DENVER (AP) – In the most prominent challenge of its kind, Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. is asking a federal appeals court Thursday for an exemption from part of the federal health care law that requires it to offer employees health coverage that includes access to the morning-after pill.

2. Can Grizz Dig Out of Conference Finals Hole? - Friday, May 24, 2013

So the family room is full for Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. It’s the third quarter, or maybe early in the fourth, and there’s a moment of quiet.

“Wow, that’s a slow-moving system,” my wife says.

3. Lincoln Charged With Selling Memphis to World - Friday, May 24, 2013

There is a surge these days in Memphis boosterism, but there may be no one else with their pulse more on what is new and exciting and worth celebrating in the city than Rashana Lincoln.

As director of community engagement for the New Memphis Institute (formerly the Leadership Academy), Lincoln is charged with selling her greatest passion: Memphis.

4. Grant Turns Broad Avenue Dock Into Dance Stage - Friday, May 24, 2013

The concrete surface of the loading dock at Power & Tel on Broad Avenue isn’t good for ballet dancing.

So the dancers with Collage Dance Collective went with modern dance instead Wednesday, May 22, as the Broad Avenue Arts District formally announced a $350,000 grant from ArtPlace America that will turn part of the loading dock into a dance performance stage.

5. Love of Public Service Drives Caldwell to Law School Role - Thursday, May 23, 2013

In 2008, the Tennessee Supreme Court laid out a strategic plan to get attorneys more involved in pro bono work.

Though it isn’t required of the state’s professionals, there is an inspirational goal of 50 hours per year of public service that is heavily encouraged by the justices.

6. Kramer Given Crystal Award by Carwash Association - Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Bruce Kramer, an attorney with Apperson Crump PLC, has been given the Crystal Award by the International Carwash Association for his 20 years of service as the association’s general counsel. The association, which was started in Memphis in 1955, is comprised of 15,000 professional car wash operators, retailers and suppliers in 25 nations.

7. Ford Files Trust Deed for Sycamore View Property - Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Former U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Sr. of Memphis has filed a $900,000 loan on the shopping center at 1670 Sycamore View Road in Northeast Memphis that he recently bought.

8. A Year After IPO, Facebook Aims to be Ad Colossus - Monday, May 20, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – It was supposed to be our IPO, the people's public offering.

Facebook, the brainchild of a young CEO who sauntered into Wall Street meetings in a hoodie, was going to be bigger than Amazon, bigger than McDonald's, bigger than Coca-Cola. And it was all made possible by our friendships, photos and family ties.

9. Rich to Headline Benefit for St. Jude Hospital - Monday, May 20, 2013

John Rich will perform alongside Wynonna Judd, Larry the Cable Guy and his Big & Rich partner, Big Kenny at a June 4 concert that will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

10. US Housing Starts Fell in April but Permits Surged - Friday, May 17, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. builders broke ground on fewer homes in April, one month after topping the 1 million mark for the first time since 2008. But most of the decline was in apartment construction, which tends to vary sharply from month to month.

11. Retiring Boomers Driving Sales of Small Businesses - Thursday, May 16, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – Baby boomers preparing for retirement are driving a surge in small business sales, as they find more and more buyers confident enough in the improving economy to expand their own businesses through acquisitions.

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

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

13. Medlock Takes Talents From Soccer Field to Courtroom - Thursday, May 16, 2013

After graduating from Germantown High School, Steven Medlock left Memphis for the bluegrass of Western Kentucky University.

14. Brimhall Named Bartlett Entrepreneur of Year - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Terry Brimhall, founder and president of Brimhall Foods Co. Inc., has been named entrepreneur of the year by the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce.

15. Drugstore Corridor - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Walgreen Co. is building a new store on Poplar Avenue in East Memphis amid some of the most important and valuable commercial real estate in the city.

16. Department of Children’s Services Files Outline Abuse - Tuesday, May 14, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Records released by the state Department of Children's Services showing 42 cases where children died or nearly died after the agency had some type of involvement with them shows that half of the kids were under 1 year old. Some of the records didn't even include the child's age.

17. IRS Apologizes for Targeting Tea Party Groups - Monday, May 13, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Internal Revenue Service apologized Friday for what it acknowledged was "inappropriate" targeting of conservative political groups during the 2012 election to see if they were violating their tax-exempt status.

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

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

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

19. International Interaction - Saturday, May 11, 2013

Memphians and out-of-towners are gathering Downtown throughout this month to hear the stirring sounds of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, savor the product of competitive barbecue cooking and watch major touring acts rock the stages at Tom Lee Park.

20. Family’s Values Led Bradshaw to Life’s Mission - Friday, May 10, 2013

Fittingly, Kenya Bradshaw can trace her life’s mission back to her childhood and a family that valued public service.

21. Reality TV's New Stars: Small Businesses - Thursday, May 09, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – There's no business like small business.

Mix the high stakes of running a small business with a dash of family drama and throw in a camera crew and you get hit reality television shows such as "Pawn Stars," ''Welcome to Sweetie Pie's" and "Duck Dynasty."

22. Wise Investors Know to Avoid Distractions - Thursday, May 09, 2013

Ray’s Take Hopefully you have a financial plan to guide you to your goals, whether they are college for the kids, a vacation home or a secure retirement. However, one of the key indicators as to whether you will be able to achieve those goals is your ability to avoid distractions from your plan.

23. Path to Law Career Began Early for McLaughlin - Thursday, May 09, 2013

Julie McLaughlin has worked her way up the legal ladder for much her life.

Beginning with a degree in paralegal studies from Hinds Community College in Raymond, Miss., and then a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Memphis, the final rung was earning a law degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2001.

24. Celebrating Rails - Thursday, May 09, 2013

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

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

25. Rhodes Honors Gray for Outstanding Research - Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Dr. Patrick Gray, an associate professor in Rhodes College’s department of religious studies, has received the college’s Clarence Day Award for Outstanding Research. Gray’s research centers on biblical studies, specifically the history and literature of early Christianity and the Greco-Roman context.

26. Creating Continuity of Operation Plan - Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Part two of a two-part series Emergencies and disasters are unthinkable everyday occurrences. Some big, some small. They impact us as individuals, families, communities and sometimes as a nation.

27. Promoting Play - Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Work crews with ViktorHall Construction have been wrapping up some extensive site work needed to renovate the area of Overton Park that houses the Rainbow Lake Playground.

That work is nearly finished and will offer adventurous youngsters a new Overton Park-themed place where they can play.

28. That's the Spirit: Booze From Local Crops Booming - Monday, May 06, 2013

GARDINER, N.Y. (AP) – With all the orchards and corn fields that dot the Hudson Valley landscape, Tuthilltown Spirits doesn't have to look far for the grains and apples to make their whiskey, vodka and gin.

29. Methodist Germantown Names Neel Chief of Staff - Saturday, May 04, 2013

Michael Neel has been named chief of staff for Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital.

He will oversee medical staff and focus on providing high quality, cost-effective care in a manner that is both patient and family centered, the hospital group said in a prepared statement.

30. Earles’ Company Helps Homeowners ‘From A to Z’ - Monday, May 06, 2013

Working as a Realtor for the first 19 years of her career, Paige Earles learned the value of home staging.

“Research shows a property spends about 78 percent less time on the market if it is staged versus not staged,” said Earles, owner of Pearle Staging & Design, which recently expanded into Memphis. “The benefits of staging are pretty tremendous.”

31. Commission Receives Schools Financials - Monday, May 06, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners formally get the financials of Shelby County’s two public school systems Monday, May 6, in an action that is not expected to generate much debate.

But the financial statements for the fiscal year that ended June 30 is another step along the path toward the formal merger of both school systems effective at the end of the current fiscal year.

32. Couple Moves to Memphis to Launch Startup - Monday, May 06, 2013

Pam and Tom Cooper are the co-founders of Boosterville, a Memphis-based startup with an app that helps school fundraisers raise money by connecting them with local businesses.

33. Barbecue Bible - Monday, May 06, 2013

For 29 years, Corky’s Ribs & Bar-B-Q has been serving up pulled pork and ribs with a side of beans, slaw and innovation.

In 1984, founder Don Pelts, who owned The Public Eye in Midtown at the time, was waiting patiently for the location at 5259 Poplar Ave. in East Memphis to come available. When it finally did, he found himself surrounded by fast food joints, so he added his own drive-thru.

34. Obama Nominates Pritzker, Froman for Economic Jobs - Friday, May 03, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama on Thursday chose two old friends with corporate executive experience for top posts on his economic team, naming longtime fundraiser Penny Pritzker as Commerce secretary and adviser Michael Froman as U.S. Trade Representative.

35. Methodist Germantown Names Neel Chief of Staff - Friday, May 03, 2013

Michael Neel has been named chief of staff for Methodist Le Bonheur Germantown Hospital.

He will oversee medical staff and focus on providing high quality, cost-effective care in a manner that is both patient and family centered, the hospital group said in a prepared statement.

36. Gov. Haslam's Former Boss to Oversee Pilot Flying J Probe - Thursday, May 02, 2013

Brad Martin, the newly appointed interim president of the University of Memphis who once hired Gov. Bill Haslam as an executive at Saks Inc., has been named by Pilot Flying J to oversee an internal investigation into FBI allegations of fraudulent business practices involving rebates to trucking customers.

37. Briglia Joins Archer-Malmo as Web/Broadcast Artist - Wednesday, May 01, 2013

Kristen Briglia has joined archer-malmo as web/broadcast turbo artist. In her new role, Briglia will produce web graphics, HTML and video-editing services for the growing digital and broadcast departments, and will also help on print projects as needed.

38. Tribute Symposium Honors Six Local Women - Wednesday, May 01, 2013

The Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis paid tribute to six local women at a sold-out luncheon of more than 1,600 attendees on Friday, April 26.

The Legends Awards honor women whose work embodies the mission of the foundation – to support women and children throughout Shelby County.

39. Parks Controversy Back to City Council - Wednesday, May 01, 2013

The committee recommendations are in for new names for three Confederate-themed city parks. And the long-running controversy about the parks is now back to the Memphis City Council.

The ad hoc committee of nine, which included several historians and two City Council members, held its final meeting Monday, April 29, and voted with little discussion on several ideas for what used to be known as Confederate, Forrest and Jefferson Davis parks.

40. Arts Award - Tuesday, April 30, 2013

The New Ballet Ensemble and School is a first-time recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, money the Midtown-based school is using to create and perform an original dance work.

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

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

42. Cates Named Commercial Broker of Year - Monday, April 29, 2013

The Memphis Area Association of Realtors Commercial Council honored its most productive members of 2012 at the 12th annual Pinnacle Awards gala, held Thursday, April 25, at the Memphis Country Club.

43. Magna Intent on Raising Profile, Enhancing Services - Saturday, April 27, 2013

This year is turning out to be a big one for Magna Bank as it rolls out new products and services, adds key personnel and boosts its profile across the Mid-South.

44. Emergency Preparation – Part 1 - Friday, April 26, 2013

A bombing and citywide lockdown in Boston, a chemical explosion in West, Texas; threats of flooding along the Mississippi River; tornadoes; earthquakes; and the all-too-frequent house fire.

These are a few of the disasters we all need to prepare for. We need to get ready at home with our families, at work, at our places of worship and at the nonprofits where we spend our time. Most emergencies come with little warning. Many are unthinkable. Some are a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Others – such as fires – occur every day. How will you get ready?

45. Chisca Rebirth - Friday, April 26, 2013

“Memphis: The Musical” meets the real life setting Friday, April 26, for the fictional story of a Memphis radio announcer in the 1950s.

Actor Bryan Fenkart will walk about a block on South Main Street from The Orpheum Theater to the old Chisca hotel to perform at the project’s launch party. The party in the hotel’s garage space kicks off the $24 million renovation of the hotel as an apartment building.

46. Haslams Try to Halt Fallout From FBI Raid on Pilot - Thursday, April 25, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee's Haslam family is furiously trying to control the damage following a federal investigation into the family business that could threaten to unravel decades of growing wealth and influence that spans business, sports and politics in the state and beyond.

47. Tennessee Employers Named Semifinalists for Award - Thursday, April 25, 2013

Three Tennessee employers have been selected as semifinalists for the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.

The award is the U.S. Department of Defense’s highest honor for employers that provide extraordinary support to their Guard and Reserve employees.

48. Kroger Plans $100 Million Overhaul of Stores - Thursday, April 25, 2013

The footprint of the city’s dominant grocery store will undergo a facelift worth tens of millions of dollars over the next five years.

Kroger’s Memphis-based Delta Division, which operates 115 Kroger grocery stores and 70 fuel centers in five states, is pumping $100 million into its portfolio.

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

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

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

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

51. Good Times for All - Wednesday, April 24, 2013

There will be kickball games, limbo dances, arts and crafts, and a talent show. There will be all of that and more at the sixth annual Camp Good Times residential summer camp May 30 through June 5 at Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park in Millington.

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

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

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

53. Fallout for States Rejecting Medicaid Expansion - Tuesday, April 23, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Rejecting the Medicaid expansion in the federal health care law could have unexpected consequences for states where Republican lawmakers remain steadfastly opposed to what they scorn as "Obamacare."

54. Some Pilot Flying J Sales Staff Suspended - Tuesday, April 23, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam says he has suspended several members of the sales team at Pilot Flying J, the family-owned truck stop chain that is under a federal fraud investigation.

55. Pilot Flying J Owner Signals 'Significant' Response to FBI Raid - Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is preparing to announce a “significant” response to the FBI’s allegations of fraudulent business dealings at his family’s truck stop chain, Pilot Flying J.

56. Four-Way Self Storage Facility Sells for $1.3 Million - Tuesday, April 23, 2013

6780 Country Park Drive Memphis, TN 38134

Sale Amount: $1.3 million

Sale Date: April 9, 2013

57. Suburban Mayors Preach Patience to Parents - Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Suburban leaders are counseling patience among parents of children in their communities who will be part of the coming merger of the county’s two public school systems.

And they will start moving in May on the process of forming municipal school districts for the 2014-2015 school year.

58. Bike Ride Benefits Local Cancer Patients - Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Years of grueling medical training had taken a toll on Brad Somer, an oncologist and hematologist with The West Clinic in Memphis.

“I had gotten really out of shape,” he said as he popped a grape in his mouth during a break at the Mid-South cancer treatment center.

59. Governor Declares 'Absolute Faith' in CEO Brother - Monday, April 22, 2013

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.

60. Pilot Flying J CEO Haslam Won't Step Aside Amid Probe - Monday, April 22, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Cleveland Browns owner and Pilot Flying J CEO Jimmy Haslam on Friday again denied any wrongdoing and said he wasn't stepping aside, a day after an FBI affidavit alleged his truck stop chain had defrauded customers with diesel fuel rebates.

61. Family Safety Center Adds New Partner Organizations - Saturday, April 20, 2013

The Family Safety Center, an organization that provides services to victims of family violence, said it recently added Adoption Counseling Services Inc., Friends for Life Corp., and Memphis Shelby Crime Commission to its list of partner organizations.

62. Pilot Flying J Raid Focuses on Incentive Practices - Friday, April 19, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – When Pilot, the country's largest truck stop chain, bought its nearest competitor Flying J out of bankruptcy in 2009, federal trade officials worried the combined entity owned by the powerful Haslam family could corner the market on diesel fuel.

63. Landings Apartment Owner Files $8.7 Million Loan - Friday, April 19, 2013

The owner of the 292-unit Landings apartments at 3550 Brownbark Drive in Hickory Hill has filed an $8.7 million loan on the property.

64. Ricin in Obama Letter, Odd Packages Scramble Hill - Thursday, April 18, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) — Letters sent to President Barack Obama and a Mississippi senator tested positive for poisonous ricin in preliminary checks Wednesday, and authorities chased reports of other suspicious mail at a U.S. Capitol already on edge.

65. Family Safety Center Adds New Partner Organizations - Thursday, April 18, 2013

The Family Safety Center, an organization that provides services to victims of family violence, said it recently added Adoption Counseling Services Inc., Friends for Life Corp., and Memphis Shelby Crime Commission to its list of partner organizations.

66. Selling the Business: Games Buyers Play - Thursday, April 18, 2013

Entrepreneurs work years building up the value in their business only to give a big chunk of it away when it comes time to sell. Why? Savvy acquisition teams have a method for them wearing down so they sell at a steep discount.

67. Dream Home Nightmares - Thursday, April 18, 2013

Ray’s Take As the real estate market recovers, more families are pulling out their dream home plans. They would be wise to watch that classic movie, “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream Home.”

68. Butler Sevier’s Mead Helps Clients Craft New Realities - Thursday, April 18, 2013

Attorney Anne Mead is not in Kansas anymore. Recently named partner with the firm of Butler Sevier Hinsley & Reid PLLC, a family law practice, she said, “We have some pretty incredible people working for us, I’m really, really lucky.”

69. Fitzhugh: Legislature Fixing Things Not Broken - Thursday, April 18, 2013

As the state legislature moves toward completion, state Rep. Craig Fitzhugh, D-Ripley, offers his assessment:

70. US Housing Starts Surpass 1 Million in March - Wednesday, April 17, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. homebuilders broke the 1 million mark in March for the first time since June 2008. The gain signals continued strength for the housing recovery at the start of the spring buying season.

71. Browns Owner: Pilot Flying J Under Criminal Probe - Wednesday, April 17, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said Tuesday the federal government has launched a criminal investigation into rebates offered by the truck stop chain owned by his family, including his brother, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam.

72. Meadows Named Director of Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab - Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Bobby Meadows has joined Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab as executive director. Meadows, a licensed nursing home administrator, has 13 years of nursing home experience, including 11 as an executive director. Most recently, he served for six years at Allenbrooke Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Memphis.

73. Amro Milestone Attributed to Seasoned Staff - Wednesday, April 17, 2013

For the music retailer that traces its history back to 1921 and to the second-floor Downtown studio Mil Averwater opened to give piano lessons, 2013 is a time of reflection, celebration and pride in a few impressive numbers.

74. Taste of Jubilee to Benefit Underprivileged Students - Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Founded in 1947, St. John Catholic School at 2717 Lamar Ave. was once the largest Catholic school in Memphis.

75. FBI Agents at Headquarters of Haslam Family Business - Tuesday, April 16, 2013

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – FBI agents have blocked the entrance at the Knoxville headquarters of Pilot Flying J, the truck stop business owned by the family of Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and his brother, Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam.

76. The Heart and Soul in Sports - Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Last week we spotlighted St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which is a world leader in the fight against childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. This week let us discuss an organization that is making a positive, and eternal, impact in the arena of athletics: the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

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

1670 Sycamore View Road Memphis, TN 38134

Sale Amount: $1.8 million

Sale Date: April 8, 2013

78. Events - Saturday, April 13, 2013

New Ballet Ensemble will present Springloaded Friday, April 12, through Sunday, April 14, at Playhouse on the Square, 66 S. Cooper St. The annual event fuses ballet, contemporary and urban dance with works by local and guest choreographers. Visit nbespringloaded13.eventbrite.com for times and tickets.

79. Marx-Bensdorf Prides Itself on Strong Independent Spirit - Saturday, April 13, 2013

A small, boutique real estate agency sees longevity as its strength rather than its worth to larger companies looking for acquisition targets.

And Marx-Bensdorf Realtors remained strong through the recession by staying out from under other people’s umbrellas.

80. Selling Homes Becomes ‘Forever Job’ for Dacus - Saturday, April 13, 2013

Ashley Dacus got started as a Realtor in the worst possible economic climate, but with residential sales beginning to show signs of life, her optimism has been renewed.

81. The Ultimate Gift: Family Raises Donor Awareness - Monday, April 15, 2013

On Rachel Escue’s 16th birthday, she went with friends to take her driver’s license test. She also signed up to become an organ donor.

82. Harold Ford Sr. Buys Sycamore View Property - Friday, April 12, 2013

Former U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Sr. of Memphis has paid $1.8 million for a shopping center at 1670 Sycamore View Road in Northeast Memphis.

83. Events - Friday, April 12, 2013

New Ballet Ensemble will present Springloaded Friday, April 12, through Sunday, April 14, at Playhouse on the Square, 66 S. Cooper St. The annual event fuses ballet, contemporary and urban dance, with works by local and guest choreographers. Visit nbespringloaded13.eventbrite.com for times and tickets.

84. Your Mobile Device: Friend or Foe? - Friday, April 12, 2013

Who is more important: you or a group of your fellow nonprofit volunteers or professionals? What signal are you sending when you direct your attention to your mobile device instead of the group’s discussion? If you believe the work of the organization or institution is unimportant, say so and work with your peers to restructure meetings. If not, give your attention to the business at hand. Each of you has carved out time from your busy schedules to attend the meeting: make the most of it.

85. I’m Lucky to Know Bea - Friday, April 12, 2013

REMARKABLE CONNECTIONS. After last week’s column, Bea dropped me a thoughtful email note as she often does about whatever I’m writing about. My story about Linda Courtney and her son Bill struck a common chord, and Bea wanted to share.

86. Tigers Prepare for Life After Black, Thomas - Friday, April 12, 2013

Wading in with some thoughts on several topics, starting with Adonis Thomas and Tarik Black leaving the University of Memphis basketball program:

• First off, the Tigers will be fine without them. The No. 2-ranked recruiting class in the country is on the way and while the Tigers still want another big man to replace Black, the truth is that both Thomas and Black were disappointments this past season. This is also why I wish Adonis and Tarik were staying; odds are it would be better for them if they stayed.

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

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

88. Take Time to Budget Your Vacation - Thursday, April 11, 2013

Ray’s Take It’s that time when people start looking forward to summer vacations. Unfortunately, all too often, the aftermath of those vacations turns out to be more than just wonderful memories – a blown budget and burdensome debt.

89. CRG2 CEO Singer Named Women’s Biz Enterprise Star - Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Mary Singer, CEO of CRG2 SustainableSolutions, has been named a 2013 Women’s Business Enterprise Star by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. She was chosen by Women’s Business Council South, one of the national organization’s 14 regional partner organizations.

90. Broadcasters Worry About 'Zero TV' Homes - Tuesday, April 09, 2013

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Some people have had it with TV. They've had enough of the 100-plus channel universe. They don't like timing their lives around network show schedules. They're tired of $100-plus monthly bills.

91. Canterbury Woods Owner Files Loan on Property - Tuesday, April 09, 2013

The owner of the 400-unit Canterbury Woods apartments at 6520 Macon Road has filed a $9.8 million loan on the property.

92. St. Jude: Local Resource With Global Impact - Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Last week we highlighted The Blues Foundation, which is Memphis-based and focused on the past, present and future of the music genre. This week let us spotlight the iconic Memphis institution that is a world leader in the fight against childhood cancer and other deadly diseases: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

93. New York Company Buys Country Squire for $49.2 Million - Tuesday, April 09, 2013

8056 Country Squire Lane Cordova, TN 38018

Sale Amount: $49.2 million

Sale Date: March 28, 2013

94. Council Approves Rehab of Memphis Slim House - Saturday, April 06, 2013

The Memphis City Council approved Tuesday, April 2, a special use permit for converting the old Memphis Slim house at 1130 College St. at McLemore Avenue in Soulsville into a neighborhood arts center. Eric Robertson of Community Lift, the group undertaking the center, said the next step is to assess how much renovation the structure will need.

95. Then and Now - Saturday, April 06, 2013

Jay Bailey pictured marching bands and floats when his mother told him he was going on a march.

“We thought of it as a parade,” said Bailey, who was 6 years old in March 1968. “We thought of it as something fun.”

96. Walgreen Clinics Expand Care Into Chronic Illness - Friday, April 05, 2013

Walgreen Co. has stretched the reach of its drugstore clinics beyond treating ankle sprains and sinus infections to handling chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure.

97. Facebook Unveils 'Home' for Android Phones - Friday, April 05, 2013

MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) – With its new "Home" on Android gadgets, Facebook aims to put its social network at the center of people's mobile experiences.

If users choose to download Facebook's Home software starting on April 12, the social network will become the hub of their Android smartphones. A phone from HTC that comes pre-loaded with Home will also be available starting that day, with AT&T Inc. as the carrier.

98. 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."

99. Making the Ask – Part Two - Friday, April 05, 2013

Fundraising provides nonprofits with the money they need to deliver on their missions. When you ask others to join you in giving you become part of the nonprofit’s success team.

In part one of this series we discussed how to prepare to solicit a gift. In this column we cover setting the appointment and what to say when asking.

100. Vance Albitz: A True Web Gem - Friday, April 05, 2013

Occasionally, the brilliance of an idea is captured in its name. So it is with “Gloves 4 Troops,” the brainchild of Memphis Redbirds infielder Vance Albitz.

Back in November, Albitz read about a deployed solider who said the one thing he really wished he had from back home was a baseball and a glove. Normalcy – always the goal for soldiers in harm’s way – was a game of catch. Albitz understood because as far back as he can remember, holidays at home in Torrance, Calif., meant him, his older brother and father playing catch and having a little informal BP.