Gov. Bill Haslam on Monday vetoed a bill that would require images documenting animal abuse be turned over to law enforcement within 48 hours, saying his main concern is its constitutionality.

State Attorney General Bob Cooper last week said in a legal opinion that the measure would be “constitutionally suspect” because it could violate Fifth Amendment protections against self-incrimination and for placing burdens on news collection.

2. ZeroTo510 Accelerator Launches New Season - Friday, May 17, 2013

Dr. Steve Bares, president and executive director of the Memphis Bioworks Foundation, is clear-eyed and unequivocal about what success looks like for the startup accelerator program his foundation operates and which launched its new season this week.

3. Haslam Vetoes ‘Ag Gag’ Bill - Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Gov. Bill Haslam on Monday vetoed a bill that would require images documenting animal abuse be turned over to law enforcement within 48 hours, saying his main concern is its constitutionality.

State Attorney General Bob Cooper last week said in a legal opinion that the measure would be “constitutionally suspect” because it could violate Fifth Amendment protections against self-incrimination and for placing burdens on news collection.

4. Papa Murphy’s Considers 25 New Local Stores - Wednesday, May 01, 2013

Papa Murphy’s, one of the largest pizza companies in the U.S., is looking to grow its Memphis presence exponentially.

The Vancouver, Wash.-based chain is looking to add as many as 25 stores in Memphis, where there are currently two existing Papa Murphy’s locations. That’s according to the company’s chief development officer Kevin King, who said the company already has a similarly strong presence in Nashville, with 20 stores there.

5. ‘Old School’ Gasol Feted As League’s Top Defender - Friday, April 26, 2013

The NBA’s new Defensive Player of the Year was remembering another ceremony, more than a decade ago at The Pyramid.

“I was just a little kid watching my older brother be happy to be recognized,” center Marc Gasol said.

6. Council OKs Severance for Auto Inspection - Saturday, April 20, 2013

Memphis City Council members approved Tuesday, April 16, a severance package for city workers at auto inspection stations as talks continue among the city, county and state governments about who will operate the emissions testing at those stations.

7. Hazlett Touts City’s Positives to World - Friday, April 19, 2013

Bob Hazlett, director of online marketing at the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau, is a proudly converted Memphian who promotes the city as a travel destination.

“I feel that if we can get someone to come to Memphis, they fall in love with the city,” Hazlett said. “I’ve lived in a couple of different places, and I think that for all of the bad things that are said about Memphis, there are so many positive things that are going on. It’s not a rhinestone, but it is a diamond in the rough. If you seek things out, the city will reveal itself to you.”

8. Council Approves Severance for Auto Inspection - Thursday, April 18, 2013

Memphis City Council members approved Tuesday, April 16, a severance package for city workers at auto inspection stations as talks continue among the city, county and state governments about who will operate the emissions testing at those stations.

9. Wharton Pitches Budget With 28-Cent Property Tax Rate Hike - Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. presented a $622.5 million operating budget proposal to the Memphis City Council Tuesday, April 16, that would require a property tax rate increase of 28 cents.

That would bring the city property tax rate, currently at $3.11, to $3.39.

10. South Main’s New Life - Saturday, March 02, 2013

The history of the South Main Historic Arts District is as colorful as its present-day users, an alternating rhythm of sorts in Memphis’ songbook.

The area has oscillated from its ritzy suburban roots of the 1800s to the industrial era ghost town of the 20th century and now to its current status as Downtown’s flourishing arts and boutique district and the subject of some $100 million in investment. And it’s all due to stakeholders who braved the status quo in distinguishing the southern end of the Central Business District as that funky place with an indescribable vibe.

11. For Love of Money - Thursday, February 14, 2013

The staples of a great Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart – flowers, candy and delicious food – equal big business for local establishments specializing in romantic fare.

Annual Valentine’s Day spending in the U.S. totals more than $13 billion, according to numbers from the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association and statisticsbrain.com. The average consumer spends $120 wooing that special someone on Valentine’s Day.

12. Events - Saturday, February 09, 2013

Memphis Child Advocacy Center will hold its Works of Heart valentine auction, featuring works by more than 100 local artists, Saturday, Feb. 9, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Memphis College of Art, 1930 Poplar Ave. Visit memphiscac.org.

13. Stranded During Christmas Decorating - Thursday, December 27, 2012

My understanding of Christmas tree lights, in a word, is nada, zilch, nil. OK, so that’s three words. I plug in a strand. If the bulbs light up, we’re good. If they don’t, I’m lost.

14. Community, Real Estate Drive Crye-Leike’s Fuhrman - Monday, December 03, 2012

Crye-Leike Commercial Real Estate president and managing broker Eric Fuhrman is a busy man.

For starters, he is in charge of a bustling division of one of the largest real estate firms in the country.

15. Reardon Speaks Out Against City’s Approach to Housing - Tuesday, November 27, 2012

The University of Memphis professor leading the resistance to a still-forming plan to demolish the city’s last large public housing project says the city’s approach to transforming public housing since the late 1990s hasn’t worked.

16. Let’s CHANGE Summit Tackles Obesity Epidemic - Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Healthy Memphis Common Table continued with its mission to improve the health of people in the Memphis area by confronting the area’s obesity crisis at its recent Let’s CHANGE Summit.

The organization’s Let’s CHANGE (Commit to Healthy Activity and Nutrition Goals Every day) program is a partnership between the Shelby County Health Department and more than 37 businesses and community organizations dedicated to fighting childhood and family obesity. The Let’s CHANGE pilot project includes five pediatric practices, the YMCA of the Mid-South and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center to address family obesity head-on using tools to change diet and exercise patterns.

17. Delek Buys Lion Oil Facility for $6.4 Million - Tuesday, November 20, 2012

1023 Riverside Drive Memphis, TN 38106

Sale Amount: $6.4 million

Sale Date: Nov. 7, 2012

18. Delek Buys Lion Oil Facility for $6.4 Million - Thursday, November 15, 2012

Delek Logistics Operating LLC has paid $6.4 million for the oil distribution terminal at 1023 Riverside Drive from Lion Oil Co.

19. Tennessee Ranks Third in Men Killing Women, Says Group - Tuesday, November 06, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – A group that tracks violence across the nation says Tennessee is now third in the nation in women killed by men.

The Tennessean cited a report by the Violence Policy Center in Washington, D.C., in reporting there were at least 62 such Tennessee cases in 2010 – the latest year tabulated.

20. Third-Quarter Earnings Vary Widely - Monday, October 29, 2012

Third-quarter earnings season is wrapping up, and the results have been all over the map for banks and financial institutions with ties to Memphis.

One common thread: many are still making money – an increase in profits, in fact. But the low interest rate environment is eating into how much some of them are able to achieve.

21. US Airways Posts Record Third-Quarter Profit - Thursday, October 25, 2012

DALLAS (AP) — US Airways turned in a strong performance during a three-month stretch that covers much of the peak summer vacation season.

Net income for the third quarter was a record $245 million, or $1.24 per share, compared with $76 million, or 41 cents per share, a year earlier, the airline said Wednesday.

22. General Motors' Stock Rise Surprises Industry - Monday, October 01, 2012

DETROIT (AP) – Surprise! The top-performing stock among automakers in the U.S. this quarter is General Motors.

The company, which endured management upheaval during the quarter and announced that it would lose substantial cash in Europe, saw its shares rise almost 18 percent from July through late September. The gain was the best since the first quarter of this year, when the stock climbed about 23 percent. GM posted strong profits in that period.

23. Event Pushes Entrepreneurs to Seek Corporate Dollars - Friday, September 14, 2012

Only 2 percent of women-owned businesses break the $1 million mark in revenue, and of those that do, 56 percent of their sales come from corporate clients.

The reality is, within just two years of adding the first corporate client, women business owners experienced a 266 percent growth in revenue.

24. US Home Prices Rise in July by Most in 6 Years - Wednesday, September 05, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. home prices jumped 3.8 percent in the 12 months ending in July, according to a private real estate data provider. The year-over-year increase was the biggest in six years, further evidence that the housing market is steadily recovering.

25. Millstone Medical Expands Local Operations - Friday, August 31, 2012

Fall River, Mass.-based Millstone Medical Outsourcing LLC is relocating its Memphis operations to a larger Olive Branch facility to broaden services and capacity.

26. Naming the Baby: Product Naming 101 - Wednesday, August 29, 2012

If you ask business experts what is the most fundamental ingredient in a successful product launch, you may hear three things: distribution, quality or pricing. All three are merely givens in this era – mandatory.

27. US Trade Deficit Falls to Lowest in 18 Months - Friday, August 10, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. trade deficit fell to its lowest level in 18 months in June, pushed down by a steep drop in oil imports and a rise in exports.

The trade gap narrowed to $42.9 billion in June, down from $48 billion in May, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

28. US Economic Outlook Brightens on Jobs, Trade Data - Friday, August 10, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The outlook for the U.S. economy brightened a little Thursday after new data pointed to improvement in hiring and greater exports.

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits last week fell by 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 361,000, the Labor Department said. Economists noted that the level suggests the modest job creation in July could carry over into August.

29. Hard Work, Sincerity Keep Albertine Thriving - Monday, August 06, 2012

When Gary Albertine Sr. got into the real estate business in 1948, an average 1,500-square-foot house sold for about $15,000.

Contracts were one-page long, men dominated the industry and the eastern boundary of Memphis city limits was Goodlett Street. It was a simpler time, when business was based on trust and word of mouth.

30. Fed Says US Economy has Slowed, Takes No New Steps - Thursday, August 02, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that the U.S. economy is losing strength and repeated a pledge to take further steps to boost growth if hiring remains weak.

The Fed took no new action after a two-day policy meeting. But it acknowledged in a statement released after the meeting that economic activity had slowed over the first half of the year. It also said unemployment remains elevated and consumer spending is rising at a somewhat slower pace.

31. Construction Spending up in June - Thursday, August 02, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Another strong gain in homebuilding pushed U.S. construction spending up for a third straight month in June.

The construction industry has been flashing signs of improvement while other sectors of the economy have slowed.

32. US Jobless Claims Drop by 35,000 to 353,000 - Friday, July 27, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits dropped by 35,000 last week, a figure that may have been distorted by seasonal factors.

The Labor Department said Thursday that applications fell to a seasonally adjusted 353,000. That's down from a revised 388,000 the previous week and the biggest drop since February 2010.

33. Morgan Stanley Closes a Bleak Bank Earnings Season - Friday, July 20, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) — It's tough being a big bank these days.

Morgan Stanley, the storied investment house, reported Thursday that its revenue was down sharply for April through June and its profit missed Wall Street expectations. Its stock was clobbered — down more than 5 percent.

34. Capital One to Pay $210M Over Marketing Tactics - Thursday, July 19, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration's consumer watchdog agency flexed its enforcement muscles for the first time Wednesday and ordered Capital One Bank to repay millions of credit card customers allegedly tricked into buying costly add-on services.

35. Fed Was Split Over Policy Action at June Meeting - Thursday, July 12, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is open to taking further action to support the struggling U.S. economy. But minutes of the Fed's June meeting show policymakers at odds over whether the economy needs more help now.

36. Dollar General to Sell $450 Million in Senior Debt - Thursday, June 28, 2012

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Dollar General Corp. announced Wednesday that it is offering $450 million in senior notes due in 2017.

The discount retailer said it plans to use the proceeds, along with cash on hand and possible other borrowings, to redeem its outstanding senior unsubordinated notes.

37. American Offers to Drop Plans to Lay Off Pilots - Monday, June 25, 2012

DALLAS (AP) – American Airlines is offering to drop plans to furlough pilots as it seeks union approval for a long-term cost-cutting deal that would help American rebuild while under bankruptcy protection.

38. FedEx Corp. to Buy Brazilian Shipper - Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Memphis-based FedEx Corp. is buying its authorized FedEx representative in Brazil to become part of FedEx Express.

The agreement to buy Rapidao Cometa Logistica e Transportes SA is the fifth by the Express division since February 2011 as FedEx acquires networks of existing domestic routes and services already in place in Europe and Latin America, linking them to its international transportation and logistics network.

39. FedEx to Buy Brazilian Shipper - Monday, May 28, 2012

Memphis-based FedEx Corp. is buying its authorized FedEx representative in Brazil to become part of FedEx Express.

40. Yahoo CEO Faces Calls for Ouster After Inaccuracy - Monday, May 07, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Yahoo CEO Scott Thompson faces calls for his ouster after just four months leading the troubled Internet company because of inaccuracies with his academic credentials.

41. Ambitious Educators - Friday, April 27, 2012

KIPP Memphis, which currently educates 500 students in grades five through nine at two schools, has embarked on an ambitious expansion plan that will include opening 10 collegiate schools educating roughly 4,500 students in North and South Memphis by 2016.

42. US Airways Makes Deals With 3 AMR Unions - Monday, April 23, 2012

DALLAS (AP) – US Airways has struck deals with unions at American Airlines to win their support for a possible merger of the two airlines.

The unions are angry that American is trying to cut jobs and labor costs while under bankruptcy protection. They represent 55,000 pilots, flight attendants and ground workers at American, the nation's third-largest airline

43. Cash ‘In Limbo’ While Waiting on Charlotte - Monday, April 16, 2012

When he returned to Memphis last week from Charlotte, N.C., Memphis City Schools superintendent Kriner Cash went directly to The Racquet Club of Memphis where a group of 500 was winding up a rally in support of the Teacher Effectiveness Initiative.

44. Analyzing American Crossword Puzzle Tourney - Thursday, April 05, 2012

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – It’s crossword tourney time again, and here I am at the 35th installment of the world’s oldest event of its kind – the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Last year, I wrote that after puzzles 1-7, “last year’s winner, Dan Feyer, was in first, with last year’s third-place finisher, Anne Erdmann, and five-time winner, Tyler Hinman, on his tail.”

45. Gauge of US Economy Rose 0.7 Percent in February - Friday, March 23, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – A measure of future U.S. economic activity rose in February for the fifth straight month, fresh evidence that the economy is gaining momentum.

The Conference Board says its index of leading economic indicators rose 0.7 percent in February, after a 0.2 percent increase in January.

46. Gay Helps Grizzlies Get by Wizards, 97-92 - Monday, March 19, 2012

MEMPHIS (AP) – After playing in a first-half funk, the Memphis Grizzlies finally relied on better team basketball in the second half.

And Rudy Gay's 3-pointer with 23.9 seconds left put the finishing touch on the Washington Wizards.

47. Heavy Demand Expected as iPad Goes on Sale Friday - Friday, March 16, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Let the wild rumpus start.

The customary storefront crowds are expected to gather as Apple's latest iPad goes on sale Friday. Long lines are likely even though customers could have ordered the new tablet computer ahead of time for first-day home delivery.

48. MAA Announces Closing of Unsecured Term Loan - Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Memphis-based apartment-only real estate investment trust MAA announced Monday, March 5, the closing of a $150 million unsecured term loan agreement with a five-year term. Proceeds from the term loan will be used to repay outstanding balances on a secured line of credit.

49. Gasol, Conley Lead Grizzlies Past Mavericks 96-85 - Thursday, March 01, 2012

MEMPHIS (AP) – The Memphis Grizzlies wanted to make sure they maintained the momentum they had before the All-Star break.

They did it by turning back the defending champion Mavericks on Wednesday night – albeit with Dallas getting little production from Dirk Nowitzki, who left with a balky back.

50. State Targets Six Schools to Operate - Wednesday, February 29, 2012

A group of six Memphis city elementary and middle schools are about to change substantially in the next year as the state has announced it will step in to run them.

The changes announced this week as part of the state-run Achievement School District underscore larger changes to education across the country along the lines of charter school reforms.

51. Sullivan Inks Lease For Toyota Ctr. - Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Sullivan Branding has finalized its lease in the Toyota Center, where it will move about two-thirds of its workforce by the end of the week.

About 40 of Sullivan Branding’s 65 Memphis employees will relocate from 400 Union Ave. to occupy approximately half of the sixth floor of the 175,000-square-foot, eight-story Downtown office building at 175 Toyota Center, near the intersection of Third and Union.

52. Sullivan Branding Inks Toyota Center Deal - Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Sullivan Branding has finalized its lease in the Toyota Center, where it will move about two-thirds of its workforce by the end of the week.

About 40 of Sullivan Branding’s 65 Memphis employees will relocate from 400 Union Ave. to occupy approximately half of the sixth floor of the 175,000-square-foot, eight-story Downtown office building at 175 Toyota Center, near the intersection of Third and Union.

53. Homebuilder Optimism Rises for 5th Straight Month - Thursday, February 16, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. homebuilders are gradually growing more optimistic about the depressed housing market and believe homes sales could pick up sharply when the spring buying season begins.

54. Parker, Duncan Lead Spurs Past Grizzlies 89-84 - Tuesday, February 07, 2012

MEMPHIS (AP) – Tony Parker appreciates San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich's conservation plan.

55. Gasol Lead Grizzlies Past Hornets 93-87 - Thursday, January 19, 2012

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Marc Gasol likes to think his good basketball genes go beyond his 7-foot-1 stature and even affect his decision-making on the court.

"I try to make the right play every time," Gasol said. "If it's my shot, it's my shot. If I feel somebody else has a better shot than I'm going to take, I have to pass it. That's my DNA. There's nothing I can really change with that."

56. Year of Elvis - Thursday, January 05, 2012

When describing the upcoming 35th anniversary of the death of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Kevin Kern of Elvis Presley Enterprises said 2012 could bring more fans to town than ever before.

57. Vandy Going for 3rd Bowl Win Ever vs Cincinnati - Monday, January 02, 2012

Vanderbilt linebacker Chris Marve will have his own cheering section for the Liberty Bowl. It will include about 100 family and friends, and he couldn't help everyone asking for tickets.

Marve grew up in Memphis, Tenn., and went to high school at White Station. Former coaches and their families will be joining his relatives and friends in the stands Saturday when Vanderbilt plays Cincinnati.

58. CRE Activity Stays Strong During 2011 - Friday, December 30, 2011

Despite hard times, local commercial real estate firms were able to ink plenty of deals in the past 12 months.

Memphis’ industrial leasing activity kicked off in January when Buena Park, Calif.-based Pacific Logistics Corp. signed a 60,000-square-foot lease in ProLogis Park DeSoto for its first Memphis-area location.

59. Ginobili's 24 Helps Spurs Get Revenge on Grizzlies - Wednesday, December 28, 2011

SAN ANTONIO (AP) – Manu Ginobili never saw the Memphis Grizzlies play that badly in the playoffs, and is pretty sure he won't again.

But the San Antonio Spurs will take it.

Ginobili scored 24 points and San Antonio ran away from what barely resembled the up-and-coming Memphis team that stunned the 61-win Spurs in the first round last season, beating the Grizzlies 95-82 on Monday night.

60. Memphis has Long Team Meeting After Loss to Hoyas - Monday, December 26, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – After yet another disappointing loss, Memphis coach Josh Pastner decided it was time for a long, long talk with his team.

Pastner addressed his players in the locker room behind closed doors for more than 90 minutes after a 70-59 defeat against Georgetown on Thursday night, the Tigers' third loss in four games.

61. Durable Goods Orders Up, But Core Demand is Weak - Monday, December 26, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Companies' demand for long-lasting manufactured goods rose by the largest amount in four months in November, driven by a jump in orders for planes.

The Commerce Department says orders to U.S. factories for durable goods rose 3.8 percent in November. It was the biggest gain since July. But so-called core capital goods, a proxy for business investment spending, dropped for a second straight month. They fell 1.2 percent.

62. Vandy Holds Last Practice Before Heading to Memphis - Friday, December 23, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – The Vanderbilt Commodores know how to wrap up a final practice in style. Just ask senior linebacker Chris Marve.

His teammates lifted him up onto their shoulders Wednesday and carried him off the practice field, while defensive back Sean Richardson got the same treatment himself. Marve says it's been a tradition to carry off the senior linebackers at least since he was a true freshman.

63. Grizzlies Out to Prove Last Year was No Fluke - Friday, December 23, 2011

Coaches always see a bigger picture. So it is that Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins bristles at any suggestion that his team took its big step forward in last season’s playoffs – the implication being that this snapshot of two series and 13 games does not do the Grizzlies’ success in 2010-2011 full justice.

64. Commissioners Fail to Approve Redistricting Plan - Thursday, December 15, 2011

Shelby County Commissioners will try again Monday, Dec. 19, to give final approval to a new set of district lines for the 13-member body.

At a special meeting Wednesday, Dec. 14, a new set of district lines that would keep but tweak the current five-district setup won approval on the second of three readings. But it did not appear to have the two-thirds majority – or nine votes – needed to pass next week.

65. Commissioners Fail to Approve Redistricting Plan - Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Shelby County Commissioners will try again Monday, Dec. 19, to give final approval to a new set of district lines for the 13-member body.

At a special meeting Wednesday, Dec. 14, a new set of district lines that would keep but tweak the current five-district setup won approval on the second of three readings. But it did not appear to have the two-thirds majority – or nine votes – needed to pass next week.

66. Mortgages Up 15 Percent in November - Wednesday, December 14, 2011

As families across Shelby County last month made turkey dinners and took note of things they’re thankful for, the area’s mortgage bankers no doubt found reason to be grateful for some positive industry news.

67. Tigers Drop From Top 25 Basketball Rankings - Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Jim Boeheim has been coaching for 35 years and one thing he has learned is that players are able to focus on basketball even when there is a whirlwind around them.

The Syracuse program has been in the headlines since former assistant coach Bernie Fine was alleged to have molested two former ball boys. Quietly, the Orange have found a way to the top of The Associated Press' Top 25.

68. County Commission Meets on Redistricting - Friday, December 09, 2011

Shelby County commissioners meet in special session Friday, Dec. 9, to vote on a redistricting plan.

The ordinance that sets the new district lines to reflect population shifts in the 2010 U.S. Census is up for third and final reading at the meeting, which begins at 8 a.m. at the Vasco Smith County Administration Building, 160 N. Main St.

69. Can’t Gripe When Best Teams Reach Title Game - Friday, December 09, 2011

After the final Bowl Championship Series rankings came out and Oklahoma State wasn’t invited to the national title game, the Okie sports columnist did what he had to do.

He railed.

“The BCS mantra – every game counts – has been exposed …” Berry Tramel wrote in The Oklahoman. “But don’t take it personal, Cowboys. No one’s out to get you.

70. County Commission Still Weighing New Districts - Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Shelby County commissioners appeared on their way to setting a new group of district lines by Christmas that would create two more districts but keep the body at 13 members. That changed at the commission’s Monday, Dec. 5, meeting.

71. Commission Approves Flat Bonus, Moves Toward Redistricting End Game - Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Shelby County Commissioners approved a flat $650 bonus per county employee Monday, Dec. 5, after a lengthy debate about what to do with $2.5 million of an $8.7 million surplus from the fiscal year that ended June 30.

72. Construction Spending Rises for 3rd Straight Month - Friday, December 02, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. builders spent more in October on homes, offices and shopping centers, pushing construction spending up for a third straight month. Despite the gains, construction spending remained depressed.

73. Consumers Hit Retail Stores to Give Economy Boost - Wednesday, November 16, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Consumers are giving a modest lift to the economy. They spent more on autos, electronics and building supplies in October to boost retail sales for the fifth straight month.

74. Commission Begins Redistricting Work - Monday, October 31, 2011

Shelby County Commissioners take the first of three votes Monday, Oct. 31, that will likely change the structure of the 13-member legislative body.

The commission would remain at 13 members representing the entire county, but commissioners are considering two redistricting plans that would change how the districts are configured.

75. Nissan North America Renews Lease In SE Shelby - Friday, October 28, 2011

Nissan North America Inc. has renewed its 413,000-square-foot lease in Southeast Shelby County.

76. Crossword Champ Crowned - Thursday, October 27, 2011

LITTLE ROCK – Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011. Oh, what a beautiful morning! The sun rose brightly over the eastern edge of the city, its beams shimmering on the Arkansas River and reflecting off the edges of the Clinton Presidential Library. For those who’d made the trip to Sturgis Hall for the fifth annual Clinton School Puzzle Festival, a touristy atmosphere was the order of the day.

77. Economy Shows Signs of Health After Summer Slump - Friday, October 21, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The economy appears slightly healthier than many had feared it was a few weeks ago, raising hopes that it can end the year on an upward slope.

A raft of data Thursday show layoffs are trending down to a six-month low and factories in the Mid-Atlantic are growing again after contracting for two months. Nevertheless, home sales fell and the housing market is expected weigh on the economy deep into 2012.

78. Factory Output Rises on Truck, Airplane Demand - Tuesday, October 18, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. factories produced more goods in September for a third straight month, the latest signal that the economy is rebounding from its summer slump.

They made more airplanes, trucks and home electronics last month to meet rising demand, the Federal Reserve said Monday.

79. Fed Minutes: 2 Officials Saw Need for Bolder Steps - Thursday, October 13, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal Reserve policymakers considered a third round of bond purchases at their last meeting, and at least two members said the weakening economy might require it, according to minutes of the meeting released Wednesday.

80. Stock Buybacks Rise for 8th Consecutive Quarter - Wednesday, September 21, 2011

BOSTON (AP) – America's biggest corporations rewarded shareholders by spending more money on stock repurchases for the eighth consecutive quarter.

Standard & Poor's Indices on Tuesday said stock repurchases by companies in the S&P 500 index rose 41 percent in the April-June period, growing to more than $109 billion from nearly $78 billion in last year's second quarter. Buybacks rose 22 percent compared with this year's first quarter, when the total was nearly $90 billion.

81. Investors Exit Stock and Bond Funds in August - Thursday, September 15, 2011

BOSTON (AP) – Investors sought refuge from the market's volatility in August, withdrawing money from stock mutual funds and bond funds alike. The retreat from stock funds was unusually heavy for the third consecutive month, marking a renewed aversion to risk.

82. Nearly 1 in 6 Americans in Poverty, Census Says - Wednesday, September 14, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The ranks of the nation's poor have swelled to a record 46.2 million – nearly 1 in 6 Americans – as the prolonged pain of the recession leaves millions still struggling and out of work. And the number without health insurance has reached 49.9 million, the most in over two decades.

83. Fixed Mortgage Rates Stay Flat, Just Above Lows - Friday, September 02, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Fixed mortgages were mostly flat this week after hitting their lowest levels in decades. But few Americans are capitalizing on them.

The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage stayed at 4.22 percent for the second straight week, Freddie Mac said Thursday. The rate hit 4.15 percent two weeks ago, the lowest level on records dating to 1971.

84. Big Banks Offer Payday Loans by Another Name - Wednesday, August 24, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Payday loans may be coming to a bank near you.

They're marketed under a different name, but a handful of major banks already let customers borrow against their paychecks for a fee. And there are signs the option may soon become more widely available.

85. U.S. New-Home Sales Fall, 2011 Could be Worst Year Yet - Wednesday, August 24, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Sales of new homes fell for the third straight month in July, a sign that housing remains a drag on the economy. If the current pace continues, 2011 would be the worst year for new-home sales in nearly half a century.

86. Events - Thursday, August 18, 2011

The Downtown Memphis Commission will hold a public-sector focus group meeting as part of the Downtown Memphis Design Guidelines and Sign Code update Thursday, Aug.18, at noon in the DMC conference room, 114 N. Main St. For more information, call 575-0540.

87. Events - Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The Center City Development Corp. board of directors will meet Wednesday, Aug. 17, at 9 a.m. in the DMC conference room, 114 N. Main St.

88. Events - Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The Memphis Rotary Club will meet Tuesday, Aug. 16, at noon at the University Club of Memphis, 1346 Central Ave. Kevin Kane, president and CEO of the Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau, will speak. Cost is $18 per person. Advanced reservations are required. For reservations, email Taylor Hughes at taylor@memphisrotary.org.

89. During 'Elvis Week,' Fans Remember Pivotal Year - Tuesday, August 16, 2011

MEMPHIS (AP) – Elvis Presley fans love an anniversary.

Every year, thousands of Elvis devotees flock to Memphis to remember the singer's death on Aug. 16, 1977. The main event of "Elvis Week" is the solemn candlelight vigil at Graceland, his longtime home, at midnight Tuesday.

90. Selling on the Airwaves - Monday, July 18, 2011

In the world of advertising, persistence is key. That can be through mail-outs, billboards, print advertising or, as in the recent case of Carol and Amanda Lott, broadcasting.

91. TCAPs Show Gap Between City, County Schools - Tuesday, July 12, 2011

The results of the second year of higher state achievement testing standards for Tennessee’s third- through eighth-graders came with some basic conclusions in the test scores and some mixed signals in the percentage figures in a separate column from the TCAP scores.

92. Name Game Keeps It Personal After 38 Years - Monday, July 04, 2011

With $1,500 and an idea that came to mind in the fifth grade, Danny Howell created the small business now known as Name Game, which specializes in personalized apparel and is celebrating 38 years in operation.

93. Unemployment Fell in April in Most Metro Areas - Thursday, June 02, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The best month for private-sector hiring in five years and a pickup in summer jobs helped lower unemployment rates in more than 90 percent of the nation's largest cities in April.

94. Poll: US Economy Improving Despite Global Events - Tuesday, April 19, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Economists say the U.S. economy is gaining strength despite political unrest in North Africa and the Middle East and last month's devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

95. Black Equip. Supply Grows Memphis Presence - Friday, April 08, 2011

Black Equipment Supply is relocating its Memphis presence to a space that nearly doubles the size of the firm’s former location.

The company will vacate its 14,000-square-foot space off Cherry Road and has signed a 25,372-square-foot lease at Shelby Air Park, 4570 Shelby Air Drive, suite 8.

96. Obama Says Little Short-Term Help for Gas Prices - Thursday, April 07, 2011

FAIRLESS HILLS, Pa. (AP) – Pitching the promise of energy independence, President Barack Obama cautioned Wednesday that it's going to be tough to transition from America's oil-dependent economy and acknowledged there's little he can do to lower gas prices over the short term.

97. Unemployment Falls in Three-Quarters of US Cities - Thursday, April 07, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Unemployment rates are falling in most metro areas across the country, suggesting that recent nationwide gains in hiring are widespread and not limited to a few healthy regions.

98. New-Home Sales Plunged in February to Record Low - Thursday, March 24, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Sales of new homes plunged in February to the slowest pace on records dating back nearly half a century, a dismal sign for an already-weak housing market.

New-home sales fell 16.9 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 250,000 homes, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. It's the third straight monthly decline and far below the 700,000-a-year pace that economists view as healthy.

99. Airport Approves Contracts, Traffic Declines - Friday, March 18, 2011

The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority board has approved a contract with Faith Group LLC to develop an information technology master plan.

100. Election Time - Wednesday, February 23, 2011

A quiet week in the schools consolidation issue is being matched by some modest numbers for early voting turnout.

Through Monday, early voting in advance of the March 8 referendum Election Day had topped 3,500. The early voting period runs through March 3.