VOL. 126 | NO. 244 | Thursday, December 15, 2011
FedEx Corp.’s earnings rose significantly during the quarter ended Nov. 30, spurred by a jump in e-commerce during the Thanksgiving weekend, the company announced Thursday, Dec. 15.
Two Memphis companies will ask for tax breaks at next week’s meeting of the Memphis-Shelby County EDGE Board to help them keep and make new investments in their local operations.
Chamber luncheon highlights city’s ‘medical miracles’
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.
The countywide school board member who thought about having a set of rules in place to specifically set the terms of selling or transferring school buildings to a separate suburban school district called off the move this week.
The law firm of Farris Bobango PLC has a proverbial “help wanted” sign outside its office doors in Memphis and Nashville.
Verna Harris is able to work 40 hours a week. She goes to church on Sundays and enjoys taking in a movie now and then.
The words “inordinate” and “extraordinary” keep coming up in the court documents for the largest drug case ever brought in Memphis federal court, even though the case is now down to two defendants who are scheduled to go to trial next month.
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.
MEMPHIS LAW TALK
When Marty Regan looks out from his penthouse view at One Commerce Square, he sees an array of public and private partnerships that wouldn’t have been possible without real estate attorneys.
LOCAL COLUMNISTS
Ray’s Take The old adage “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” very much applies to saving and investing. You may think of investment diversification as simply having a variety of mutual funds, but it’s important to consider other factors, too.
Last week’s column was about speeding and how some charged therewith find a way to make the issuing officer laugh by candor, poetry, good-natured jokes, etc. Such stories remind others of their own experiences.
MEMPHIS AREA
LOS ANGELES – With Christmas less than two weeks away, it's crunch time at the nation's shipping companies.
The E.W. Scripps Co., owner of the Memphis Commercial Appeal and the Knoxville News Sentinel, said Tuesday it has entered into a new $300 million revolving credit and term loan agreement with SunTrust Bank.
STATEWIDE
KNOXVILLE (AP) – A 3.1 percent decrease in the Tennessee Valley Authority's fuel cost will bring down average residential electric bills in January by between $2 and $4.
STATE GOVERNMENT
NASHVILLE (AP) – A state program that helped 4,000 Tennesseans faced with sudden disabilities and life-threatening illnesses is being eliminated next July.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
NEW YORK (AP) – Delta Air Lines Inc. says it expects an $800 million profit this year, and it will be solidly profitable in 2012.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Union Pacific Corp. spent $1.26 million during the third quarter to influence proposed railroad regulations and pollution restrictions.
NEW YORK (AP) – Shoppers are again doing some holiday shopping after taking a break following their spree over the Thanksgiving weekend, according to data from research firm ShopperTrak.
WASHINGTON (AP) – NPR is getting a $1.5 million grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to boost web training and content at member stations nationwide.
NEW YORK (AP) – Before you board a flight this holiday season, think twice about stuffing that carry-on full of gifts to avoid a checked bag fee. You might get charged anyway.
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
WASHINGTON (AP) – Congress is looking at the downside of letting jobless people collect up to almost two years of unemployment benefits. While the benefits are a crucial lifeline for the long-term unemployed, economists worry they also can be a disincentive to looking for work and actually prolong joblessness.
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Senate on Wednesday voted against changing the Constitution to require a balanced budget as Congress hit yet another dead end in its search for a way out of its fiscal morass.
WASHINGTON (AP) – Democratic lawmakers are considering whether to jettison their demand for a millionaires' surtax, which they had hoped to use to cover the cost of a Social Security payroll tax cut extension for millions of wage-earners, officials said Wednesday.
WASHINGTON (AP) – A Senate committee Wednesday approved a bill that would prohibit members of Congress and their employees from using nonpublic information to enrich themselves.
WASHINGTON (AP) – Young adults trying to get traction in a tough economy are getting a welcome assist: the new federal health care law has markedly improved their access to health insurance.
ATLANTA (AP) – Federal regulators are leaning toward approving a nuclear reactor designed by Westinghouse Electric Co. that could power the first nuclear plants built from scratch in a generation.
SPORTS
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) – The Amateur Athletic Union says two task forces established to independently review child safety protocols, policies and procedures will make their recommendations by February.
NASHVILLE (AP) – The Tennessee Titans have placed safety Anthony Smith on injured reserve with an injured groin and promoted safety Robert Johnson from the practice squad.