WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has pardoned two ranchers whose case sparked the armed occupation of a national wildlife refuge in Oregon.

Dwight and Steven Hammond were convicted in 2012 of intentionally and maliciously setting fires on public lands. The arson crime carried a minimum prison sentence of five years, but a sympathetic federal judge, on his last day before retirement, decided the penalty was too stiff and gave the father and son much lighter prison terms.

2. Around Memphis: June 18, 2018 - Monday, June 18, 2018

The Daily News offers a weekly roundup of Memphis-related headlines from around the web, adding context and new perspectives to the original content we produce on a daily basis. Here are some recent stories worth checking out…

3. Last Word: Bird Is The Word, Governors Quartet and Charlie Morris's Secret - Friday, June 15, 2018

Former Vice President Joe Biden plays the Orpheum Friday evening. Maybe that isn't the right way to put it -- unless there's a drum solo no one is talking about. Free Bird?

I'll take it as further evidence of the new American politics that is evolving and is far from settled at this point. Politicians do paid speaking gigs all the time. And at times it is controversial. But the gigs are usually some kind of speaking fee to make remarks at a corporate function -- not selling individual tickets on line. This is ostensibly to promote Biden's new book and book deals and politicians go way back. But in a lot of cases, those are free events in a book store. When Biden was last here, it was as vice president at the Norfolk Southern intermodal rail yard in Rossville.

4. Last Word: Kiwanis Debate, Haslam on the Gov. Race and Street Work - Thursday, June 14, 2018

For the last couple of days there has been this brewing story that Kim Kardashian West was on her way to the city to meet with Alice Marie Johnson, the convicted drug dealer sentenced to life in prison who was pardoned by President Donald Trump last week after serving 21 years in federal prison. And that is just what happened Wednesday – almost. The meeting was in Southaven. And, according to People, it included lessons in how to use Snapchat. The meeting included an interview with the Today show that will air Thursday morning.

5. Laurenzi Joins Baker Donelson After Long Career as Prosecutor - Monday, June 11, 2018

Larry Laurenzi describes himself as a “litigator” – meaning much of his 35-year career in the Memphis U.S. Attorney’s office was about the courtroom – going to trial or preparing to go to trial.

6. Trump Commutes Sentence In Memphis Drug Case - Saturday, June 9, 2018

President Donald Trump commuted the sentence Wednesday, June 6, of a woman serving a life sentence in a Memphis drug case whose cause was championed by reality TV star Kim Kardashian West in a recent visit to the White House.

7. Last Word: Firestone's Legacy, Malco In Lakeland and Alexander on Cell Phones - Friday, June 8, 2018

What about Firestone? That’s the quick way of getting into the latest turn in our ongoing civic discussion about whether there should be changes to how Memphis approaches economic development and the growth it brings. Eric Robertson, the president of Community LIFT, which works with community development corporations across the city, says the definition of economic development should be broader and the approach to it should go beyond answering the questions of site consultants to keep them from walking away to the next city on their list.

8. Back in Memphis, Alice Johnson Thanks Trump for ‘Mercy’ in Commuting Sentence - Friday, June 8, 2018

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – A woman whose life sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump thanked him on Thursday for "having mercy" and said reality TV star Kim Kardashian West saved her life.

9. Last Word: The Commutation, Tuition Freeze and Blackburn and Sundquist - Thursday, June 7, 2018

Alice Marie Johnson walked out of a federal prison in Alabama Wednesday after serving 21 years of a life prison sentence for dealing drugs and laundering money as part of a Memphis drug ring with Texas connections in the 1990s. Johnson’s release came the same day that President Donald Trump commuted her life sentence less than a week after he met with reality television personality Kim Kardashian West who appealed for Johnson’s release. Here is the Associated Press story.

10. Trump Commutes Sentence for Drug Offender in Memphis Case - Wednesday, June 6, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump commuted the sentence Wednesday of a woman serving a life sentence in a Memphis drug case whose cause was championed by reality TV star Kim Kardashian West in a recent visit to the White House.

11. Around Memphis: June 4, 2018 - Monday, June 4, 2018

The Daily News offers a weekly roundup of Memphis-related headlines from around the web, adding context and new perspectives to the original content we produce on a daily basis. Here are some recent stories worth checking out…

12. Last Word: Kim Kardashian's Plea, The Duran Stay and Mid-Term Moves - Thursday, May 31, 2018

A drug case from Memphis federal court in the early 1990s was the reason Kim Kardashian West was at the White House Wednesday. Kardashian West is among those pushing for a presidential pardon for Alice Marie Johnson – serving a life sentence on a federal drug and money laundering conviction. Here is the Associated Press story.

13. Kardashian West Asks Trump to Pardon Woman in Memphis Drug Case - Thursday, May 31, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – Reality TV star Kim Kardashian West was scheduled to head to the White House Wednesday to make a star-powered case for prison reform and advocate on behalf of a great-grandmother serving a life sentence.

14. Arkansas Officials Ask Courts to Clear Path for Executions - Friday, April 21, 2017

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Arkansas prepared again Thursday to conduct its first executions since 2005, wary and weary after a series of court decisions gutted its unprecedented plan to put eight men to death before the end of the month.

15. The Week Ahead: February 7-13 - Monday, February 6, 2017

There’s a lot to love this week, Memphis! The 41st annual Memphis Open tennis tournament begins Saturday at The Racquet Club of Memphis. That same morning historic Elmwood Cemetery hosts a “Love on the Rocks” walking tour featuring tragic and humorous tales of love gone wrong. And if you love the Grizzlies, they are playing the not-so-loved San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors this week. 

16. More Music Festivals on the Way in Memphis - Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Memphis continues to be filled with the sound of music – specifically, music festivals – with a handful on the docket in coming weeks that will fill stages Downtown as well as the Levitt Shell and elsewhere.

17. Events - Saturday, February 9, 2013

Memphis Child Advocacy Center will hold its Works of Heart valentine auction, featuring works by more than 100 local artists, Saturday, Feb. 9, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Memphis College of Art, 1930 Poplar Ave. Visit memphiscac.org.

18. Senior Care Management Solutions Promotes Williams - Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Darla Williams has been promoted to health care administrator at Senior Care Management Solutions. In her new role, Williams will play a critical role in overseeing and customizing clients’ daily care plans to fit their specific needs.

19. Villas at Cordova Complex Sells for $14.2M in Foreclosure - Tuesday, July 26, 2011

8546 Prestine Loop
Cordova, TN 38018
Sale Amount: $14.2 million

Sale Date: May 11, 2011

20. CVS Affiliate Buys Properties at Park and South Highland - Wednesday, July 20, 2011

CVS 4990 TN LLC has bought four parcels in the Park Avenue and South Highland Street area in two transactions totaling $1.7 million. In the first transaction, Terrie Lynn Johnson Bonds and Larry Gene Johnson, heirs at law of Lou Alice Brattan Johnson, deceased, sold 3500 Park Ave., 3516 Park Ave. and 850 S. Highland St. for $1.1 million. In the second transaction, Marilyn L. Benfield sold 840 S. Highland St. for $635,000.

21. Keeping People at the Core - Friday, May 6, 2011

Part two in a two-part series We recently spoke with Robert S. Poole, senior vice president for Institutional Advancement at Meharry Medical College. Since completing a historic $125 million campaign, the college’s endowment has reached $100 million, and it recently received grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Kresge Foundation. In part one of this series, we shared Poole’s advice for engaging your organization’s president, board and other key players in fundraising efforts. Here, he provides additional recommendations.

22. Abdus-Salaam Joins Methodist South’s Orthopedic Group - Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Dr. Sharif A. Abdus-Salaam has joined Methodist South Hospital’s orthopedic group located in the Memphis Shoulder and Orthopedic Surgery practice.

Hometown: Port Saint Lucie, Fla.
Education/Work experience: Bachelor’s degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., and doctorate of medicine from Howard University in Washington, D.C. Completed orthopedic surgery residency at Howard University Hospital and a fellowship of shoulder and upper extremity surgery from California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco.
Family: Wife, Sayyida, a family medicine resident at (the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Saint Francis Family Medicine); daughters: Amirah, 2, and Sidraah, 10 months.
Last book: “Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson.”
Music: Neo-Soul, Hip Hop, R&B, Delta Blues.
What activities do you enjoy outside of work? Bass fishing, family time, watching college football, bike riding, mentoring.
What talent do you wish you had? Tap dancing.
Who has had the greatest influence on you? My parents and my high school JROTC instructor.
Why did you pursue a career in medicine? My love for math and science growing up led me to study mechanical engineering in college. After college I developed an interest in orthopedics from talking with friends and having multiple orthopedic procedures. I love helping people get their lives back from injury and/or disease. Orthopedic surgery is a great blend of engineering, medicine and art.
What drew you to Methodist Hospital? Warm and inviting people. Great practice opportunity. Organization seemed to be committed to health of everyone in the community.
What do you most enjoy about your work? I enjoy seeing a solution to a patient’s problem in my mind’s eye and then using principles of medicine, surgery, engineering and orthopedics to give them their life back. Being able to do a job you enjoy and help others is truly a blessing.

23. Jones Ascends to High-Level Position At Army Corps of Engineers - Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Carol Winfield Jones has been selected as chief, project development branch and assistant to the deputy district engineer for project management for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis District.

24. Archived Article: Newsmakers - Wednesday, October 20, 2004
Shelby County Alumni Honored

MAHBA Announces New Board Members

The Memphis Area Home Builders Association announced the following new members of its board of directors: Tommy Byrnes, Phil Chamberlain III, Ginger Coggins, Michael Matthews and G...

25. Archived Article: Newsmakers - Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Allstate Insurance Honors Scientists with Awards

Allstate Insurance Honors Area Scientists

Allstate Insurance honored the following scientists with its From Whence We Came awards: Dr. Daniel L. Hunt, biostatistician with St. Jude Childrens Res...

26. Archived Article: Law Focus - Thursday, October 12, 2000
LAW AND GOVERNMENT Home Depot project goes to Land Use board By MARY DANDO The Daily News Home repair enthusiasts take note Home Depot has applied for permission to add a tool rental building to its existing store at Truse Parkway, south of Poplar A...