The Memphis Grizzlies have shuffled some of their front-office personnel in preparation for the new season. Some of the new assignments are due to re-structuring, others because of departures.

The changes were announced by the team in a press release on Friday, Aug. 31. None of the changes affect the most visible positions within the organization. General Manager Chris Wallace, John Hollinger, executive vice president of basketball operations and former Grizzlies forward Tayshaun Prince, special adviser to Wallace, remain in their same roles. Chris Makris stays for his second season as director of player personnel.

2. Paradigm Promotes Hand to Creative Director & Associate - Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Becca Hand, Paradigm Marketing & Creative’s new creative director and associate, began working for the company five years ago, starting out as a graphic designer before being promoted to art director. Now, as she works her way toward a partnership at Paradigm, Hand is looking forward to contributing to the company vision in her new role.

3. Turner Career Program Seeks To Boost Construction Manpower - Saturday, May 5, 2018

Chris Boyce is a happy man. The South Memphis resident is gainfully employed in a trade he never envisioned while he worked for years performing railroad maintenance around the area.

4. Three Incumbents Unopposed at August Primary Ballot Deadline - Monday, April 9, 2018

Three incumbent Democratic state House members in the Shelby County delegation to the Tennessee Legislature were effectively re-elected Thursday, April 5, at the noon deadline for candidates in the Aug. 2 state and federal primaries to file their qualifying petitions.

5. Three Incumbents Unopposed at August Primary Ballot Filing Deadline - Friday, April 6, 2018

Three incumbent Democratic state House members in the Shelby County delegation to the Tennessee Legislature were effectively re-elected Thursday, April 5, at the noon deadline for candidates in the Aug. 2 state and federal primaries to file their qualifying petitions.

6. Under Hardaway, Memphis Again Can Have Hometown Heroes - Friday, April 6, 2018

Headline from the future: “Alex Lomax Leads Memphis Tigers into the Sweet 16.”

A certainty? Of course not. But it’s a possibility because Lomax has committed to Penny Hardaway and the University of Memphis. You know, as opposed to staying with his earlier choice of Gregg Marshall and Wichita State.

7. A Look Back At UT’s History In NCAA Tourney - Friday, March 16, 2018

Basketball coach Rick Barnes was fired by Texas in late March of 2015 when he refused to fire members of his coaching staff.

8. August State and Federal Primary Ballot Taking Shape - Thursday, March 15, 2018

With less than a month to file for the August state and federal primary elections, there are still a few decisions to be made by would-be candidates working in the shadows of those running in the May 1 county primary elections.

9. ‘Gym Rat’ Building Another Winning Program - Friday, March 2, 2018

Tennessee’s basketball team is rolling into March Madness.

Amazing.

The 16th-ranked Vols (22-7, 12-5 SEC) entered this week second in the SEC standings and having clinched a double-bye in the March 7-11 SEC tournament with one regular-season games remaining, Saturday against Georgia at Thompson-Boling Arena (6 p.m. ET, SEC Network).

10. County Primary Ballot Includes Partisan Match-Ups, Automatic Wins - Monday, February 19, 2018

Two Democratic county commissioners effectively won re-election to new terms of office at the Thursday, Feb. 15, filing deadline for candidates on the May 1 county primary ballot. And a third faces independent opposition in the August county general election.

11. Two County Commissioners Re-elected At May Ballot Filing Deadline - Friday, February 16, 2018

Two Democratic county commissioners effectively won re-election to new terms of office at the Thursday, Feb. 15, filing deadline for candidates on the May 1 county primary ballot. And a third faces independent opposition in the August county general election.

12. Four County Commissioners Unopposed As May Ballot Filing Deadline Approaches - Thursday, February 15, 2018

With a noon deadline Thursday, Feb. 15, to make the May 1 Shelby County primary ballot, four incumbent county commissioners had no opposition filed in their re-election bids.

Five Republican primary races on the ballot for 23 county offices, including the 13 commission seats, were one-candidate affairs with two or more Democrats running in the competing primaries as of Tuesday. Two Democratic primary races were also one-candidate races against a field of multiple Republican contenders in the companion primary.

13. The Day After - Tuesday, February 6, 2018

There is perhaps no greater scrutiny that a brand faces than during the biggest U.S. sporting event of the year. Courageous brands bet big that their ad will win hearts and minds, but alas, only 36 percent of Super Bowl ads earned favorable ratings from our team of advertising professionals, likely making for some uncomfortable ad execs on the hot seat Monday morning.

14. Final Goodbye: Roll Call of Some Who Died in 2017 - Monday, January 1, 2018

They made music that inspired legions of fans. Rock 'n' roll founding fathers Chuck Berry and Fats Domino, rockers Tom Petty and Gregg Allman, grunge icon Chris Cornell, country superstar Glen Campbell and jazz great Al Jarreau were among the notable figures who died in 2017, leaving a void in virtually every genre of music.

15. The Week Ahead: Oct. 23-29 - Monday, October 23, 2017

Hey, Memphis! Fall festivals continue this week and an important meeting concerning Memphis music kicks off Wednesday and stretches over three days. This weekend, Halloween events will haunt and the Grizzlies face one of their scary Western Conference opponents from Texas.

16. Pottery Studio/Coffee House to Open on Highland Strip - Monday, August 28, 2017

549 S. Highland St.
Memphis, TN 38122

Lease Size: 2,788 square feet

17. Tigers’ Men’s Tennis Earns Academic Honor - Saturday, July 29, 2017

The University of Memphis men’s tennis team has earned its 13th Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Academic Team honor for having a team GPA of 3.2 or higher. Memphis also had four players honored as ITA Scholar-Athletes for posting a GPA of 3.5 or higher during the past academic year.

18. Tigers’ Men’s Tennis Earns Academic Honor - Thursday, July 27, 2017

The University of Memphis men’s tennis team has earned its 13th Intercollegiate Tennis Association All-Academic Team honor for having a team GPA of 3.2 or higher. Memphis also had four players honored as ITA Scholar-Athletes for posting a GPA of 3.5 or higher during the past academic year.

19. Redshirt Season Helps Johnson Improve Game - Friday, June 30, 2017

Jalen Johnson’s first season on Tennessee’s basketball team didn’t go as planned. Now, he’s better for it.

The 6-foot-5 wing from Durham, North Carolina, arrived on campus last fall barely 170 pounds and competing for minutes with the likes of Robert Hubbs III, who led the Vols in scoring (13.7) and minutes (31.6) as a senior last season.

20. Baseball Tigers Still Alive In AAC Tournament - Friday, May 26, 2017

Colton Neel threw three scoreless innings of relief and provided a walk-off single in extra innings to give the University of Memphis a wild 15-14 win on Wednesday, May 24, over Cincinnati to stay alive in the American Athletic Conference Tournament.

21. Coalition Urges City Funding For Memphis Schools - Tuesday, April 18, 2017

A group of 13 organization and 17 citizens including Shelby County Schools board chairman Chris Caldwell and state Representatives Raumesh Akbari and G.A. Hardaway are calling on Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland to include at least $10 million in funding for schools in the budget he takes to the Memphis City Council next week.

22. Events - Saturday, February 18, 2017

Clayborn Temple and IRIS Orchestra will co-present a concert titled “Celebrating the Past: Creating a Future” in honor of Black History Month on Saturday, Feb. 18, at 2 p.m. at Clayborn Temple, 294 Hernando St. The intergenerational, community-building concert celebrates the music and memories of the civil rights movement. Cost is free. Visit irisorchestra.org or claybornreborn.org.

23. Events - Friday, February 17, 2017

Ballet Memphis will present its winter mixed-repertory show, “Places Beyond,” Friday through Sunday, Feb. 17-19, at Playhouse on the Square, 66 S. Cooper St. The show includes two new original works and a reprise of “Angels in the Architecture.” Visit balletmemphis.org for show times and tickets.

24. Events - Thursday, February 16, 2017

Opera Memphis will perform Gilbert & Sullivan’s family classic “The Pirates of Penzance” Friday through Sunday, Feb. 17-19, at Germantown Performing Arts Center, 1801 Exeter Road. In conjunction with the show, Opera Memphis and the Mid-South Buccaneers are hosting Pirate Fest – an afternoon of pirate games, art activities, stories and live music from the Bluff City Barnacles – Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at GPAC. Pirate Fest is free for everyone (no tickets needed); tickets to the performance can be purchased at operamemphis.org.

25. Events - Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Fisher Phillips Memphis attorney Rob Ratton will present a seminar titled “When Employees Walk Out With More Than Memories” Thursday, Feb. 16, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Greater Memphis Chamber, 22 N. Front St., suite 200. Ratton will present strategies and legal tools needed to protect your business when the star employee decides to play for the other team. Cost is $25. Email atasman@fisherphillips.com for details.

26. The Week Ahead: February 13-19 - Monday, February 13, 2017

Music is a common theme this week, which is nice to know, isn’t it, Memphis? And the sounds of other balls – not the dribbling kind – will take the stage again as the Memphis Open gets into swing and the University of Memphis throws its first real pitch of the 2017 season. Check out this week's list of need-to-know happenings...

27. Grizzlies Discuss Advantages of D-League Team, Name to Come This Spring - Wednesday, January 25, 2017

The team name and logo won’t be announced until this spring, but the impact of the Memphis Grizzlies getting an NBA Development League expansion franchise will be felt in many areas of the organization for years to come.

28. Memphis Baseball Season Tickets on Sale - Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Season tickets for University of Memphis baseball team’s upcoming 2017 season are now on sale through the ticket office at 901-678-2331 or online at gotigersgotix.com.

29. Dave & Buster’s to Open Cordova Location - Thursday, January 19, 2017

7930 Germantown Parkway
Memphis, TN 38133 

Landlord: Brixmor Property Group 

Tenant: Dave & Buster’s 

30. Tennessee Lawmakers Could Raise, Lower Taxes This Session - Thursday, January 5, 2017

The 110th General Assembly is set to convene on Jan. 10 with unfinished business from previous sessions likely to dominate debate.

Here’s a look at some of the hottest topics expected to arise.

31. Tennessee Manufacturers Seek Workers As Industry Rebounds - Tuesday, November 8, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee manufacturers are in need of young employees as the industry rebounds and older manufacturing workers retire.

According to State Economic and Community Development commissioner Randy Boyd, of the 344,000 manufacturing workers in Tennessee, about 77,000 will retire in the next decade, the Tennessean (http://tnne.ws/2f9AKGW) reported.

32. Baseball Tigers to Host MLB International Academy Team - Thursday, October 6, 2016

The University of Memphis baseball team’s fall schedule will include a game Monday, Oct. 10, against an MLB International Academy team at FedExPark on the university’s Park Avenue campus. The game starts at 2:30 p.m., and admission is free.

33. Shelby County Seeing Low Early Voting Turnout - Wednesday, July 27, 2016

At the end of the first full week of early voting in advance of the Aug. 4 election day, Shelby County Election Commission data shows Democratic and Republican primary turnout closely matched.

And overall, early voting turnout is much lower than it was for the same election cycle four years ago, but ahead of where it was eight years ago.

34. Second Annual TigerAlumni Game June 25 - Saturday, June 25, 2016

Former University of Memphis Tiger players Willie Kemp and Jeremy Hunt are hosting the second annual Blue vs. Gray Memphis Tigers Alumni Game, which will feature 26 former players at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 25.

35. Second Annual Tigers Alumni Game Saturday - Friday, June 24, 2016

Former University of Memphis Tiger players Willie Kemp and Jeremy Hunt are hosting the second annual Blue vs. Gray Memphis Tigers Alumni Game, which will feature 26 former players at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 25.

36. Last Word: Back On, EDGE and Diversity and Jungle Room Sessions - Friday, June 17, 2016

Are your lights on yet? How is your air conditioning? First came the rain Wednesday night and then came the power outages that stretched into Thursday.

So the last Twitter update from Memphis Light Gas and Water at 8 p.m. Thursday shows 248 outages in the MLGW service area with 2,746 customers still in the dark and the worst heat of the year so far. Those numbers translate to 95 percent of the customers impacted having their power restored Thursday evening.

37. Commission, Shelby County Schools Leaders Talk Funding - Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Shelby County Commissioners set the stage for a Wednesday, May 25, budget committee session on school funding by holding up $2.8 million in redirected Shelby County Schools funding at its Monday meeting.

38. Legislators Playing Expensive Game With LGBT Issues - Thursday, April 14, 2016

The silly season is in full swing on Capitol Hill, but the “bathroom bill” and any jokes surrounding it are no laughing matter anymore. It’s getting downright expensive.

Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery said this week the bill dealing with transgender student use of restrooms could cost the state more than $1.2 billion in federal funds for K-12 and higher education.

39. New Vols Coach Ready to Rebuild - Saturday, December 19, 2015

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes isn’t complaining about the shortcomings of his basketball team.

40. Phillip Rogers Joins Wunderlich Wealth Management - Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Phillip Rogers recently joined the Wunderlich Wealth Management office in Memphis as a managing director and financial adviser. Rogers’ financial services practice is focused on the needs of high net worth individuals, as well as endowments and foundations. He applies his background in and knowledge of the fixed income capital markets to extend an institutional level of expertise to individual investors.

41. Former Memphis Tigers Plan Alumni Basketball Game - Monday, June 22, 2015

Look back to look ahead. That’s what former University of Memphis basketball players Jeremy Hunt and Willie Kemp are trying to do with the first alumni game, scheduled for Saturday, June 27, at 6 p.m. at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse, 495 Zach Curlin St.

42. New Coach, Fans Will Keep Eye on Rocky Top League - Saturday, June 13, 2015

KNOXVILLE – Hoops fans, rejoice. Your summer basketball fix is almost here.

The Pilot Rocky Top League returns for its eighth year starting June 15 and should feature 11 players who will be on the University of Tennessee’s roster in 2015-16.

43. Opry Has Become Big Part of CMA Fest - Saturday, June 6, 2015

The relationship between the Grand Ole Opry – the 90-year-old radio program and down home variety show – and CMA Music Fest is a pretty simple formula.

“A win for CMA Music Fest is a win for the Opry,” says Pete Fisher, vice president and general manager of the nation’s longest continuously running radio program.

44. Former Tigers Assistant Coach Joins Grizz Operations - Saturday, November 29, 2014

The Memphis Grizzlies have added Glynn Cyprien as a basketball operations assistant and scout. Cyprien returns to the city of Memphis, where he helped guide the University of Memphis to 49 victories and consecutive postseason tournament appearances in two seasons (2009-11) as an assistant coach under Josh Pastner. The Tigers went 25-10 during the 2010-11 season, winning the Conference USA Tournament Championship and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

45. Former Tigers Assistant Coach Joins Grizz Operations - Tuesday, November 25, 2014

The Memphis Grizzlies have added Glynn Cyprien as a basketball operations assistant and scout. Cyprien returns to the city of Memphis, where he helped guide the University of Memphis to 49 victories and consecutive postseason tournament appearances in two seasons (2009-11) as an assistant coach under Josh Pastner. The Tigers went 25-10 during the 2010-11 season, winning the Conference USA Tournament Championship and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

46. Memphis Music Hall of Fame Prepares to Induct Nine - Friday, October 10, 2014

The Memphis Music Hall of Fame, administered by the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, next month will induct its new batch of honorees, a collection of music legends that each in their way left big marks on the industry’s landscape.

47. Events - Tuesday, September 30, 2014

American Marketing Association, Memphis Chapter will meet Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Lipscomb & Pitts Building, 2670 Union Ave. Jeremy Park, president of the Lipscomb Pitts Breakfast Club, will present “Giving Back With a Purpose: The Shift in Corporate Engagement and Cause Marketing.” Cost is $15 for members and $25 for nonmembers. Visit memphisama.org.

48. Neighborhood Art - Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Downtown’s South Main neighborhood may have been part of the first official arts district in the city of Memphis, but that’s not been exactly obvious while looking around on a drive or walk through the area.

49. Events - Monday, September 29, 2014

American Marketing Association, Memphis Chapter will meet Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Lipscomb & Pitts Building, 2670 Union Ave. Jeremy Park, president of the Lipscomb Pitts Breakfast Club, will present “Giving Back With a Purpose: The Shift in Corporate Engagement and Cause Marketing.” Cost is $15 for members and $25 for nonmembers. Visit memphisama.org.

50. High-Flying Vols Can’t Overlook Arkansas State - Saturday, September 6, 2014

KNOXVILLE – You had to be hiding under a rock not to hear the buzz this week about the University of Tennessee’s football team.

One person not reveling in the Vols’ 38-7 season opening victory over Utah State on Sunday night was UT coach Butch Jones.

51. Memphis Bar Judicial Poll Released - Tuesday, July 1, 2014

The Memphis Bar Association poll of attorneys on the judicial races on the Aug. 7 ballot shows 16 percent to as high as 38 percent of the attorneys participating have no opinion in many of the judicial races.

52. Malone to Challenge Luttrell In August Mayoral Showdown - Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Former Shelby County Commissioner Deidre Malone will challenge incumbent Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell in the August county general election after winning the Tuesday, May 6, Democratic mayoral primary.

53. Harris Files Ford Challenge at Deadline - Thursday, April 3, 2014

Memphis City Council member Lee Harris is challenging Democratic state Sen. Ophelia Ford in the August primary for District 29, the Senate seat held by a member of the Ford family since 1975.

54. Filing Frenzy - Thursday, April 3, 2014

Until Tuesday, no one was running for the District 7 seat on the Shelby County Schools board. No one had pulled a qualifying petition from the Shelby County Election Commission until just two days before the filing deadline for candidates on the August election ballot.

55. Roland ReElected At Filing Deadline, Two Countywide Races Set For August - Friday, February 21, 2014

One of the six Shelby County Commission incumbents seeking re-election this year was effectively elected to a new four-year term in a new district with the noon Thursday, Feb. 20, filing deadline for candidates in the May county primaries.

56. Rock’n Dough Pizza Opening in Jackson - Friday, September 20, 2013

The little Memphis pizzeria that could will soon be opening a new location in Jackson, Tenn.

The Rock’n Dough Pizza Co., owned by Jeremy and Amanda Denno, is slated to open a new restaurant and microbrewery at the Jackson Walk development in Jackson in October. The Dennos will team up with veteran local brewer Ben Pugh to create signature suds at the 4,100-square-foot restaurant.

57. County Commission’s Partisan, Personal Divide Resurfaces - Wednesday, September 11, 2013

As Shelby County Commissioners were asking some pretty pointed questions Monday, Sept. 9, of those vying for an appointment to the countywide school board, Commissioner Heidi Shafer told Shante Avant, one of the contenders, “We’re not as scary as we seem.”

58. Unpaid Internships in Jeopardy After Court Ruling - Friday, June 14, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Unpaid internships have long been a path of opportunity for students and recent grads looking to get a foot in the door in the entertainment, publishing and other prominent industries, even if it takes a generous subsidy from Mom and Dad.

59. General Sessions Contenders Seek Changes to Office - Thursday, June 14, 2012

On a hot Saturday afternoon in Whitehaven, more than 100 people crammed themselves into an air-conditioned storefront to boost the bid by General Sessions Court Clerk Ed Stanton Jr. to remain the clerk of Shelby County’s largest civil court.

60. Youth Villages 5K Preps for 30th Birthday Bash - Friday, April 20, 2012

Despite the ups and downs of the residential real estate market over the last three decades, one of the constants for the Memphis Area Association of Realtors is the support of the annual Youth Villages Inc. 5K.

61. Commission’s Redistrict Debate Moves to Chancery - Wednesday, March 14, 2012

It is now up to a court to decide on a new set of district lines for the Shelby County Commission.

And Chancellor Arnold Goldin is not being asked to approve a simple tweaking of district boundaries that will essentially keep the commission as it is.

62. Hamilton, Warren Lead LSU Past Ole Miss 81-55 - Monday, January 9, 2012

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) – It had been a long time since LSU enjoyed such a performance in its Southeastern Conference opener as it did Saturday against Ole Miss.

The Tigers led from start to finish in a dominating 81-55 victory against the Rebels on Saturday. The 26-point margin of victory was the largest for LSU in a league opener since its 92-66 victory against Florida in the 1980-81 campaign.

63. Chism Vying With Jackson for Court Clerk - Thursday, December 1, 2011

With one week to the filing deadline, the race for General Sessions Court Clerk is the busiest of the four races to be decided next year in the March 6 county primaries and the Aug. 2 general elections.

64. Chism Vying With Jackson for GS Court Clerk - Wednesday, November 30, 2011

With one week to the filing deadline, the race for General Sessions Court Clerk is the busiest of the four races to be decided next year in the March 6 county primaries and the Aug. 2 general elections.

65. BadgerSpot Mobile App Brings Printed Page to Life - Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The Memphis-based team behind BadgerSpot, a new “augmented reality”-based mobile phone application that’s now live in Apple’s app store, has developed what it’s describing as the digital version of a secret decoder ring that can unlock advertising, communication and social media possibilities for businesses.

66. Jackson’s Suspension, Lawsuit Point Out State Law Paradox - Monday, August 8, 2011

After he was indicted last month by the Shelby County grand jury on four counts of official misconduct, General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson said voters put him in office and only they could take him out of office.

67. Tiger Gift Shop Moves To Larger Space - Friday, August 5, 2011

Tiger Gift Shop is relocating a few doors down from its current location on the Highland Strip near the University of Memphis.

The university retailer, now at 549 S. Highland St., has signed a new 5,000-square-foot lease at 531 S. Highland, in the space formerly occupied by From One Greek to Another.

68. Jackson Suspended as General Sessions Court Clerk - Thursday, August 4, 2011

General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson has been suspended for 60 days by the judges of the civil and criminal divisions of General Sessions Court. The suspension was announced Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 3.

69. Jackson Suspended as General Sessions Court Clerk - Wednesday, August 3, 2011

General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson has been suspended for 60 days by the judges of the civil and criminal divisions of General Sessions Court. The suspension was announced Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 3.

70. Jackson Indicted for Official Misconduct - Monday, July 11, 2011

General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson has been indicted on four state charges of official misconduct.

71. New York Snow: PR Pros or Schmoes - Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a two-part series.

I flew into New York City on New Year’s Eve, five days after a historic blizzard – the worst in six decades. The snowpocalypse brought bustling Manhattan and its neighboring boroughs to their knees.

72. Issues Dominate 2010 Political Headlines - Thursday, December 30, 2010

The top two vote getters in the 2010 election year weren’t candidates. They were causes.

Leading the way among all races within Shelby County was the 178,358 votes cast in November for an amendment to the Tennessee Constitution that specifically stated hunting and fishing are “personal rights.”

73. County Atty: Jackson Strong-Armed Clerk Employees - Monday, December 6, 2010

Two years after Otis Jackson upset incumbent Republican General Sessions Court Clerk Chris Turner, Jackson is the focus of a criminal investigation that could end his brief time in elected office.

74. County Atty: Jackson Put Strong-Arm On Clerk Employees - Friday, December 3, 2010

The same day last month that General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson called his employees to a “mandatory” meeting about his political ambitions, one of those employees reported him to the Shelby County attorney’s office.

75. GOP Carries Countywide Offices - Friday, August 6, 2010

The only thing Republican candidates in Shelby County were denied in the Aug. 5 elections was a majority on the Shelby County Commission. The local GOP slate swept every countywide partisan race on the ballot with Thursday’s election results.

Voter turnout – early and Election Day – was almost 30 percent of Shelby County’s 600,000 voters. All election returns will be audited and must be certified by the Shelby County Election Commission.

Republican Bill Oldham, the former chief deputy of the Sheriff’s Department under outgoing Sheriff Mark Luttrell, beat Democrat Randy Wade in the race for sheriff.

The unofficial returns with all precincts reporting were:

Oldham: 89,613 (52%)

Wade: 82,981 (48%)

Wade, who was the Democratic nominee for sheriff in 2002, linked his 2010 campaign to the re-election bid of Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen. Wade, a former sheriff’s deputy, is Cohen’s district director.

Oldham campaigned on continuing the policies of Luttrell. But his campaign faltered when Oldham was forced to resign his job as chief deputy – the No. 2 position in the department – following a complaint to the U.S. Justice Department that his candidacy violated the Federal Hatch Act.

The civil complaint investigated by the Justice Department’s Office of Special Counsel left Oldham with the choice of either quitting the job or quitting the race. To keep both could have jeopardized federal funding the department receives.

The complaint was unique because deputies and high-ranking officers running for sheriff has been a regular feature of the sheriff’s race for decades. It wasn’t until 2002 that those in the department were required to take a leave of absence if they ran.

In other general election races, challenger Ken Hoover lost to Shelby County School Board Chairman David Pickler in the race for the District 5 seat on the seven-member board.

Pickler has been chairman for 11 of the 12 years the school board has been an elected body. Pickler ran on his record as chairman. Hoover also ran on Pickler’s record, saying his leadership style was too autocratic and not transparent enough.

The unofficial results were:

Pickler: 5,123 (51%)

Hoover: 4,956 (49%)

In the two other contested school board races, former Bolton High School principal Snowden “Butch” Carruthers beat Millington parent Charlene White in District 1. And political newcomer David Reaves beat fellow newcomer Lara A. McIntyre, both of Bartlett, for the District 3 seat.

White and McIntyre both called for change in school board methods during their campaigns.

District 7 school board member Ernest Chism ran unopposed.

The even-numbered district school board seats are on the 2012 county ballot.

After running for Probate Court clerk three other times, Democratic nominee Sondra Becton could not claim the office on her fourth try – even with the incumbent she campaigned against the three other times out of the race. Republican contender Paul Boyd easily beat Becton in the race for the office Chris Thomas gave up to run for and win a seat on the Shelby County Commission.

Becton lost to Thomas by 604 votes four years ago and was among the four Democratic challengers who unsuccessfully challenged the results in Chancery Court. This time she lost by more than 6,500 votes.

The vote totals were:

Boyd: 82,259 (52%)

Becton: 75,702 (48%)

Republican Tom Leatherwood easily defeated Democratic challenger Coleman Thompson to remain Shelby County register. The two faced each other in 2006, with Leatherwood winning.

The results Thursday were:

Leatherwood: 96,531 (58%)

Thompson: 68,784 (42%)

As early voting began, Thompson’s Pyramid Recovery Center was evicted from its longtime South Memphis space that was also an early voting site and an election day polling place. The landlord agreed to leave the voting sites up and running. But the possibility of a change in polling places served to highlight Thompson’s financial problems.

Late publicity about financial problems took a toll on another Democratic contender.

Newcomer Corey Maclin began campaigning early for Shelby County clerk, with incumbent Republican Debbie Stamson not seeking re-election. Maclin lost to Republican nominee Wayne Mashburn, the son of late county clerk Sonny Mashburn.

The unofficial returns were:

Mashburn: 88,619 (55%)

Maclin: 72,651 (45%)

Stamson’s husband, Steve Stamson, retired as Juvenile Court clerk, setting up the race that was won by Republican nominee Joy Touliatos, the chief administrative officer of the clerk’s office. She beat Democratic nominee Shep Wilbun, who won appointment to the clerk’s office in 2000 but lost to Stamson in the 2002 election and was beaten by Stamson again in 2006.

With all precincts reporting, the numbers were:

Touliatos: 85,849 (51%)

Wilbun: 73,345 (44%)

The remaining votes went to independent candidate Julia R. Wiseman.

Also seeking a return to countywide office was Minerva Johnican. Johnican, the Democratic nominee for Criminal Court clerk, lost to Republican nominee Kevin Key, the son of outgoing Criminal Court Clerk Bill Key and an administrator with the Circuit Court Clerk’s office.

The results were:

Key: 79,755 (49%)

Johnican: 74,831 (46%)

Independent candidate Jerry Stamson: 8,581 (5%)

Johnican, also a former Memphis City Council member and Shelby County Commissioner lost the clerk’s job in 1994 when she was upset by the elder Key.

Incumbent Republican Circuit Court Clerk Jimmy Moore easily defeated Democratic challenger Ricky Dixon. Although Dixon was part of the effort by Democratic party leaders to get voters to vote the entire party slate, Moore continued to show up at Democratic functions and make his case for crossover votes.

Regina Morrison Newman, the third Shelby County tustee in four years, lost her bid for a full term in the office to Republican challenger David Lenoir. It was an impressive political debut for Lenoir, who had heavy backing from the local GOP.

The results were:

Lenoir: 77,166 (49%)

Newman: 72,618 (46%)

Independent candidate Derrick Bennett: 6,353 (4%)

Newman was appointed to the office by the Shelby County Commission following the 2009 death of Trustee Paul Mattila. Mattila was appointed to the office and won a special election for the position following the 2008 death of Bob Patterson. Patterson was re-elected to a four-year term in 2006.

In the judicial races:

Attorney Bill Anderson Jr. emerged atop a field of 20 candidates for General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Div. 7 with 15 percent of the vote. Assistant County Attorney Janet Lansky Shipman was second and the only other contender to go into double digit percentages. The 20 candidates were the largest field in any race – primary or general – on the Shelby County ballot.

Prosecutor Bobby Carter, who had the backing of District Attorney General Bill Gibbons and former District Attorney General John Pierotti, was elected judge of Criminal Court Div. 3 in a close race with attorneys Glenn Wright and Latonya Sue Burrow.

Carter got 26 percent of the vote to Wright’s 25 percent and Burrow’s 24.7 percent.

The results in the three other special judicial races saw the three appointed judges rejected by voters.

• Lee Wilson, the appointee to General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Div. 10, lost to former General Sessions Court Clerk Chris Turner by more than 64,000 votes. Turner’s victory was the strongest proof of the strong Republican turnout for races across the general election ballot. Turner had been the General Sessions Court clerk until 2006, when he was upset by Democratic challenger Otis Jackson. He is also a former Republican state legislator.
• Lorrie Ridder, the appointee to Circuit Court Judge Div. 4, lost to attorney Gina Higgins by about 5,000 votes.
• Rhynette Northcross Hurd, the appointee to Circuit Court Judge Div. 8, lost to attorney Bob Weiss by more than 12,000 votes.

Ridder and Hurd had been appointed to the Circuit Court vacancies by Gov. Phil Bredesen, who picked them each from a list of three finalists from the Judicial Nominating Commission. Bredesen even taped a robo-call on behalf of Hurd, his first robo-call for any candidate in the state.

Wilson was appointed to the General Sessions vacancy by the Shelby County Commission and adopted a domestic violence case docket for the court.

76. Attorneys Poll Picks Most Qualified Candidates - Friday, July 9, 2010

The Memphis Bar Association’s poll of most qualified judicial candidates on the Aug. 5 ballot is good news for the three appointed incumbents in the races.

There are five special elections for judge on the ballot. But the polls mirrored recent elections in its low turnout. And the category “no opinion” was the choice of at least 16 percent in each of the five races.

77. Memphis Bar Releases Judicial Candidates Poll Results - Thursday, July 8, 2010

The Memphis Bar Association’s poll of most qualified judicial candidates on the Aug. 5 ballot is good news for the three appointed incumbents in the races.

There are five special elections for judge on the ballot. But the polls mirrored recent elections in its low turnout. And the category “no opinion” was the choice of at least 16 percent in each of the five races.

The MBA asked 3,000 attorneys in Shelby County, members and nonmembers, to judge who was best qualified in each of the races. There were 795 attorneys who responded.

The results released Thursday morning show:

In the 20-candidate field for General Sessions Criminal Court Division 7, the largest field of candidates in any race – primary or general – on the Aug. 5 ballot, assistant county attorney Janet Lansky Shipman came out on top with 16 percent. Fifteen percent of the attorneys who responded ranked prosecutor Billy Bond as best qualified.

Attorney Bill Anderson Jr. followed with 10 percent. Everyone else was in single digits. But most of those responding, 22 percent, had no opinion.

Prosecutor Bobby Carter was top of the six-candidate field for Criminal Court Division 3 at 27 percent. Criminal defense attorney Gerald Skahan followed closely with 24 percent.

Division 4 Circuit Court Judge Lorrie K. Ridder was ranked as best qualified to keep her seat by 66 percent of those responding.

Division 8 Circuit Court Judge Rhynette Hurd was ranked most qualified in the Division 8 field by 37 percent of those responding. But 26 percent of the attorneys had no opinion.

Division 10 General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Lee Wilson was ranked most qualified in his race with former General Sessions Court Judge Chris Turner by 48 percent of the attorneys.

The MBA has conducted a poll of attorneys on contested judicial races for more than two decades.

78. Commission Races Hinge on Public Issues - Monday, April 19, 2010

Two issues figure in to the 11 competitive races for the Shelby County Commission – the future of the Regional Medical Center and local government consolidation.

Any push card for a credible candidate includes either something about how to save The MED or the candidate’s opposition to consolidation – or both.

79. Candidates Battle it Out in Democratic Primary - Monday, April 19, 2010

Before voters get to the slimmer, trimmer Aug. 5 race for Shelby County mayor, some of them must decide the three-candidate Democratic primary on the May 4 ballot.

As political races go, this one has enough drama to make it interesting.

80. Candidates Set For Local Judicial Elections - Monday, April 5, 2010

The three special judicial nonpartisan elections on the Aug. 5 ballot are topped by a race in General Sessions Criminal Court between incumbent Lee Wilson, appointed last year by the Shelby County Commission, and Chris Turner, an attorney and former state legislator as well as the former General Sessions Court clerk.

81. Races Open For Two County School Board Seats - Friday, April 2, 2010

The Aug. 5 elections will feature two races for open seats on the Shelby County school board.

At the noon Thursday filing deadline for the four odd-numbered district seats as well as the state and federal primaries, board member Anne Edmiston did not file for another four-year term. Board member Teresa Price had announced earlier that she would not be running either.

82. UPDATE: Two Open County School Board Seats At Filing Deadline - Thursday, April 1, 2010

The Aug. 5 elections will feature two races for open seats on the Shelby County school board.

At the noon Thursday filing deadline for the four odd-numbered district seats as well as the state and federal primaries, board member Anne Edmiston did not file for another four-year term. Board member Teresa Price had announced earlier that she would not be running either.

83. Congress: Connections With Toyota - Thursday, February 25, 2010

Several lawmakers on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which is holding a hearing Wednesday on the Toyota recalls, have Toyota factories and offices in their states or even their districts. A look at some of the automaker's ties:

84. Jackson Brings ‘Balanced Leadership’ to Mayor’s Race - Tuesday, February 23, 2010

The surprise candidate in the race for Shelby County mayor said Monday he had been considering a bid for the job for the past 10 years.

General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson checked out his qualifying petition for the May 4 Democratic primary Thursday morning and filed before the noon deadline.

85. Little Guys, Big Guys - Monday, February 22, 2010

No one would mistake a local institution like Tri-State Bank for one of Wall Street’s mighty titans of finance, whose recent woes brought the U.S. and world economies to their knees.

86. 2010 - Monday, January 4, 2010

Is it over yet? That may be the most frequently asked question in the New Year. “It” is the worst national economic recession since the Great Depression.

Accurately reading the indicators will not be easy. Some will predict the recession is about to end, just as new indicators point to continuing economic agony for thousands of Memphians.

87. Bloodworth Named Chair of Urban Land Institute’s District Council - Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Russell Bloodworth has been named chair of the Urban Land Institute’s District Council representing Memphis and the Mid-South. He most recently served as assistant chairman to the previous chair, Frank Ricks of Looney Ricks Kiss.

88. Mattila’s Visitation, Memorial Service Today - Wednesday, September 9, 2009

About five months ago, Shelby County Trustee Paul Mattila stood in his backyard in Millington and told several dozen people he would be running in the 2010 county elections.

In the barn just a few yards away were signs for the coming campaign and from past ones Mattila had worked over the years.

89. MBA Seeks More Applicants For Leadership Forum - Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Memphis Bar Association’s Leadership Forum, which began in 2004, offers attorneys in their third to eighth year of practice opportunities to network, meet nationally known legal icons and create projects to serve the community.

90. Chairmanship Battle a Preview Of Coming Political Landscape - Friday, July 17, 2009

The political fortunes of the Shelby County Democratic Party haven’t been this high in awhile.

Democrats have high hopes for the 2010 county elections. In the 2006 elections, four Democratic challengers of Republican incumbents in countywide offices came within 1,000 votes of wins. Democrats picked up a countywide office in the 2008 elections when Otis Jackson, one of the four Democrats who got close but not close enough two years earlier, upset Republican incumbent Chris Turner in the General Sessions Court clerk’s race.

91. Weekend Events Draw Politicians in Droves - Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Before candidates take their quests for elected office to the public, they usually give them a road test before other politicos – allies and adversaries – to see if this is really what they want to do for the next year or so.

92. Wrestling Promoter Preps For County Clerk Run - Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Wrestling promoter and television personality Corey Maclin is the latest Democratic candidate to announce his intentions for the 2010 countywide elections.

Maclin on Monday told members of the local Democratic Executive Committee that he will be a candidate in the 2010 Democratic primary for Shelby County clerk.

93. Maclin Announces For County Clerk - Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Wrestling promoter and television personality Corey Maclin in the latest Democratic candidate to announce his intention for the 2010 county-wide elections.

Maclin told members of the local Democratic Executive Committee Monday that he will be a candidate in the 2010 Democratic primary for Shelby County Clerk.

Maclin, president and chief executive officer of Maclin & Associates Advertising and Promotions, told The Daily News he had considered running for the post held by Republican Debbie Stamson in 2006 but passed on the race. Stamson beat Democratic nominee Otis Jackson by 478 votes in the 2006 general election. Jackson ran in 2008 for General Sessions Court Clerk as the Democratic nominee and upset Republican incumbent Chris Turner.

Monday’s meeting was the first of the new executive committee since it was elected at a county convention earlier this month and elected attorney Van Turner Jr. as the new party chairman. They followed up by electing attorney Desi Franklin, who was instrumental in Turner’s victory over rival Jay Bailey, as first vice chair of the party. Cherry Davis, who had been first vice chair was elected second vice chair.

The only contested selection was for party secretary. Reginald Milton, another Turner ally, was the committee’s pick over Del Gill, a Bailey ally. Barbara Williams was reappointed party treasurer by Turner.

Read more in Wednesday’s edition of The Daily News.

94. Maclin Announces For County Clerk - Monday, April 6, 2009

Wrestling promoter and television personality Corey Maclin is the latest Democratic candidate to announce his intentions for the 2010 county-wide elections.

Maclin told members of the local Democratic Executive Committee tonight that he will be a candidate in the 2010 Democratic primary for Shelby County Clerk.

95. Perry Enters Probate Clerk Race - Thursday, March 26, 2009

Add another candidate to the already forming 2010 Shelby County ballot.

Clay Perry, deputy administrator to the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, is in the race for Shelby County Probate Court clerk.

96. Jackson’s Election Signals Change In Clerk’s Office - Thursday, September 4, 2008

Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson Jr. turned 48 this week and walked into the clerk’s office for the first time as the clerk.

Jackson, a Democrat, upset incumbent clerk Chris Turner, a Republican, in the Aug. 7 county general elections. From then to Sept. 1, when Jackson officially took office, there wasn’t a transition.

97. Johnson, Jackson To Be Sworn in Sunday - Thursday, August 28, 2008

Two newly minted elected officials will be formally sworn into office Sunday.

Cheyenne Johnson, who succeeds Rita Clark as Shelby County assessor of property, and Otis Jackson, who succeeds Chris Turner as General Sessions Court clerk, will take their oaths of office Sunday in a ceremony at 5 p.m. in the Shelby County Board of Commissioners Chambers at 160 N. Main St.

98. Cohen, Blackburn Lead Local Election Winners - Monday, August 11, 2008

More than half and possibly as much as 75 percent of Shelby County’s nearly 626,000 voters are expected to turn out for the Nov. 4 election that will be highlighted by the John McCain-Barack Obama battle for the White House.

99. Cohen Crushes Tinker - Jackson Upsets Turner - Charter Changes Pass-Fail - Friday, August 8, 2008
Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen was the big winner in Thursday’s primary elections. Cohen, with 80 percent of the vote, crushed challenger Nikki Tinker in the hard fought 9th District Democratic primary.

The upset of the evening was the general election contest for General Sessions Court Clerk where Democratic challenger Otis Jackson beat Republican incumbent Chris Turner.

And only one of two sets of Shelby County charter amendments on the ballot were approved by voters.

Voter turnout was just under 16 percent in Shelby County. Voter turnout was clearly driven by the 9th District Democratic primary. More people voted in that primary which covers most but not all of Shelby County than voted countywide in the state Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate. Turnout in the Democratic primaries was twice that of the Republican primaries in Shelby County.

All results are unofficial pending audit and certification by the Shelby County Election Commission and Tennessee election officials

9th Congressional District
Democratic Primary
Steve Cohen 50,284 79%
Nikki Tinker 11,814 19%
Joe Towns Jr. 914 1%

Not even close. Cohen won the primary for the open all Shelby County seat two years ago by 4,400 votes over Tinker and 13 other candidates. This time around he was the incumbent and Tinker’s challenge was more strident with a pair of controversial attack ads in the gap between the end of early voting and election day. Both were probably factors in the vote totals along with a smaller field of five candidates.

Cohen faces independent candidate Jake Ford in the Nov. 4 general election.

7th Congressional District
Republican Primary
248 of 265 precincts reporting
Marsha Blackburn 29,158 65%
Tom Leatherwood 15,636 35%

These are the results district wide which includes not only the eastern part of Shelby County but a strip of Middle Tennessee up to the Kentucky state line. In Shelby County’s part of the 7th district, Leatherwood beat Blackburn with 62 percent of the vote. But it was 62 percent of just over 19,000 votes. Outside Shelby County it was always going to be difficult for Leatherwood.. The low voter turnout in Collierville and other eastern parts of the county made Leatherwood’s task impossible.

Blackburn faces Democrat Randy G. Morris on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Shelby County Charter Amendment #360
Yes  49,506   49.73%

No   50,043   50,27%

Closest contest of the night in Shelby County with a 537 vote margin and the highest turnout with 99,549 votes total.

This set of charter changes was to fix a legal problem noted in a recent Tennessee Supreme Court ruling. Another part of the package deal was increasing term limits for the county mayor and the county commission from two consecutive four year terms approved by voters in 1994 to three consecutive four year terms. The County Commission meets Monday to ponder whether it should offer another charter amendment on the Nov. 4 ballot that would fix the legal problem.

Shelby County Charter Amendment #361
Yes 65,548 68%
No 30,188 32%

This set of charter amendment includes provisions for recalling elected officials. It also establishes a new method for filling a vacancy in the office of County Mayor.

General Sessions Court Clerk
Otis Jackson 51,438 52%
Chris Turner 43,971 45%

The upset of the evening. Turner, the Republican nominee and the incumbent was seeking a fourth term. Jackson, the Democratic nominee, was making his fourth bid for county-wide office after coming close in a 2006 bid for County Clerk.

Trustee
Paul Mattila 54,734 57%
Ray Butler 29,977 31%

Mattila beats Butler in a race featuring an energetic and misleading campaign by M. LaTroy Williams in which Williams billed himself as the “real Democrat.” He was, in fact, an independent candidate garnering 8 percent of the vote. Mattila fills the remaining two years left in the term of office of the late Bob Patterson, a Republican. Mattila, a Democrat, worked with Patterson. Butler, the Republican, was also a friend of Patterson’s and the race amounted to who would best continue to operate the office as Patterson did.

Criminal Court Judge Div. 6
John Fowlkes 44,581 52%
Latonya Burrow 21,874 26%
Michael G. Floyd 12,071 14%
Claiborne H. Ferguson 6,240 7%

Fowlkes serves out the remaining six years left of the eight year term of office of Fred Axley who resigned from the bench shortly after winning re-election in 2006. Burrow finished a close second to Axley two years ago and again ran an energetic campaign this time around. But Fowlkes status in the legal community and his appointment to the bench by Gov. Phil Bredesen proved to be the advantage.

Assessor of Property
Cheyenne Johnson 59,637 60%
Bill Giannini 39,057 40%

Johnson, the Democratic nominee, easily beat Giannini, who is also doubling as local GOP chairman. Local Democrats keep the county-wide position in their column as voters go for the candidate endorsed by outgoing Democratic incumbent Rita Clark.

U.S. Senate
Democratic Primary
2,192 of 2,290 precincts reporting
Bob Tuke 54,613 32%
Gary G. Davis 37,193 22%
Mike Padgett 32,190 19%
Mark Clayton 30,359 18%
Kenneth Eaton 13,718 8%
Leonard Ladner 4,431 3%

These are the statewide results. Tuke got 42 percent of the Shelby County vote with Clayton finishing second. Tuke, the former state Democratic Party chairman, faces Republican incumbent Lamar Alexander, one of the most successful politicians in the history of the state, in the Nov. 4 general election.

Judicial Retention Races

All seven state appellate court judges, including two Tennessee Supreme Court justices, won their yes/no contests on the ballot across the state. That includes Tennessee Criminal Appeals Court Judge Camille McMullen of Millington who was just appointed to the bench in June by Gov. Phil Bredesen.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

100. Filing Deadline For Elections Is Thursday - Tuesday, April 1, 2008

A healthy voter turnout doesn't necessarily mean every race on the ballot gets the benefit. Politicos call it "ballot falloff." It means races such as those for president or mayor get voters to the polls. But those same voters might decide not to vote in the other races.