VOL. 126 | NO. 243 | Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Smith & Nephew Inc. on Tuesday, Dec. 13, said the company had cut about 80 jobs at its Memphis-based orthopedics unit, where the London-based medical device manufacturer employs more than 2,000 workers.
Group explores Shelby Forest for river trail additions
The nonprofit group assembling a plan to restore parts of and add Shelby County connections to the Mississippi River Trail for bicycles and pedestrians talked about old unmarked roads and attractions at a Monday, Dec. 12, hearing in Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park.
Bruce Hopkins, First Tennessee Bank’s president of banking for West Tennessee, couldn’t attend last year’s Greater Memphis Chamber annual chairman’s luncheon.
Shelby County Commissioners will try again Monday, Dec. 19, to give final approval to a new set of district lines for the 13-member body.
A joint venture between Merion Realty Partners and an affiliate of AllianceBernstein U.S. Real Estate Partners LP has bought Stonebridge Apartments from CMS Stonebridge LLC for $21.9 million as part of a 20-property multifamily portfolio purchase the companies announced in October.
A move by countywide school board member Martavius Jones to set ground rules for any transfer of school buildings to a suburban school district ended abruptly Tuesday, Dec. 13, as Jones pulled the resolution at a school board work session.
Local homebuilders filed 75 percent more new home permits during November compared to the same month last year, but there are several underlying factors in those artificially high year-over-year totals.
As families across Shelby County last month made turkey dinners and took note of things they’re thankful for, the area’s mortgage bankers no doubt found reason to be grateful for some positive industry news.
An ornament given as a gift from a dear friend. A Christmas photo taken with a spouse. A fireplace stocking hand-knitted by mom.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools system was consolidated in 1960, years before the schools in the North Carolina system were racially integrated.
Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich knew the questions were coming when Memphis Police Department brass said Monday, Dec. 12, they are investigating child sexual abuse allegations passed on to them by leaders of the Amateur Athletic Union Friday, Dec. 9.
MEMPHIS NEWSMAKERS
Andrew Jeter has joined Cannon Wright Blount as director of assurance and accounting services.
LOCAL COLUMNISTS
The Information Age is pushing many industries down the path of commoditization, where consumers see little difference between you and your competitors. Purchase decisions become price-centered – a dangerous game.
STATE GOVERNMENT
NASHVILLE (AP) – Republican leaders in the General Assembly plan to forge ahead with efforts to reduce the state's inheritance and Hall income taxes despite Gov. Bill Haslam's concerns that Tennessee's economic situation isn't healthy enough to make up for the lost revenues.
NASHVILLE (AP) – The state has announced an agreement with Motorola Solutions Inc. for a statewide radio system for state troopers.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
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.
WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. employers advertised slightly fewer jobs in October, a modest decline from a three-year high hit in the previous month.
NEW YORK (AP) – Dread the thought of braving the holiday shopping crowds? Consider shopping online this Friday.
WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. businesses increased their stockpiles in October after slowing inventory growth in the previous month. The buildup in inventories should help the economy grow modestly in the final months of the year.
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Federal Reserve on Tuesday portrayed the U.S. economy as slightly healthier and held off on any new steps to boost the economy.
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama's Democratic allies in the Senate are using a critical year-end spending bill as political leverage to try to force Republicans to negotiate bipartisan legislation to extend payroll tax cuts and unemployment benefits due to expire at the end of the year.
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.
WASHINGTON (AP) – States should ban all driver use of cell phones and other portable electronic devices, except in emergencies, the National Transportation Board said Tuesday.
WASHINGTON (AP) – Congress is pressing ahead with a massive $662 billion defense bill that requires military custody for terrorism suspects linked to al-Qaida, including those captured within the U.S., with lawmakers hoping their last-minute revisions will mollify President Barack Obama and eliminate a veto threat.
WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House promised a veto Tuesday for a Republican bill renewing a payroll tax cut next year for 160 million workers, complaining that spending cuts that pay for the measure would whack the middle class and require no sacrifice from the rich.
REAL ESTATE
NEW YORK (AP) – Morgan Stanley said Tuesday it has reached a settlement with insurance company MBIA Inc. over disputes involving mortgage-backed investments.
HEALTH CARE
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Medtronic Inc., the world's largest maker of medical devices, has agreed to pay $23.5 million to settle allegations that it paid kickbacks to doctors to implant its pacemakers and defibrillators, the U.S. Justice Department said Monday, Dec. 12.