A Bulgarian national has been sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for a mail fraud scheme involving FedEx Corp., according to U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee D. Michael Dunavant.

2. FedEx Ramps Up Ground Operations with Plans for More Employees, Longer Workweek - Wednesday, September 12, 2018

E-commerce growth is driving FedEx’s plans to add 55,000 employees this holiday season, increase workers’ hours and permanently run its U.S. ground parcel operation six days a week.

The Memphis-based company announced the moves Wednesday, Sept. 12, as it ramps up for what’s expected to be another record package volume during the peak season from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

3. Bulgarian National Sentenced for Defrauding FedEx - Tuesday, September 11, 2018

A Bulgarian national has been sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for a mail fraud scheme involving FedEx Corp., according to U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee D. Michael Dunavant.

4. Last Word: Bob Smith Talks, Crosstown Anniversary and Grant's Parking Lot - Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Bob Smith’s testimony was a good part of the first day of the nonjury trial that began Monday before Memphis Federal Court Judge Jon McCalla on police surveillance of protesters. Smith was the alias used by Police Sgt. Tim Reynolds – Reynolds acknowledged during his testimony Monday Downtown. The identity was also used by several other officers.

5. High Court: Online shoppers can be forced to pay sales tax - Friday, June 22, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — States will be able to force more shoppers to pay sales tax when they make online purchases under a Supreme Court decision Thursday that will leave shoppers with lighter wallets but is a big financial win for states.

6. From Distillers to Farmers, Trade War Would Cause Casualties - Monday, June 4, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – If a trade war is coming, the cheesemakers of Wisconsin are standing in the line of fire. So are the farmers of the Great Plains and the distillers of Kentucky. And the employees of iconic American brands like Harley-Davidson and Levi Strauss.

7. EMS Ready To Double Footprint In Bartlett - Friday, June 1, 2018

After holding on to an adjacent parcel of land for more than a decade next to its facility in Bartlett, medical device manufacturer Engineered Medical Systems LLC is gearing up for a major expansion of its facility. The company is investing $10.5 million in a move that will create 40 new jobs.

8. Not So Easy: Trump's Trade Agenda Hits Stumbling Blocks - Wednesday, May 30, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump's hard-line views on trade, a staple of his message long before he entered politics, are beginning to collide with the cold realities of global geopolitics.

9. Postal Service: More Financial Loss as Mail Delivery Slumps - Monday, May 14, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. Postal Service reported another quarterly loss on Friday after an unrelenting drop in mail volume and costs of its health care and pension obligations outweighed strong gains in package deliveries.

10. US Delays Decision on Tariffs for EU, Prolonging Uncertainty - Wednesday, May 2, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. government will take another 30 days to decide whether to impose tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum from the European Union, Canada and Mexico, extending a period of uncertainty for businesses in those regions.

11. China Targets $3 Billion of US Goods in Tariff Spat - Monday, March 26, 2018

BEIJING (AP) — China announced a $3 billion list of U.S. goods for possible retaliation in a tariff dispute with President Donald Trump and girded Friday for a bigger battle over technology policy as financial markets sank on fears of global disruption.

12. US May Tie NATO Contributions to Tariff Exemptions - Monday, March 12, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. allies seeking to avoid the steel and aluminum tariffs approved by President Donald Trump might be asked to step up their financial commitments to NATO.

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin told CNBC in a Friday interview that the president will consider national security, noting that Trump wants to be sure that NATO gets more funding from European allies who Trump has previously criticized for not contributing enough.

13. Trump to Impose Tariffs on Imports of Steel and Aluminum - Friday, March 2, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – Determined to protect vital American industries, President Donald Trump declared Thursday that he will impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, dramatically raising the possibility of a trade showdown with China and other key trading partners.

14. Reversing The Travel Slump - Thursday, January 18, 2018

U.S. travel industry representatives earlier this week expressed concern over declines in international travelers to the U.S.

A so-called “Trump Slump” has been blamed in some circles, but organizers of the new Visit U.S. Coalition were quick to point to a bigger long-term situation, a decline that goes back to 2015.

15. Events - Monday, January 8, 2018

Buckman Arts Center at St. Mary’s School, 60 Perkins Road Extended, hosts the exhibition “beginnings: New works by The Artists Group of Memphis” through Feb. 26. Visit buckmanartscenter.com.

16. Events - Saturday, January 6, 2018

The third TEDxMemphis conference, themed “The Slant” is Saturday, Jan. 6, at the Halloran Centre, 225 S. Main St. The one-day event will include 24 speakers – 12 at each of two programs (8:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.). Single-session tickets are $30; all-day tickets are $50. Visit tedxmemphis.com.

17. Postal Service: Red Ink for 11th Year in Row as Mail Slumps - Wednesday, November 15, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – The beleaguered U.S. Postal Service reported a financial loss Tuesday for the 11th straight year, citing declining mail volume and costs of its pension and health care obligations even as it predicted another strong holiday season of package deliveries.

18. Events - Saturday, November 11, 2017

The Whitehaven Partnership will meet Friday, Nov. 10, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Whitehaven branch library, 4120 Millbranch Road. The organization seeks to clean up Whitehaven and address community concerns. Open to the public. RSVP to Calvin Burton at cburton615@hotmail.com or 901-345-3695.

19. Last Word: Corker's Quest, Overton Park Transition and The Two Amazons - Wednesday, October 25, 2017

The basic political differences between President Donald Trump and U.S. Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee returned to the top of the news cycle Tuesday with an extraordinary airing by the two leaders that went beyond Twitter, at least for Corker. Here is the basic account from Associated Press of what was a story that unfolded over the course of a work day in the Beltway. It was a day that included Trump going to Capitol Hill for a meeting with Republican Senators, including Corker.

20. Corporations to Keep Tax Break Lost by Millions of Americans - Thursday, October 19, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – Millions of Americans would lose a prized tax break under President Donald Trump's sweeping revamp of the tax code, but corporations would get to keep it.

The Republican proposal would eliminate the federal deduction for state and local taxes, a widely popular break used by some 44 million Americans, especially in high-tax, Democratic-leaning states like New York, New Jersey, California and Illinois. But corporations, which pay billions in local property levies and state income taxes, wouldn't be affected.

21. ACA Sales Tax to Impact Businesses, Employees Starting In January 2018 - Saturday, October 7, 2017

With ongoing premium increases small and large businesses and their employees normally experience each year, the added cost of a new sales tax on health insurance premiums that goes into effect on Jan. 1 is expected to hit particularly hard.

22. Target is Raising Minimum Hourly Wage to $15 by End of 2020 - Tuesday, September 26, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) – Target Corp. is raising its minimum hourly wage for workers to $11 starting next month and then to $15 by the end of 2020, a move it says will help it hire and keep the best employees and make shopping a better experience for customers.

23. Public Shaming Likely but GOP Wary of New Laws After Equifax - Monday, September 25, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – Prospects are good for a public shaming in the Equifax data breach, but it's unlikely Congress will institute sweeping new regulations after hackers accessed the personal information of an estimated 143 million Americans.

24. Trump Bashes NAFTA in Midst of Talks to Revamp Trade Deal - Thursday, August 24, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – Just a week into talks to rewrite the North American Free Trade Agreement, President Donald Trump is already threatening to abandon the 23-year-old pact with Canada and Mexico.

25. Postal Service: More Red Ink, Missed Payments as Mail Slumps - Friday, August 11, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. Postal Service warned Thursday that it will likely default on up to $6.9 billion in payments for future retiree health benefits for the fifth straight year, citing a coming cash crunch that could disrupt day-to-day mail delivery.

26. Vaco Risk Solutions' Brian Prentice Talks Data Breaches, Safety - Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Vaco Memphis has added Brian Prentice as managing partner of Vaco Risk Solutions, a national consulting firm that works with organizations that have IT security, risk or compliance needs; have had a recent breach; are moving data centers; require a penetration test; or have any other project-based risk management needs.

27. Immigrant Tuition Break Gaining Support in Tennessee - Wednesday, April 5, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A push to offer in-state college tuition rates to students whose parents brought them into the country illegally is picking up unlikely momentum from some Republicans in Tennessee, a deeply conservative state that voted overwhelmingly for President Donald Trump and his tough stance on immigration.

28. Trump Tosses Obama's 'Clean' Energy Plan, Embraces Coal - Wednesday, March 29, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – Declaring "the start of a new era" in energy production, President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday that he said would revive the coal industry and create jobs.

29. Trump's SEC Pick, an Ex-Goldman Lawyer, to Face Skepticism - Thursday, March 23, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – Goldman Sachs may be about to get another friend in Washington.

Jay Clayton, a well-connected Wall Street lawyer who is President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission, is sure to face sharp questions from Democrats at his confirmation hearing Thursday over his years of work for Goldman and other financial giants.

30. A Robust February Jobs Report Points to Resilient US Economy - Monday, March 13, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. employers added a robust 235,000 jobs in February and raised pay at a brisk pace – signs that a resilient economy has given many companies the confidence to hire in anticipation of solid growth ahead.

31. March 10-16, 2017: This week in Memphis history - Saturday, March 11, 2017

1835: A letter from Mayor Marcus Winchester reads in part: “We are involved in another lawsuit involving important interests in relation to the John Rice grant. You are aware that since 1828 a mud bar has been accumulating in front of this town. During last summer two warrants were located upon this bar, in the name of J.D. Martin, amounting together to 44 1/2 acres, for which a grant has actually been obtained from the state.”

32. Crittenden County Deposit Leader Fidelity National Bank Turns 50 - Saturday, December 10, 2016

Fidelity National Bank in West Memphis is enjoying its 50th year in business, and through the decades the bank has become a fixture of the local community.

33. ‘MemphisWorks’ Jobs, Training App Launches - Wednesday, December 7, 2016

A new “MemphisWorks” app unveiled Wednesday, Dec. 7, at the Greater Memphis Chamber’s Annual Chairman’s Luncheon is a comprehensive jobs and training effort that took nine months to get in one digital place, with help from an anonymous donor.

34. Daniels Rejoins Mahaffey Tent As Director of Operations - Wednesday, November 9, 2016

John “Jack” Daniels has rejoined Mahaffey Tent & Event Rentals as director of operations, a role he has previously held. Daniels brings more than 20 years of experience in event planning and operations. He most recently was a service manager at NES Rentals’ Cordova and Memphis branches. He also currently owns EventOps, an event company that specializes in corporate events and managing event budgets.

35. US Builders Increase Home Construction in April - Wednesday, May 18, 2016

WASHINGTON (AP) – Builders ramped up construction of new homes in April, suggesting that the market remains solid despite sluggish economic growth at the beginning of the year.

Housing starts climbed 6.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.17 million units, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. The increase makes up for much of March's 9.4 percent drop in starts, a decline that partially reflected the volatile swings in residential construction on a monthly basis.

36. Outlook Dims for Mall Stores as Online Shopping Intensifies - Monday, May 16, 2016

WASHINGTON (AP) – Online shopping is reaching such a critical mass with American households that many of the icons of the traditional mall –from Macy's to The Gap and J.C. Penney – face an increasingly uncertain future.

37. Melzie Wilson Appointed To Commerce Advisory Committee - Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Melzie Wilson, vice president of compliance at Mallory Alexander International Logistics, has been appointed to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness by secretary of commerce Penny Pritzker. In her role at Mallory Alexander, Wilson is responsible for all government regulations the company must comply with, both in the U.S. and globally.
She’s also responsible, along with a compliance team, for ensuring Mallory Alexander’s clients stay compliant.

38. Dodging a Disaster With Volkswagen? - Saturday, March 26, 2016

Next month will mark five years since the first Passat rolled off the assembly line at Chattanooga’s Volkswagen plant. Most anniversaries are a cause for celebration.

But as Chattanoogans blow out the candles on this particular milestone they’ll be hoping that Volkswagen’s diesel emissions troubles will soon be extinguished, too, and that the new SUV model they’ll start producing this year will help VW emerge from the crisis a better and stronger company than before.

39. WGU Tennessee Awarding $100,000 in Scholarships - Saturday, January 2, 2016

WGU Tennessee is awarding 10 Tennesseans $10,000 scholarships as the state-endorsed nonprofit university celebrates its 2015 successes, including a 50 percent growth in student enrollment.

The enrollment increase “says a lot about the renewed commitment to higher education in this state,” WGU Tennessee chancellor Kimberly K. Estep said in a statement.

40. WGU Tennessee Awarding $100,000 in Scholarships - Wednesday, December 30, 2015

WGU Tennessee is awarding 10 Tennesseans $10,000 scholarships as the state-endorsed nonprofit university celebrates its 2015 successes, including a 50 percent growth in student enrollment.

The enrollment increase “says a lot about the renewed commitment to higher education in this state,” WGU Tennessee chancellor Kimberly K. Estep said in a statement.

41. Turbett Joins First Horizon as CRA Officer - Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Keith D. Turbett has joined First Horizon National Corp., parent company of First Tennessee Bank, as corporate Community Reinvestment Act officer and community development manager. In that role, Turbett ensures First Tennessee is making credit and financial products available in all parts of the community, consistent with safe and sound banking practices.

42. US New-Home Sales Rebound in October After September Plummet - Thursday, November 26, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sales of new homes recovered in October after suffering a steep drop in September, returning to this year's trend of an improving market for real estate developers and builders.

43. Can We Talk? - Friday, October 30, 2015

WE’RE SIMPLY NOT COMMUNICATING. I’ve been saying for years that our city, as a city, does not understand or value the role of marketing and branding in the city’s game plan.

44. US New Home Sales Fall Sharply In September - Tuesday, October 27, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) – Sales of new homes plunged sharply in September to the slowest pace in 10 months, as higher prices and slower overall economic growth weigh on the housing market.

The Commerce Department said Monday that new-home sales slumped 11.5 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 468,000, the lowest level since November of 2014. September's drop ended a two-month streak of accelerating sales.

45. Home Depot Separates Itself From Retail Crowd in 2Q - Wednesday, August 19, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) — Homes are getting a lot of TLC from their owners of late, which means better sales for businesses like Home Depot.

The world's largest home improvement retailer reported second-quarter results on Tuesday that surpassed Wall Street expectations, thanks largely to consumers opening their wallets. But Home Depot knows it's a change in mindset that is spurring homeowners to action.

46. Apartment Construction Drives US Homebuilding Surge in June - Monday, July 20, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. builders broke ground on apartment complexes last month at the fastest pace in nearly 28 years, as developers anticipate that recent jobs gains will launch a wave of renters

47. Tennessee’s ‘Fighting 26’ Democrats Work to Stay Relevant - Thursday, July 16, 2015

Sometimes Tennessee Democrats must feel like a tree that falls in the forest: Does anyone hear them?

When Democratic legislative leaders called for a special session this summer on Insure Tennessee, Gov. Bill Haslam’s market-based plan to use federal dollars to catch 280,000 working people in a health care coverage gap, they found themselves alone.

48. Mark Mosteller Joins Evolve Bank & Trust - Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Mark E. Mosteller Sr. recently joined Evolve Bank & Trust as executive vice president, accounting and finance.
The new role includes a variety of responsibilities, including management of the accounting and finance department team, accounting internal controls, internal and external financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, taxes and treasury management. Mosteller also works with senior and executive management and the board on accounting, finance and operational issues.

49. Haslam Needs to Back Up Call for More Local Control - Thursday, June 25, 2015

If Gov. Bill Haslam is trying to build political capital, he’s making the right move by trying to light a fire under local officials.

He might also want to turn up the flame on his own game.

50. Building Green in a Red-Hot Market - Saturday, June 20, 2015

Counting cranes has become a Nashville pastime, and the perks of all that development are clear – a robust economy, vibrant real estate market and more jobs.

Naturally, there is concern among some residents that all of the construction and increased population could harm the area’s environment, water and air quality and green space.

51. Proton’s Weaver Wizard of Tech Innovation - Saturday, June 13, 2015

On any given day, business executives, scientists and chemical engineers from across the U.S. and around the world come to East Tennessee to see for themselves the renewable energy technology developed by Lenoir City-based Proton Power Inc.

52. Will More Money, Reviews Improve on Common Core? - Thursday, May 21, 2015

Is it Kabuki theater or a transformative process?

That question comes to mind in the aftermath of the legislative session as the Tennessee General Assembly passed a bill "repealing and replacing" Common Core, a set of K-12 education standards, by adding another layer of review and pushing the governor’s process for completion to 2017, along with adding a $400,000 expense.

53. 1 in 4 US Renters Must Use Half Their Pay for Housing Costs - Monday, May 4, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) – More than one in four U.S. renters have to use at least half their family income to pay for housing and utilities.

That's the finding of an analysis of Census data by Enterprise Community Partners, a nonprofit that helps finance affordable housing. The number of such households has jumped 26 percent to 11.25 million since 2007.

54. Will Tennessee Republicans Ever Be Truly Happy? - Thursday, April 30, 2015

Why aren’t Tennessee Republicans happier?

With the GOP so dominate in the Tennessee General Assembly and losses so rare – on the Hill or in elections – the party’s lawmakers should be jubilant with this year’s session. But it’s never enough.

55. Rieger Begins Work at Memphis Chamber - Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Tom Rieger recently joined the Greater Memphis Chamber as senior vice president of member development, a role in which he will oversee major fundraising activities, conduct membership drive campaigns and implement revenue enhancement opportunities.

56. Kiesewetter Joins Fisher Phillips Law Firm - Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Jay W. Kiesewetter has joined the Memphis office of Fisher & Phillips LLP as senior counsel. In his new role, Kiesewetter advises clients on issues related to union organizing and elections, arbitrations, negotiations, strikes, lockouts and Labor Board charges.

57. ‘Teach a Man to Fish’ - Saturday, March 28, 2015

After getting his degree in social work, Don Leyrer, 62, spent the first half of his career in the field, including housing abused children, before moving on to law enforcement as a probation officer.

58. US Home Sales Rebound Slightly in February - Tuesday, March 24, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) – Slightly more Americans bought homes in February, but tight inventories, affordability problems and nasty winter weather point to sluggish sales in the coming few months.

59. Lasting Legacies - Saturday, January 31, 2015

A FedEx commercial that never made it past the storyboard stage portrayed company founder, chairman and CEO Fred Smith as a child filling out an order form in the back of a comic book for a batch of Sea-Monkeys, sending it off and waiting for the delivery.

60. Knoxville Area a Magnet for Retirees - Saturday, December 20, 2014

Retired air traffic controller Sterling King moved to Knoxville when his brother needed him. Five years later, he has fallen in love with the area and everything it has to offer.

Moderate weather, without the bone-chilling Northern winters or the searing heat of Florida summers, is a big draw, along with its location in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, says King, 58, who migrated from Dayton, Ohio, to Raleigh, North Carolina, and then to Knoxville.

61. Pentagon Wants Tighter Soldier Loan Protections - Monday, September 29, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) – Aiming to restrict lenders who prey on members of the military, the Obama administration on Friday moved to close legal loopholes that have placed hundreds of thousands of service members at risk of excessive payday and other short-term loan fees.

62. Meritan’s Branch Named Among Top Nurses - Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Cindy Branch, Meritan’s associate vice president for health services, has been selected to represent Tennessee as one of the nation’s top 50 home care and hospice nurses by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice and the Home Healthcare Nurses Association. Branch, a registered nurse, has oversight of Meritan’s nursing programs, including home health, private duty nursing and medical residential homes. She will be recognized at NACH’s annual meeting in October.

63. Tennessee's Corker Won't Rule Out Presidential Bid - Thursday, August 14, 2014

LAWRENCEBURG, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker said Wednesday he isn't ruling out joining the field of Republicans running for president in 2016, but any decision would wait until next year.

64. Tubbs Joins Humane Society as Development and Marketing Director - Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Nikki Tubbs has joined the Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County as director of development and marketing, responsible for developing and executing the humane society’s fundraising plan, overseeing special events and securing sponsorships, and supervising supplemental development programs and the development team.

65. US Postal Service Loses $2 Billion This Spring - Tuesday, August 12, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. Postal Service lost $2 billion this spring despite increasing its volume and charging consumers more money to send mail, officials said Monday.

The loss for the spring quarter, which ended June 30, was significantly higher than the $740 million loss for the same three-month period last year. The agency blamed increases in compensation and benefit costs for the red ink and said it would be unable to make a congressionally mandated payment of $5.7 billion this September for health benefits for future retirees. The loss came despite a 2 percent increase in operating revenue compared to last spring.

66. Contracts to Buy US Homes Slip in June - Tuesday, July 29, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fewer Americans signed contracts to buy homes in June, as the real estate market appears to have cooled off this summer.

The National Association of Realtors said Monday that its seasonally adjusted pending home sales index slipped 1.1 percent to 102.7 last month. The index remains 7.3 percent below its level a year ago.

67. Touch of History - Saturday, June 7, 2014

For its 150th anniversary, First Tennessee Bank didn’t want to only blow out the candles, so to speak.

In addition to commemorating the enviable milestone of longevity in an industry as frequently upended as banking, the Memphis-based financial institution wanted to help customers directly feel the impact of the bank’s presence in their community. At the same time, the bank also wants to let customers literally reach out and touch the bank’s history.

68. Change on Tap for Many Local Public Companies - Saturday, May 31, 2014

Here’s a snapshot of recent news and developments at some of the publicly traded companies based in Memphis, reflecting the influence these companies have and the shadows they cast both in Memphis and beyond, in industries that range from bioscience to banking.

69. Real Estate ‘Titans’ Share Industry Advice - Monday, May 12, 2014

In the 1980s Dan Wilkinson and Robert Snowden were deeply involved in developing Memphis International Airport Center.

70. Thawing Out: Warmer Temperatures Lift US Economy - Tuesday, April 22, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) – Spring's thaw is reviving the economy, too.

A recent batch of government and business reports show a U.S. economy emerging from winter's deep freeze.

Economists had expected the growth to accelerate in 2014 after two years of slow and steady improvement. But an unusually bitter winter sent factories, hiring and consumer spending into hibernation.

71. White House Offers Help to Industry on Cyberattack - Thursday, February 13, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Whited House on Wednesday offered to help U.S. businesses protect their computer systems from cyberattacks that President Barack Obama called "one the gravest national security dangers that the United States faces."

72. PILOT Reform - Saturday, February 8, 2014

Nike is in the midst of a $301 million expansion of its Northridge plant in Frayser, a project that means the Beaverton, Ore.-based company will create 250 new jobs and retain 1,600 existing local jobs.

73. Espitia Joins Michael Hatcher as Chief Financial Officer - Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Ed Espitia has joined Michael Hatcher & Associates Inc. as chief financial officer. Espitia comes to the Memphis-based landscape services firm after serving since 2010 as finance manager for Schulz Xtruded Products, a Germany-based pipe maker with operations in North Mississippi.

74. Merger Expands CS3’s Customer Base - Monday, January 20, 2014

Mike Gross, president of long-time contracting company Sibley Solutions LLC, was approaching retirement age and the future of his small business’ loyal employees and customers began to weigh heavily on his mind.

75. US Construction Spending Up 1 Percent in November - Friday, January 3, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. construction spending rose in November at the strongest pace in more than four years, driven by solid gains in home construction and commercial projects.

The Commerce Department said construction spending increased 1 percent in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $934.4 billion. That's the fastest rate since March 2009 and a slight improvement on the revised 0.9 percent gain in October.

76. Banner Year for East Memphis Office Space - Monday, December 30, 2013

The Memphis office real estate market began showing signs of life in 2013, with the market for Class A office space in the East Memphis submarket fueling the resurgence.

While the city’s overall office market numbers may not appear very strong, the city’s most desired office submarket – East Memphis around Poplar Avenue and Interstate 240 – began showing strong signs of improvement in the second half of the year.

77. US Home Permits Rise at 5-Year High on Apartments - Thursday, November 28, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. developers received approval in October to build apartments at the fastest pace in five years, a trend that could boost economic growth in the final three months of the year.

78. Americans Not Willing to Spend Without Deals - Tuesday, November 26, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – This holiday season, Americans may not spend their green unless they see more red.

Despite signs that the economy is improving, big store chains like Wal-Mart and Kohl's don't expect Americans to have much holiday shopping cheer unless they see bold, red signs that offer huge discounts. As a result, shoppers are seeing big sales events earlier and more often than in previous holiday seasons.

79. Made in Memphis - Saturday, August 3, 2013

Memphis’ geography is limited to roughly 300 square miles, but its identity stretches beyond the city limits, resonating to the far corners of the globe.

The city’s brand has obvious cornerstones, such as its place in the nation’s cultural topography. But setting aside those no-brainers, like the rock ‘n’ roll innovator whose mansion in Whitehaven still attracts gawkers from around the world, a lot of what makes Memphis’ story is the story of what’s made in Memphis.

80. Reports Reflect Fed's Message of Stronger Economy - Wednesday, June 26, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. housing recovery is strengthening. Factories are fielding more orders. And Americans' confidence in the economy has reached its highest point in 5.5 years.

That brightening picture, captured in four reports Tuesday, suggests that the economy could accelerate in the second half of the year. It underscores the message last week from the Federal Reserve, which plans to slow its bond-buying program this year and end it next year if the economy continues to strengthen. The Fed's bond purchases have helped keep long-term interest rates low.

81. Summer Travel Forecast: Better, but No Blowout - Monday, May 27, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – This summer, high rollers are flying to lavish hot spots for their vacations. The rest of us are driving to less luxurious places like nearby campgrounds.

The good news: At some U.S. campgrounds these days you get live bands, air guitar contests and chocolate pudding slip 'n slides.

82. ‘All Options Open’ - Saturday, May 25, 2013

It’s been almost two years since Pinnacle Airlines moved more than 600 employees into the One Commerce Square building Downtown.

Hailed as a victory in the long-running battle to revive Downtown, Pinnacle’s move to the 29-story building at Union Avenue and Main Street was hailed by city, county and business leaders as a signature event that would spur more investment and development in the city’s core.

83. Brimhall Named Bartlett Entrepreneur of Year - Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Terry Brimhall, founder and president of Brimhall Foods Co. Inc., has been named entrepreneur of the year by the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce.

84. Obama Nominates Pritzker, Froman for Economic Jobs - Friday, May 3, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama on Thursday chose two old friends with corporate executive experience for top posts on his economic team, naming longtime fundraiser Penny Pritzker as Commerce secretary and adviser Michael Froman as U.S. Trade Representative.

85. Paragon’s Cullum Pursues New Civic Involvement - Thursday, November 22, 2012

Ashley Cullum, the vice president of business development for Paragon National Bank, has added some new institutions to what’s become a long list of civic groups she works with outside the bank.

86. Vanderpool Takes Reins at FAA Federal Credit Union - Monday, October 1, 2012

Banking is not a complicated business, but it’s a hard business.

That’s what Todd Vanderpool, then-CEO of BankTennessee, told The Daily News in 2010. It was a couple years removed from the near-market collapse of 2008. But the scars of 2008 still showed up in some of Vanderpool’s general comments about the industry.

87. Business Making an Anti-Regulation Pitch to Voters - Wednesday, September 19, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The National Association of Manufacturers, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Federation of Independent Business are working to make the anti-regulatory fervor their members share an issue in the last weeks of the campaign.

88. FirstBank Looks to Grow Memphis Presence - Monday, September 3, 2012

The third-largest bank based in Tennessee is on the move. Lexington-based FirstBank has been adding new talent to its ranks around the state, and it’s looking to do the same in Memphis.

89. Fed Could be Moving to More Bond Buying - Wednesday, August 1, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Federal Reserve appears to be moving toward announcing some new step to try to energize the troubled U.S. economy. The question is whether it will do so after its policy meeting this week.

90. US Consumers More Confident in the Economy in July - Wednesday, August 1, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Americans breathed a bit easier about the economy in July, as a better outlook on short-term hiring and lower gas prices offset lingering worries about poor income growth.

91. Magna Bank Taps Stewart To Lead SBA Division - Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Tom Stewart has been named senior vice president and manager of the small business administration division at Magna Bank. Since joining Magna in March, Stewart has led the bank in obtaining national preferred lending provider status. In his new role, Stewart will oversee all business development activities for the Mid-South along with portfolio management and loan servicing.

92. Evans Joins MERI As Finance Director - Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Devonya Evans has joined the Medical Education & Research Institute as director of finance. Evans, a licensed certified public accountant, will be responsible for heading MERI’s finance and information technology departments.

93. US Economy Picks Up After Early Spring Slump - Thursday, May 17, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Maybe the U.S. economy's strength this winter wasn't just weather-related after all.

Home construction is near a three-year high. And factory output has risen in three of the year's first four months.

94. Second Budget Vote Tops Agenda - Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Memphis City Council members take the second of three votes Tuesday, May 15, on a city budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 as well as a property tax rate for the fiscal year to come.

But the council is still weighing its options and gathering information through a budget committee that continues meeting Tuesday morning at City Hall.

95. Global Connections - Monday, May 7, 2012

Although the Memphis in May International Festival is widely known for its Beale Street Music Festival and World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, the festival’s focus on developing international economic trade and fostering Memphis companies’ global business relationships remains central to its mission.

96. Supreme Court Misunderstanding on Health Overhaul? - Wednesday, April 11, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – A possible misunderstanding about President Barack Obama's health care overhaul could cloud Supreme Court deliberations on its fate, leaving the impression that the law's insurance requirement is more onerous than it actually is.

97. Events - Friday, March 16, 2012

Muslims in Memphis will hold a health fair and legal seminar Saturday, March 17, at 10 a.m. at Kate Sexton Community Center, 1235 Brown Ave. For more information, call 576-7070.

98. That's a Wrap - Monday, January 2, 2012

If the grand sweep of 2011 could be captured on celluloid and presented to an audience on the big screen, all the components of a great film would be readily apparent.

There was drama, in the form of a deluge and historic flooding that led the Mississippi River to crest at nearly 48 feet early in the year. One of the year’s big surprises saw President Barack Obama give the commencement address for the Booker T. Washington High School class of 2011 at the Memphis Cook Convention Center.

99. Prolonged Recession - Monday, December 26, 2011

In the words of Phil Woodard, an owner of multiple residential and commercial properties in Downtown Memphis, breaking even is the new profit.

Or as national real estate expert Jonathan Miller said earlier this month at the Urban Land Institute’s Real Estate Outlook for the Mid-South, “We cannot expect to make money the way we did a few years ago.”

100. Metropolitan Expands Into Nashville - Monday, December 19, 2011

Metropolitan Bank has solidified its long-planned foray into Nashville with the announcement of its first office location in the city and the hiring of a senior managing director for the Nashville area.