Argent Opens Trust Office in Nashville

It’s been a few years now since Louisiana-based Argent Financial Group, a diversified financial services company responsible for more than $3 billion in client assets, arrived in Memphis.

Municipal School District Bill Delayed a Week

The lobbyist for the countywide school board took no position Tuesday, April 3, on state legislation that would lift the statewide moratorium on creation of municipal school districts in January.

Robinson: Health Study Confirms Known Problem

Dr. Kenneth Robinson, public health policy adviser to Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell, said he wasn’t at all surprised by a recent study that found African-American women in Memphis are more than twice as likely to die from breast cancer as their white counterparts.

Changes Continue for Memphis Neighborhood

The street to Emmanuel Episcopal Center is the only reminder of what used to be part of Cleaborn Homes at Lauderdale Street and St. Paul Avenue.

Teachers Turning Focus to New Evaluation Models

Teachers and principals in Shelby County’s two public school systems are focused these days on about a third of the alphabet, the part from A to H and where they are on a number line from one to five.

Hampton Named Exec. Director of SRVS

Tyler W. Hampton has been named executive director of SRVS. He previously served as director of operations and director of finance for the agency.

Pros and Cons With Intrusive Marketing

Intrusive marketing gets a bad rap. It’s often thought of as overly invasive and a turnoff to customers. Done thoughtlessly and in poor taste, it certainly can be. However, savvy brands understand the power of taking your prospective customer off guard and breaking through all of the advertising clutter competing for their attention.

Market Hinges On Pols’ Action

Politics Returns Last week, politicians grabbed headlines and moved markets. First, stimulator-in-Chief Ben Bernanke goosed markets to multi-year highs by pledging his continued devotion to easy money. Thankfully, he has learned that “conversational easing,” simply talking about quantitative easing, achieves the desired result without the inflationary hangover of the act itself. Rates fell and equities rose as fears of premature rate hikes abated. The Fed has been using the microphone as effectively as the printing press lately … good Central Bankers!

Governor Says May Sign Evolution Bill

NASHVILLE (AP) – Gov. Bill Haslam says he may sign a proposal that critics deride as the "monkey bill" for once again attacking evolution.

Hernando's Mayor Cited as National Good Example

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Hernando, Miss., Mayor Chip Johnson says listening to voters is a big part of the reason he's now being held up as a national model for creating healthier cities and counties.

Bill Would Push Back Miss. School Start Dates

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – There would be no more early-August starts for Mississippi public schools under a bill lawmakers are considering.

Recovery Threatened by Runaway Student Loan Debt

WASHINGTON (AP) – The federal student loan program seemed like a great idea back in 1965: Borrow to go to college now, pay it back later when you have a job.

Auto Sales Surge in March, Led by Small Cars

DETROIT (AP) – Appealing small cars, low interest rates, truck deals and unseasonably warm weather helped the auto industry achieve its best monthly performance in almost four years in March.

US Factory Orders Up 1.3 Pct.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Businesses ordered more machinery and equipment from U.S. factories in February, a signal that many are investing in their companies despite the expiration of a tax credit.

IMF: Global Recovery Fragile

WASHINGTON (AP) – The managing director of the International Monetary Fund said Tuesday that the global economy is making some advances in digging itself out of a punishing recession, but that the recovery remains very fragile, especially in Europe.