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.

2. Kroger Announces Changes to Whitehaven Store - Thursday, May 23, 2013

The latest upgrade of a Kroger supermarket in Memphis to be announced by the grocery giant’s Delta Division will be the Whitehaven store at 1212 E. Shelby Drive.

3. Local Startup Chosen for Launch TN Conference - Thursday, May 23, 2013

Memphis’ startup community will have a presence next month at Southland, Launch Tennessee’s new conference highlighting Southern culture and technology to be held in Nashville.

Kufikia, a subsidiary of Memphis-based startup venture Work for Pie, is one of 50 companies that will participate in the June 12-13 event. And the benefits are many, some of which carry the prospect of big rewards.

4. Committee Nears Final Vote on Immigration Bill - Wednesday, May 22, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Far-reaching immigration legislation neared a final committee vote on Tuesday as the White House and Democratic supporters pressed the panel's chairman to delay a showdown over the rights of gay spouses until a debate in the full Senate.

5. Suburbs Return School Districts to Ballot - Wednesday, May 22, 2013

As three of Shelby County’s six suburban towns and cities locked in July 16 referendums on forming municipal school districts, there were indications of renewed discussions between the suburban leaders and Shelby County Commissioners on the terms of forming those districts.

6. Shelby County Tax Rate Endgame Takes Shape - Wednesday, May 22, 2013

To some it’s a calculation with no binding effect on what is to come. To others on the Shelby County Commission it is an indication that a county property tax increase is about to be railroaded through.

7. Commission Approves Certified Tax Rate As Prelude To Tax Debate - Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners established a certified county property tax rate of $4.32 Monday, May 20, after much debate about what the calculation means in a reappraisal year where reappraisal values went down instead of up or staying roughly even.

8. Achievement School District Adds High School - Tuesday, May 21, 2013

The state-run Achievement School District ventures into high school territory in August with the start of its second school year.

Most of the ASD schools for the lowest 5 percent in the state in terms of student achievement are in Memphis. And so far, those schools, either run directly by the district or through charter school operators, are in elementary and middle schools.

9. City Council Mulls Ending Auto Inspections - Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Memphis City Council member Lee Harris will propose Tuesday, May 21, exempting Memphis auto owners for two years from required auto emissions inspections.

10. Arkansas Senators Participate in Online Business Forum - Monday, May 20, 2013

Arkansas’ two U.S. senators are participating in an online discussion with small-business owners about the Internet and economic development.

U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor’s office said he and Sen. John Boozman will participate in a Google Plus Hangout at 3:30 p.m. Monday. Talk Business editor Roby Brock will moderate the discussion.

11. Commission Begins Busy Week on Schools Front - Monday, May 20, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners may not have much to say at their Monday, May 20, meeting about a critical decision to come on funding for the new consolidated school system.

That’s more likely to happen at a Wednesday committee session, where they will review the $1.18 billion budget proposal formally for the first time since it was approved Thursday by the countywide school board.

12. Bill Haslam Vetoes ‘Ag Gag’ Bill - Saturday, May 18, 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.

13. School Board Sends Merger Budget to County Commission - Friday, May 17, 2013

Countywide school board members approved Thursday, May 16, a $1.18 billion budget for the consolidated school system in its first fiscal year, which begins July 1.

The board approved the budget on a 17-3 vote, with no amendments to the budget plan proposed by interim superintendent Dorsey Hopson and his cabinet.

14. Senate Confirms Physicist Moniz as Energy Chief - Friday, May 17, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Physicist Ernest Moniz won unanimous Senate confirmation Thursday to be the nation's new energy secretary.

Moniz, 68, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, replaces Steven Chu, who served as Energy secretary in President Barack Obama's first term. Moniz served as an energy undersecretary in the Clinton administration.

15. Two Bo’s, One Town - Friday, May 17, 2013

THANK YOU, Z’BO AND C’BO. AND THANK YOU, MICHAEL. Last week, my son reminded me to write a column about the Grizzlies. So I did. This week, a good friend commenting on that column reminded me of why I write them in the first place, and then wrote one for me.

16. Luttrell Proposes Tax Hike for Schools - Friday, May 17, 2013

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell is proposing a $4.38 county property tax rate including a 6-cent tax hike above the higher certified tax rate for the new fiscal year that begins July 1.

17. 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.

18. Henry Discusses Decision Not to Seek Re-Election - Thursday, May 16, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Longtime Sen. Douglas Henry said Wednesday that his health and the high cost of campaigning were factors in his decision not to seek re-election next year, even though he believes he could win if he did run.

19. River Infrastructure Fee Tough Sell in DC - Thursday, May 16, 2013

U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher told a group of business owners and others who work on the Mississippi River that the political environment in Washington is changing.

Fincher is a member of the Congressional Mississippi River Caucus that is pushing for continuing funding for infrastructure along the river.

20. School Board Considers Funding Shifts - Thursday, May 16, 2013

When countywide school board members begin considering changes Thursday, May 16, to the $1.18 billion budget proposal before them, there will be few easy choices.

First reactions and questions from school board members Tuesday at the first of three board sessions this week revolved around ways to shift funding in order to expand pre-kindergarten to more schools.

21. School Board Examines Budget Fine Print - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

The funding gap for the still tentative schools merger stands at an even $35 million in new funding.

The new total came Tuesday, May 14, after interim schools superintendent Dorsey Hopson told countywide school board members he and his staff had eliminated a “district initiative department” that would have cost $737,366.

22. Screwpulp Aims to Make Publishing Simpler - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

With a name like Screwpulp, it’s not hard to figure out how the founders of the startup feel about the current state of the publishing industry.

Screwpulp is one of six companies participating in Seed Hatchery, a tech-focused business accelerator for high-growth companies that wraps up its third season this month. Richard Billings is the founder of Screwpulp, which he and his team have built to help writers do an end run around traditional publishing outlets.

23. 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.

24. City Enticing FBI to Move Downtown - Tuesday, May 14, 2013

City leaders are attempting to bring the FBI Downtown. The FBI is searching for a significant amount of office space, and local leaders, including U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, are urging the law enforcement agency to locate Downtown.

25. 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.

26. Civic Leader Says City Has ‘Right Stuff’ - Monday, May 13, 2013

A little less than two years ago, Dr. Robert Ross was up for a standard performance review from the board of the foundation he leads.

27. The Daily News Claims 11 Green Eyeshade Awards - Saturday, May 11, 2013

The Daily News and The Memphis News claimed 11 Green Eyeshade Journalism Awards in the annual regional competition whose 2012 winners were announced Wednesday, May 8.

Sports commentary and sports reporting in The Memphis News by Don Wade claimed two first place awards in the 63rd annual Green Eyeshade Awards for the 11-state Southeastern region of the Society of Professional Journalists that includes Tennessee.

28. Core Focus - Saturday, May 11, 2013

The Great Recession silenced construction crews throughout the Memphis area, and that was especially evident Downtown, where ambitious, skyline-changing projects were put on hold, reconfigured or scrapped altogether.

29. Grizzlies Must Maintain ‘Thirsty Dog’ Mentality - Friday, May 10, 2013

As the Grizzlies’ series with the Oklahoma City Thunder shifted to Memphis for Game 3 on Saturday, May 11, the Grizzlies found themselves in much better position than during the Clippers’ series.

Instead of staring up at a 0-2 deficit, their Game 2 victory tied the series 1-1 and has allowed them the possibility to advance to the Western Conference Finals just by winning three games at FedExForum.

30. 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.

31. Danish Manufacturer Roxul Brings Facility to Byhalia - Friday, May 10, 2013

Just a few feet beyond the Tennessee-Mississippi state line past the Fayette County line on U.S. 72 is the turn onto Cayce Road in Byhalia and what is soon to be the first U.S. plant of the Danish company Roxul Inc.

32. Late-Payment Rate on Mortgages Tumbled in First Quarter - Thursday, May 09, 2013

LOS ANGELES (AP) – A resurgent housing market, rising home values and steady job gains are helping more U.S. homeowners stay on top of their mortgage payments.

The percentage of mortgage holders at least two months behind on their payments fell by 21 percent in the first three months of this year versus the same period in 2012, credit reporting agency TransUnion said Wednesday.

33. 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.

34. The Daily News Claims 11 Green Eyeshade Awards - Thursday, May 09, 2013

The Daily News and The Memphis News claimed 11 Green Eyeshade Journalism Awards in the annual regional competition whose 2012 winners were announced Wednesday, May 8.

Sports commentary and sports reporting in The Memphis News by Don Wade claimed two first place awards in the 63rd annual Green Eyeshade Awards for the 11-state Southeastern region of the Society of Professional Journalists that includes Tennessee.

35. Council Moves on School Funding Standoff - Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Memphis City Council members want to try to resolve the Memphis City Schools $57 million court judgment against the city as well as the city’s legal counterclaim that the school system owes it more than twice that by the end of this month.

36. Roxul Plant in Byhalia Breaks Ground - Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Mississippi economic development leaders break ground Wednesday, May 8, for a new $160 million Roxul Inc. manufacturing plant in Byhalia.

37. Suburbs Start Again on Municipal Schools - Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Aldermen in five of the six suburban towns and cities in Shelby County began the move Monday, May 6, to a July 16 referendum date for a second round of referendums on forming municipal school districts possibly as early as the 2014-2015 school year.

38. Tennessee Named Top Choice for Retirement - Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Retirees considering where to spend their golden years might want to consider Tennessee.

That’s according to Bankrate.com, the personal finance website, which this week ranked Tennessee at the top of its list of the 10 best states for retirement. The site’s analysts crunched numbers in several categories, including cost of living, taxes, health care, crime and climate.

39. Suburbs Start Second Move To Ballot On Municipal Schools - Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Aldermen in five of the six suburban towns and cities in Shelby County began the move Monday, May 6, to a July 16 referendum date for a second round of referendums on forming municipal school districts possibly as early as the 2014-2015 school year.

40. Labor Employees Claim White Employees Forced Out - Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Lawsuits filed in local and federal court accuse Department of Labor and Workforce Development leaders of forcing out white employees and replacing them with black employees.

The Tennessean has reported the complaints stem from the two years that Commissioner Karla Davis ran the state agency.

41. Hopson Says Merger Not Reason for Staff Cuts - Tuesday, May 07, 2013

The interim superintendent of Shelby County’s two public school systems says staffing changes at some schools to start with the first school year of the merger aren’t as draconian as they could have been.

42. APNewsbreak: States Fear Loss of Health Care Aid - Monday, May 06, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Thousands of people with serious medical problems are in danger of losing coverage under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul because of cost overruns, state officials say.

43. 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.

44. Tennessee GOP: Infighting Typical of Supermajority - Saturday, May 04, 2013

Republicans, positioned to make major changes to state law with the governorship and a supermajority in the General Assembly, ended the session with some high-profile measures derailed by infighting. Leaders say it was to be expected, and they had been warning of it since winning more than two-thirds of the legislative seats in November.

45. The Daily News Takes Two TAPME Awards - Saturday, May 04, 2013

The Daily News and The Memphis News took two awards at the annual Tennessee Associated Press Managing Editors competition.

The publications placed first in the competition for best editorial among Division 3 publications, which includes a daily circulation of up to 15,000, for an editorial in the July 27 Memphis News edition on the state of local green initiatives that also ran on the daily website.

46. Bank of Fayette County Repays TARP Funds - Saturday, May 04, 2013

The Bank of Fayette County has finished paying back the slightly more than $6 million it got from the federal government as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, initiative.

47. US Construction Spending Down 1.7 Percent in March - Saturday, May 04, 2013

Spending on U.S. construction projects fell in March as the biggest drop in government projects in more than a decade overwhelmed strength in home building.

Construction spending fell 1.7 percent in March, compared with February, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. It marked the second decline in the past three months. January activity plunged a record 4 percent, which represented a downward revision from a previous estimate of a 2.1 percent decline.

48. School Board Begins Schools Closing Process - Saturday, May 04, 2013

The countywide school board should begin public hearings in August as a first step toward considering the closings of a dozen schools in the 2014-2015 school year.

The board voted Tuesday, April 30, to begin the process.

49. Beyond the Numbers - Saturday, May 04, 2013

It’s that time of year again when thick budget books dominate life for those in the Memphis and Shelby County governments.

But this year’s budget season on both sides of the Civic Center Plaza is more than line items and bottom lines on paper. The deliberations that ultimately determine how much you will pay in property taxes and at what rate go beyond the plans in the books of estimates, projections and the recurring and one-time revenue sources.

50. 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.

51. Harper Finds Newest Adventure at Community Foundation - Friday, May 03, 2013

When Memphis native Ashley Harper graduated from Central High School and left town, it was for the mountains.

52. US Construction Spending Down 1.7 Percent in March - Thursday, May 02, 2013

Spending on U.S. construction projects fell in March as the biggest drop in government projects in more than a decade overwhelmed strength in home building.

Construction spending fell 1.7 percent in March, compared with February, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. It marked the second decline in the past three months. January activity plunged a record 4 percent, which represented a downward revision from a previous estimate of a 2.1 percent decline.

53. School Board Begins Schools Closing Process - Thursday, May 02, 2013

The countywide school board should begin public hearings in August as a first step toward considering the closings of a dozen schools in the 2014-2015 school year.

The board voted Tuesday, April 30, to begin the process.

54. Please, Please Belize! Part 2 - Thursday, May 02, 2013

In last week’s column, I told how a guy from another city and state who spends his winters in Belize wound up with a dead ringer for my phone number on a cell phone he bought in that country. Starting with Belize’s country code, 501, being identical to Arkansas’ 501 area code and continuing through each and every one of the last seven digits, “George’s” cell number is identical to my home land line.

55. Coupé Works to Protect City’s Most Vulnerable - Thursday, May 02, 2013

As supervising attorney over both the Judge’s Action Center and the Office of Advocate for Noncustodial Parents at Memphis-Shelby County Juvenile Court, Tom Coupé works to ensure that the most vulnerable members of society are being fairly and equally represented.

56. Luttrell: County Budget Reaching Cuts Limit - Thursday, May 02, 2013

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell refers to county government as “wholesale level government.”

He used the term again Tuesday, April 30, in a state of the county speech to the Memphis Rotary Club at the University Club.

57. 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.

58. 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.

59. Bank of Fayette County Repays TARP Funds - Wednesday, May 01, 2013

The Bank of Fayette County has finished paying back the slightly more than $6 million it got from the federal government as part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, initiative.

60. Mays Ponders Changes in Merger Terms - Tuesday, April 30, 2013

U.S. District Judge Samuel “Hardy” Mays is considering whether he should change the terms of the 2011 consent decree that so far has governed the path to consolidation of Shelby County’s two public school systems.

61. The Daily News Takes Two TAPME Awards - Tuesday, April 30, 2013

The Daily News and The Memphis News took two awards at the annual Tennessee Associated Press Managing Editors competition.

The publications placed first in the competition for best editorial among Division 3 publications, which includes a daily circulation of up to 15,000, for an editorial in the July 27 Memphis News edition on the state of local green initiatives that also ran on the daily website.

62. E-Strategy for Retailers - Tuesday, April 30, 2013

A couple of weeks ago, my colleague Andy Cates penned an article regarding the impact of e-commerce on distribution and industrial real estate. If you think about it, regardless of the channel you use to buy, the item you purchase still has to get from seller to buyer in some manner. From a distribution perspective, as more people order online rather than shop in retail stores, more distribution is moving to direct-to-consumer and that will have an impact on distribution strategy. So what about the impact from the retail perspective? What is the future of the physical retail store?

63. Kyle, Kelsey Debate Health Care, Government’s Role - Tuesday, April 30, 2013

State Senate Democratic leader Jim Kyle of Memphis says Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly are becoming like “Dixiecrats” – the Southern segregationist Democrats in the U.S. Congress in the late 1940s who formed their own party for a time.

64. Tennessee GOP: Infighting Typical of Supermajority - Monday, April 29, 2013

Republicans, positioned to make major changes to state law with the governorship and a supermajority in the General Assembly, ended the session with some high-profile measures derailed by infighting.

65. Board Continues Delay on Outsourcing Decision - Monday, April 29, 2013

Not every member of the countywide school board who voted against outsourcing custodial services in February is still trying to stop the contract to carry that out.

But enough were at the Thursday, April 25, special meeting of the board that there was another delay in going through with one of the most critical decisions the 23-member body will make about the merger. And another four to six school board members were absent during the series of votes.

66. 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?

67. 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.

68. Public Defender Role Lets Bell Help Others - Thursday, April 25, 2013

For assistant federal defender David Bell, the urge to be a lawyer was precipitated by the urge to help people.

69. Dickerson Learns Unintentional Consequences - Thursday, April 25, 2013

As a freshman lawmaker, state Sen. Steven Dickerson, R-Nashville, said he spent his first legislative session “pretty-tightly circumscribed.”

70. Hopson Proposes Closing 11 Schools In 2014-2015 - Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Memphis-Shelby County Schools superintendent Dorsey Hopson is proposing the countywide school board close 11 more schools, 10 in the city of Memphis and one in Millington.

The closings which include three Memphis high schools – Northside, Carver and Westwood – would take effect in the 2014-2015 school year if approved by the school board.

71. 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.

72. Committee Split on Park Renaming Options - Wednesday, April 24, 2013

The nine-member ad hoc committee that is supposed to come up with recommendations for the Memphis City Council on what to call three Confederate-themed city parks displayed a clear rift Monday, April 22.

73. 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.

74. A Look at the Bills That Passed, Failed in 2013 - Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Here is a look at some of the top pieces of legislation that passed or failed during the first session of the 108th Tennessee General Assembly.

WINNERS:

– GUNS IN PARKING LOTS. Allows people with handgun carry permits to store firearms in their vehicles no matter where they are parked. SB0142.

75. 108th General Assembly Adjourns for Year - Tuesday, April 23, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – The 108th Tennessee General Assembly adjourned on Friday, the first time in 45 years that lawmakers have finished as early as April in the first year of a session.

Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey had set an adjournment goal of April 18, but he didn't seem upset finishing a day later.

76. Arkansas Legislature Passes Steel Mill Funding - Saturday, April 20, 2013

Arkansas is set to provide a new steel company with $125 million in financing and a package of tax breaks to build a mill in the northeast part of the state after the Legislature gave final approval to the plan on Tuesday.

77. April 19-25: This Week in Memphis History - Saturday, April 20, 2013

1993: Memphis-based Back Yard Burgers Inc. announced plans to go public with a proposed initial public offering of 1.3 million shares of common stock at a planned price of $6 a share.

78. Bryce to Keep 318 Workers in Memphis - Friday, April 19, 2013

A packaging maker for retail brands like Frito-Lay and General Mills is getting a tax incentive worth $3 million to keep 318 workers in Memphis and add 95 new employees as part of a $21 million expansion here.

79. Bank of America Closes One Mortgage Lawsuit, Another Lingers - Thursday, April 18, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) — As soon as Bank of America puts one mortgage-related lawsuit behind it, another always seems to rear its head.

The bank announced Wednesday that it would pay $500 million to settle a class-action lawsuit led by pension funds and other investors who say they were misled about mortgage-backed investments they bought from Countrywide, a mortgage lender Bank of America bought in 2008. The bank portrayed the settlement as good news because it resolved the bulk of securities claims related to residential mortgage-backed securities.

80. 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.

81. Bill to Create Charter Schools Panel Delayed - Wednesday, April 17, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – A proposal to create a state panel to authorize charter schools for five counties has once again been delayed.

The measure was put off in the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday for at least the second time in about two weeks. The first time was due to the panel's lack of oversight. An amendment was proposed to address that on Tuesday, but then the vice chairman of the committee said the legislation should apply to all counties and not just five.

82. Arkansas Legislature Approves Steel Mill Funding - Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Arkansas is set to provide a new steel company with $125 million in financing and a package of tax breaks to build a mill in the northeast part of the state after the Legislature gave final approval to the plan on Tuesday.

83. 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.

84. Martin Named Interim U of M President - Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Brad Martin, the retired chairman and CEO of Saks Inc. and current chairman of the private investment firm RBM Venture Co., will be the interim president of the University of Memphis.

85. Haslam Continues Talks on Medicaid Expansion - Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has been talking with President Barack Obama’s administration since his decision last month not to accept federal funding for an expansion of the state’s Medicaid funding at least for now.

86. Municipal Schools Bill Sails Through House, Senate - Wednesday, April 17, 2013

After much speculation about resistance from other parts of the state to lifting the statewide ban on special school districts statewide, the bill to do that sailed through the Tennessee House and Senate Monday, April 15.

87. Legislature Sends Municipal Schools Bill To Haslam - Tuesday, April 16, 2013

The Tennessee House and Senate sent a bill permitting municipal school districts in 29 cities including the six suburban towns and cities in Shelby County to Gov. Bill Haslam Monday, April 15, for his signature.

88. Program Addresses Neonatologist Shortage - Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Memphis hospitals face a shortage of physicians that care for critically ill and premature newborn infants.

While the rate is falling, premature births in Shelby County remain well above the national average, says Ramasubbareddy Dhanireddy, who is medical director of the Sheldon Korones Newborn Center at The Regional Medical Center at Memphis and the neonatal intensive care unit at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

89. Budget Season Opens With Wharton Proposal - Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. presents his budget proposal Tuesday, April 16, to the Memphis City Council for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

And council members will probably be listening closely for one dollar amount in particular and how Wharton proposes to deal with it.

90. Federal Cuts Blamed For Modest Tennessee Retail Activity - Saturday, April 13, 2013

State Finance Commissioner Mark Emkes says federal spending cuts and tax hikes are to blame for a dip in consumer confidence in Tennessee.

Emkes in a release Friday said March sales tax collections, which reflect spending activity in the previous month, came in $2.8 million below estimates.

91. Raymond James Adds Fellman as Senior Vice President - Saturday, April 13, 2013

Ted Fellman has joined Raymond James as a senior vice president in the firm’s public finance group.

Fellman, who is based in Nashville, has had an extensive career in state government, including serving 18 years with the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. His work with that group included stints as executive director and chief financial officer.

92. 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.

93. April 12-18: This Week in Memphis History - Saturday, April 13, 2013

2012: The largest solar farm in the state opened in Haywood County along Interstate 40. The West Tennessee Solar Farm has 21,000 solar panels, and its opening in Haywood County came one day after Agricenter International formally opened its solar farm, a 998,400 watt photovoltaic system on five acres.

94. Reappraisal: Complex but Crucial Event - Saturday, April 13, 2013

Anyone who owns property in Shelby County – especially new, recent homebuyers – may be interested in a primer on the local reappraisal process, a major event that happens here every four years and the initial phase of which is wrapping up now.

95. Cohen Part of Bill Easing State-Federal Pot Conflict - Monday, April 15, 2013

A bill introduced in Congress on Friday would fix the conflict between the federal government’s marijuana prohibition and state laws that allow medical or recreational use.

California Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher said his bill, which has three Republican and three Democratic sponsors, would assure that state laws on pot are respected by the feds.

96. Critics Revive Past Promises to Knock Obama Budget - Friday, April 12, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Advocates for seniors say President Barack Obama is breaking his promise to protect Social Security, while conservatives say he is breaking his promise not to raise taxes on the middle class.

97. Welfare Penalty for Parents Dead This Session - Friday, April 12, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – The sponsor of a proposal to dock the welfare payments of parents whose children fail school refused to listen to a little girl opposing the measure Thursday, saying she was being used as a prop.

98. 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.

99. Charter Panel Bill Slowed in Senate - Thursday, April 11, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Lawmakers questioned a proposal to create a special panel to authorize charter schools in several Tennessee counties during debate at the state Legislature Tuesday, while a nonprofit group criticized the governor's decision to withdraw his school voucher program.

100. Senate Votes to Block Access to Gun Carry Records - Thursday, April 11, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Before last year's elections, the Senate Republican Caucus obtained a copy of the entire database of handgun carry permit holders in Tennessee. On Wednesday, the GOP-controlled chamber voted to block public access to those records.