Three educators who have led schools inside and outside the conventional public school system locally say consistency at the school level will be important in a school year that will see a lot of change.

2. The Costco Connection - Friday, June 14, 2013

MEMPHIS IN COSTCO. Have you ever noticed that what appears to be of a reasonable size in Costco grows in volume and dimension with every mile between Costco and home?

Sure, you need a little lime in your gin and tonic, but there are 50 of them in that green net bag you just dragged into the kitchen and squeezed onto the counter next to those 27 avocados. That lobster dip you sampled was terrific, but that tub you brought home would keep all of Bar Harbor happy for the summer. The average Starbucks doesn’t stock as much Caffè Verona as you do now. Clinics are coming to you for antacid pills. If FedExForum runs out of toilet paper, come on over to your garage. That stuffed bear is so big it not only scares your grandbaby, the fact that you bought it scares the hell out of you. You didn’t need to eat that hot dog the size of a fireplace log, but you had to because that dog and a refillable drink for a buck fifty is one of the five best deals in America and the other four don’t count.

3. Council Faces Pressure in Financial Crisis - Friday, June 14, 2013

The Memphis City Council is caught between hints of a state takeover of city finances and the possibility of a lawsuit by most, if not all, of the city’s municipal labor unions in a fiscal crisis that is also evolving into a significant labor dispute.

4. Comptroller Urges Council to Act on Fiscal Problems - Thursday, June 13, 2013

That didn’t take long.

An ad hoc committee of Memphis City Council members trying to find common ground between the administration of Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. and the city’s municipal labor unions met for less than an hour Wednesday, June 12, before calling it a day.

5. Editorial: Financial Climate Complex as Ever - Saturday, June 01, 2013

Invest and hold has become invest and monitor in the world of personal finance, which means the days of forgetting about where a substantial part of your money is parked is probably over.

As our cover story points out, U.S. Treasury bonds – once a worry-free harbor for reliable returns at low to no risk – haven’t been that in the post-recession recovery. Before we address the issue of complexity, let’s talk about the need now more than ever for financial literacy. Building wealth is still a necessary goal that has been made more complex by changes in even the most basic forms of investing.

6. Talks Underway for Club 152 Reopening - Thursday, May 23, 2013

The owners of Club 152 on Beale Street and prosecutors with the Shelby County District Attorney General’s office have been talking since the club was shut down a week ago as a public nuisance.

Both sides are due back before General Sessions Environmental Court Judge Larry Potter Thursday, May 21.

7. If You Can’t Win, Change the Game - Wednesday, April 24, 2013

In today’s dynamic world it is imperative for companies to continually realize growth through a sustainable competitive advantage. The trouble is that every innovation is just one new innovation away from becoming obsolete. How do proactive companies stay one step ahead?

8. Economic Development Through Entrepreneurism - Wednesday, February 06, 2013

Last week we visited downtown Las Vegas to tour and learn more about what Zappos founder Tony Hsieh is doing to stimulate entrepreneurial activity and urban revitalization through his Downtown Project initiative. Hsieh is personally investing $350 million to transform downtown Las Vegas into the most community-focused large city in the world in less than five years.

9. CBU Partners With Congregational Health Network - Tuesday, February 05, 2013

Christian Brothers University’s RN to BSN Nursing Program is strengthening its relationship with the Congregational Health Network with a new online training course.

The online course is being developed with the help of a $12,100 grant that CBU recently received from The Promise of Nursing for Tennessee Nursing School Grant Program, which is administered by the Foundation of the National Student Nurses’ Association.

10. AP IMPACT: Deficient Levees Found Across America - Friday, January 18, 2013

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Inspectors taking the first-ever inventory of flood control systems overseen by the federal government have found hundreds of structures at risk of failing and endangering people and property in 37 states.

11. Schools Court Case Continues on Two Fronts - Wednesday, January 16, 2013

No new mediation sessions were scheduled as of Monday evening in the municipal school district court case in Memphis federal court.

But the continued lack of specifics by the parties about what is happening is an indication that the talks will likely continue.

12. Debt Drama - Tuesday, January 15, 2013

One of the common refrains among money managers and economists in Memphis is that the nation’s political leaders spend too much time wrestling with crises and not enough actually solving problems.

Case in point: in a few weeks, the federal government will have reached the limit of its authorized borrowing capacity, the so-called “debt ceiling.” In truth, that moment already has come, but the U.S. Treasury Department has some procedural room to maneuver to keep things going for a few more weeks.

13. Ray Rico Freelance Moves Into Cooper-Young - Monday, January 07, 2013

Ray Rico Freelance has inked a lease for 550 square feet in the heart of the Cooper-Young Historic District after working for six years as a freelancer out of his nearby home and hiring strictly contract labor.

14. Missions Double for Heart Foundation - Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Children around the globe in countries that do not have the medical resources available here in the U.S. are getting a helping hand from The International Children’s Heart Foundation, a local organization targeting congenital heart disease.

15. Federal Review of Tobacco Products Grinds to a Halt - Friday, December 14, 2012

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Talk about a smoke break.

Tobacco companies have introduced almost no new cigarettes or smokeless tobacco products in the U.S. in more than 18 months because the federal government has prevented them from doing so, an Associated Press review has found.

16. Huffman Brings Leverage to Possible Mediation - Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman would bring lots of political leverage with him should he mediate the coming merger of schools in Shelby County.

17. Lekhy Brings Fresh Perspective to Convention Center Role - Friday, December 07, 2012

When Nikki Lekhy talks about Memphis, she speaks with the pride and knowledge usually heard in the voices of older residents who have been around for years and witnessed decades of changes.

But the newly promoted sales manager for the Memphis Cook Convention Center is only 25, just kicking off her career and looking at the city through fresh young eyes – a perspective many community leaders believe is crucial to the city’s future growth.

18. Garage Demolition First Step for Downtown Project - Wednesday, November 28, 2012

The Downtown parking garage attached to the 147 Jefferson Ave. building is being demolished, the first of many steps the property owner is taking to redevelop its adjacent 12-story masonry office building for a proposed mixed-use facility.

19. Early Voting Coming to Close in Tennessee - Thursday, November 01, 2012

Tennessee election officials are hoping to break another record when the early voting period ends on Thursday, but they acknowledge remnants of superstorm Sandy could affect voter turnout in the northeastern part of the state.

20. Drought Holds its Grip as Growers Pivot to Wheat - Friday, October 26, 2012

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The worst U.S. drought in decades showed little sign of easing last week as farmers closed out their corn and soybean harvests and turned their attention to winter wheat, which has been struggling to break through the moisture-starved soil in some states, according to a weekly report.

21. Smith: Woes Accelerate FedEx Change - Friday, October 12, 2012

FedEx Corp. founder and CEO Fred Smith ended 10 hours of immersion for analysts and investors in changes at the Memphis-based corporation Wednesday, Oct. 10, by telling the group of 200, “I think maybe we arrived at a better strategy through the wrong process.”

22. Commission Argues Racial ‘Resegreation’ With Districts - Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Attorneys on all sides of the federal court case over municipal school districts are waiting for a ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Samuel “Hardy” Mays on issues involving the Tennessee Constitution.

23. Crosstown Stakeholder Pleased With Development’s Direction - Tuesday, October 09, 2012

Todd Richardson gave some schemes – albeit changing ones – of the redeveloped Sears Crosstown building in Midtown Friday, Oct. 5, at Universal Commercial Real Estate’s Regional Minority Business Entrepreneur Power Breakfast.

24. Events - Tuesday, October 02, 2012

Greater Memphis Chamber will host A Conversation With … Dr. Mark Emmert, president of the NCAA, Tuesday, Oct. 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Holiday Inn University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave. The topic is “Is College Sports Broken?” Cost is $35 for members and $40 for nonmembers. R.S.V.P. to Tunga Lee at tlee@memphischamber.com or 543-3571.

25. Events - Monday, October 01, 2012

Greater Memphis Chamber will host A Conversation With … Dr. Mark Emmert, president of the NCAA, Tuesday, Oct. 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Holiday Inn University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave. The topic is “Is College Sports Broken?” Cost is $35 for members and $40 for nonmembers. R.S.V.P. to Tunga Lee at tlee@memphischamber.com or 543-3571.

26. Entrepreneurial Ecosystem - Monday, October 01, 2012

Maybe you’re a startup founder who wants to rub shoulders with your peers, pitch investors in the hope of landing venture capital and talk to a lawyer about drawing up paperwork.

Maybe you’re a veteran researcher who’s got a side project that looks like it could turn into something big. Or maybe you’ve got little more than an idea on the back of a napkin.

27. Ritz Settles In as Commission Chairman - Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Shelby County Commissioners had some new seating arrangements and committee assignments Monday, Sept. 10, as commissioner Mike Ritz began his yearlong term as chairman of the body.

Former chairman and Democrat Sidney Chism was seated next to former chairman pro tempore and Republican Wyatt Bunker.

28. US Homes Cracking Due to Drought-Parched Soil - Monday, September 03, 2012

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Carol DeVaughan assumed her suburban St. Louis home was simply settling when cracks appeared in the walls. When she noticed huge gaps between her fireplace and ceiling, and that her family room was starting to tilt, she knew she had bigger problems.

29. Decoding Prospects’ Secret Language - Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Part one in a two-part series Let’s face it. Prospects have a language of their own. Sometimes they say one thing when they really mean another. Shocking, right? The language differences between sellers and buyers are akin to those between men and women – often worlds apart. Fortunately, prospects have a few go-to responses that, once decoded, will put you on an even playing field.

30. Problems Hit First Week of Early Voting - Monday, July 23, 2012

As early voting began a week ago, Democrats and Republicans and those on both sides of the municipal school district issue had found common ground.

They had a general wariness that there might be problems with the balloting in advance of the Aug. 2 election day.

31. Weak Hiring Shows Economy Still Hurting - Monday, July 09, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – A third straight month of weak hiring shows the U.S. economy is still struggling three years after the recession officially ended.

U.S. employers added just 80,000 jobs in June, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 8.2 percent, the Labor Department said Friday.

32. Congress Passes Student Loans, Highway Jobs Bill - Monday, July 02, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Finding rare political accommodation on the cusp of a holiday recess, Congress passed legislation Friday designed to salvage 2.8 million jobs and shield students from a sharp increase in loan interest rates.

33. UTHSC Breaks Ground On Research Building - Monday, June 11, 2012

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center broke ground Friday, June 8, on its $49 million Translational Science Research Building, which will be built on the grassy lot at the northwest corner of Union Avenue and South Manassas Street.

34. Home Browsers - Monday, June 04, 2012

Amid the fast-pace world of the real estate business, having technology on your side is not only beneficial, but often necessary.

Due to the rising popularity of smartphones, real estate apps and the Web, homebuyers are doing their homework on neighborhoods, schools, amenities and crime well before they pick up the phone and seek professional advice.

35. City Needs to Keep Eye on Wells Fargo - Monday, June 04, 2012

The out-of-court settlement by the city and county with Wells Fargo of the lawsuit alleging discriminatory and racially motivated home mortgage refinancing practices has great potential.

But there should be more to it than dollar figures.

36. Medical Realignment - Monday, June 04, 2012

Private practice is fast becoming a thing of the past, as physicians groups across the country scramble to align with large health care systems in a move largely driven by national health care reform.

37. ‘A Unifier’ - Friday, May 25, 2012

The Levitt Shell recently kicked off its season of free public concerts with its most well-attended opening weekend to date, continuing a 75-year tradition of bringing together Memphians from all walks of life to enjoy music in Overton Park.

38. ‘Hopefully’ Springs Eternal - Thursday, May 17, 2012

Near the end of a short essay, “El Dorado,” published in 1881, Robert Louis Stevenson wrote, “… to travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive ….” (Hint: The essay is not about travel at all. It’s about life.)

39. Employers Posted More Job Openings in February - Wednesday, April 11, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Employers posted slightly more job openings in February, suggesting that modest hiring gains will continue in coming months.

The Labor Department said Tuesday that employers advertised 3.5 million job openings in February. That's up from a revised 3.48 million in January but still below the three-year high of 3.54 million in December.

40. Popular Small Business Bill Hits Senate Obstacles - Friday, March 16, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – It might seem a recipe for success: Legislation to help small businesses raise capital passed the House last week with 95 percent of lawmakers voting for it and President Barack Obama's support. But in today's Congress, nothing comes easy.

41. House Passes Bipartisan Bill to Help Startups - Friday, March 09, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Showing that they can on occasion work together, House lawmakers on Thursday overwhelmingly passed a package of bills making it easier for small businesses and startups to raise the capital they need to grow and hire new workers.

42. Schools Transfer Terms Take Shape - Wednesday, February 08, 2012

A set of ground rules for how public school buildings are transferred to municipal school districts is in the making despite a tie vote Monday, Feb. 6, that defeated a plan by some on the Shelby County Commission.

43. Tax Reform in This Election year: It's Not Likely - Tuesday, February 07, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Tax reform sounds like a good idea to lots of people, but where to start? Eliminate the popular deduction for home mortgages? End the write-off for charitable contributions? How about expanding the Social Security payroll tax?

44. Consolidation Talks Merge With Municipal Plans - Monday, February 06, 2012

At the outset, members of the schools consolidation transition planning commission set out some basic ground rules for the set of public hearings they began in late January.

They wouldn’t answer questions about details of a merged school system that hadn’t been worked out yet. They would listen and they wouldn’t deal with items that weren’t part of what they are required to do by law – come up with a blueprint for a single countywide public school system.

45. Schools Consolidation Group Wants Meeting With Suburban Mayors - Friday, February 03, 2012

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell warned the schools consolidation transition planning commission that it cannot ignore the issue of suburban municipal school districts as it draws up the blueprint for a consolidated countywide school system.

46. Federal Budget Deficit to Dip to $1.1T, CBO Says - Wednesday, February 01, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The government will run a $1.1 trillion deficit in the fiscal year that ends in September, a slight dip from last year but still very high by any measure, according to a budget report released Tuesday.

47. Biz Owners Find Value In Giving Back - Monday, January 30, 2012

There’s a growing breed of innovative for-profit entrepreneur that views positive social change as the foundation of business.

Rather than garnering donations or applying for grants as a nonprofit entity, social enterprise entrepreneurs are generating revenue and reinvesting profits in the community by providing services or manufacturing products.

48. Obama Takes on Big Government: 'It Has to Change' - Monday, January 16, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Seeking more power to shrink the government, President Barack Obama on Friday suggested smashing six economic agencies into one, an election-year idea intended to halt bureaucratic nightmares and force Republicans to back him on one of their own favorite issues.

49. Preserving the Magic - Thursday, January 12, 2012

Decades ago, Abram Schwab had the idea of putting a blues singer with a guitar on a stool somewhere in his general store on Beale Street to help along what was becoming a robust demand for the blues records his store sold.

50. Preventive Care: It's Free, Except When It's Not - Thursday, December 29, 2011

CHICAGO (AP) – Bill Dunphy thought his colonoscopy would be free.

His insurance company told him it would be covered 100 percent, with no copayment from him and no charge against his deductible. The nation's 1-year-old health law requires most insurance plans to cover all costs for preventive care including colon cancer screening. So Dunphy had the procedure in April.

51. FAA Issues Rules to Prevent Tired Airline Pilots - Thursday, December 22, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Rules aimed at preventing airline pilots from flying while dangerously fatigued were issued Wednesday by the Federal Aviation Administration, a move safety advocates have been urging for more than two decades.

52. Pinnacle Facing Strong Headwinds - Friday, December 16, 2011

It’s been a rough week for Memphis-based Pinnacle Airlines Corp. The regional air carrier – in an age of capacity cuts by major airlines targeting regional carriers – saw its common shares drop to $1.02 per common share Tuesday at the end of the trading day. The stock closed Wednesday at $1.18, but was back down to $1.05 at close Thursday.

53. Senate Rejects 2 Balanced Budget Amendments - Thursday, December 15, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Senate on Wednesday voted against changing the Constitution to require a balanced budget as Congress hit yet another dead end in its search for a way out of its fiscal morass.

54. AutoZone Q1 Profit Improves 11 Pct. - Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Memphis-based auto-parts retailer AutoZone Inc. keeps riding its business model to ever-higher growth, posting an 11 percent jump in its fiscal first-quarter profit and beating Wall Street’s earnings-per-share expectation.

55. GOP: Offsetting Cuts Must Cover Payroll Tax Relief - Thursday, December 01, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Any extension of this year's payroll tax cut must be paid for with savings from elsewhere in the budget, House Speaker John Boehner said Wednesday.

Boehner's comment meant that House and Senate Republicans are united in demanding that any eventual measure, which could cost over $100 billion, not add to the federal deficit. It also suggested that President Barack Obama and Congress would have to find mutually acceptable savings before any extension could become law.

56. 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.

57. Occupy Memphis, Tea Party Members Meet - Monday, November 21, 2011

MEMPHIS (AP) – Occupy Memphis member Mallory Pope had just finished telling a group of about 75 tea party followers Thursday night that politicians should not allow themselves to be influenced by lobbyists and unions when she received an unexpected invitation.

58. Extraordinary Valor - Monday, November 21, 2011

The Lipscomb Pitts Breakfast Club welcomed best-selling author Doug Stanton as its guest speaker for November.

“Doug is an amazing storyteller, and we are really excited to have him as our speaker this month. November features the combination of Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving, and we wanted to recognize and show our gratitude for the extraordinarily heroic service of our military veterans,” said Susan Stephenson, co-founder of Independent Bank, this month’s event host.

59. Congress Nears OK of Bill for Vets, Contractors - Thursday, November 17, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Congressional Democrats and Republicans rallied on a rare patch of common ground Wednesday, moving toward passage of legislation helping unemployed veterans and government contractors.

60. House-Senate Negotiators Unveil Spending Bill - Wednesday, November 16, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – House and Senate negotiators have agreed on a bundle of spending measures for the ongoing budget year, blending cuts to NASA and community development programs while averting cuts to nutrition programs.

61. A Primer for Seeking Capital as a Start-Up - Thursday, October 27, 2011

Start-up entrepreneurs that come up with the next world-changing investment strategy or widget are always faced with the difficult challenge of raising the initial capital needed just to get the idea off the ground.

62. Council Holds First Post-Election Meeting - Tuesday, October 18, 2011

At their first set of meetings since the Oct. 6 city elections, Memphis City Council members take up some of the issues that surfaced in the campaigns while others have been delayed.

The Tuesday, Oct. 14, council session begins at 3:30 p.m. at City Hall, 125 N. Main St.

63. Law Professor Kiel Recounts Stories of ‘Memphis 13’ - Thursday, October 06, 2011

Daniel Kiel, a professor at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, has spent years thinking and writing about issues like school desegregation in Memphis and the influence of race on education.

64. Obama Knocks GOP Leader, Says GOP Blocks Jobs Vote - Wednesday, October 05, 2011

DALLAS (AP) – President Barack Obama is criticizing House Majority Leader Eric Cantor for saying the president's $447 billion jobs bill will not get a vote in its entirety in the Republican-led House.

65. Obama: Congress Should Vote on Jobs Bill in Oct. - Tuesday, October 04, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama demanded Monday that Congress vote on his jobs legislation package this month despite signs that the full measure faces stiff resistance. "I'm ready to sign it," the president said.

66. FedEx Earnings Up, Outlook Lowered - Friday, September 23, 2011

Memphis-based FedEx Corp. increased its earnings per share for the first quarter of the fiscal year compared to the same quarter of 2010.

67. FedEx Earnings Up, Outlook Lowered - Thursday, September 22, 2011

Memphis-based FedEx Corp. increased its earnings per share for the first quarter of the fiscal year compared to the same quarter of 2010.

68. FedEx Says Consumer Confidence Drop Behind Demand Drop In Asia - Thursday, September 22, 2011

Memphis-based FedEx Corp. increased its earnings per share for the first quarter of the fiscal year compared to the same quarter of 2010.

69. Oil Industry: Boost in Energy Could Create 1M Jobs - Thursday, September 08, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Government policies to increase domestic energy production could create up to a million jobs over the next seven years, the oil industry said in a report issued a day before President Barack Obama delivers a major speech on jobs.

70. 36M Lbs. of Turkey Recalled in Salmonella Outbreak - Friday, August 05, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Meat giant Cargill is recalling 36 million pounds of turkey after a government hunt for the source of a salmonella outbreak that has killed one person in California and sickened dozens more. The Agriculture Department says it is one of the largest meat recalls ever.

71. New Website Unites City’s Creative Talent - Thursday, August 04, 2011

Use what you’ve got before looking elsewhere.

It may sound like a simple concept, but it’s an area where Memphis needs improvement, says one local advertising and public relations professional.

72. Corruption Probe Surfaces in Millington - Thursday, July 28, 2011

A criminal investigation into corruption within Millington city government that began late last year surfaced Wednesday, July 27, with searches of government offices in the town by Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents and investigators with the Shelby County District Attorney General’s office.

73. White House Threatens to Veto Boehner's House Plan - Wednesday, July 27, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House threatened on Tuesday to veto emergency House legislation that aims to avert a threatened national default, a pre-emptive strike issued as Republican Speaker John Boehner labored to line up enough votes in his own party to pass the measure.

74. KQC Promotes Clients With ‘Uplifting Purpose’ - Monday, July 25, 2011

Nikita Flynn, Terrell Gatewood and Renee Malone each bring a diverse and creative perspective to Kingdom Quality Communications, a marketing and communications business they launched in August 2007.

75. 8-Second Rule of First Impressions - Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Eight seconds. It’s the length of a successful bull ride. And it’s also how long we have to leave an indelible impression on those we meet.

For the bull rider, that eight seconds is an eternity. For the rest of us, it’s gone in the mere blink of an eye.

76. Giving Back For Growth? - Monday, July 18, 2011

Last week we spotlighted Agape’s Powerlines Community Network, which is a “place-based” program connecting under-resourced neighborhoods with resources and services needed to help create a more nurturing environment for children and families. This week let us refocus on the genesis of this column by discussing how community engagement makes a good growth strategy.

77. White House Considers Big Boost to Fuel Economy - Tuesday, June 28, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Obama administration is telling American automakers that it would like cars and light trucks to average 56.2 miles per gallon by 2025 – a boost to fuel economy that would save consumers money at the pump and help with global warming but drive up the cost of automobiles.

78. GOP Leader 'Cautiously Optimistic' on Debt Talks - Wednesday, June 08, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The No. 2 Republican in the House says he's "cautiously optimistic" that ongoing budget talks led by Vice President Joe Biden will produce an agreement on budget cuts at least as large as the accompanying increase in the government's ability to borrow.

79. Democrats Meet With Obama on Deficits - Friday, June 03, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – House Democrats met with President Barack Obama for talks on cutting the U.S. deficit Thursday as the White House pushed back against calls from Republicans for Obama to show more leadership and offer more specifics on the issue.

80. Restaurants, Retail Enter Memphis Market - Wednesday, June 01, 2011

It’s perhaps the most cliché phrase in the real estate business: location, location, location.

So far in 2011, Memphis has seen a plethora of household names enter the market – Chipotle, Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Urban Outfitters and Staples Inc., among others. And by the close of the year, the perfect location is a critical contingency that even more nationally recognized brands are hoping to have settled.

81. Despite Differences, Obama, GOP Eye Medicare Limit - Tuesday, May 10, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Unlikely as it may seem, President Barack Obama and Republicans in Congress actually share some common ground on the need to curb Medicare costs to fight the spiraling federal debt.

82. GOP Concedes Medicare Vouchers Unlikely to Advance - Friday, May 06, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The GOP plan to replace Medicare with vouchers will have to wait, party leaders acknowledged Thursday as lawmakers and the White House bowed to political realities in pursuing a deal to allow more government borrowing in exchange for big spending cuts.

83. Judge Mays Begins Schools Mediation - Wednesday, May 04, 2011

U.S. District Court Judge Hardy Mays began the third attempt to reach a settlement in the schools consolidation lawsuit Tuesday with more private talks among the different sides.

This time, Mays himself appeared to be mediating the attempt to find common ground in the complex and contentious political turned legal dispute.

84. Mays Gets Involved In Schools Mediation - Tuesday, May 03, 2011

All sides in the schools consolidation lawsuit are back before federal court Judge Hardy Mays Tuesday morning.

And Mays will try to do what both mayors and a court-appointed mediator have been unable to do.

85. Memphis Engineers Make Green Progress - Monday, May 02, 2011

Environmentally speaking, Memphis engineers are making progress. Two years ago, Davis Patrikios Criswell Inc., a Memphis-based engineering firm, was in charge of the construction of the TERRA House, a structure that was built through the cooperative efforts of the University of Memphis and the United States Department of Architecture.

86. Air Transport International Resumes MEM Service - Friday, April 22, 2011

Air Transport International is resuming cargo service at Memphis International Airport in May.

The carrier will fly 727s into the airport between Charlotte, N.C., and Memphis five times a week, said Richard White, vice president of properties and business development for Memphis International Airport.

87. Researcher Analyzes New Madrid Impact - Thursday, April 21, 2011

Compared to California, the New Madrid Seismic Zone is one that isn’t willing to give up its secrets.

In California, the plate systems either rub against each or under each other – “sub-ducting” – forcing them to lock up, build up from stress and then ultimately pop, resulting in an earthquake.

88. Mediator Might be Next Step in Schools Case - Tuesday, April 19, 2011

There will be another two-week delay in a hearing in the schools consolidation case before Federal Judge Hardy Mays, and a mediator of some kind will be involved in trying to find some common ground on the terms for moving toward consolidation of Shelby County’s two school systems.

89. All Sides Meet in Schools Consolidation Lawsuit - Friday, April 15, 2011

The players in the schools consolidation federal lawsuit met Tuesday evening to see if they have anything to talk further about.

When the meeting organized by Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell ended 90 minutes later, they didn’t set any date to meet again, according to Shelby County Schools board chairman David Pickler. But the attorneys for all of the sides were to meet Thursday.

90. All Sides Meet in Schools Consolidation Lawsuit - Thursday, April 14, 2011

The players in the schools consolidation federal lawsuit met Tuesday evening to see if they have anything to talk further about.

When the meeting organized by Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. and Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell ended 90 minutes later, they didn’t set any date to meet again, according to Shelby County Schools board chairman David Pickler. But the attorneys for all of the sides were to meet Thursday.

91. Agricenter Gives Region’s Ag Biz Place to Call Home - Tuesday, March 29, 2011

In the daily hustle and bustle of city life, it’s easy for Memphians to forget that the urban pocket they call home sits amid one of the nation’s richest agricultural regions.

And the world’s largest urban farm, nonprofit Agricenter International at 7777 Walnut Grove Road, is continually working to create more awareness about farming through educational programs and to advance agricultural technologies through research and trials.

92. Shelby GOP Names Joy New Chair - Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Attorney Justin Joy is the new chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party.

Joy, an associate at the law firm Thomason Hendrix Harvey Johnson & Mitchell PLLC, ran unopposed for the chairmanship at Sunday’s county party convention.

93. Paradise Found - Friday, March 18, 2011

A bright blue night. Just about any weekend anybody in the Gant button-down crowd could catch a concert at the Coliseum or Ellis Auditorium, crash a party at Clearpool, or hear a great band in a gym somewhere in Weejun town. This was Memphis in the early ‘60s. You could see Elvis at a stoplight, Jerry Lee in a restaurant, and listen to Wooly Bully on the radio waiting in line for auto inspection right in front of Sam the Sham’s club.

94. Spirco Adapts to Changing Economy - Monday, March 14, 2011

Barry Sims is the president of Metal Building Products Inc., which offers metal building items along with contracting services to Memphis and the Mid-South area.

95. Documentary Sheds Light on Water Conservation - Thursday, March 10, 2011

Despite the distance between them, the San Francisco Bay has much in common with the Mississippi River.

Memphians will gain a better understanding of the connection between these two water systems when WKNO – along with PBS television stations nationwide – in April broadcasts a documentary series on the history and conservation of the San Francisco Bay.

96. New Practices Show Mediation’s Role is Growing - Thursday, March 10, 2011

When two or more parties are locked in a dispute, they now have a growing number of options by which they can resolve it short of pleading their case before a judge in the cold confines of a courtroom.

97. Key House Republican Praises Obama Housing Plan - Wednesday, March 02, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Obama administration's plan to gradually dissolve ailing housing giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and to shrink the government's role in the mortgage market drew praise from House Republicans on Tuesday. The GOP chairman of the House Financial Services Committee called the proposal a good starting point for bipartisan negotiations over a housing overhaul.

98. 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:

99. Obama Says White House, CEOs Must Work Together - Tuesday, February 08, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama prodded American businesses to do their share to help the economy, calling on executives to “get in the game” and begin investing nearly $2 trillion accumulating on their balance sheets.

100. Titan Lives Up to Name with Ambitious Growth Goals - Monday, February 07, 2011

Shelbyville, Tenn.-based Titan Transfer Inc. is a stalwart in the trucking industry, and the company is beefing up its profile with a new Memphis location and plans to triple in size.