Good morning, Memphis! Go green and capture the luck of the Irish as both Cooper-Young and Beale Street celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style this week. Maybe you’d prefer to explore the universe with a Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist? We’ve got details on those, plus more local happenings you need to know about in The Week Ahead…

2. UT QBs, Receivers, Coaches Struggling So Far - Friday, October 6, 2017

Tennessee’s football players are on fall break this weekend during the open date. You’ve got to wonder how many players fifth-year UT coach Butch Jones will get back after the break.

Fallout from last Saturday’s 41-0 loss to No. 5 Georgia is massive. Fans were leaving Neyland Stadium by halftime with the Vols trailing 24-0. Jones took a beating from fans on social media and sports talk radio all week.

3. Freshman Impact: Vols’ Best Rookie RBs - Friday, August 18, 2017

Butch Jones let us in on a little secret recently when he said his freshman running backs will play for Tennessee this season.

That’s plural – running backs.

Jones’ plan is to use all three freshman backs – Ty Chandler, Tim Jordan and Trey Coleman – in some sort of rotation behind junior John Kelly. Given the nature of the game, putting the football in the hands of freshmen is risky business. But Jones is taking the plunge.

4. 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.

5. Vols Need a Good Spring With So Many No. 1 Players Gone - Friday, March 17, 2017

Butch Jones is about to embark on his most crucial of five seasons as Tennessee’s football coach, and it begins with spring practices starting Tuesday, March 21.

Jones is coming off back-to-back 9-4 seasons capped by bowl wins, but has fallen short of the SEC East Division title both years. He was the preseason favorite to win the East in 2016, and the previous year had a team with potential to win the division.

6. You Gotta Have Heart: UT’s 2017 Recruiting Class - Friday, February 10, 2017

Butch Jones did it again. The Tennessee football coach gave opponents press conference fodder with another one-liner while putting his spin on the Vols’ 2017 signing class.

It happened a day after the Feb. 1 National Signing Day when UT’s class was rated No. 17 nationally in the 247Sports composite rankings.

7. Tim Jackson Wins Tennessee Senior Amateur Championship - Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Germantown’s Tim Jackson won the 2016 Tennessee Senior Amateur Championship by two strokes. Jackson shot a pair of 3-under par 69s in rounds 1 and 3.

The thick rough and quick greens of Spring Creek Ranch made for a tough test as Jackson was the only player to finish the week under par. The division is for golfers 55 and older.

8. Memphis Candidates Prepare To Spend - Wednesday, July 22, 2015

How much a candidate raises in an election season attracts a lot of attention, and the second-quarter fundraising numbers for the Oct. 8 Memphis elections are still trickling out.

The reports were due July 10 but some are still arriving at the Shelby County Election Commission website. And in some cases, the reports are incomplete, showing amounts raised but not amounts spend and on hand as of July 1.

9. Stones Rock Music City - Saturday, June 13, 2015

Pleased to meet you, hope you guessed our name. Well, hell, Mick, if it’s puzzling you, it’s Nashville. Music City USA.

We’re the national media’s flavor of the day – the “It city,” which has gone from being a secondary concert market – remember The Beatles played Memphis, not Nashville – to one of the country’s prime touring destinations.

10. Ramsey Uses ‘System’ to Reshape State’s Political Landscape - Thursday, May 28, 2015

Senate Speaker and Lieutenant Gov. Ron Ramsey laughs at the notion he’s changed since being elected to the Legislature 23 years ago, that he’s lost touch with the common man or become “arrogant” as lieutenant governor of Tennessee.

11. Relevant Again? 10 Keys to Success for UT Baseball - Saturday, February 21, 2015

KNOXVILLE – Tennessee baseball coach Dave Serrano wasn’t pushing the panic button after his team lost two of three games in their season opening series at Florida International University in Miami last weekend.

12. Foreclosures Drop 22 Percent in Second Quarter - Thursday, July 17, 2014

United Housing Inc. has teamed up with Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church to create the first Grace-St. Luke’s GraceBuilders House, which will involve fixing up a foreclosed home for a family in United Housing’s Homebuyer Education program.

13. Staples to Build First Memphis Location - Friday, February 25, 2011

The world’s largest office products company will soon enter the Memphis market.

Framingham, Mass.-based Staples Inc. has signed a 17,945-square-foot lease at Ridgeway Trace, the shopping center at Poplar Avenue and Interstate 240 developed by Houston-based Weingarten Realty Investors.

14. Bradley Named Mid-South Super Lawyer - Wednesday, February 9, 2011

J. Anthony Bradley has been named for the third consecutive year to the Mid-South Super Lawyers for estate planning and probate practice areas.

15. School Report Card Delayed Until January - Tuesday, December 21, 2010

The state is late – so late that long overdue data on adequate yearly progress (AYP) by students and the state report cards for schools will wait until a new administration takes office in Nashville.

16. Urban League Honors ‘Agents of Change’ - Tuesday, December 21, 2010

With a panoramic view of city lights from the 33rd floor of the Clark Tower, 300 Memphians gathered Friday night to honor outstanding young minority professionals during the inaugural Agents of Change Awards Gala.

17. Split Vote Takes Down Metro Charter Proposal - Wednesday, November 3, 2010

The metro consolidation charter won a narrow victory with Memphis voters Tuesday but was crushed by Shelby County voters outside Memphis.

The first consolidation charter to go to voters in 39 years had to win both in Memphis and outside Memphis in order to consolidate the city of Memphis and Shelby County governments.

18. Opening Move - Tuesday, November 2, 2010

The owners of 138 run-down properties sued by the city on the recommendation of code enforcement officials will soon be due in court for a series of hearings that start later this month.

The targets of those lawsuits own everything from a collection of townhouses east of Memphis International Airport to Southern Funeral Home at 440 Vance Ave. The trait they share is the public nuisance the city believes they present.

19. Education Commissioner Resigns Post - Friday, October 8, 2010

Tennessee Commissioner of Education Tim Webb resigned Wednesday, effective immediately.

Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen announced Webb’s resignation but did not name a replacement for Webb, who has headed the state’s education department since July 2008. The statement does not list a reason for the resignation or what Webb’s future plans are.

20. State Commissioner of Education Resigns - Thursday, October 7, 2010

Tennessee Commissioner of Education Tim Webb resigned Wednesday, effective immediately.

Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen announced Webb’s resignation but did not name a replacement for Webb, who has headed the state’s education department since July 2008. The statement does not list a reason for the resignation or what Webb’s future plans are.

21. Tenn. Pre-K Program Now in All 95 Counties - Wednesday, August 4, 2010

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee's pre-kindergarten program is now in all 95 counties.

Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen and state Education Commissioner Tim Webb said Tuesday that the expansion marks the first pre-K classrooms for schools in Sumner and Washington counties.

22. Memphis Integral in Race to the Top Effort - Wednesday, March 31, 2010

When Tennessee made its pitch to federal officials for $500 million, Memphis school board member Tomeka Hart was part of the five-person Tennessee team.

And as the state formulated its proposal for the Race to the Top funding, Teresa Sloyan of the Memphis-based Hyde Foundation worked with Hart and others to put together the “ask.”

23. Nashville Public School Will Convert to Charter - Thursday, February 4, 2010

NASHVILLE (AP) – A struggling Nashville middle school will become the state’s first public school to be turned into a charter school, with a yet-to-be-named company possibly taking it over a grade at a time.

24. Takeover of Failing Schools Not Done Deal - Monday, January 25, 2010

A state takeover of any public schools isn’t going to happen until 2011 at the earliest, Memphis schools superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash said late last week after an afternoon of conference calls with state education commissioner Tim Webb.

25. Tenn. Lawmakers Given First Look at Education Plan - Tuesday, January 12, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Lawmakers got their first detailed look Monday at Gov. Phil Bredesen's education proposals for a special legislative session.

The Democratic governor is urging lawmakers to approve a series of changes that he says are needed the strengthen the state's application for hundreds of millions of dollars in federal "Race to the Top" money. The special session begins Tuesday afternoon and the federal application deadline is Jan. 19.

26. Huff Becomes Enrollment VP at University of Memphis - Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Betty Huff has been named vice provost of enrollment services at the University of Memphis.

Huff previously served as acting dean and associate dean of students at the University of New Orleans, registrar at the University of Kentucky and vice chancellor for enrollment services and management at the University of California at Santa Barbara.

27. Pre-K Advocates Oppose Republican Plan - Wednesday, June 17, 2009

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Senate Republicans crashed a news conference pre-kindergarten advocates held asking lawmakers to reject a budget amendment that will change how the state education program receives its funding.

28. School Funding Foes to Confer Today - Thursday, May 21, 2009

At a budget presentation and community forum Memphis City Schools will host today, nearly everyone with a stake in the year-long squabble over school funding will gather under one roof.

That roof will not belong to a courthouse, a fact that some participants say is a sign of progress. For months, the city school system and Memphis City Council have wrangled over the issue in court.

29. Dueling Letters Set Stage For Thursday City Schools Discussion - Monday, May 18, 2009

A series of letters exchanged over the past two weeks between attorneys for Memphis City Schools and the Memphis City Council suggests each side in the long-running school funding debate remains unlikely to give up any ground.

30. City Declines MCS Offer, Floats New Funding Plan - Friday, May 15, 2009

If Memphis City Schools had used its surpluses to pay expenses over the past four years, the city could have lowered its tax rate about 40 cents each year, said Allan Wade, attorney for the Memphis City Council.

31. Aitken Brings Local Experience to County Schools Post - Monday, March 30, 2009

Few were surprised last week when John Aitken became the next superintendent of the Shelby County Schools system.

The only surprise was the vote wasn’t unanimous.

School board member Diane George was the lone vote for Collierville High School principal Tim Setterlund in the second round of voting by the seven-member board.

32. Aitken to Become County Schools Superintendent in June - Friday, March 27, 2009

John Aitken is the new superintendent of the Shelby County school system. ?Aitken was the choice of six of the seven county school board members on the second round of balloting that included three other finalists for the job.?Aitken will take over leadership of the school system at the end of June when Dr. Bobby Webb, the current superintendent, retires. Aitken had been serving as interim superintendent while Webb was on medical leave for three months.?Webb returned to work recently and today’s meeting was his first back at the helm since taking the leave for an undisclosed illness.?Aitken has been assistant superintendent of student services, leadership and safety. Before that he was principal of Houston High School for 11 years. He began his career at Collierville High School, where he was a teacher of advanced math and geometry as well as the boys’ basketball coach.?Aitken and Collierville High School principal Tim Setterlund advanced to the second round of voting. During the first round, each board member was allowed to vote for two of the contenders.?Aitken had six votes and Setterlund had five after that round.?In the second and final round, every board member except Diane George voted for Aitken.

33. Aitken Tapped As County Schools Superintendent - Friday, March 27, 2009

John Aitken is the new superintendent of the Shelby County school system.

Aitken was the choice of six of the seven county school board members on the second round of balloting that included three other finalists for the job.

34. Aitken Tapped As New County School Superintendent - Thursday, March 26, 2009

John Aitken is the new superintendent of the Shelby County school system.

Aitken was the choice of six of the seven county school board members on the second round of balloting that included three other finalists for the job.

35. Events - Friday, March 27, 2009

The Memphis Chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals will have its annual Professional Development Seminar today from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Select East, 5795 Poplar Ave. Crystal Gilreath, director of operations for Career Gateway, and Tim Cavender, director of public affairs for Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services in Canton, Ga., will speak. Cost is $90 and includes breakfast and lunch. For reservations, contact Dianne Cordaro at 287-6009 or diannecordaro@yahoo.com.

36. Wiretapping Central to Drug Bust - Thursday, February 26, 2009

A local undercover drug operation has used court-ordered wiretaps successfully for the first time to bring state drug charges.

The wiretaps on cell phones used in Operation Blue Star were sought by District Attorney General Bill Gibbons and approved by Criminal Court Judge Mark Ward.

37. MCS Seeks Mediation With Council Over Funding - Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Memphis City Schools wants a court to force the school district and the Memphis City Council to begin mediation to negotiate a compromise that preserves $423 million in state funding for MCS.

The school district on Friday filed a motion as part of the district’s pending lawsuit in Shelby County Chancery Court against the city, and in that motion asked that mediation be ordered. The stated goal of the mediation is a funding solution that prevents the district from the crippling loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in state funding starting Oct. 1.

38. ‘C’ Word Taboo in MCS Budget Squabbles - Friday, August 15, 2008

Memphis City Schools officials spent this week distancing themselves from a funding compromise with the city of Memphis that the school district’s lawyer agreed to in a private round of dealmaking with city and state education officials.

39. Plenty Beneath Surface of MCS Funding Dispute - Friday, August 8, 2008

The Memphis City Schools funding dispute has played out in full view of the public and a lawsuit over the issue remains pending in Shelby County Chancery Court.

But that doesn’t mean things have always been what they seem.

40. MCS Seeks Waiver From State - Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Closing arguments will be heard Aug. 11 in the Shelby County Chancery Court case over the issue of local funding for Memphis City Schools. But an effort is under way by some of the parties involved in the case to make sure a political solution – rather than a court of law – puts the issue to bed.

41. MCS Funding Impasse Could Rewind County Deseg. Case - Wednesday, July 16, 2008

County school officials probably will be watching with great interest Thursday’s expected ruling by Shelby County Chancery Court Judge Kenny Armstrong in the Memphis City Schools funding case.

Armstrong ruled Friday that the Memphis chapter of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition has standing to proceed with a lawsuit against the city of Memphis over the local school funding issue. The civil rights group is pursuing a parallel lawsuit against the city at the same time Memphis City Schools – which is joined by the district’s charter schools and the Memphis Education Association – is suing the city.

42. State Considers Response Plan for MCS Funding - Monday, July 14, 2008

Tennessee education officials are giving consideration to the possibility of crafting what they’re calling an “emergency response plan” in response to the city of Memphis’ recent funding cut to the city school system.

43. MCS Funding Stalemate To Go Before Chancery Court - Tuesday, June 24, 2008

The stalemate over Memphis City Schools’ funding for the fiscal year that begins in July will move closer toward a resolution this week.

A court hearing in the matter is scheduled to occur Thursday at 10 a.m. before Chancellor Kenny Armstrong of Shelby County Chancery Court. The school board filed its suit Wednesday afternoon in response to the Memphis City Council vote earlier this month to reduce the city’s funding to the school system.

44. Events - Friday, May 30, 2008

The South Main Art Trolley Tour will be held today from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the South Main Arts District. Attendees can enjoy free trolley rides between the galleries and stores along South Main Street. Visit www.southmainmemphis.org for more information.

45. Webb Named Commissioner of Education - Wednesday, February 6, 2008
     The No. 2 man at the Tennessee Department of Education will become education commissioner on an interim basis.
     Gov. Phil Bredesen this week named Dr. Tim Webb commissioner of education.

46. Bass Berry Adds Williams to Real Estate Practice - Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Bass, Berry & Sims has hired LaToya Williams as an associate in its commercial transactions and real estate practice area. Previously, she was an associate with Stites & Harbison PLLC in Atlanta and Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs in Memphis. Williams received her juris doctorate in 2004 from the University of Tennessee College of Law and is a member of the American, National, Tennessee and Memphis bar associations.

47. Dwyer Awarded by Governor's Highway Safety Office - Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Judge Tim J. Dwyer of the criminal division of Shelby County General Sessions Court received the annual Lifesaver Award from the Governor's Highway Safety Office. The award recognizes individuals and organizations that have made notable contributions toward highway safety in Tennessee.

48. Archived Article: Newsmakers - Wednesday, June 29, 2005
ABWA Presents Business and Community Involvement Awards

Orchestral Society Names New Board Members

The Memphis Orchestral Society Inc. named Jeff Sanford chairman of its board of directors, effective July 1. Sanford, president of the Center Ci...

49. Archived Article: Newsmakers - Wednesday, March 9, 2005
Smith & Nephew Announces New Division and Promotions

Smith & Nephew Announces New Division, Promotions

Steve Hirsch was named president of Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics, a new division of the company opening in Europe. The following ...

50. Archived Article: Memos - Wednesday, March 14, 2001
Carlos Webb was named executive vice president-chief executive officer of Memphis Area Teachers Credit Union Carlos Webb was named executive vice president-chief executive officer of Memphis Area Teachers Credit Union. The designation is a new one a...