As 2012 comes to an end, the most ambitious plan from City Hall for the revitalization of an inner-city area in 15 years of such projects has hit a critical stage.

The idea of a tax increment financing zone for a large swath of the area south of FedExForum as well as the Downtown area itself into South Memphis is being examined closely by Shelby County Commissioners before they commit county property tax revenues with the “Heritage Trail” zone.

2. Forum: Prepare for Mississippi River Changes - Tuesday, November 13, 2012

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) – Speakers at a coastal conference say the mouth of the Mississippi River is moving north, and authorities need to prepare for it.

Paul Kemp, vice president of the Louisiana Audubon Society's Gulf Coast Initiative, says the changes present opportunities to get more sediment into eroding coastal marshes, and to make navigation channels in the river more stable.

3. CCDC Passes Two Downtown Projects - Thursday, September 20, 2012

Two Downtown Memphis projects were propelled Wednesday, Sept. 19, by the Center City Development Corp. while the board was briefed on several of the area’s businesses that are in flux.

4. Despite Low Turnout, Incumbents See Big Wins - Monday, October 10, 2011

Memphis voters kept the turnout in last week’s city elections at less than 20 percent. About 18 percent of the city’s 426,580 or so voters showed up for the Thursday, Oct. 6, elections.

Some politicos doubted turnout would move into double digits until the relatively healthy 7.6 percent turnout for early voters made it clear.

5. 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.

6. Unions Continue Budget Battle in Thursday’s Election - Wednesday, October 05, 2011

No ballot questions are to be decided in the Thursday, Oct. 6, Memphis elections. But at least one of the City Council races will be viewed as a referendum on the clout of the city’s municipal labor unions.

7. Get Out the Vote - Wednesday, September 28, 2011

The overall numbers through the first two weeks of early voting seem to indicate a low overall turnout including Election Day in the set of city elections to be decided Oct. 6.

But within the early vote numbers are some indications of voter hotspots.

8. Wharton Makes Choices In Council Races - Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. has a ballot for the Memphis City Council races on the Oct. 6 ballot.

The ballot hit the streets this weekend, as the last full week of early voting began, with a set of Wharton endorsements in some but not all of the 13 council races on the ballot.

9. City Candidates Meet in Forum - Wednesday, September 21, 2011

The crowds are small and the questions familiar. The forums for candidates on the Oct. 6 Memphis ballot, in other words, are a lot like past forums.

There were about 25 people in the audience Monday evening, Sept. 19, for the League of Women Voters City Council forum at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library in East Memphis that featured seven candidates for super district seats.

10. Sometimes Survival Feels Like a Rally - Tuesday, September 20, 2011

What Goes Down Pessimism gets old. After running from shadows for the last few weeks, markets turned last week and faced their fears. The news wasn’t good, but it was good enough to cheer a market suffering from “Armageddon hypochondria.” At this point of pessimism, survival can spark a rally. For a ringside seat to this shadowboxing match, observe the movements in the European Financial ETF.

11. Early Voting Kicks Off Friday in City - Friday, September 16, 2011

Early voting begins Friday, Sept. 16, in advance of the Oct. 6 city of Memphis Election Day. Voters across the city can cast early ballots in the races for Memphis mayor, City Council, City Court clerk and City Court judges at 16 locations through Oct. 1.

12. Vote for Me - Monday, September 12, 2011

Four years after the biggest turnover on the Memphis City Council, the Oct. 6 city elections could see the biggest return of incumbents ever on the council. Early voting begins Friday, Sept. 16.

Twelve of the 13 incumbents are seeking re-election. It would have been 13 had Barbara Swearengen Ware not taken a plea deal on an official misconduct charge.

13. Local Democrats Take City Election Straw Poll - Tuesday, August 23, 2011

It was more fundraiser than legitimate poll.

The Shelby County Democratic Party raised more than $2,000 with a straw poll in which party regulars paid $25 a ballot to show their preferences in races in the Oct. 6 city of Memphis elections with a separate ballot for the mayor’s race.

14. City Elections Withdrawal Deadline Nears - Thursday, July 28, 2011

Noon Thursday, July 28, is the deadline for candidates who filed for the Oct. 6 Memphis elections to withdraw their names from the ballot if they wish.

And one candidate has already dropped out of a City Council super district race to endorse another candidate.

15. 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.

16. Post-Election, Political Leaders Talk Turnout - Monday, August 16, 2010

Sometime this week, the Shelby County Election Commission will meet to certify the results of the Aug. 5 elections.

There may or may not be a challenge of those election results in Chancery Court by the Shelby County Democratic Party and several losing candidates. But discussion about why Democrats fared so poorly and Republicans did so well in the county general elections will probably endure beyond questions about voting irregularities.

17. Election Totals: Better Late Than Never - Monday, November 10, 2008

Two days after the Nov. 4 elections, the final unofficial totals were finally posted by the Shelby County Election Commission. The long vote count involved absentee ballots whose count was delayed because of problems with an optical scanning machine.

18. Final Unofficial Shelby County Election Results Posted - Friday, November 07, 2008
Two days after the Nov. 4 elections, the final unofficial totals were finally posted by the Shelby County Election Commission Thursday evening. The long vote count involved absentee ballots whose count was delayed because of problems with an optical scanning machine.

The count shows over 400,000 Shelby County voters participated -- a record setting turnout for Shelby County in the most popular election cycle historically with local voters. However, it amounted to a 62 percent voter turnout for Shelby County.

These are the unofficial election results in selected races including the ten charter amendment referenda.

U.S. President

Shelby County results

All 274 precincts reporting

Barack Obama 255,541 64%

John McCain 145,137 36%

U.S. Senate

Shelby County results

All 274 precincts reporting

Lamar Alexander 189,471 51%

Bob Tuke 173,354 47%

Memphis City Council Super District 9 Position 1

All 114 precincts reporting

Kemp Conrad 47,739 42%

Paul Shaffer 37,594 33%

John Willingham 23,070 20%

Arnett Montague III 5,293 5%

Memphis School Board At Large Position 1

All 231 precincts reporting

Freda Williams 83,429 44%

Cynthia Gentry 81,766 43%

Menelik Fombi 22,108 12%

Germantown Board of Aldermen

All 13 precincts reporting

Position 3

Mike Palazzolo 15,022 72%

Donna Chandler Newman 5,842 28%

Position 4

Mark Billingsley 11,117 54%

Frank Uhlhorn 9,375 46%

Position 5

Ernest Chism 10,364 51%

Gary Pruitt 5,316 26%

James A. Danielik 2,550 13%

David J. Spann 2,002 10%

Collierville Mayor

All nine precincts

Stan Joyner 11,891 58%

Brannon Howse 5,130 25%

Tom Allen 3,609 17%

U.S. Cong. 9th District

All 208 precincts reporting

Steve Cohen 198,265 88%

Jake Ford 10,973 5%

Dewey Clark 10,013 4%

Shelby County Charter Amendment No. 364

Five countywide offices become charter offices with no salary petitions for four of five offices.

All 274 precincts reporting

Yes  237,032 68%

No  112,438   32%

Shelby County Charter Amendment No. 365

Term limits of two consecutive four-year terms for those elected sheriff, county clerk, trustee, register and assessor.

All 274 precincts reporting

Yes 276,531 79%

No 75,104 21%

Memphis City Charter Ordinance No. 5232

Provisions for the recall of a City Council member.

All 231 precincts reporting

Yes 171,489 77%

No 50,210 23%

Memphis City Charter Ordinance No. 5265

City residency requirement for division directors and other city appointees.

All 231 precincts reporting

Yes 161,205 72%

No 64,013 28%

Referendum No. 1

Term limits of two consecutive four-year terms for those elected to City Council and city mayor post.

All 231 precincts reporting

Yes 179,844 78%

No 49,852 22%

Referendum No. 2

Staggering City Council terms and moving city elections to even-numbered years in November every two years.

All 231 precincts reporting

Yes 145,606 72%

No 55,063 28%

Referendum No. 3

No sale of Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division without approval by city voters.

All 231 precincts reporting

Yes 156,570 80%

No 39,116 20%

Referendum No. 4

Any elected or appointed city official indicted or charged with corruption is suspended with pay.

All 231 precincts reporting

Yes 167,369 75%

No 55,080 25%

Referendum No. 5

Instant runoff voting as an option in school board and City Council district races.

All 231 precincts reporting

Yes 154,269 71%

No 64,016 29%

Referendum No. 6

Mayoral vacancy process in which council chairman becomes interim mayor.

All 231 precincts reporting

Yes 188,608 85%

No 33,250 15%

19. Final Unofficial Shelby County Election Results Posted - Thursday, November 06, 2008

Two days after the Nov. 4 elections, the final unofficial totals were finally posted by the Shelby County Election Commission this evening. The long vote count involved absentee ballots whose count was delayed because of problems with an optical scanning machine.

The count shows over 400,000 Shelby County voters participated -- a record setting turnout for Shelby County in the most popular election cycle historically with local voters. However, it amounted to a 62 percent voter turnout for Shelby County.

These are the unofficial election results in selected races including the ten charter amendment referenda.

U.S. President

Shelby County results

All 274 precincts reporting

Barack Obama 255,541 64%

John McCain 145,137 36%

U.S. Senate

Shelby County results

All 274 precincts reporting

Lamar Alexander 189,471 51%

Bob Tuke 173,354 47%

Memphis City Council Super District 9 Position 1

All 114 precincts reporting

Kemp Conrad 47,739 42%

Paul Shaffer 37,594 33%

John Willingham 23,070 20%

Arnett Montague III 5,293 5%

Memphis School Board At Large Position 1

All 231 precincts reporting

Freda Williams 83,429 44%

Cynthia Gentry 81,766 43%

Menelik Fombi 22,108 12%

Germantown Board of Aldermen

All 13 precincts reporting

Position 3

Mike Palazzolo 15,022 72%

Donna Chandler Newman 5,842 28%

Position 4

Mark Billingsley 11,117 54%

Frank Uhlhorn 9,375 46%

Position 5

Ernest Chism 10,364 51%

Gary Pruitt  5,316 26%

James A. Danielik 2,550 13%

David J. Spann 2,002 10%

Collierville Mayor

All nine precincts

Stan Joyner 11,891 58%

Brannon Howse 5,130 25%

Tom Allen 3,609 17%

U.S. Cong. 9th District

All 208 precincts reporting

Steve Cohen 198,265 88%

Jake Ford 10,973 5%

Dewey Clark 10,013 4%

Shelby County Charter Amendment No. 364

Five countywide offices become charter offices with no salary petitions for four of five offices.

All 274 precincts reporting

Yes 238,771 68%

No 113,337 32%

Shelby County Charter Amendment No. 365

Term limits of two consecutive four-year terms for those elected sheriff, county clerk, trustee, register and assessor.

All 274 precincts reporting

Yes 278,659 79%

No 75,538 21%

Memphis City Charter Ordinance No. 5232

Provisions for the recall of a City Council member.

All 231 precincts reporting

Yes 172,834 77%

No 50,437 23%

Memphis City Charter Ordinance No. 5265

City residency requirement for division directors and other city appointees.

All 231 precincts reporting

Yes 162,344 72%

No 64,475 28%

Referendum No. 1

Term limits of two consecutive four-year terms for those elected to City Council and city mayor post.

All 231 precincts reporting

Yes 181,235 78%

No 50,099 22%

Referendum No. 2

Staggering City Council terms and moving city elections to even-numbered years in November every two years.

All 231 precincts reporting

Yes 146,872 73%

No 55,390 27%

Referendum No. 3

No sale of Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division without approval by city voters.

All 231 precincts reporting

Yes 158,022 80%

No 39,296 20%

Referendum No. 4

Any elected or appointed city official indicted or charged with corruption is suspended with pay.

All 231 precincts reporting

Yes 168,635 75%

No 55,401 25%

Referendum No. 5

Instant runoff voting as an option in school board and City Council district races.

All 231 precincts reporting

Yes 155,388 71%

No 64,467 29%

Referendum No. 6

Mayoral vacancy process in which council chairman becomes interim mayor.

All 231 precincts reporting

Yes 190,113 85%

No 33,367 15%

20. Shelby Goes Obama; Conrad To Council; All 10 Charter Amends Pass - Wednesday, November 05, 2008

These are the unofficial election results for Shelby County. The state-wide results in the Presidential election as well as the U.S. Senate races in Tennessee and Mississippi are also included.

The results become official after an audit and certification by the Shelby County Election Commission as well as state election officials.

21. Events - Monday, September 22, 2008

The Engineers’ Club of Memphis will hold its weekly meeting and lunch today at 11:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn-University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave. Page Cotton, Midwest regional manger for Stego Industries LLC, will speak on the topic “Below Slab Moisture Protection.” Cost is $14 to attend.

22. City Council to Pick Interim Member - Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Memphis City Council members will pick an interim council member today to fill their ranks until the Nov. 4 election.

The November ballot includes a special election for the Super District 9 Position 1 council seat given up by Scott McCormick last month. McCormick stepped down to become executive director of the Plough Foundation.

23. Council Ballot Whittled to Four - Tuesday, September 02, 2008

When union leader Paul Shaffer and Midtown neighborhood activist Mary Wilder had lunch last week, the two had something in common to discuss.

They both are among the 11 candidates who had filed to run in the Nov. 4 special election for a seat on the Memphis City Council.

24. Memphis School Board Race In Limbo - Friday, August 29, 2008

It looked like Memphis school board member Stephanie Gatewood was on her way to re-election without opposition on the Nov. 4 ballot.

That was until Wednesday (Aug. 27) – the day before the Shelby County Election Commission certified the local portion of the ballot.

25. Memphis School Board Race In Limbo - Thursday, August 28, 2008

It looked like Memphis school board member Stephanie Gatewood was on her way to re-election without opposition on the Nov. 4 ballot.

That was until Wednesday (Aug. 27) – the day before the Shelby County Election Commission certified the local portion of the ballot.

26. Eleven File For Council Seat - Friday, August 22, 2008

A field of 11 candidates had filed by Thursday’s noon deadline for an open seat on the Memphis City Council on the Nov. 4 ballot. Four of the contenders ran for the council just a year ago. Also at the deadline, three Memphis school board members were effectively re-elected when they failed to draw any opposition.

27. Eleven File For Council Seat - Thursday, August 21, 2008

A field of 11 candidates had filed by today's noon deadline for an open seat on the Memphis City Council on the Nov. 4 ballot. Four of the contenders ran for the council just a year ago. Also at the deadline, three Memphis school board members were effectively re-elected when they failed to draw any opposition.

28. Archived Article: Calendar - Monday, March 04, 1996
03-04 Calendar March 4 Fidelity Investments will offer an estate planning seminar at noon at the Summit Club, 5100 Poplar Ave. For more information on the free seminar, call 1-800-452-9936. City Councilman Jerome Rubin and Mayor W. W. Herenton will ...