VOL. 126 | NO. 240 | Friday, December 9, 2011
Memphis-based Pinnacle Airlines Corp. is in overhaul mode. The regional air carrier’s CEO, Sean Menke, announced Thursday, Dec. 8, that the corporation has hired a consultant and attorneys to “commence a comprehensive program to reduce short- and long-term costs and enhance liquidity.”
City stands out as place where brokers work in friendly competition
In Memphis’ small commercial real estate network, it’s not uncommon for brokers to be on opposite sides of the negotiating table one hour then clinking beers in celebration at Jim’s Place East the next.
Colliers International’s industrial team of Andy Cates, Preston Thomas and Mike Driscoll has inked 63 transactions this year. Here’s a rundown on a flurry of recent deals the trio has brokered.
Shelby County Commissioners didn’t have nine votes among them to give final approval Friday, Dec. 9, to any redistricting plan.
Boston Consulting Group has been hired as the consultant to the schools consolidation planning commission and could begin its work as early as Friday, Dec. 9.
Years ago, Charles Riley needed access to dance teachers, technique and facilities. Now international stars are clamoring for access to him.
The recent set of U.S. Postal Service recommendations for closings would have a larger impact in Memphis than customers waiting two or three days instead of next-day service for letter and package delivery.
Less funding, increased operational costs and a growing demand for services continue to beleaguer the Mid-South’s nonprofit sector, according to a new report from the Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence.
Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich appeared to have no opposition in the March GOP primary for the job as the county’s top prosecutor.
GOVERNMENT AGENDA
The Shelby County Commission will meet Friday, Dec. 9, at 1:30 p.m. in the Shelby County Administration Building, 160 N. Main St. Click on the meeting icon for a full agenda.
MEMPHIS STANDOUT
Jack Dewald went to work for his father in 1982 at Agency Services Inc., a full-service life and health brokerage agency his father started in 1962.
LOCAL COLUMNISTS
GIVE MEMPHIS TO SOMEBODY YOU LOVE. Put a polar bear and a panda under the tree. But walk them first. You really don’t want all that on the living room rug. Do this yourself; don’t ask Santa. Polar bears make reindeer skittish.
Editor’s note: Part two in a two-part series. Sometimes the questions we don’t ask are the ones that lead us astray. In part one of this series, we discussed how today’s changing – and challenging – economic times can be a catalyst for nonprofits if we are brave enough to ask questions we might prefer to run from. Here are a few.
SPORTS
Late in the third period of what would be a Mississippi RiverKings victory, right winger Mike Tuomi had control of the puck, and a lot of open ice between him and the net.
The next phase of University of Memphis football officially began Thursday, Dec. 8. That’s when 35-year-old Justin Fuente, co-offensive coordinator at Texas Christian University, told media and fans gathered at an on-campus press conference, “This is going to be Memphis’ team. … I don’t care what school you went to, you live in the city, I want this to be your team.”
After the final Bowl Championship Series rankings came out and Oklahoma State wasn’t invited to the national title game, the Okie sports columnist did what he had to do.
MIAMI (AP) – Shane Battier will be with the Miami Heat this season. Mario Chalmers is deciding if he'll be there with him.
STATEWIDE
KNOXVILLE (AP) – Tennessee's solar and related industries provide more than 6,400 jobs in a growing green economic sector, but the state needs to stay aggressive in supporting and pursuing the ventures, a report released Thursday shows.
STATE GOVERNMENT
NASHVILLE (AP) – The state has announced an initiative to boost Tennessee exports.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
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.
WASHINGTON (AP) – A steady decline in the number of Americans applying for weekly unemployment benefits is the latest signal that the U.S. economy has strengthened and businesses may be poised to step up hiring.
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Obama administration wants to use the power of government purchasing to help increase the number of disabled people in the workforce, proposing to require federal contractors to set a goal of having disabled workers make up at least 7 percent of their employees.
WASHINGTON (AP) – The battle over the future of a new financial watchdog office escalated Thursday with Senate Republicans blocking confirmation of the man President Barack Obama named to head the office and Obama countering by holding out the possibility of appointing the nominee when Congress is on recess.
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Senate rejected dueling Democratic and Republican plans for extending the Social Security payroll tax on Thursday as partisan skirmishing continued over a cornerstone of President Barack Obama's plan for breathing life back into the American job market.
WASHINGTON (AP) – Conservative flashpoint issues from abortion and abstinence education to President Barack Obama's health care law are the biggest obstacles to Congress completing a massive year-end spending bill next week that would keep the government running through next September.
HEALTH CARE
WASHINGTON (AP) – The House voted Thursday to ban synthetic drugs nicknamed "bath salts" and other compounds that mimic marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamines.
TECHNOLOGY
NEW YORK (AP) – The 2012 presidential contenders have had a rough go of it on Twitter, according to an analysis of the political conversation taking place on the popular social network.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Twitter has redesigned its short messaging service to make it simpler, faster and more personal.