Nonprofits need multifaceted ways to inform their stakeholders in a world that has grown more volatile, uncertain and complex, Jacob Herold, the president and CEO of GuideStar, told a sold-out audience at the annual Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence conference Wednesday, May 1.

2. School Board Approached by Suburbs - Thursday, May 02, 2013

A new round of talks about the schools merger and municipal school districts is about to begin.

And this time, the countywide school board may be at the table.

Countywide school board attorney Valerie Speakman told school board members Tuesday, April 30, that attorneys for the leaders of Shelby County’s six suburban municipalities have sent her a letter about possible talks on issues that go beyond the consent decree governing the merger.

3. School Board Delays Supt. Search, Approves Merger Outsourcing Contracts - Wednesday, May 01, 2013

Countywide school board members voted Tuesday, April 30, to move their search for a merger superintendent beyond the August start of the merger.

But the board voted down a resolution asking Memphis Federal Court Judge Samuel “Hardy” Mays to consider delaying the merger itself.

4. Fed Stands by Stimulus, Sees Stronger US Economy - Thursday, March 21, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that the U.S. economy has strengthened after pausing late last year but still needs the Fed's extraordinary support to help lower high unemployment.

5. Explore Alternatives to Banks - Thursday, March 21, 2013

Ray’s Take In decades past you built a relationship with your bank and, more importantly, your banker. After so many mergers, that’s become harder to do. Generation low interest rates have banks piling up fees on their customers as well as limiting services It might be worthwhile to at least consider options other than the neighborhood brick-and-mortar bank.

6. Reconsider Your W-4 Withholding - Thursday, February 07, 2013

Ray’s Take It’s that time of year again. Your mailbox is receiving the annual tax form allotment. In addition to filing your income tax, take time to evaluate your withholding. It might be that you should adjust the deductions on your W-4 form to change the amount withheld from your paychecks.

7. Mayor, Banks Revive Program Targeting City’s Unbanked - Monday, February 04, 2013

It started with a letter. More than two dozen of them, actually. Bankers from around Memphis got a missive from Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. in 2010 that solicited help from bankers like Joe DiNicolantonio, West Tennessee area president for Regions Bank.

8. You Can Still Save for Retirement - Thursday, January 24, 2013

Ray’s Take It may feel as if those gray hairs are multiplying faster than your 401(k). Or maybe your career or other life experience has thrown you curve balls that ate through your savings. Either way, it’s not too late to save for a more comfortable future!

9. Wal-Mart to Join Arkansas Health Care Program - Friday, January 11, 2013

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Thursday it will add its Arkansas employees' insurance plan to a state effort aimed at lowering health care costs by changing the way private insurers and Medicaid pay for services, and it committed $670,000 to create a tracking system that would measure the initiative's success.

10. Fewer US Banks Fail as Industry Strengthens - Wednesday, January 02, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. banks ended 2012 with their best profits since 2006 and fewer failures than at any time since the financial crisis struck in 2008. They're helping support an economy slowed by high unemployment, flat pay, sluggish manufacturing and anxious consumers.

11. US Bank Earnings Rise 6.6 Percent, Most in 6 Years - Wednesday, December 05, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. banks earned more from July through September than in any other quarter over the past six years. The increase is further evidence that the industry is strengthening four years after the 2008 financial crisis.

12. Congress Looks at Doing Away With the $1 Bill - Monday, December 03, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – American consumers have shown about as much appetite for the $1 coin as kids do their spinach. They may not know what's best for them either. Congressional auditors say doing away with dollar bills entirely and replacing them with dollar coins could save taxpayers some $4.4 billion over the next 30 years.

13. Labor Heads Say Obama Backs Them on 'Fiscal Cliff' - Wednesday, November 14, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Labor leaders said Tuesday that President Barack Obama remains committed to preserving tax cuts for middle class families and ensuring the wealthy pay more in taxes, outlining plans for a public campaign to pressure Republican lawmakers.

14. Obama: Americans Agree With My Approach on Deficit - Monday, November 12, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama, laying down his marker for grueling "fiscal cliff" negotiations, said Friday he won't accept any approach to federal deficit reduction that doesn't ask the wealthy to pay more in taxes.

15. Treating Customers Well Top Priority for First South Financial - Monday, November 12, 2012

Nice guys may finish last, but nice financial institutions grow steadily over time. First South Financial Credit Union stays competitive by reacting quickly and treating members well.

“I think for us there’s plenty of room for us to grow,” said Delynn Byars, senior vice president of marketing for First South. “When you look at surveys by the American Bankers Association, by Gallup, by other organizations, unfortunately there are a lot of financial institutions, but not a lot of them are doing a very good job taking care of their customers.”

16. Tayloe Brings Banking Knowledge, Energy to Financial Federal Board - Monday, November 12, 2012

At the age of 34, William Tayloe became the youngest president in the 27-year history of Financial Federal Savings Bank. Now, at 39, he has been named to the bank’s board of directors.

17. Optimism Finds Way Into Local Banks, Financial Institutions - Monday, November 12, 2012

Here’s a look at what’s going on in the world of finance, and the ways it’s all affecting Memphis.

First up, to quote the Bard, “But soft: what light through yonder window breaks?”

18. Corporate Avenue Building Sells for $1.2 Million - Tuesday, November 06, 2012

1721 Corporate Ave. Memphis, TN 38132

Sale Amount: $1.2 million

Sale Date: Oct. 26, 2012

19. Woodlake Apartments Owner Files $1.5 Million Loan - Monday, November 05, 2012

Woodlake LP, the owner of the Woodlake Apartments at 3590 New Tchulahoma Road in Oakhaven, has filed a $1.5 million loan on the property.

20. J.D. Byrider Brings First Franchise To Memphis - Friday, October 26, 2012

The nation’s largest used car franchise company has entered the Memphis market. Carmel, Ind.-based J.D. Byrider has inked 30,900 square feet at 2580 Mount Moriah Road, marking the company’s second Tennessee dealership.

21. Freedom Awards Winners Talk Important Decisions - Thursday, October 18, 2012

An audience of several thousand children from several local schools got a glimpse Tuesday, Oct. 16, of just how tentative the decisions that make history and change can be.

Each of the four winners of the National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Awards talked of different courses they might have taken during the annual forum at Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ.

22. Owner of East Memphis Office Building Files Loan - Monday, October 01, 2012

An entity called 1717 West Massey LLC has filed a $3 million loan through Financial Federal Savings Bank on the 18,722-square-foot office building at 1717 W. Massey Road.

23. Arkansas Governor Supporting Expansion of Medicaid - Wednesday, September 12, 2012

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Gov. Mike Beebe said Tuesday he supports expanding Medicaid eligibility in Arkansas under the federal health care law after officials assured him the state could later opt out, setting up a potentially heated fight with Republican lawmakers as they try to win control of the state Legislature.

24. Tennessee Starting to Benefit From Foreclosure Settlement - Friday, August 31, 2012

Tennessee homeowners have received more than $36 million in relief from March 1 through June 30 as part of a nationwide settlement reached with the country’s five big mortgage servicers.

That’s according to the office of Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper. The relief is in the form of loan modifications, refinances and facilitated short sales.

25. US Bank Earnings Rose 21 Percent in 2nd Quarter - Wednesday, August 29, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. bank earnings rose 21 percent in the April-June quarter and lending to consumers increased, adding to evidence that the industry is strengthening four years after the financial crisis.

26. US Economic Recovery is Weakest Since World War II - Thursday, August 16, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The recession that ended three years ago this summer has been followed by the feeblest economic recovery since the Great Depression.

Since World War II, 10 U.S. recessions have been followed by a recovery that lasted at least three years. An Associated Press analysis shows that by just about any measure, the one that began in June 2009 is the weakest.

27. Sign Up for Your Co.’s 401(k) Plan - Thursday, August 09, 2012

Ray’s Take The most important thing to know about 401(k) retirement savings accounts is pretty simple: Do it, and participate to the maximum you possibly can. Don’t wait and don’t quit.

28. US Consumer Spending Flat, Income Up 0.5 Pct. - Wednesday, August 01, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Americans spent no more in June than they did in May, even though their income grew at the fastest pace in three months.

The lack of growth in spending follows a decline in the previous month, suggesting consumers are staying cautious with their money as they economy weakens.

29. Unemployment Could Stay High as US Economy Slows - Monday, July 30, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – High unemployment isn't going away – not as long as the economy grows as slowly as it did in the April-June quarter.

Weak consumer spending held growth to an annual rate of just 1.5 percent, even less than the 2 percent rate in the first quarter. And few expect the economy to accelerate in the second half of the year as Europe's financial woes and a U.S. budget crisis restrain businesses and consumers.

30. Future Looking Bright At Bartlett’s ECE Solar - Monday, July 30, 2012

Most people who install solar panels to their home understand that it’s an investment that takes awhile to pay off.

Being in the business of installing solar panels is much the same. Still, Bill Turberville of Electrical Contracting Enterprises LLC, 3080 Stage Post Road in Bartlett, said he’d rather be the first in that market than the last.

31. Ark. Gov.: Lawmakers' OK Needed to Grow Medicaid - Thursday, July 19, 2012

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe said Wednesday he's still inclined to go forward with an expansion of Medicaid under the federal health care law, but that the decision will ultimately come down to a super-majority vote in the Legislature next year.

32. Praxair Files $2M Permit App for Pidgeon Park Site Work - Tuesday, July 10, 2012

3587 Paul R. Lowry Road
Memphis, TN 38109
Permit Cost: $2 million

Permit Date: Applied June 2012
Owner: Praxair Inc.
Tenant: Praxair Inc.
Contractor: W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Co.
Details: Praxair Inc., an industrial gases company that operates an air separation complex in Frank C. Pidgeon Industrial Park, has filed a $2 million building permit application to lay a foundation at its facility, 3587 Paul. R. Lowry Road.

33. As US Economy Steadies, Bank Closings Become Rarer - Friday, July 06, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Fewer U.S. banks are failing than at any time since the financial crisis erupted in 2008. The healthier banking industry is helping sustain an economy slowed by lackluster hiring, weak manufacturing and Europe's debt crisis.

34. Poplar Ave. Properties Financed for $2.5M - Wednesday, July 04, 2012

Poplar Yates Associates, an entity affiliated with Memphis-based Lichterman Properties LLC, has financed several buildings on Poplar Avenue and South Yates Road through Financial Federal Savings Bank for $2.5 million.

35. Land in G'town's Enclave Sells for $2 Million - Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Memphis-based entity Enclave 5 & 6 Joint Venture has bought land in Enclave Planned Development in Germantown from Magna Bank for $2 million. The land, which is on the north side of Wolf River Boulevard west of where Forest Hill-Irene Road would run if extended, is proposed as Enclave phases five and six, according to documents filed with the Shelby County Register of Deeds.

36. Control Over Ex-Tycoon Stanford's Assets at Issue - Thursday, June 14, 2012

HOUSTON (AP) – As former Texas tycoon R. Allen Stanford's criminal case gets ready to wind down with his sentencing Thursday for a $7 billion Ponzi scheme, the battle for control of his remaining assets around the globe still hasn't been settled.

37. Garden View Apts. Financed for $1.4M - Wednesday, April 11, 2012

WI Memphis LLC has financed the 92-unit Garden View Apartments complex at 1127 Whitaker Drive and 1137 Whitaker Drive for $1.4 million through Financial Federal Savings Bank. The loan matures in April 2017.

38. Cargill Files $1.4M Permit App For Pres. Island Storage Bldg. - Tuesday, April 03, 2012

2615 Channel Ave.
Memphis, TN 38113

Permit Cost: $1.4 million

Permit Date: Applied March 2012

39. Regions Rolls Out New Product Offerings - Monday, April 02, 2012

Regions Financial Corp., the parent of the bank that has the second largest share of customer deposits in Memphis, has now finished a companywide rollout of a new suite of products to a new set of customers.

40. Towering Questions - Monday, April 02, 2012

It’s been slightly more than two years since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, but when it comes to small businesses meeting its demands, confusion still abounds.

While some provisions of health care reform – such as expansion of coverage to adult children up to age 26, new coverage options for individuals with pre-existing conditions and eliminating lifetime caps on coverage – have been implemented, the government will continue to roll out provisions through 2014 and beyond.

41. Mike Murphy Builders Files Loan for 3 Lots in Enclave - Thursday, March 29, 2012

Mike Murphy Builders LLC has filed a construction loan for three lots in Germantown’s Enclave planned development, phase 3, through Financial Federal Savings Bank for $1.1 million. The sizes of the financed lots are 6,759 square feet fronting Enclave Hollow Lane East, 7,032 square feet fronting Terrene Lane and 6,760 square feet fronting Enclave Green Lane West.

42. Cypress RE Fund Buys Perkins BYB Property - Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Memphis-based realty investment fund Cypress Realty Holdings has bought Back Yard Burgers’ property at 436 Perkins Road Extended for $1.2 million.

43. Good News At Tax Time? - Thursday, March 01, 2012

Ray’s Take If you haven’t started taking care of your federal income tax filing with the IRS, it’s time to get a move on: April 15th seems to come around awfully quick. But, while you’re hustling to get your paperwork in order, keep in mind that there’s actually some good news for 2012 when it comes to income taxes.

44. Privatization Thoughts Highlight Changes - Monday, February 27, 2012

Here’s a roundup of what some of the city’s banks and bankers, investment professionals, mortgage brokers, asset management firms and other financial services shops have been up to in recent weeks.

45. Magna Bank Moves to Become Private - Monday, February 06, 2012

Magna Bank is taking steps to become a private banking company.

The Memphis-based bank, which is currently a public company and as such makes certain quarterly and annual financial information publicly available, has scheduled a special meeting of its stockholders for March 26. On the agenda is approval that’s being sought from shareholders to reclassify certain shares of the bank’s common stock and to convert from a federal savings bank to a state banking corporation.

46. Bernanke Defends Fed Policies Against GOP Critics - Friday, February 03, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Ben Bernanke defended the Federal Reserve's decision to hold interest rates at record-low levels for the next three years, during a contentious hearing before federal lawmakers.

47. Retail Sales Weaken in Dec. But Cap Record Year - Friday, January 13, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – America's retailers enjoyed a record 2011 and their first $400 billion sales months ever. But the final month of the year was a dud.

Sales eked out a 0.1 percent increase in December, to a seasonally adjusted $400.6 billion.

48. Consumer Borrowing Surges as Economy Improves - Tuesday, January 10, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Americans are feeling confident enough in the economy to go back to a time-honored tradition – taking on a little extra debt.

Consumer borrowing surged in November by $20.4 billion, the Federal Reserve said Monday. That's the largest monthly gain in a decade.

49. Economy Ends Tough 2011 on a Surprising Upswing - Friday, December 23, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The economy is ending 2011 on a roll.

The job market is healthier. Americans are spending lustily on holiday gifts. A long-awaited turnaround for the depressed housing industry may be under way. Gas is cheaper. Factories are busier. Stocks are higher.

50. Expect, Plan For Unexpected - Thursday, December 22, 2011

Ray’s Take Odds are you will encounter financial emergencies in your lifetime. They could range from the relatively minor – like damaging the family car – to something as devastating as complete home destruction. You simply should expect that the unexpected will happen and, at a minimum, have six months’ worth of living expenses set aside in savings or money-market accounts you can readily access.

51. Postal Service to Delay Cutbacks Until Mid-May - Wednesday, December 14, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. Postal Service on Tuesday agreed to delay the closing of 252 mail processing centers and 3,700 local post offices until mid-May.

In a statement, the cash-strapped agency said it would hold off on closings by several weeks to give Congress more time to pass legislation that would give it more authority and liquidity to stave off bankruptcy. The Postal Service, which is expected to default Friday on a $5.5 billion payment to the Treasury, is forecast to lose a record $14.1 billion next year.

52. Retail Sales are Helping Economy Grow Consistently - Wednesday, December 14, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Economic growth is picking up in the final three months of the year, fueled by higher consumer spending, rising business stockpiles and modest increases in hiring.

The start of the holiday shopping season in November helped produce the sixth straight monthly increase in retail sales. Gift-buying Americans spent more on clothing and electronics, and sales of autos and furniture also rose.

53. US Household Wealth Takes Biggest Hit Since 2008 - Friday, December 09, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Americans' wealth last summer suffered its biggest quarterly loss in more than two years as stocks, pension funds and home values lost value.

At the same time, corporations raised their cash stockpiles to record levels.

54. Back to Black - Monday, November 28, 2011

The Friday after Thanksgiving, often dubbed, “Black Friday,” is considered by many to be the traditional start of the holiday season shopping in the U.S.

The origin of the term varies. Some sources attribute the Philadelphia Police Department’s coinage of the phrase in 1966 to describe the hectic traffic and chaotic crowds on the busy shopping day. Others deem the expression to reflect a retailer’s shift to profitability during the holiday season, when a boost in sales moves a business out of the “red” and into the “black.”

55. FDIC: Bank Earnings Hit Highest Level in 4 Years - Thursday, November 24, 2011

Bank earnings rose over the summer to their highest level in more than four years, while the number of troubled banks fell for the second straight quarter, federal regulators reported Tuesday.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said the banking industry earned $35.3 billion in the July-September quarter. That’s up from $23.8 billion in the same period last year. More than 60 percent of banks reported improved earnings.

56. Consumer Borrowing Up, But Credit Card Use Falls - Tuesday, November 08, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Americans borrowed more in September to buy cars and attend college, but they charged less to their credit cards for a third straight month. The figures suggest that consumers are growing more cautious about taking on high-interest debt in a weak economy.

57. Economy Picks Up but Hiring Outlook Stays Cloudy - Friday, November 04, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Companies are more productive, fewer people are seeking unemployment benefits and service companies are adding jobs.

Ideally, those trends could signal stronger growth, followed by more hiring. Yet until consumers consistently spend more, businesses are unlikely to hire enough to drive down unemployment.

58. Senators Offer Plan to Keep Postal Service Solvent - Thursday, November 03, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Senators announced a bipartisan plan Wednesday to help keep the financially ailing Postal Service solvent and continue six-day mail delivery for at least two more years.

59. 100 Lawmakers to Debt Panel: Consider All Options - Thursday, November 03, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Forty House Republicans joined 60 Democrats Wednesday in pressing Congress' special debt reduction committee to consider all options, including higher revenues, and shoot for $4 trillion in savings.

60. Carr Joins Financial Federal as Biz Development Officer - Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Ruth Carr has joined Financial Federal Savings Bank as business development officer. Carr will lead a business development initiative, focusing on establishing and maintaining relationships with clients and customers, and will act as a facilitator between customers and lending officers. She will also act as a liaison for Financial Federal’s community relations.

61. For Investors, Playing it 'Safe' Can be Risky - Monday, October 24, 2011

CHICAGO (AP) – Investors remain anxious to find safety even as the stock market moves back toward positive territory for the year.

They're on pace to yank more than $20 billion out of stock funds this month, the fourth time in the last five months, scarred by the volatility over everything from the sluggish economy to Europe's debt crisis to the threat of another global recession.

62. Deficit 'Supercommittee' Struggles as Clock Ticks - Tuesday, October 11, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The supercommittee is struggling.

After weeks of secret meetings, the 12-member deficit-cutting panel established under last summer's budget and debt deal appears no closer to a breakthrough than when talks began last month.

63. Defense Depot Property Sells for $1.1 Million - Tuesday, October 04, 2011

2085 W.E. Freeman Drive
Memphis, TN 38114
Sale Amount: $1.1 million

Sale Date: Sept. 14, 2011

Buyer: Varma Family LP

64. Distriplex Farms Warehouse Sells For $3 Million - Thursday, September 29, 2011

JSR Properties has bought two properties in Holmes/Mineral Wells Planned Development from Illinois-based DFS Services LLC for $3 million. One parcel contains a warehouse at 5305 Distriplex Farms Drive; the second is adjacent vacant land.

65. Mixed Impact on Consumers From Fed's 'Twist' - Friday, September 23, 2011

Operation Twist doesn't give consumers much to shout about.

The Federal Reserve's latest effort to boost the economy by driving down long-term interest rates won't have a big impact on home and car buyers, savers or credit card users.

66. Household Wealth Dipped in the Spring - Monday, September 19, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Americans' wealth declined this spring for the first time in a year, as stocks and home values fell. At the same time, corporations increased the size of their cash stockpiles.

67. Federal Deficit Totaled $1.23T Through August - Wednesday, September 14, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The federal budget deficit reached $1.23 trillion in August. The third straight $1 trillion-plus deficit adds pressure on Congress and the White House to reach agreement on a long-term plan to trim government spending.

68. Obama Tax Proposal Worries Social Security Allies - Tuesday, September 13, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Some Social Security advocates fear that President Barack Obama's desire to cut taxes supporting the program will undermine its vaunted stature as a self-financing pension system that provides checks to retirees based on contributions they made while working.

69. Low Rates Squeeze Savers and May Hold Back Economy - Friday, August 26, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Super-low interest rates haven't done what they usually do after a recession. They haven't ignited economic growth or revived the home market or persuaded consumers to spend freely again.

70. Fed's Low Rates are No Fix for Economy or Retirees - Friday, August 12, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Federal Reserve's plan to keep interest rates super-low for at least two more years is great news for mortgage refinancers and other borrowers.

For retirees and others who need interest income, it's a threat.

71. Pelosi Names Final Members to Debt Supercommittee - Friday, August 12, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's appointment Thursday of three Democrats to Congress' new debt-reduction supercommittee completes the roster of a panel whose members are already being tugged in competing directions.

72. Debt Panel Members Prompt Doubts - Thursday, August 11, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – A conservative Texas Republican congressman has been chosen by House Speaker John Boehner to co-chair a powerful new committee tasked to find a bipartisan plan to slash the federal budget deficit by over $1 trillion.

73. Conquering College Costs - Thursday, August 11, 2011

Ray’s Take: Kids grow up fast and college is expensive. These are two facts you can’t get around. If you plan to save for their college education, the best time to start is when they’re in diapers. But, whenever you begin, check out the saving plans available to you. They offer different advantages and drawbacks, depending on your needs.

74. Difficult Work Follows Debt Deal - Monday, August 08, 2011

The consensus among a variety of financial service professionals in Memphis who were questioned in advance about the outcome of the debt ceiling deal seems to have been proven right.

Lawmakers engineered a delicate compromise at the 11th hour. The nation’s borrowing capacity has been expanded, but programs elsewhere have been trimmed. Everyone at the negotiating table walked away with a win. And everyone at the negotiating table also lost something.

75. Debt-Limit Votes: Senate Momentum, House Concerns - Tuesday, August 02, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The House began debate Monday on the hard-bargained plan to avert a national financial default, even as the White House and congressional leaders struggled to round up enough votes to approve it. Supporters said momentum for the deficit-reduction compromise was on their side, but resistance from both liberals and conservatives made the outcome unclear.

76. GOP Retools Plan as Congress Seeks Debt Fix - Thursday, July 28, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) — Six days away from a potentially calamitous government default, House Republicans appeared to be coalescing Wednesday around a work-in-progress plan by House Speaker John Boehner to increase the U.S. borrowing limit and chop $1 trillion in federal spending. But the White House dismissed the proposal as a waste of time, and it got a thumbs-down from Senate Democrats and tea party activists, too.

77. 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.

78. No Stopgap: Obama Demands Big Deal for Debt Limit - Tuesday, July 12, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama declared Monday he would reject any stopgap extension of the nation's borrowing limit, adding fresh urgency for Republicans and fellow Democrats to resolve intense tax and spending disputes and head off economic calamity.

79. Stars Align as MATCU Rebrands to Orion FCU - Monday, July 11, 2011

Orion is the name of one of the most famous and easily visible constellations found in the evening sky.

It’s also part of the new name Memphis Area Teachers’ Credit Union is now hanging on the proverbial shingle outside its branch locations, which are part of the largest credit union network in West Tennessee.

80. Gov't Eases Foreclosure Rules for Unemployed - Friday, July 08, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Obama administration is making it easier for out-of-work homeowners to stay in their homes, as it tries to revamp its troubled foreclosure-prevention program.

Starting Aug. 1, the Federal Housing Administration will extend the period for unemployed homeowners to miss mortgage payments to a full year from three or four months. That will allow qualified homeowners to go without making a monthly payment for 12 months before the foreclosure process begins.

81. Federal Jobless Tax for Employers Expiring Quietly - Friday, July 01, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Virtually every private employer in the U.S. will get a tax cut on Friday.

It won't affect workers' paychecks. But the expiration of a 35-year-old "temporary" unemployment tax – about $14 a year per worker – will mean real money for some big companies at a time when President Barack Obama is pushing Congress to raise taxes on businesses by closing some loopholes.

82. AP Survey: Economists Warn Against More Fed Action - Tuesday, June 14, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) — The best cure for the economy now is time.

That's the overwhelming opinion of leading economists in a new Associated Press survey. They say the Federal Reserve shouldn't bother trying to stimulate the economy — and could actually do damage if it did.

83. Municipal Unions Rally Against Conrad Proposal - Friday, June 03, 2011

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. said Thursday, June 2, he is not “seeking privatization of any of the positions” held by members of the union that represents the city’s sanitation workers.

Wharton’s written statement came the day after Memphis City Council member Kemp Conrad presented a plan for balancing the city’s operating budget in the new fiscal year and beyond with several measures including privatizing or outsourcing the city’s garbage collection.

84. Republicans Press Obama on Spending - Thursday, June 02, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Top House Republicans pressed President Barack Obama Wednesday for a detailed plan on budget cuts, and one leading lawmaker accused him of distorting a GOP Medicare proposal at the center of the partisan divide over spending.

85. House to Reject Debt Limit Increase Without Cuts - Wednesday, June 01, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – House Republicans lined up to reject their own proposed $2.4 trillion increase in the nation's debt limit Tuesday, a political gambit designed to reinforce a demand for spending cuts to accompany any increase in government borrowing.

86. 5000 E. Raines Warehouse Sells in Foreclosure for $7.7M - Monday, May 30, 2011

5000 E. Raines Road
Memphis, TN 38118
Sale Amount: $7.7 million

Sale Date: May 13, 2011
Buyer: GECMC 2003-C2 5000 Raines Road LLC
Seller: R. Hunter Humphreys, substitute trustee
Orig. Borrower: 5000 East Raines Partnership
Orig. Lender: Bank of America NA
Orig. Loan Amount: $19 million
Orig. Loan Date: May 1, 2003
Orig. Maturity: June 1, 2013
Details: A 1.1 million-square-foot warehouse at 5000 E. Raines Road has sold at a foreclosure sale for $7.7 million. GECMC 2003-C2 5000 Raines Road LLC bought the property at the May 13 sale.

87. Troubled Banks Made Up About 12 Pct of Total in Q1 - Wednesday, May 25, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The number of U.S. banks at risk of failing made up nearly 12 percent of all federally insured banks in the first three months of 2011, the highest level in 18 years.

88. Hackmeyer Properties Finances Lamb Place Prpty. - Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Memphis-based Hackmeyer Properties has financed a 9.7-acre parcel at 2850 Lamb Place through Financial Federal Savings Bank for $1.3 million. The property contains a 97,250-square-foot flex-space warehouse built in 1974. The loan matures in May 2016.

89. AP-GfK Poll: Medicare Doesn't Have to be Cut - Tuesday, May 24, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – They're not buying it. Most Americans say they don't believe Medicare has to be cut to balance the federal budget, and ditto for Social Security, a new poll shows.

The Associated Press-GfK poll suggests that arguments for overhauling the massive benefit programs to pare government debt have failed to sway the public. The debate is unlikely to be resolved before next year's elections for president and Congress.

90. GOP Seeks Leverage in Talks Over Debt Ceiling Hike - Thursday, May 12, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – It was a tough-talking House Speaker John Boehner who warned Wall Street this week that Congress won't raise the government's debt ceiling without massive spending cuts that most Democrats oppose.

91. Cabot Affiliate Buys Airport Industrial Warehouse - Tuesday, April 12, 2011

3924 Crowfarn Drive
Memphis, TN 38118
Sale Amount: $2.2 million
Sale Date: March 28, 2011
Buyer: Cabot III-TN1M01 LLC
Seller: MM Industrial Memphis LLC

92. Analysts: First Horizon Could Report Small Q1 Profit - Monday, April 11, 2011

The consensus estimate of more than two-dozen analysts is that First Tennessee Bank’s Memphis-based parent company will report a 4-cent profit for the first quarter when First Horizon National Corp. announces earnings this week.

93. Cordova Self-Storage Facility Quit Claimed to Tellus LLC - Thursday, April 07, 2011

Gulfport, Miss.-based Tellus Grand Central LLC has been quitclaimed a self-storage facility at 7384 Raleigh-LaGrange Road, at the northeast corner of Raleigh-LaGrange and Mullins Station roads, by Tellus Development Ltd.

94. New CFO Latest Sign Of Growth At Evolve - Wednesday, April 06, 2011

Memphis-based Evolve Financial Group has brought a new chief financial officer on board.

Howard Lasley, who has more than 30 years’ experience in financial services and has worked in the banking, thrift, investment and mortgage banking spheres, has joined a company with three primary business divisions, 220 employees at year-end, 22 mortgage offices and five full-service bank branches in Arkansas and Tennessee.

95. Poll Reveals Baby Boomers' Retirement Fears - Wednesday, April 06, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Baby boomers facing retirement are worried about their finances, and many believe they'll need to work longer than planned or will never be able to retire, a new poll finds.

96. Fed Names Banks That Drew Loans During Crisis - Friday, April 01, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – For the first time in its 98-year history, the Federal Reserve on Thursday identified banks that borrowed from its oldest lending program, naming those that drew emergency loans during the financial crisis.

97. Bank On Memphis Aims to Aid Unbanked, Underbanked - Friday, March 25, 2011

The everyday financial transactions of 45,000 Memphis households are done in cash, car title loans, money orders, third-party check cashing and payday loans.

And those “unbanked” transactions mean lost savings opportunities estimated by Federal Reserve Bank officials at $45 million locally.

98. Why Inflation Hurts More Than It Did 30 Years Ago - Monday, March 21, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Inflation spooked the nation in the early 1980s. It surged and kept rising until it topped 13 percent.

These days, inflation is much lower. Yet to many Americans, it feels worse now. And for a good reason: Their income has been even flatter than inflation.

99. Ben Bernanke's Plan Worked; What Happens After? - Wednesday, March 02, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Nearly everything is going according to the plan Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke hatched six months ago.

During a speech in Jackson Hole, Wyo., on Aug. 27, Bernanke outlined an effort to spur economic growth, prevent prices from falling and push markets higher through the purchase of government bonds. Since then stocks have soared, the unemployment rate has dropped and Americans have started to spend more.

100. Troubled Banks Rise to Highest Level in 18 Years - Thursday, February 24, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The number of banks at risk of failing made up nearly 12 percent of all federally insured banks in the final three months of 2010, the highest level in 18 years.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp said Wednesday that the number of banks on its confidential "problem" list rose to 884 in the October-December quarter, up from 860 in the previous quarter. Those are banks rated by examiners as having very low capital cushions against risk.