Needs Group - Monday, January 28, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners vote Monday, Jan. 28, on disbanding the nearly 10-year-old Needs Assessment Committee that advised the commission on funding school construction and renovation projects across both public school systems.

13. FedEx Names Henry Maier to Run Ground Unit - Saturday, January 19, 2013

FedEx Corp. has named Henry J. Maier to run its FedEx Ground unit, succeeding David F. Rebholz, who is retiring in May.

14. FedEx Names Henry Maier to Run Ground Unit - Wednesday, January 16, 2013

FedEx Corp. has named Henry J. Maier to run its FedEx Ground unit, succeeding David F. Rebholz, who is retiring in May.

15. FedEx Ground Names Maier New CEO - Tuesday, January 15, 2013

MEMPHIS (AP) - FedEx Corp. has named Henry J. Maier to run its FedEx Ground unit, succeeding David F. Rebholz, who is retiring in May.

16. Degrees of Difficulty - Friday, December 28, 2012

Leaders of the city’s five higher education institutions say they are all grappling with the issue of relevance in a changing world and economy as they compete for students with missions that make them different from one another.

17. Endocrinologist Detti Joins UT Medical Group - Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Laura Detti has joined the Germantown office of UT Medical Group Inc., where she specializes in male and female infertility. Detti provides genetic diagnosis and counseling; management of conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, recurrent miscarriages and premature menopause; and pre- and post-cancer care for fertility issues.

18. Ramsey: Keep Options Open on Tennessee Health Exchange - Friday, November 16, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey expects fellow Republican Gov. Bill Haslam to announce by Friday's deadline that Tennessee will move ahead with plans to create a state-run health insurance exchange.

19. Decision Time for Medical Exchange - Friday, November 16, 2012

The deadline has arrived for governors across the country to declare their intent to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on whether they will create their own state-run insurance exchanges under the new federal health care law.

20. Commercial Advisors Hires Ewen as Controller - Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Erika Ewen has joined Cushman & Wakefield/Commercial Advisors Asset Services LLC as controller. Ewen will direct the accounting department in all accounting functions and financial reporting of Commercial Advisors Asset Services as well as all property management clients.

21. Memphis Chamber to Host New York Times’ Sanger - Tuesday, November 06, 2012

Next week, the Greater Memphis Chamber is hosting a conversation in Memphis with the chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times.

David Sanger, who’s also the author of the new book “Confront and Conceal” and who has been at the vanguard of reporting on issues related to Iran for the Times, will be here as part of the chamber’s regular “A Conversation With …” series.

22. FedEx Maps Out Changes for Express - Thursday, October 11, 2012

FedEx Corp. executives detailing the terms of the company’s goal of a $1.7 billion improvement in annual profitability over the next three-and-a-half years Wednesday, Oct. 10, put much of the emphasis on how FedEx is changing the way it does business.

23. FedEx Express Changes Mapped, Reaction Positive - Wednesday, October 10, 2012

FedEx Corp. executives fleshing out the terms of the company’s goal of a $1.7 billion improvement in annual profitability over the next three-and-a-half years Wednesday put much of the emphasis on how FedEx is changing the way it does business.

24. Evans Joins American Esoteric as Vice President - Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Dr. Jess Evans has joined American Esoteric Laboratories as vice president of technical operations. In his new role, Evans is responsible for instrumentation, personnel, operational performance and quality assurance for the Memphis laboratory.

25. Events - Thursday, September 13, 2012

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America will hold a panel discussion about its “Research in Your Backyard” report on Tennessee clinical trials Thursday, Sept. 13, at 11:30 a.m. at Memphis Bioworks Foundation, 20 Dudley St. Cost is free. Visit phrma.org.

26. Commission to Appoint School Board Members - Monday, September 10, 2012

Shelby County Commissioners will appoint two new members to the countywide school board at their Monday, Sept. 10, meeting.

The commission meeting is at 1:30 p.m. at the Vasco Smith County Administration Building, 160 N. Main St.

27. Events - Wednesday, August 15, 2012

The Center City Development Corp. board will meet Wednesday, Aug. 15, at 9 a.m. in the DMC conference room, 114 N. Main St. Visit downtownmemphiscommission.com.

28. Business Focus - Monday, August 13, 2012

Memphis’ small-business community got a shot in the arm earlier this month.

Tennessee’s three-day sales tax holiday ran from Aug. 3 through Aug. 5, and it drew shoppers to retailers that carry certain clothing items, school supplies and computers.

29. Tenn. GOP Chapters Call for Sanctions for Haslam - Wednesday, July 18, 2012

At least two chapters of the Tennessee Republican Party say Gov. Bill Haslam seems to be consistently lacking conservative values and have passed resolutions calling on state party leaders to sanction him.

30. Utility Regulatory Agency Missing Staff - Friday, July 06, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – The state agency responsible for setting rates and service standards for privately-owned utilities is lacking an executive director and board quorum.

Among new laws that took effect July 1 is a statute that revamps the Tennessee Regulatory Authority. Gov. Bill Haslam backed the legislation that created a part-time board and requires a fulltime executive director.

31. 18 People Applying for Top Regulatory Position - Tuesday, June 19, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – Interviews are starting for some of the 18 people who are seeking to become the first executive director of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, which oversees utilities in the state.

32. Riverfront Rehab - Wednesday, May 16, 2012

As the American Queen steamboat docked Tuesday, May 15, at Beale Street Landing and left the same day for a trip to New Orleans, plans were under way for the restoration of another part of the riverfront just to the north – the cobblestones as well as a plaza and fountain at the foot of Union Avenue.

33. Events - Wednesday, May 09, 2012

Talk Shoppe will meet Wednesday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Better Business Bureau, 3693 Tyndale Drive. Duane McCrory of Top Quality Service will present “Energy Savings on Heating & Air: How to Save on Upcoming Government Changes.” Call Jo Garner at 482-0354 for details.

34. Plantation Setting for Fundraiser - Monday, April 30, 2012

The glory of the past and the art of the present collide along the Mississippi River as West Memphis-based DeltaARTS unveils a first-time event.

“Art on the Levee at Waverly Plantation” will showcase one of the few remaining Antebellum homes on the Mississippi River levee in Eastern Arkansas, on Saturday, April 28.

35. In Need of Repair - Wednesday, April 25, 2012

The Shelby County Trustee’s office is out of the Vasco Smith County Administration Building and in the county government building across Second Street at 157 Poplar Ave.

36. Amazon Telling Tennessee Customers About Owed Tax - Wednesday, April 25, 2012

CHATTANOOGA (AP) – Online retailer Amazon.com has begun emailing Tennessee customers, telling them they might owe taxes on their purchases.

37. Tradition of Secret Budget Meetings Alive in Tenn. - Tuesday, April 24, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee lawmakers' long tradition of meeting secretly to hash out budget plans is alive and well.

House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick confirmed to The Associated Press that key legislators met for several hours at a Nashville restaurant on Sunday to work through budget amendments.

38. County Weighs Balanced Budget Proposal - Monday, April 23, 2012

The budget season is under way in Shelby County government, but there will be few signs of it Monday, April 23, as the County Commission meets.

The commission meeting at the Vasco Smith County Administration Building begins at 1:30 p.m. The short agenda featuring several appointments and the sale of some tax delinquent parcels is the ideal lead-in to what is normally the most complicated time of the year for the commission.

39. Goldman Manifesto Echoes Past Questions About Bank - Monday, March 19, 2012

The young banker whose dramatic public resignation stung Goldman Sachs this week joins officials from every corner of the government in questioning whether the august investment house deals honestly with all its clients.

40. Orpheum Theatre Names New Board Members - Friday, March 16, 2012

The Orpheum Theatre and its parent organization, the Memphis Development Foundation, has announced 10 members joining the Orpheum board of directors. The new members are: Chuck Treadway, Thomas & Betts president and chief operating officer; Don Young, Smith and Nephew senior vice president, corporate sustainability; Andy Taylor, Gerber/Taylor Capital Advisors Inc. partner; Gary Smith, Apperson Crump PLC attorney; Alan Mullen, Crew Training International president; Scott Hennessy, True Temper Sports Inc. president; Keri Gage, SunTrust private wealth management/senior vice president; Robert Cox, Glassman, Edwards, Wyatt, Tuttle & Cox PC attorney; Bo Allen, First Tennessee executive vice president; and Sara Adams, community volunteer.

41. Doug Carpenter & Associates Hires Art Director, Intern - Thursday, March 15, 2012

John David Dowdle has joined the advertising firm doug carpenter & associates as art director.

Dowdle is responsible for conceptualizing, developing and executing the design and branding efforts for the firm’s clients, whose roster includes recent additions Dunavant Logistics, Keep Tennessee Beautiful, Peer Power, Ruch Clinic and Fisher & Phillips.

42. Tennessee Solar Study Says Need to Stay Aggressive - Friday, December 09, 2011

KNOXVILLE (AP) – Tennessee's solar and related industries provide more than 6,400 jobs in a growing green economic sector, but the state needs to stay aggressive in supporting and pursuing the ventures, a report released Thursday shows.

43. With Lockout Nearing End, Basketball Back in Focus - Friday, December 02, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – These are the kinds of negotiations NBA fans have been waiting for.

Teams began talking to agents Wednesday as the lockout inched closer to its end, and basketball moved back into focus. Dwight Howard and Chris Paul were linked to trade speculation, while free agents such as Tyson Chandler and Nene were in the news after months of attorneys getting all the ink.

44. House Says No to Mandating Balanced Federal Budget - Monday, November 21, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Rejecting the idea Congress can't control its spending impulses, the House turned back a Republican proposal Friday to amend the Constitution to dam the rising flood of federal red ink. Democrats – and a few GOP lawmakers – said damage from the balanced-budget mandate would outweigh any benefits.

45. U of M Law Adds Flexibility Into Curriculum - Thursday, November 17, 2011

The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law has approved changes to the school’s curriculum that go into effect next year and reflect the changing nature of the legal profession.

Starting with the class that enters in the fall of 2012, students will have more flexibility in classes they take earlier in their education.

46. Universal, Sony/ATV to Buy EMI for $4.1 Billion - Monday, November 14, 2011

LOS ANGELES (AP) – EMI Group Ltd., the iconic British music company that is home to The Beatles, Coldplay and Katy Perry, is being split and sold for $4.1 billion.

The deal will open EMI's buyers, Universal Music and Sony/ATV, to regulatory scrutiny as they increase their dominance of the music industry.

47. A Tasteful List - Friday, October 14, 2011

A LIST YOU CAN SINK YOUR TEETH INTO. Seems like everybody has a list these days, so, in recognition of the 125th anniversary of The Daily News, here’s mine – 125 things that make Memphis easy to swallow – a sort of alphabetical soup to nuts of local flavor. Friends old and new, and a few long-gone, but I can taste them still.

48. Memphis Cos. Seek Emerging Markets - Friday, October 14, 2011

Executives at the Memphis headquarters of International Paper Co. like to recount the corporate giant’s experience in Russia in the 1990s.

49. Brucker Joins McManus Reilly As Investment, Insurance Adviser - Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Edward Brucker III has joined McManus Reilly Financial Foresight as investment and insurance adviser.

Hometown: Tucson, Ariz.

Education: Master of business administration from University of Phoenix

50. Wharton, Fullilove & Conrad Re-Elected -- Harris-Ford to Runoff - Friday, October 07, 2011
Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. won a full four-year term of office as mayor Thursday, Oct. 6, two years after he claimed the mayor’s office in a special election.

And all 12 of the Memphis City Council members seeking re-election won new four year terms in the city election cycle, marking the largest return of incumbents to the 13-member council in the 43-year history of the mayor-council form of government.

51. Higher Ed Looking at Bonds for Capital Projects - Tuesday, October 04, 2011

KNOXVILLE (AP) – Low interest rates have leaders of Tennessee's two higher education systems talking about a bond issue to pay for new campus construction that could total $1.5 billion.

52. UT, Board of Regents Looking to Cash in on Bond Prices - Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Leaders at Tennessee's two higher education systems are looking to take advantage of historically low interest rates as a means of funding as much as $1.5 billion in new construction projects on college campuses across the state.

53. New Biz, Relocations on Tap for Poplar Plaza - Wednesday, September 28, 2011

One of the city’s landmark shopping centers is in the midst of major transformations.

Poplar Plaza, the 360,000-square-foot center at Poplar Avenue and Highland Street in the University of Memphis area, has remained a premier retail center for more than 60 years.

54. Tenn. in Talks With GM Over Spring Hill Plant - Friday, September 16, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam's office confirms that the state is in talks with General Motors to expand production at the automaker's Tennessee plant.

The state's economic development chief, Bill Hagerty, was in Detroit to meet with GM officials on Thursday, as were mayors representing communities surrounding the Spring Hill plant.

55. Events - Thursday, September 15, 2011

The Daily News will hold a Social Media seminar Thursday, Sept. 15, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the auditorium at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, 1934 Poplar Ave. The seminar will feature a discussion about corporate blogging with Mark W. Schaefer, executive director of Schaefer Marketing Solutions and author of the blog {grow}. The event will also include a panel of industry experts. Cost is $25. To register, visit www.memphisdailynews.com/seminar.

56. TRA Chief Quits as Haslam Contemplates Reform of Agency - Wednesday, September 14, 2011

NASHVILLE – The announcement of Chairman Eddie Roberson's resignation from the Tennessee Regulatory Authority comes as Gov. Bill Haslam is engaged in a study on how to overhaul the agency that oversees many utilities in the state.

57. Events - Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Talk Shoppe will present “20 Ideas from 20 Years’ Experience in Real Estate Investing” Wednesday, Sept. 14, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Better Business Bureau, 3693 Tyndale Drive. For more information, call Jo Garner at 482-0354.

58. Airlines Begin Canceling Flights as Irene Nears - Friday, August 26, 2011

Airlines began to cancel flights and get planes out of the way as Hurricane Irene barreled toward the U.S. mainland on Thursday.

The storm will likely force hundreds of flights to be cancelled through this weekend and create delays that could ripple across the country.

59. Summit Touts Return of Demand - Friday, August 26, 2011

“Demand is back” was the theme at the ninth annual Southern Lodging Summit held Downtown this week at The Peabody hotel and the Memphis Cook Convention Center.

Hoteliers and industry execs gathered for the 2011 Summit, which was organized by the Metropolitan Memphis Hotel & Lodging Association and hotel consulting firm Pinkowski & Co.

60. Recycled Thinking - Wednesday, August 03, 2011

The four-story Shelby County government office building at 157 Poplar Ave. has been confused for a jail. It’s come close to demolition to create more parking for county employees.

61. DeVivo Departure Signals Shift at Smith & Nephew - Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Smith & Nephew Inc. said its Memphis-based president of Orthopaedic Reconstruction and Trauma will soon leave the company as part of an organizational restructuring that will combine the company’s Memphis and Andover, Mass., divisions.

62. Haslam's Cabinet Makes Fewer Out-of-State Trips - Monday, July 25, 2011

Gov. Bill Haslam’s Cabinet members have taken fewer out-of-state trips this year than their predecessors did in their last six months of Gov. Phil Bredesen’s administration.

Haslam’s Cabinet members have made 18 trips outside the state between Jan. 20 and July 1, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel, which compared reports posted on the Department of Finance and Administration’s website. The reporting of reimbursements for the trips online was a practice begun under the Bredesen administration that has been continued by Haslam.

63. 4 Council Members - All 3 City Court Judges To Run Unopposed In Oct. Elections - Friday, July 22, 2011

Four incumbent Memphis City Council members and all three incumbent City Court Judges were effectively re-elected at the Thursday, July 21, noon deadline for candidates to file their qualifying petitions for the Oct. 6 Memphis ballot.

64. Words of Warning - Wednesday, July 20, 2011

FedEx Express president and chief executive officer David J. Bronczek told a group of state legislators and elected leaders from 15 states that the U.S. needs an “oil strategy long term.”

Bronczek spoke Tuesday, July 19, at the closing session of the Southern Legislative Conference at The Peabody hotel about oil dependence as a national security issue.

65. MC Ionic Solutions US Begins Work on Fite Rd. Site - Tuesday, July 19, 2011

2665 Fite Road
Memphis, TN 38127
Permit Amount: $1.3 million

Permit Date: Applied July 2011

66. No News Blues: Haslam Clip Service Drops Hundreds - Monday, July 11, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – No news is not good news to hundreds of political figures who have quit receiving a popular daily roundup of state media reports e-mailed by Gov. Bill Haslam's office.

67. Smith Named Pres, CEO of UT Medical Group - Wednesday, July 06, 2011

Dr. J. Lacey Smith has been named president and chief executive officer of UT Medical Group Inc. succeeding Steven H. Burkett.

68. City Council Looks to Fill Ware’s Seat - Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The Memphis City Council is taking applications to fill the District 7 council seat of Barbara Swearengen Ware, and council chairman Myron Lowery has set a target date of filling the seat no later than July 22.

69. Kroger Co. Focuses on Building What it Already Has - Friday, June 24, 2011

CINCINNATI (AP) – Kroger Co.'s CEO says the nation's largest grocery store operator is focused more on increasing sales from its existing customers than entering new markets or buying out competitors.

70. Kroger 1Q Profit, Revenue Jump; Raises Outlook - Friday, June 17, 2011

CINCINNATI (AP) – Kroger Co. rang up double-digit jumps in first-quarter revenue and net income, as the grocery chain's fuel stations and loyalty discounts helped draw more frequent shoppers when gas and grocery prices rose.

71. JA BizTown Shows Biz Ropes to Area Students - Tuesday, June 14, 2011

So what would really happen if kids ruled the world? It happens all the time at Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South Inc.’s JA BizTown where elementary and middle school students tackle the basics of running a business in a widget-free environment.

72. Tenn. has Troubled History With Medical Examiners - Wednesday, June 01, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – The court battle to get records of beleaguered former Knox County medical examiner Sandra Elkins provides another glimpse into Tennessee's storied history with some of its top death investigators.

73. Haslam Rejects Claims That Teacher Morale Flagging - Friday, May 27, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam on Wednesday disputed assertions by the Tennessee Education Association's president that teachers feel demoralized and disrespected by new legislation, including a recently passed bill that would limit educators' collective bargaining powers.

74. Panel: Globalization Will Shape Economic Future - Monday, May 02, 2011

Dexter Muller, senior vice president of community development with the Greater Memphis Chamber, has a tongue-in-cheek quip at the ready to describe the manufacturing plant of the future.

75. Seminar to Tackle Globalization’s Impact - Friday, April 22, 2011

“The world is flat” is more than just a catchphrase that illustrates the increasing connectivity of the globe’s consumers, markets and economies.

The concept – brought to the forefront by Thomas Friedman’s 2005 book of the same name – is a foundational element of what Memphis’ economic development game plan needs to be if it’s going to remain competitive in the months and years ahead.

76. Humphreys Joins Keller Williams Realty - Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Herbo Humphreys has joined the Crump Realty Group of Keller Williams Realty. Humphreys previously worked as a project supervisor for Bryan-Turley Properties.

77. Tenn. Ethics Panel Doesn't Have Quorum to Meet - Tuesday, March 22, 2011

KNOXVILLE (AP) – Spokesmen for the governor and House speaker say they're working to fill vacancies on the Tennessee Ethics Commission that hasn't met since November because it doesn't have a quorum.

78. Sustainable Real Estate to be Subject of Conference - Thursday, March 17, 2011

Planners of an upcoming conference are hoping to put Memphis on the map even more so than it already is.

The Conference On Sustainable Real Estate is slated for March 24 to 26 at the University of Memphis. The conference – modeled after a similar program offered by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – brings to Memphis internationally recognized leaders on sustainable real estate, land economics, land planning and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, construction procedures.

79. Smith & Nephew Sues Former Employees - Thursday, March 17, 2011

Smith & Nephew has raced to contain any damage from a scheme the company said it recently interrupted that involved nine former employees who allegedly planned to resign together, start their own company and benefit from company trade secrets.

80. Ramsey: State Should Run Failing Memphis Schools - Friday, March 11, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey said Thursday that the state should consider taking over failing schools in Memphis and possibly in Nashville.

81. Commission to Consider Consolidated School Board - Monday, February 28, 2011

Republican state legislators from Shelby County and leaders of the Shelby County Commission are on opposite sides of the schools consolidation issue.

But they have now each used the art of political timing to change the landscape of the issue with very little advance notice.

82. Lighting the Fuse - Monday, February 21, 2011

Memphis voters have 22 words to weigh as they decide what is to become of Shelby County’s two public school systems.
“Shall the administration of the Memphis City School System, a special school district, be transferred to the Shelby County Board of Education?”
The words seem inadequate to cover what a “yes” or a “no” vote means after a state law and other factors changed the terms of a vote already scheduled for March 8.
Voters for schools consolidation may be against special schools district status but for letting some of the six suburban towns and cities try to go with their own municipal school system.
Voters may be against school consolidation and against special school district status if it includes taxing authority for the county school board, albeit with tax approval required by the Tennessee Legislature.
Some voters may see it as a way of ending reforms driven by MCS superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash. Others may see it as a way of ending Shelby County Schools board chairman David Pickler’s dominance of that school system.
School consolidation advocates are still urging citizens to vote “yes” and school consolidation opponents are still urging citizens to vote “no.”
“The lay of the land has changed, so will people consider the lay of the land or what? That statement stands. It’s on the ballot and everyone knows what it’s designed to do,” said Memphis City Council chairman Myron Lowery. “This occurred after the question was put on the ballot. If someone wants to make that stretch, they’re jumping over a lot of hurdles. This was not in place when this was put on the ballot.”
Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr., along with Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell, sought a transition period even as political positions began to harden. He doesn’t see what’s in the law as a transition period.
“The way it’s structured, there’s every incentive not to reach an agreement. It looks to me like it falls off the face of the earth,” Wharton said. “There was nothing in there that states where do you go if at the end of this (the planning process) there is nothing resolved.”
State Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, disagrees.
“The state has a compelling interest in assuring that the administration of schools is properly discharged,” Norris wrote in an op-ed piece for The Memphis News last week. “To do otherwise defies common sense and common decency.”
Pickler said if voters approve the question, he will quickly move to assemble a team to work on the transition. It’s a transition that Pickler has always emphasized will be controlled by the county school system. That is one point on which the attorneys seem to agree.
“Clearly we understand that this issue is not about educational outcomes,” he said during a WKNO forum last week. “We still do not believe that creating a mega district … doesn’t do anything to improve education.”
MCS board member Tomeka Hart, at the same forum, countered “We do here as an economic issue,” a reference to the University of Memphis study showing special schools district status could cost MCS half of the county property tax base it relies on for funding. “It’s time to rewrite all of this,” Hart concluded.
Here is the timeline – to date – of the ongoing schools showdown:

83. APNewsBreak: Businesses, PACs Give $1.4M to Haslam - Thursday, February 17, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Businesses, trade groups and political action committees accounted for three out of every five dollars raised for Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam's inauguration last month.

84. Bradley Named Mid-South Super Lawyer - Wednesday, February 09, 2011

J. Anthony Bradley has been named for the third consecutive year to the Mid-South Super Lawyers for estate planning and probate practice areas.

85. Gov. Haslam Enters Local Schools Fray - Wednesday, February 02, 2011

After studiously trying to stay out of the local schools standoff for a week, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam on Tuesday got involved in a carefully chosen way.

Haslam’s involvement came the day before two state Senate committees are scheduled to vote on legislation that would lengthen the process for consolidating the city and county school systems and require that county voters outside Memphis be involved in any referendum.

86. Smith & Nephew Rumors Continue to Swirl - Friday, January 21, 2011

Despite Smith & Nephew’s attempts to quash rampant rumors that it’s being targeted for takeover, Wall Street seems to be sticking with the maxim that where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

87. Friendliness as Important as Framing at David’s Frames & Art - Monday, January 17, 2011

A first impression David’s Frames & Art’s spacious showroom is the hundreds of perpendicular moldings decking the back wall.

A second impression is the shop’s prevailing attitude: friendliness.

88. Haslam Pick for Top Cabinet Post Serves 3 Boards - Wednesday, December 22, 2010

NASHVILLE (AP) – Former Bridgestone Americas CEO Mark Emkes, Republican Gov.-elect Bill Haslam's choice as finance commissioner, serves on the corporate boards of three companies – including two based in Tennessee – and it's unclear whether he will relinquish those posts when the new administration takes office.

89. Acquisition Rumors Swirl Around Smith & Nephew - Monday, December 13, 2010

Smith & Nephew PLC’s stock price was up slightly in London amid rumors of an acquisition.

A Bloomberg report said it was the biggest gain in two years for the London-based manufacturer of medical devices, which has operations in 32 countries.

90. FedEx Braces for Busiest Day in History - Monday, December 06, 2010

FedEx Corp.’s busiest day in company history is coming up next week, a milestone driven largely by e-commerce.

91. Grocer Kroger Rings Up Q3 Profit - Friday, December 03, 2010

CINCINNATI (AP) – Kroger Co. rang up better sales and returned to third-quarter profitability behind a focus on building customer loyalty in a rough economy, but the nation's largest traditional grocery operator says shoppers remain cautious.

92. Haslam to Attend Meetings in Congress, White House - Thursday, December 02, 2010

Republican Gov.-elect Bill Haslam is traveling to Washington Wednesday to meet with top GOP leadership in Congress, followed by a visit to the White House on Thursday.

Transition team spokesman David Smith said Haslam will be among the new Republican governors meeting with House Speaker-in-waiting John Boehner of Ohio on Wednesday.

93. Tsunami Ushers in Holiday Artists Market - Friday, November 26, 2010

In the past two years eating local food has been promoted heavily in Memphis.

Now with the holiday-shopping season approaching, local artists are hoping that buying local gifts will take on the same kind of fervor.

94. Commission Considers IT Consolidation, New Position - Monday, November 22, 2010

Shelby County commissioners take up the issue of consolidation once again at Monday’s meeting of the body.

It’s not consolidation of city and county governments, though. Voters dealt with that on the Nov. 2 ballot.

95. Smith & Nephew Orthopedics Revenue Up - Monday, November 08, 2010

The Memphis-based orthopedics unit of Smith & Nephew had sales of $510 million during the company’s third quarter, a 2 percent increase from the same period a year ago.

The global medical technology business, which is headquartered in London, released the revenue figure with its earnings report for the quarter ended Oct. 2.

96. Fred Smith to Receive Marshall Foundation Award - Monday, November 01, 2010

Fred Smith, CEO of FedEx Corp., will receive the 2010 George C Marshall Foundation Award following a luncheon Nov. 16 at the American Red Cross headquarters in Washington.

97. Even in Liberal Bastions, GOP Sees Election Chance - Wednesday, October 20, 2010

HYANNIS PORT, Mass. (AP) — In the congressional district that's home to the Kennedy family compound, a Kennedy public skating rink and a Kennedy museum, the heart of liberalism is beating uneasily.

98. McWherter Hits Haslam on Foreign Investor in Pilot - Tuesday, September 21, 2010

NASHVILLE (AP) – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mike McWherter said Monday that Republican rival Bill Haslam is "hiding something" about the relationship between the family-founded Pilot chain of truck stops and a European private investment firm.

99. Kennedy Gives Back to U of M School of Law - Thursday, September 16, 2010

When it comes to his inspiration for entering the legal profession, David S. Kennedy, chief judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee, gives a nod to his father and to Atticus Finch, Harper Lee’s stalwart symbol of fairness for a generation in her novel “To Kill A Mockingbird.”

100. Kroger to Build Store In Poplar Plaza - Tuesday, September 14, 2010

3444 Plaza Ave.
Memphis, TN 38111
Permit Amount: $10 Million

Project Cost: n/a
Permit Date: Applied September 2010
Completion: n/a
Owner: Kroger, Delta Division
Tenant: Kroger
Contractor: n/a
Architect: n/a