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

2. Popular Elvis Exhibit Returning to Brazil - Monday, April 08, 2013

A hugely popular exhibit of some of Elvis Presley’s most flashy personal items is returning to Brazil.

Elvis Presley Enterprises says “The Elvis Experience” will be exhibited in Porto Alegre, Brazil, from May 16 through July 2.

3. Insurers Warn of Overhaul-Induced Sticker Shock - Thursday, March 14, 2013

Some Americans could see their insurance bills double next year as the health care overhaul law expands coverage to millions of people.

The nation's big health insurers say they expect premiums – or the cost for insurance coverage – to rise from 20 to 100 percent for millions of people due to changes that will occur when key provisions of the Affordable Care Act roll out in January 2014.

4. Longtime Family Lawyer to Host Divorce Seminar - Friday, March 08, 2013

Prominent Memphis family law attorney Larry Rice is gearing up to hold his 25th anniversary Divorce Skills Seminar next week.

5. US Home Prices Rose Last Year by Most in 6.5 Years - Wednesday, February 06, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. home prices jumped by the most in 6.5 years in December, spurred by a low supply of available homes and rising demand.

Home prices rose 8.3 percent in December compared with a year earlier, according to a report Tuesday from CoreLogic, a real estate data provider. That is the biggest annual gain since May 2006. Prices rose last year in 46 of 50 states.

6. Flu Season 'Bad One for the Elderly,' CDC Says - Monday, January 21, 2013

The number of older people hospitalized with the flu has risen sharply, prompting federal officials to take unusual steps to make more flu medicines available and to urge wider use of them as soon as symptoms appear.

7. Flu More Widespread in US; Eases Off in Some Areas - Monday, January 14, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – Flu is more widespread across the nation, but the number of hard-hit states has declined, health officials said Friday.

Flu season started early this winter, and includes a strain that tends to make people sicker. Health officials have forecast a potentially bad flu season, following last year's unusually mild one. The latest numbers, however, hint that the flu season may already have peaked in some spots.

8. No Deal in Sight as Deadline for Fiscal Deal Nears - Friday, December 28, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – A last-gasp effort Thursday to avoid automatic tax increases and spending cuts got off on the same convulsive, partisan tone that marked congressional attempts to resolve the impasse before lawmakers left Washington to go home for Christmas.

9. US Home Prices Rise in October by Most in 6 Years - Wednesday, December 05, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – A measure of U.S. home prices rose 6.3 percent in October compared with a year ago, the largest yearly gain since July 2006. The jump adds to signs of a comeback in the once-battered housing market.

10. Decision Time for Medical Exchange - Friday, November 16, 2012

The deadline has arrived for governors across the country to declare their intent to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on whether they will create their own state-run insurance exchanges under the new federal health care law.

11. Obama's Health Care Overhaul Turns Into a Sprint - Friday, November 09, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The long slog has turned into a sprint. President Barack Obama's health care law survived the Supreme Court and the election; now the uninsured can sign up for coverage in about 11 months.

12. After Pandit, a Smaller Citigroup Could Get Smaller Yet - Thursday, October 18, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – The incredible shrinking bank may have to shrink more.

In the hours after Tuesday's surprise announcement that Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit was stepping down, speculation was rife, and facts scant, about what lay ahead for the nation's third-largest bank.

13. Measure of US Home Prices Rises by Most in Six Years - Wednesday, October 03, 2012

A measure of U.S. home prices jumped 4.6 percent in August compared with a year ago, the largest year-over-year increase in more than six years.

CoreLogic, a private real estate data provider, also said Tuesday, Oct. 2, that prices rose 0.3 percent in August from July, the sixth straight monthly gain.

14. Census Data Another Sign Economy has Bottomed Out - Friday, September 21, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Five years after the housing bust, the U.S. economy is showing signs of finally bottoming out.

Americans are on the move again after putting their lives on hold and staying put. More young adults are leaving their parents' homes to take a chance with college or the job market, while once-sharp declines in births are leveling off and poverty is slowing.

15. Advocates: 39 States' Obesity Rates to Pass 50 Percent - Wednesday, September 19, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – A group campaigning against obesity predicts that by 2030 more than half the people in 39 states will be obese – not merely overweight, but obese.

Mississippi is expected to retain its crown as the fattest state in the nation for at least two more decades. The report predicts 67 percent of that state's adults will be obese by 2030; that would be an astounding increase from Mississippi's current 35 percent obesity rate.

16. Facts, Feelings Go Hand in Hand - Thursday, August 23, 2012

Investment Lesson: Sentiment Growth just as good as Earnings Growth Two factors move stock prices, earnings and sentiment. Earnings tend to be backward looking while sentiment tends to be forward looking. In market parlance, multiples or valuation ratios (price/earnings, price/book, price/sales) measure sentiment. Stocks prices increase when earnings increase, sentiment increases or both increase.

17. US Poverty on Track to Rise to Highest Since 1960s - Tuesday, July 24, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The ranks of America's poor are on track to climb to levels unseen in nearly half a century, erasing gains from the war on poverty in the 1960s amid a weak economy and fraying government safety net.

18. Finding a Niche - Thursday, July 19, 2012

This is the second in a two-part series looking at the state of the local travel agency industry. The first story ran in The Daily News June 29.

The age of self-service travel, in which customers are performing every task, from booking flights and hotels online to checking themselves in electronically at the airport, has forced many travel agencies in recent years to close their doors.

19. 3 TV Display Makers Settle LCD Price-Fixing Case - Friday, July 13, 2012

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Three Asia-based companies have agreed to pay $571 million to settle claims by officials in eight states that they conspired to inflate prices for liquid crystal display screens used in televisions and computer monitors, according to New York's attorney general.

20. Fire Still Burning Strong For A2H Founder Askew - Monday, June 25, 2012

Mark Askew’s engineering career began with a long, strange trip from Memphis in 1969.

But it’s the years of work he did after returning home that are paying off with high honors from his industry peers this year.

21. Elvis Products Keeping Retail Outlets Busy - Friday, June 15, 2012

A variety of new products have recently come to market or will soon that will all keep alive the legacy of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Those products include apparel, books, music, a film and more.

22. To Snag the Best Airfares, Flexibility is Key - Monday, June 11, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – To snag the best airfares, travelers need to be adventurous and willing to pick up at a moment's notice.

OK, now let's be realistic. Most people making summer travel plans need just that: plans. They get a week off, maybe two, and aren't going to spend hard-earned cash on a last-second whim.

23. Mississippi Economy Shrank 0.8 Percent in 2011 - Wednesday, June 06, 2012

Mississippi dipped back into recession in 2011, with overall economic output shrinking 0.8 percent, according to federal figures released Tuesday.

The Magnolia State was one of only six states where the economy contracted in 2011, along with Alabama, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey and Wyoming.

24. Granting Wishes - Monday, May 28, 2012

Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-South plans to grant 220 wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions this year.

On Thursday, May 24, the Memphis Area Association of Realtors Commercial Council was able to witness one of those wishes being granted firsthand at Windyke Country Club, as well as donate enough funds to share the power of three additional wishes.

25. Strike up the Band - Monday, May 21, 2012

For anyone who finds themselves in conversation with Mei-Ann Chen about the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, its big plans for the year and major guest performers who’ve been lined up, be prepared to get an earful on a topic about which Chen will evangelize, her smile broad and voice brimming with cheer.

26. Late Payments on Mortgages Fall in 1st Qtr. - Thursday, May 10, 2012

LOS ANGELES (AP) – The percentage of U.S. homeowners behind on their mortgage payments dropped in the first three months of this year to the lowest level since 2009, according to a new report.

27. 1 in 2 New Graduates are Jobless or Underemployed - Tuesday, April 24, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The college class of 2012 is in for a rude welcome to the world of work.

A weak labor market already has left half of young college graduates either jobless or underemployed in positions that don't fully use their skills and knowledge.

28. 2nd Panel Blasts GSA for Parties, Trips, Bonuses - Wednesday, April 18, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – General Services Administration witnesses came under sharp criticism from Congress for a second day on Tuesday, as lawmakers expressed outrage over junkets, bonuses and parties paid for by taxpayers.

29. House GOP Unveils Budget Blueprint - Wednesday, March 21, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Conservative House Republicans on Tuesday set up what appears to be a potential re-run of last year's turbulent domestic policy fight with President Barack Obama, putting forward an election-year budget manifesto that would blend steep social program cuts with reduced tax rates.

30. Tenn. Among States With Foreclosure Spike in Feb. - Friday, March 16, 2012

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Foreclosure activity surged last month across about half of the nation's states, as banks tackled a backlog of homes with mortgages that had gone unpaid yet remained in limbo due to delays stemming from foreclosure-abuse claims.

31. Tigers Right Their Wrongs Heading Into Postseason - Friday, March 02, 2012

They assumed greatness. Assumed it as opposed to earning it and proving it.

That’s the quicksand in which this Tigers basketball season started. The college basketball world told them they were a Top 10 team and the Tigers decided they would need, oh, a few days on the beach in Hawaii to prove they were really Top Five and better than Michigan, Georgetown, even Duke.

32. Haslam Seeks Merger of 6 Environmental Panels - Tuesday, February 07, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam's first effort to reduce state boards will merge six panels with significant environmental duties into three, affecting one with regulatory power over gas stations, including the family's Pilot Travel Centers.

33. Obama Delays Request for $1.2T Debt Limit Increase - Monday, January 02, 2012

HONOLULU (AP) – President Barack Obama is delaying his request for another $1.2 trillion increase in the United States' debt limit at the request of congressional leaders.

It's basically because of a technicality.

34. Obama Nominates 2 to Federal Reserve Board - Wednesday, December 28, 2011

HONOLULU (AP) – A vacationing President Barack Obama on Tuesday nominated a Harvard University professor and a former Treasury official under President George H.W. Bush – a Democrat and a Republican – to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.

35. Tax Cut Lives: Congress Gives Last-Minute Approval - Monday, December 26, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – After weeks of bickering and doubt, Congress delivered a last-minute holiday tax cut extension to 160 million workers Friday along with further unemployment benefits for millions laid off in the nation's fierce recession and weak economic recovery. It was a convincing victory for President Barack Obama, a humbling retreat for House Republicans.

36. Military Agency Develops ‘NORAD Tracks Santa’ App - Friday, December 02, 2011

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) – Want to keep track of Santa this Christmas? There's an app for that.

NORAD is the military organization responsible for the aerospace and maritime defense of the U.S. and Canada. The North American Aerospace Defense Command tracks Santa on Christmas Eve.

37. States Suing Over Health Care Law Collect Funding - Wednesday, November 30, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal officials announced Tuesday they are awarding more money to help states carry out President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. So what's the surprise?

Seven states that are suing to overturn the landmark law are also on the list for funding.

38. Unemployment Drops In Three-Quarters of US States - Wednesday, November 23, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Unemployment rates fell in three-quarters of U.S. states last month, a sign that many parts of the country are experiencing modest job gains.

Unemployment rates fell in 36 states in October and rose in only 5, the Labor Department said Tuesday, Nov. 22. Rates were unchanged in 9 states. That’s the best showing since April, when rates fell in 39 states.

39. Tigers Ace First Test, Take Talents to Maui - Friday, November 18, 2011

Every season has a first game. But this was not a perfunctory tip to an ordinary season. This one felt different, felt like the first act of a play that could have the ultimate, dramatic, ending.

Months from now, no one will remember all the particulars from the University of Memphis’ 97-81 victory over Belmont on Tuesday, Nov. 15. People will forget that Will Barton, Wesley Witherspoon and Joe Jackson all went for at least 20 points, that the game started at 11 a.m. on a Tuesday (to accommodate ESPN) and that outside FedExForum it was a gray, rainy day.

40. Madison Hotel Eatery To Reopen as Eighty3 - Monday, November 14, 2011

The Westin Memphis Beale Street isn’t the only Downtown hotel whose restaurant is undergoing radical revision, revisioning and rebranding.

Grill 83, the restaurant for the Madison Hotel, which has been closed since Oct. 30, reopens Wednesday, Nov. 16, as Eighty3, a name intended to convey a sense of modernity, casual elegance and, yes, fun.

41. Wilkinson Follows Road Less Traveled - Thursday, November 03, 2011

During his 50-year tenure in real estate, Dan Wilkinson helped establish the Memphis office of Colliers International as one of the dominant industrial real estate companies in the local market and has been involved in more than $1 billion in sales in Memphis and North Mississippi.

42. Social Media, Mobile Tech on the Rise for Weddings - Wednesday, October 05, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – As her grandfather sat pleasantly perplexed at her wedding, Lauren Barnes reached into the recesses of her strapless white gown, whipped out her iPhone and accepted her groom's Facebook relationship change to "married."

43. CVS Caremark Q2 Profit Slips 1 Percent - Friday, August 05, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – CVS Caremark said Thursday its profit slipped 1 percent in the second quarter as its pharmacy benefits management business weathered lower prices on contract renewals.

The Woonsocket, R.I., company said Caremark faced lower prices related to contract renewals. The most significant of those was its retail pharmacy contract with the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program, which the company renewed in the third quarter of 2010. While those renewals cut into its profit, total revenue for CVS Caremark rose 10.9 percent to $14.57 billion as the company began a new 12-year contract with Aetna Inc. and acquired Universal American Corp.'s Medicare Part D business.

44. Balton Uses Biz Venture Exp. to Aid Small Biz - Friday, July 22, 2011

After serving in the U.S. Air Force for four years and studying accounting at the University of Hawaii between Air Force duties, Steve Balton decided he wanted to use his skills as a consultant for a full-time job.

45. Senators Concerned by Photo ID Requirement to Vote - Thursday, June 30, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Sixteen Democratic senators want the Justice Department to look into whether voting rights are being jeopardized in states that require photo identification in order for people to vote.

46. Downtown With Elvis: 2011 Festival Opens Thursday - Wednesday, June 01, 2011

TUPELO, Miss. (AP) – Businesses are putting out the welcome mat this week for visitors to the Tupelo Elvis Presley Festival.

And this welcome mat comes with an Elvis flair.

Several downtown restaurants will add Elvis-inspired items to their menus this week. Other business owners will have their employees wear Elvis-related T-shirts or glasses. And, of course, Elvis tunes will be the soundtrack of the week.

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

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

48. Former Interim Chef Kramer Back in Charge - Monday, March 21, 2011

“Interim” – a pause or interval in a succession of events

When the restaurant Wally Joe closed in January 2007, owner Fred Carl Jr., founder, president and CEO of Viking Range Corp., decided to keep a restaurant going while looking for a buyer for the space in the shopping center at South Mendenhall Road and Sanderlin Avenue. Appropriately, the temporary restaurant would be called Interim.

49. Foreclosure Activity Slows Sharply in February - Friday, March 11, 2011

LOS ANGELES (AP) – The number of U.S. homes receiving a foreclosure-related notice fell to a 36-month low last month, as lenders delayed taking action against homeowners amid heightened scrutiny over banks' handling of home repossessions.

50. Target to Open 21 New Stores in 13 States in 2011 - Thursday, January 13, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Target Corp. plans to open 21 new stores in 13 states this year as it looks to become customers' one-stop shopping choice.

51. 112th Congress Convenes; Boehner Elected Speaker - Thursday, January 06, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) — Newly elected speaker John Boehner hailed the Republican Party's return to control of the House Wednesday, vowing a more open legislative process but acknowledging that "a great deal of scar tissue has built up on both sides of the aisle."

52. Surge in Bankruptcies Shows Signs of Slowing - Wednesday, January 05, 2011

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – The growth in bankruptcies around the country slowed significantly in 2010 from its breakneck pace in recent years, with about a dozen states recording a decline in filings from consumers and businesses, according to an Associated Press tally Tuesday.

53. Massive Budget Bill Faces Opposition in Senate - Friday, December 10, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – The fate of House legislation to freeze the budgets of most Cabinet departments and fund the war in Afghanistan for another year is now in the hands of the Senate, where it faces uncertain prospects.

54. House Democrats' Bill Freezes Most Agency Budgets - Thursday, December 09, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – Democrats controlling the House are promising to freeze the budgets of most Cabinet departments while wrapping Congress' unfinished annual spending bills into a single catchall measure.

55. Rainey, Green Pour Hearts Into Midtown’s Fresh Chef Cafe - Monday, December 06, 2010

Robert Green, spectral thin, stirs a pot of bacon-lettuce-and-tomato soup on a portable propane burner. It’s equipment far different from what he has used in restaurant kitchens throughout a long career as chef in Hawaii, Louisiana and California.

56. TennCare Cited for Innovative Work - Wednesday, December 01, 2010

TennCare has been cited for expertise in managed long-term care.

The Center for Health Care Strategies listed Tennessee and four other states as pioneers in designing innovative approaches to delivering care to the elderly and adults with disabilities.

57. Cut-Off of Jobless Aid Would Lower Economic Growth - Wednesday, December 01, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – If Congress lets unemployment benefits expire this week for the long-term unemployed, they won't be the only ones to feel the pain. The overall economy would suffer, too.

58. Hernandez’s Journey Leads to Campbell Clinic - Monday, November 22, 2010

George Hernandez’s career in health care administration has taken him across the country and back.

Now the CEO of Campbell Clinic in Germantown says a national perspective on health care will determine the clinic’s strategies for the future.

59. ‘Aida’ Kicks Off Opera Season with Splash - Monday, October 04, 2010

Apair of horses, two camels, a handful of snakes and possibly an elephant are heading to Memphis, but it’s not the circus or a petting zoo.

Opera Memphis’ season opener “Aida” by Giuseppe Verdi promises a return to grand opera with a multi-species cast and intense human conflict. Performances run Oct. 7 and 9 at the Orpheum Theatre.

60. Medicaid Enrollment Spikes to 48M in Weak Economy - Friday, October 01, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – More people signed up for Medicaid last year than at any time since the program’s inception, as the recession wiped out jobs and workplace health coverage.

A report released Thursday by the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation found that enrollment in the safety-net medical insurance program jumped to more than 48 million. With the economy barely improving, states are forecasting a 6 percent increase in the rolls next year, meaning another strain on their cash-depleted budgets.

61. Senate to Move on Stopgap Spending Bill - Wednesday, September 29, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – Lawmakers are largely ignoring an Obama administration shopping list as they fashion a stopgap spending bill that's needed to avoid a government shutdown Friday.

The Senate could pass the measure as early as Wednesday, after a likely test vote Tuesday, and the House could clear it for President Barack Obama before the budget year ends at midnight Thursday.

62. Census Data: Marriages in 2009 at Record Low Level - Wednesday, September 29, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – The recession took a dramatic toll on the institution of marriage in America last year, new figures show, with weddings for people 18 and older at the lowest ebb in over a hundred years.

63. US Homes Lost to Foreclosure Up 25 Pct on Year - Friday, September 17, 2010

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Lenders took back more homes in August than in any month since the start of the U.S. mortgage crisis.

The increase in home repossessions came even as the number of properties entering the foreclosure process slowed for the seventh month in a row, foreclosure listing firm RealtyTrac Inc. said Thursday.

64. Memphians’ Love, Options For Sushi Continue to Grow - Monday, August 30, 2010

Sushi, the Japanese preparation of raw fish and rice, was unheard of in the United States until after World War II, and then even until the 1970s was largely an exotic phenomenon of the West Coast.

65. GOP Looks to Erase Democrats' Comfy House Majority - Tuesday, August 03, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – No fewer than 65 House seats across the country – an overwhelming majority held by Democrats – are at risk of changing political hands this fall, enough to bolster Republican hopes of regaining power and stoke fears in President Barack Obama's party of losing it.

66. Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia Dead at 92 - Tuesday, June 29, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senator Robert C. Byrd, a son of West Virginia coal country who used his mastery of Senate rules and a taste for hardball tactics to become a passionate and often feared advocate for the state and the Senate he loved, died Monday at age 92.

67. At Spill Hearing, BP CEO Says He's 'Deeply Sorry' - Friday, June 18, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) - Chastened by heavy criticism from lawmakers, a grim-faced BP chief executive Tony Hayward said Thursday he was "deeply sorry" for his company's catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

68. As Summer Nears, Expect Gas Prices To Go ... Down? - Thursday, May 13, 2010

Gas prices are poised to fall as Memorial Day approaches, a welcome change for motorists used to seeing increases cut into their summer vacation money.

Experts who had been predicting a national average of more than $3 per gallon by Memorial Day now say prices have likely peaked just beneath that threshold. Rising supplies and concerns about the global economy have helped send wholesale gasoline prices plummeting by 25 cents a gallon since last week.

69. ‘Madame Butterfly’ Gets Twist in Memphis - Monday, April 12, 2010

Giacomo Puccini’s “Madame Butterfly” is one of the most performed operas in the world, but Opera Memphis’ upcoming production offers audiences who have “been there, done that” new reasons to enjoy it once again.

70. States May Ban Credit Checks on Job Applicants - Tuesday, March 02, 2010

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - It's hard enough to find a job in this economy, and now some people are facing another hurdle: Potential employers are holding their credit histories against them.

Sixty percent of employers recently surveyed by the Society for Human Resources Management said they run credit checks on at least some job applicants, compared with 42 percent in a somewhat similar survey in 2006.

71. Outsider Image So Hot Even Ex-Insiders Want It - Friday, February 26, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) - Ask national Republicans to name a model 2010 congressional candidate, and they're likely to mention Stephen Fincher. A 37-year-old farmer and gospel singer from Frog Jump, Tenn., Fincher has raised more than $675,000 in his bid to succeed retiring Democratic Rep. John Tanner.

72. First-time US Jobless Claims Rise Unexpectedly - Friday, February 05, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of newly laid-off workers filing initial claims for jobless benefits rose unexpectedly last week, evidence that layoffs are continuing and jobs remain scarce.

The rise is the fourth in the past five weeks. Most economists hoped that claims would resume a downward trend that was evident in the fall and early winter.

73. GOP's Ramsey Says He's Unsure of Obama Citizenship - Thursday, February 04, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - State Senate speaker and gubernatorial candidate Ron Ramsey said Tuesday he doesn't know whether President Barack Obama is a U.S. citizen, but that it's not an issue that voters care about.

74. Obama: Big Opportunities for Businesses to Grow - Wednesday, December 23, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - Sounding a friendly tone to the nation's community bankers, President Barack Obama on Tuesday said the White House will seek to cut bureaucratic restrictions so that local lenders can help businesses seize "enormous opportunities" for growth after bleak times.

75. Jobless Benefits Extension Hits Snag in Senate - Friday, October 02, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - A House-passed bill to give another 13 weeks of unemployment benefits to people from states where the jobless rate is at least 8.5 percent has bogged down in the Senate because of resistance from lawmakers whose states have lower unemployment and would be left out.

76. CDC: 25 Cities and States Order Swine Flu Vaccine - Friday, October 02, 2009

ATLANTA (AP) - Orders for the first shipments of swine flu vaccine are rolling in, and federal health officials say the first doses should be given in some places early next week.

Twenty-five states and metro areas placed orders Wednesday – the first day they could. That's nearly half of the roughly 60 states, cities and territories that are eligible to place and direct swine flu vaccine orders for the public.

77. U.S. Home Sales Rise from 1st Quarter to 2nd - Thursday, August 13, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. home sales grew in the second quarter in 39 states, another sign that the ailing housing market is finally coming to life.

Total quarterly sales rose 3.8 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.76 million, from 4.58 million in the first quarter, but were still about 3 percent below a year ago, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday.

78. Web Retailers, States Tussle Over Tax Rules - Monday, July 06, 2009

NEW YORK (AP) - In a big break for online shoppers, Web retailers generally don't have to charge sales taxes in states where they lack a store or some other physical presence.

Increasingly, states aching under the weight of the recession are seeking a way around that rule. Because companies like Amazon.com Inc. get help drumming up sales from online affiliates – people who link to products on their blogs, promote Web shopping deals and offer coupons – several states say the Internet retailers should charge sales taxes in states where those affiliates are based.

79. Report Shows Tennessee Has Highest Depression Rate - Friday, June 05, 2009

A new federal government report shows Tennessee had the country’s highest rate of people with a major depressive episode in the past year.

The report, released Thursday, listed 9.8 percent of Tennesseans age 18 and older had such an occurrence. Hawaii had the lowest, 5.0 percent.

80. White House: Obama Wants to Cut $17B from Budget - Friday, May 08, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama asked Congress on Thursday to eliminate or trim 121 federal programs for a savings of $17 billion in the coming budget year. Many of the proposed cuts have already been rejected by Obama's allies in Congress, including some programs that his predecessor, President George W. Bush, repeatedly sought to end.

81. Most States Have Fewer Drugs than Feds Suggest - Monday, May 04, 2009

BALTIMORE (AP) - With a swine flu outbreak spreading across the nation, more than half the states have yet to stockpile the number of flu-treatment doses recommended by the federal government, an Associated Press survey found.

82. At Citi's Annual Meeting, Shareholders Get Angry - Wednesday, April 22, 2009

NEW YORK (AP) - The anger was evident at Citigroup Inc.'s annual meeting, where all nominated directors were elected but shareholders took turns at the microphone to vociferously object to the bank's performance over the past year.

83. Delta No Longer Sending Reservation Calls to India - Monday, April 20, 2009

ATLANTA (AP) - Delta Air Lines Inc. no longer is outsourcing reservation calls to India after years of complaints from customers who preferred to speak to someone in the United States.

84. AIG Says Emergency Aid Used to Pay Other Banks - Tuesday, March 17, 2009

NEW YORK (AP) - American International Group Inc. used more than $90 billion in federal aid to pay out foreign and domestic banks, some of whom had received their own multibillion-dollar U.S. government bailouts.

85. Citigroup Nominates New Independent Directors - Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Citigroup has nominated four new independent directors – including two former bank chief executives and two other financial experts – to stand for election at its annual meeting in April.

The announcement Monday comes as part of a continuing shuffling of the troubled bank’s board. Its shares climbed more than 30 percent.

Investors have long criticized Citigroup’s board for allowing the bank to make so many investments in the risky housing market – actions that have led to the bank reporting five straight quarterly losses.

Richard Parsons, who took over as chairman last month, has said he planned to look for people with proven business judgment and experience in the financial sector to replace retiring directors overseeing the company.

The board currently has 15 directors, three of whom previously announced they will not stand for re-election and two of whom will be of retirement age by the time of the shareholder meeting.

The candidates are Jerry A. Grundhofer, Michael E. O’Neill, Anthony M. Santomero and William S. Thompson Jr.

Grundhofer, 64, is chairman emeritus and former chairman and CEO of U.S. Bancorp; O’Neill, 62, is former chairman and CEO of Bank of Hawaii; Santomero, 62, most recently served as a senior adviser at McKinsey & Co. and is the former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia; and Thompson, 63, is the former CEO of bond investment manager Pimco.

With the election of the four candidates, Citigroup would have 14 board members. The bank says the board also will consider future additions.

Parsons, the former head of Time Warner Inc., is one of the few Citigroup directors with experience in banking and leading a large company. Before joining Time Warner in 1995, Parsons served as chairman and CEO of Dime Bancorp Inc., one of the largest U.S. thrift institutions. Parsons also was an economic adviser on President Barack Obama’s transition team.

The three directors who have already announced they will depart from the board are Roberto Hernandez Ramirez, the chairman of Citi’s Mexican banking operations; Robert Rubin, a former U.S. Treasury secretary who was a longtime Citigroup board member; and Win Bischoff, most recently chairman at Citigroup. Ramirez said he will not stay on the board beyond his current term, while both Rubin and Bischoff have announced their retirement from the bank.

After suffering a loss of $8.29 billion in the fourth quarter, Citigroup announced it would reorganize into two units, Citicorp and Citi Holdings. The first will focus on traditional banking, while the second will hold the company’s riskier assets and tougher-to-manage ventures. In addition to receiving billions in government support, plus federal guarantees to cover losses on risky investments, the New York-based bank has agreed with the Treasury Department on a deal giving the government up to a 36 percent stake.

86. Report: Citi May Nominate Ex-Bank CEOs to Board - Monday, March 16, 2009

NEW YORK (AP) - Citigroup Inc. will likely nominate two former bank chief executives and two other financial experts to be directors as part of a shuffling of the embattled bank's board, according to a media report.

87. Tenn. Posts Nation's Biggest Gain in HS Graduation - Friday, March 13, 2009

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The national high school graduation rate remained flat at about 75 percent between 2002 and 2006, while a dozen states made substantial gains, according to a new report by researchers at Johns Hopkins University.

88. New Laws in 5 States Call for Fire-Safe Cigarettes - Monday, January 05, 2009

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - Laws mandating stores only sell cigarettes that are slow-burning and fire-safe went into effect in five states on New Year's Day.

Delaware, Iowa, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas on Thursday joined 17 other states in mandating the fire-safe cigarettes. Fifteen other states have laws that will take effect this year or next, according to the Coalition for Fire-Safe Cigarettes.

89. Mattel Settles Probe with States Including Tenn. - Tuesday, December 16, 2008

NEW YORK (AP) - Toy maker Mattel Inc. will pay $12 million to 39 states including Michigan to settle an investigation over Chinese-made lead-tainted toys shipped to the U.S. in 2007, state officials said Monday.

90. Q3 Mortgage Delinquencies Shoot Higher - Wednesday, December 03, 2008

NEW YORK (AP) – The percentage of people who are two months behind on their mortgages shot up in the third quarter from the same period last year, according to credit reporting agency TransUnion LLC.

91. Obama and Economic Advisers to Meet Friday - Friday, November 07, 2008

CHICAGO (AP) – Barack Obama planned his first public appearance since his presidential victory for Friday – a meeting with economic advisers to discuss the nation's financial woes that Americans listed as their top concern on Election Day.

92. Gasoline Prices Below $2/Gallon in Parts of US - Tuesday, October 28, 2008

HOUSTON (AP) - Gasoline prices have fallen below $2 a gallon in some parts of the U.S. as the impact of plunging oil prices and reduced driving are finally taking hold.

In Ohio, the Web site GasBuddy.com, where consumers post prices they spot, said a few stations in the Cincinnati suburbs were now charging $1.99 for regular.

93. Eli Lilly Settles Zyprexa Inquiries in 32 States - Wednesday, October 08, 2008

NEW YORK (AP) - Eli Lilly & Co. said Tuesday it will pay $62 million to resolve investigations into the marketing and promotion of its antipsychotic drug Zyprexa in 32 states and Washington, D.C.

94. Events - Tuesday, August 12, 2008

The Elvis Film Festival will be held today at Malco’s Studio on the Square, 2105 Court St. Fans can choose from the line-up of “King Creole,” “G.I. Blues,” “Blue Hawaii,” “Girls!Girls!Girls!” and “Paradise, Hawaiian Style.” Tickets are $5 per film. To buy tickets and to view show times, visit www.malco.com.

95. Events - Monday, August 11, 2008

The Engineers’ Club of Memphis Inc. will hold its weekly luncheon today at noon at the Holiday Inn-University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave. Bob Sweeney will speak on the topic “Greece, Origin of the Olympics.” Cost is $12.

96. Events - Friday, August 08, 2008

Les Passees will host its second Family Night event today from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Golf & Games Family Park, 5484 Summer Ave. A portion of the wristband sales will go to Les Passees, which provides advocacy and support to children and families in Memphis. Les Passees wristbands are available for the pre-sale price of $15 and can be bought at Les Passees headquarters, 5489 Murray Road or at Cheer Station, 7740 Trinity Road, No. B, Suite 126. The rain date will be Aug. 15.

97. US Slowdown Still Weighs On Lodging, Leisure - Monday, July 28, 2008

NEW YORK (AP) – The lodging sector looked less than comfortable Thursday as earnings reports from two major hotel and casino companies outlined the troubles facing the industry in the U.S.

Lodging and gaming stocks had risen in the days before the reports were released, as a drop in oil prices boosted investors’ hopes that the impact of the U.S. economic downturn on the travel industry might not be as great as feared.

98. Government: Airfares in U.S. Rose 4.4 Percent in Q1 - Thursday, July 24, 2008

ATLANTA (AP) - Average domestic airfares rose 4.4 percent in the first quarter of 2008 compared to the same period a year earlier, the government said Wednesday in an analysis that was based on a small sample of itineraries and excluded some high-priced destinations.

99. FedEx Sued By ATA Airlines - Friday, June 13, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – ATA Airlines is suing FedEx Corp. over its decision to end a military charter business, a move the airline says forced it to seek bankruptcy protection and left it financially destroyed.

100. AP-AOL Poll: Debt Stress Tears At Your Body, Too - Tuesday, June 10, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) – The stress from deepening debt is becoming a major pain in the neck – and the back and the head and the stomach – for millions of Americans.

When people are dealing with mountains of debt, they’re much more likely to report health problems, too, according to an Associated Press-AOL Health poll. And not just little stuff; this means ulcers, severe depression, even heart attacks.