WASHINGTON (AP) — Control of Congress and the future of Donald Trump's presidency are on the line as the primary season closes this week, jump-starting a two-month sprint to Election Day that will test Democrats' ability to harness opposition to Trump and determine whether the Republican president can get his supporters to the polls.

2. Blazing Trails - Saturday, September 8, 2018

What a difference a decade can make. Successful local entrepreneurs like Muddy’s Bake Shop founder Kat Gordon, Hollywood Feed president Shawn McGhee, and executive chefs and owners Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman at Enjoy A|M Restaurant Group spent that time growing their small businesses into thriving enterprises over that time.

3. Rhodes’ Football Team Relying On Defensive Changes, 3-Year Starting QB - Saturday, September 1, 2018

Parker Rye can’t help but smile when he watches his Rhodes College teammates, most of whom came from elite private schools around the country, get Memphis-ized. More specifically “North North North North” Memphis-ized.

4. Kick in the Grass - Saturday, September 1, 2018

Mentally, the ownership group bringing a United Soccer League team to share AutoZone Park with the Memphis Redbirds has been flipping the switch for the better part of two years. After the last out of the Redbirds regular-season home finale was recorded Monday, the act got physical. The concept became real.

5. A Tasteful List 2018 - Friday, August 17, 2018

MEMPHIS BY THE BITE: Presenting the Tasteful List 2018 – alphabetical local favorites in one decidedly local man’s opinion. Most of the following should come with a gym membership and a warning from the American Heart Association, bless their hearts. Show some restraint; don’t try all of these over the weekend.

6. Arkansas Company to Restore Historic Jonesboro Building - Tuesday, July 10, 2018

JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) – The old building at 215 Union St. has sat vacant for decades.

But after the National Park Service placed it on the National Register of Historic Places recently, plans are in motion to bring it back to life.

7. Lake District’s Newest Tenant, New Medical District Apartments - Monday, July 2, 2018

3536 Canada Road,
Lakeland, TN 38002

Tenant: Gould’s Salon and Spa

8. Grizz Rookie Jevon Carter Promises to be Everything Wade Baldwin Was Not - Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Two years ago, the Memphis Grizzlies used the 17th overall pick in the NBA Draft on Vanderbilt guard Wade Baldwin. It was considered a bold move. An offensive talent, yes, but also known to be less than coachable and team-oriented. But Baldwin showed offensive flashes in the preseason. There was a period of time when everyone from point guard Mike Conley to power forward Zach Randolph was openly saying Baldwin had some Russell Westbrook-like tendencies. They meant it only in a good way.

9. Civil Rights Activist Andrew Young Hospitalized With Illness - Thursday, May 10, 2018

ATLANTA (AP) – Civil rights activist Andrew Young is being transferred to a hospital in Atlanta after falling ill over the weekend while in Tennessee.

10. One-Year Turnaround? Grizzlies Vow It Can Be Done - Friday, April 20, 2018

Mike Conley had no doubt: “With health, we’re a completely different team.” This was a day after the season ended, a 22-60 record next to the Memphis Grizzlies’ name and forever the shorthand explanation of their 2017-2018 NBA journey.

11. Airport to Unveil Photos Of King’s Last Flights - Saturday, April 14, 2018

Memphis International Airport is set to unveil a photography exhibition Thursday, April 12, that commemorates the last trip taken by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

12. Ryan Bowing Out, Sending Ripples of Uncertainty Through GOP - Thursday, April 12, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – House Speaker Paul Ryan announced Wednesday he will retire rather than seek another term in Congress as the steady if reluctant wingman for President Donald Trump, sending ripples through a Washington already on edge and spreading new uncertainty through a party bracing for a rough election year.

13. Airport to Unveil Photos Of King’s Last Flights - Thursday, April 12, 2018

Memphis International Airport is set to unveil a photography exhibition Thursday, April 12, that commemorates the last trip taken by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

14. AP Was There: The Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. - Thursday, April 5, 2018

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – In the spring of 1968, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. had won victories on desegregation and voting rights and had been planning his Poor People's Campaign when he turned his attention to Memphis, the gritty city by the Mississippi River. In his support for striking sanitation workers, King wanted to lead marches and show that nonviolent protest still worked.

15. King's Children See New Movements, Same Challenges 50 Years After Mountaintop - Wednesday, April 4, 2018

The bright and multi colored lights at Mason Temple Church of God In Christ gave way for a few minutes Tuesday, April 3, to a single white spotlight on the empty pulpit of the South Memphis church and a recording of part of the speech Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered from the pulpit 50 years ago Tuesday.

16. Events - Wednesday, April 4, 2018

The Withers Collection Museum and Gallery will stage an “I Am A Man” Reenactment Photo Shoot Wednesday, April 4, with the lineup starting at 8 a.m. at Fourth and Beale streets. The picture will re-create photojournalist Ernest C. Withers’ iconic “I Am A Man” photo from the 1968 sanitation workers’ strike. Register in advance at the Withers Collection, 333 Beale St., or online at 2018mlk50.com.

17. 'This Was Like A War': Witnesses Remember Day MLK Was Shot - Tuesday, April 3, 2018

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Clara Ester's eyes were fixed on the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as he stood on the concrete balcony of the Lorraine Motel.

18. Events - Tuesday, April 3, 2018

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees holds the I AM 2018 “Mountaintop” Speech Commemoration Tuesday, April 3, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Mason Temple. The program will include Bernice King and Martin Luther King III, the children of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; ambassador Andrew Young; COGIC bishop Charles Blake; AFSCME president Lee Saunders; and other dignitaries. Seating at Mason Temple is by invitation only; overflow seating at Temple of Deliverance, 369 G.E. Patterson Ave., is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit iam2018.org.

19. MLK50 Events: A Roundup of Memphis Happenings - Saturday, March 31, 2018

Here's a selection of events in Memphis marking the 50th anniversary of the 1968 sanitation workers' strike and the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. April 3 is the 50th anniversary of King’s last speech – the “Mountaintop” speech at Mason Temple, while April 4 is the 50th anniversary of his assassination on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel.

20. Last Word: Opening Day, Slowing the Flow and 30 Years of Shangri-La - Friday, March 30, 2018

There is something about opening day of the Major League Baseball season – especially when it is opening day for just about every team at the same time. Just seeing the green fields with a solitary outfielder, the low brick walls behind the symmetry of batter, catcher and umpire renews my love for the game. I don’t really pay attention to players – don’t know any of their names. And how and when did the Astros wind up in the American League and the Brewers in the National League? I just like watching the game in a sport where the team and the individual coexist as in no other sport.

21. MLK 50 Years Later - Saturday, March 31, 2018

Bernard Lafayette remembers being in Memphis April 3, 1968, and a dejected Martin Luther King Jr. being roused from his room at the Lorraine Motel to speak at Mason Temple on a rainy night.

22. Visiting Memphis 50 Years After King's Assassination - Thursday, March 29, 2018

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Fifty years ago, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. The civil rights leader's shocking murder on April 4, 1968, marked one of the most significant moments in U.S. history.

23. Strickland Talks of Work To Be Done 50 Years After Strike - Thursday, March 29, 2018

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland says the hardest part of growing black-owned business, and thereby black wealth in the city, is increasing the number of minority-owned firms in certain sectors.

24. Gun Violence March About More Than School Safety - Tuesday, March 27, 2018

The Memphis “March For Our Lives” that drew several thousand people Downtown Saturday, March 24, focused on gun violence beyond the Parkland, Florida, school massacre that prompted the national movement about a month ago.

25. Last Word: Graceland's New Lawsuit, Memphis March For Our Lives and Trolley Test - Monday, March 26, 2018

Remember the comment from last week’s EDGE meeting by EDGE board member Tom Dyer who said the economic development body was likely to be sued no matter what it did on Graceland’s application for tax breaks on its “convention center” plan in Whitehaven? At week’s end, Graceland followed through with a lawsuit in Chancery Court against EDGE for delaying a decision on the matter. The lawsuit contends EDGE has no intention of making a decision on incentives and that Graceland is entitled to those incentives.

26. Thousands March In Local Version of 'March For Our Lives' - Saturday, March 24, 2018

Several thousand people marched Saturday, March 24, from Clayborn Temple to the National Civil Rights Museum in the Memphis version of the national March For Our Lives.

The group, led by students from Memphis schools, called for the passage of federal gun control measures as well as more mental health counseling at schools with chants of “The NRA has got to go” and “Vote them out.”

27. Trump Urges Lawmakers to Buck NRA Every Once in a While - Wednesday, February 28, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump declared he's willing to take on the National Rifle Association over gun legislation, but Republicans who control Congress aren't so sure. They prefer to consider only modest changes to firearms limits in response to the mass shooting at a Florida high school.

28. Supreme Court Declines to Decide Fate of 'Dreamers' Just Yet - Tuesday, February 27, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the Trump administration's highly unusual bid to bypass a federals appeals court and get the justices to intervene in the fate of a program that protects hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from deportation.

29. Trump Endorses Raising Minimum Age to 21 for More Weapons - Friday, February 23, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump on Thursday endorsed a higher minimum age for buying certain rifles and tighter background checks for purchasers, saying "there's nothing more important than protecting our children," amid a public outcry for action after the Florida school shooting.

30. BSMF Lineup Features Diverse Mix of New and Familiar - Wednesday, February 21, 2018

The Beale Street Music Festival's 2018 lineup is out, and it features a mix of BSMF first-timers and familiar faces for longtime attendees of the three-day music fest in Tom Lee Park.

Headliners for the May 4-6 event include Tyler, the Creator, Jack White, R&B singer-songwriter Erykah Badu, rapper Post Malone, the EDM duo Odesza and Queens of the Stone Age, along with Alanis Morissette and Incubus.

31. At All-Star Break, Grizzlies’ Reality Not What Anyone Envisioned - Friday, February 16, 2018

The start of training camp was less than 24 hours away. With seven straight playoff appearances behind them, the Grizzlies had a track record of substance. True, they would be without half of the Core Four, Zach Randolph and Tony Allen having been allowed to walk and sign elsewhere.

32. Around Memphis: Jan. 15, 2018 - Monday, January 15, 2018

Here’s a look at Memphis-related news from around the web...

Stan Bronson Passes Away Tuesday: ‘Most Durable Batboy’ served the Tigers baseball program for 56 seasons
GoTigersGo.com

33. Trump Suggests 2-Phase Immigration Deal for 'Dreamers' - Wednesday, January 10, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – Seeking a bipartisan compromise to avoid a government shutdown, President Donald Trump suggested Tuesday that an immigration deal could be reached in two phases – first by addressing young immigrants and border security with what he called a "bill of love," then by making comprehensive changes that have long eluded Congress.

34. OU Guard Young an Intriguing Lottery Prospect; Tigers Win; Conley Vows Return - Monday, January 8, 2018

Do you have Trae Young fever? Does just considering the possibility of the freshman Oklahoma Sooners point guard in a Grizzlies uniform inspire a rapid heartbeat, cause you to break out in a sweat, and dream of a massive turnaround as soon as next season?

35. Attorney, Former Political Activist Lewis Donelson Dies at 100 - Thursday, January 4, 2018

In a century of life that began in Memphis, Lewis Donelson was many things including an attorney, politician and strategist. In all of those pursuits and others, he was one of the city’s most influential citizens and a force in some of the most historic moments in the city’s history as well as the state’s history.

36. Grizzlies Stop Losing Streak at 11, But Victories Remain Elusive - Friday, December 8, 2017

Perhaps Tom Thibodeau saw it coming. His young Minnesota Timberwolves, though not short on talent, do not yet consistently devote themselves to defense. They were playing for a second straight night and they were on the road at FedExForum.

37. Roster Moves Show Grizzlies Know They Can’t Put Tomorrow Ahead of Today - Wednesday, October 18, 2017

From the time training camp opened this year, forward Jarell Martin was considered likely to be left on the outside looking in when the Grizzlies made their final roster cuts. Martin was a first-round selection in the 2015 NBA Draft, but speculation was he would be competing with young Deyonta Davis, a second-round pick in 2016, for the last roster slot on the front line. And because Davis was just 20 and considered raw but with much potential, Martin would lose out.

38. Report: Grizzlies Roster Won't Include Baldwin, Zagorac - Monday, October 16, 2017

Former Vanderbilt guard Wade Baldwin, who was the Memphis Grizzlies’ first-round pick and the 17th overall player selected in the 2016 NBA Draft, will not make the team, league sources told ESPN. In addition to the team’s plan to waive Baldwin, they apparently will do the same with forward Rade Zagorac, a second-round choice (35th overall) in the 2016 NBA Draft.

39. Turning The Page - Saturday, October 14, 2017

The Memphis Grizzlies still cling to their old grit-and-grind identity – at least for marketing purposes and perhaps a subconscious need for comfort and security. But they also decided now was the time they had to initiate transformative change.

40. Last Word: Bonus For the Head Tiger, Brooks Downtown? and Harris Runs - Thursday, October 5, 2017

A $100,000 bonus from the University of Memphis board of trustees for U of M president David Rudd at Wednesday’s trustees meeting. The bonus is from private funds raised by the university foundation. The board also approved a paid parental leave policy – specifically the funding for that policy. And it reviewed scaled-back plans for the $30 million new rec center for students that will incorporate some of the existing rec center.

41. Shaky Start Exposes Raw Nerves as Dawgs Roll In - Friday, September 29, 2017

Tennessee football coach Butch Jones had more than Georgia on his mind this week. Rumors on message boards and reports on sports talk radio flamed the fires around Jones and the Vols after last Saturday’s 17-13 victory over Massachusetts at Neyland Stadium.

42. A Tasteful List: 2017 - Friday, September 15, 2017

DIG IN, MEMPHIS. Presenting the Tasteful List 2017 – alphabetical local favorites in one decidedly local man’s opinion – all good if not good for you. Some are farm to table, some got waylaid by sugar, flour, corn meal and deep-frying along the way, but all are ours, bless their hearts. 

43. Memphis Has Earned its ‘Foodie Town’ Reputation in Past Decade - Saturday, September 9, 2017

When Sabine Bachmann arrived in Memphis more than 30 years ago, she was a little stunned at the city’s meager restaurant scene. The city wasn't barren, of course, with longtime mainstays such as Justine's and the Four Flames. But beyond that and some Italian family-owned places, the restaurant scene simply wasn't very diverse or widespread.

44. Season 3: Time for QB Mariota To Become a Star - Friday, August 25, 2017

If Year 1 was a good start and Year 2 was another step in the right direction, what should we expect of Marcus Mariota in Year 3?

How about a playoff berth for the team he quarterbacks.

Granted, there are many other factors in play that will determine the success, failure or return to mediocrity of the Titans in 2017. Has the defensive backfield been successfully retooled? Can the offensive line remain one of the best in the NFL? Will the additions at wide receiver pay the expected dividends?

45. Looks Like Another 8-4 Season for Tennessee - Friday, August 25, 2017

Oops. I goofed last year. So did lots of other people who thought Tennessee’s football team would win the SEC East Division and go to the league championship game for the first time since 2007.

46. State Panel Sheds New Light on Racial Atrocities - Thursday, August 24, 2017

State Rep. Johnnie Turner has seen what can happen when old wounds are never allowed to heal.

She’s seen it most recently in clashes between neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klansmen and white supremacists and those who resisted their hatred in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a counter-protester was killed and 19 were injured when a car was intentionally driven into a group of counter protesters. Two state troopers also died in a helicopter crash that weekend.

47. Hacker Who Helped Stop Global Cyberattack Arrested in US - Monday, August 7, 2017

LAS VEGAS (AP) – Marcus Hutchins, a young British researcher credited with derailing a global cyberattack in May, was arrested for allegedly creating and distributing malicious software designed to collect bank-account passwords, U.S. authorities said Thursday.

48. HealthChoice Promotes Henning To Director of Population Health - Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Sarah Henning has been promoted to director of population health programs at HealthChoice. Henning previously served as manager of the department. In her new role, Henning is responsible for designing, implementing and managing population health and wellness initiatives and programs for the HealthChoice network.
She also collaborates with stakeholders to promote and support these programs and to ensure they meet the needs of the affected populations and adapt with the changing health care environment.

49. Should Children Play Football? - Monday, July 31, 2017

It was the second concussion that made the decision an easy one for Brentwood parent Chris Hulshof. His son, Alex, had suffered his first concussion playing football as an 11-year-old, but Hulshof had been willing to give things a second chance, reasoning that the concussion had been a fluke play that wasn’t likely to occur again.

50. Grizzlies Paradox: Get Younger, Get Older, Stay Relevant - Friday, July 21, 2017

The Memphis Grizzlies continue to walk dual trails. It is what they must do, even if such hedging threatens to constrain both their immediate and long-range future.

We learned this week that 31-year-old point guard Mario Chalmers is returning to the Grizzlies on a partially guaranteed one-year contract. Two seasons ago, Chalmers was an impactful backup for Mike Conley until a ruptured Achilles tendon ended his season.

51. Crust Named MSO Assistant, Youth Symphony Conductor - Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Andrew Crust, who recently was named assistant conductor of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and conductor of the Memphis Youth Symphony, shares why young musicians inspire him and how orchestras can reach a younger audience in this week's Newsmakers Q&A.

52. New Grizzlies Ready to Work, Free Agent Picture Still Cloudy - Friday, June 30, 2017

All across the NBA landscape, teams are trotting out their second-round draft picks and saying the same things: We had these players rated higher. We couldn’t believe they were still there. And the classic, “We’re so happy they fell to us.”

53. Century Mark - Saturday, June 17, 2017

During a visit to Memphis in April, Andrew Young was talking with reporters about his lengthy public history – being part of Dr. Martin Luther King’s inner circle, a congressman, mayor of Atlanta, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. It was as he talked about King’s death in Memphis that Young, without any prompting, talked about a trio of Memphis attorneys – Benjamin Hooks, Russell Sugarmon and A. W. Willis – that were the key to his and King’s efforts to get things done in Memphis and the surrounding region.

54. After More Than 70 Years, Colliers Continues to Pay it Forward - Saturday, May 6, 2017

In 1946, a small real estate company called Wilkinson & Snowden Inc. took root in Memphis as many of the city’s post-war expansion projects were just getting started. And though the names and faces have changed several times over the years, the culture of the company largely has remained intact for more than 70 years.

55. Grizzlies Understand They Need to Improve to Win Game 5 - Tuesday, April 25, 2017

The Grizzlies’ Game 4 overtime victory over the San Antonio Spurs produced plenty of memorable moments. From Mike Conley’s 35 points and game-tying floater at the end of the fourth quarter to rookie Andrew Harrison’s come-from-behind block of Patty Mills by the rim to Marc Gasol’s game-winning shot over LaMarcus Aldridge.

56. Last Word: Two Science Marches, Bill Lee Kicks Off and Andrew Young on Ben Hooks - Monday, April 24, 2017

Rainy Sunday in the city with ponchoed partisans of the Porter-Leath Ragin' Cajun gathering and Africa in April overlapping from the riverfront to Danny Thomas Boulevard. In Germantown, it was a soggy but colorful 5k for the Germantown Municipal School District with shades of blue, orange and of course pink, or was it red?, at different parts of the run.

57. Grizzlies Even Series with Spurs in Game 4 OT Victory - Monday, April 24, 2017

It’s a series now. Check that, it’s more than a series.

It’s a gunfight minus the spoons. It’s the No. 7 seed Memphis Grizzlies having a real chance to take out the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs and the NBA’s preeminent coach and a cold-blooded superstar that almost single-handedly broke Bluff City hearts.

58. Young Says Hooks Led in ’60s Without Pursuing Politics - Monday, April 24, 2017

Just before he came to Memphis in April 1968 with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Andrew Young remembers a meeting in Atlanta with King and U.S. Rep. John Conyers, Harry Belafonte and Richard Hatcher, the newly elected African-American mayor of Gary, Indiana.

59. Events - Thursday, April 20, 2017

The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute’s Join Hands for Change Gala: Pursuing the Dream to Reality will take place Thursday, April 20, at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave. Civil rights pioneer, politician and diplomat Ambassador Andrew J. Young will present the keynote at the gala, which celebrates the institute’s 20th anniversary. Buy tickets at hooksgala2017.eventbrite.com. 

60. Events - Wednesday, April 19, 2017

The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute African-American Male Initiative Symposium will be held Wednesday, April 19, from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. in the University of Memphis’ University Center Bluff Room, 499 University St., room 304. The symposium will feature national and local efforts to increase positive educational and social outcomes for African-American males. Free and open to the public. Visit memphis.edu/benhooks for details.

61. Hooks Institute to Host 20th Anniversary Events - Monday, April 17, 2017

The Benjamin L. Hooks Institute at the University of Memphis will celebrate 20 years of promoting civil rights and social change with a series of events this week. All events are free and open to the public unless stated otherwise.

62. Last Word: The Catechism of 1968, Downtown Hotels and Earth Day on Auto Row - Tuesday, April 4, 2017

What happened 49 years ago this week in our city began long before the first sanitation worker walked off the job or the first “I Am A Man” sign was made. Maybe it was that long arc that explains the timing of what happened here in late March into the first week of April of 1968. For just about half a century now we have thought and thought again about that chronology, reviewed the details. And what we have is a sort of catechism of moments that if they had happened differently, we can’t help thinking, might have produced a different result.

63. Marker Commemorates King’s Final Flight to Memphis - Tuesday, April 4, 2017

John Hope Bryant has come through Memphis International Airport many times on business. The founder of the financial literacy nonprofit “Operation HOPE” was always aware the airport was Martin Luther King’s last arrival point on the way to his assassination in 1968.

64. Historical Marker to Commemorate MLK’s Final Flight - Monday, April 3, 2017

A historical marker commemorating the final flight of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be dedicat-ed at Memphis International Airport on Monday, April 3.

65. Last Word: Basketball Capitol, Gang Fight in Southwest Memphis and Moving Polk - Monday, March 27, 2017

There is something to be said for hosting a round of the NCAA’s March Madness without having a team in the playoffs. Much to be said against it. But after a weekend of what I think most of us here will call the most compelling of the regionals featured prominently on national television, you really can find very little to complain about. It might even have rekindled the intensity of our civic love of basketball.

66. Trump: Next Old Hickory or Carnival Barker - Thursday, March 23, 2017

For those who ignore the news – fake or otherwise – Donald Trump won the presidency last November.

While he didn’t capture a majority of the vote, he did win the electoral vote, causing many detractors to call for the elimination of this outdated voting method.

67. Last Word: Lakeland Date Set, Silos in South Main and Trespassing in Apartments - Thursday, March 16, 2017

Here comes the Governor’s race with Randy Boyd doing the honors here in Memphis Wednesday at the top of the second day of his fly-around. Boyd’s opening sounds very much like he is running as the heir apparent to Gov. Bill Haslam – although there are no heirs in politics, at least not without an election. He talked a lot about hitting workforce development and job goals of the Haslam administration if he is elected Governor in 2018.

68. Israel to Lead Greenline Group As Organization’s Focus Shifts - Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Andrew Israel recently was named executive director of the Greater Memphis Greenline as the organization shifts its focus to promoting healthy lifestyles and increasing the use of trails, parks and green spaces.
As executive director, Israel is the strategic leader and the chief relationship officer for GMG. Along with creating programs and opportunities to enhance and expand the use of green spaces, GMG works at the grassroots level with neighborhood organizations and individuals to help promote their activities and expand the resources that are available. 

69. Last Word: The Governor's Race, Beale Street Complications and Southern Avenue - Monday, February 27, 2017

A close one for the Tigers Sunday at the Forum but Houston still wins 72-71. One more home game Thursday against Tulane and a road game Saturday against SMU before March Madness begins. As that was happening here, better results in Denver Sunday where the Grizz beat the Nuggets 105-98.

70. Moorman Named Chief Scientist at Ducks Unlimited - Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Tom Moorman has been named chief scientist of Memphis-based Ducks Unlimited, the world’s largest nonprofit dedicated to conserving North American waterfowl habitats. Moorman, who will take over from retiring chief scientist Scott Yaich on March 1, has worked for DU for more than 25 years, most recently serving as head of its 13-state Southern Region.
As chief scientist, Moorman will serve as DU’s leader on waterfowl and habitat science, provide vision and direction in addressing DU’s science needs and ensure it maintains its standing and credibility as a top-notch science-based organization.

71. Final 4 is Proof NFL Teams Must Have Elite QBs - Friday, January 20, 2017

Now that the NFL playoffs are down to four teams remaining, it is easy to point out the common thread among them: Elite play at the quarterback position.

Whether it is Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers – all of whom have won Super Bowls – or Matt Ryan, who was selected as an All Pro this season and could win the MVP Award, the Patriots, Steelers, Packers and Falcons have a game-changer calling the signals.

72. Graves Named Director Of Downtown YMCA - Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Angelic Graves has joined YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South as executive director of the Louis T. Fogelman Downtown YMCA. Graves, a Chicago native, comes to Memphis from the YMCA of Metro Chicago, where she most recently served as executive director of the South Side YMCA.

73. Tennessee Lawmakers Act on Balanced Budget Convention to Curb ‘Crippling’ National Debt - Friday, January 13, 2017

Saying they can avoid a “runaway” convention for “crazy or radical ideas,” Republican state legislators are filing legislation calling for a convention of states in Nashville to adopt a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

74. Tennessee Acts on Balanced Budget Convention to Curb ‘Crippling’ National Debt - Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Saying they can avoid a “runaway” convention for “crazy or radical ideas,” Republican state legislators are filing legislation calling for a convention of states in Nashville to adopt a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

75. Final Goodbye: Roll Call of Some of Those Who Died in 2016 - Monday, January 2, 2017

Death claimed transcendent political figures in 2016, including Cuba's revolutionary leader and Thailand's longtime king, but also took away royals of a different sort: kings of pop music, from Prince and David Bowie to George Michael.

76. Growing Pains - Saturday, December 24, 2016

First came the ho-hum start that left open the possibility the Grizzlies’ harshest critics might be right: This season could be the fast-forwarded beginning of an end, a sad narrative that could leave the Grizzlies on the outside of the postseason after a thrilling six-year run.

77. Grizzlies Great at Winning Close Ones, But Upcoming Schedule Unkind - Friday, December 9, 2016

The Grizzlies had just survived to beat the Orlando Magic 95-94 at FedExForum. This was on the first day of December and it kicked off what would become, at minimum, a four-game winning streak.

“We did a good job of staying in the moment,” center and team captain Marc Gasol said.

78. Tied at the Hip: Conley-Harrison Giving Grizzlies Strong Point Guard Play - Thursday, November 24, 2016

Tom Thibodeau does not hand out compliments casually. He was demanding and exacting as coach of the Chicago Bulls and he is the same way with the Minnesota Timberwolves. And when he praises an opposing player, he isn’t offering a sound bite. He is simply speaking the truth.

79. Grizzlies Win Fourth Straight, 93-71 over Minnesota - Monday, November 21, 2016

It was like old times. Tony Allen was saying “we hold our hats on the defensive end,” the Grizzlies’ horrendous 3-point shooting didn’t matter, and even a paltry 19 combined points from Mike Conley and Marc Gasol didn’t doom them.

80. Chandler Parsons Struggles in Debut as Grizzlies Lose to Portland - Monday, November 7, 2016

Chandler Parsons knows what it is to have a hot shooting night. He’s had many in his NBA career and, as you may recall, back in January of 2014 made an NBA-record 10 threes in a half for the Houston Rockets.

81. More Rest for Gasol, Conley Means More Minutes for Young Grizzlies - Friday, November 4, 2016

Five games into their season, the Memphis Grizzlies have provided a small sample size that is simultaneously encouraging, confounding and still mildly concerning. 

Through games of Wednesday, Nov. 2, the Grizzlies were 3-2. Nothing wrong with that record given the team has a new coach in David Fizdale, is employing a new style of offense, and has new starters and rookies in the rotation. Yet they also needed overtime – at home – to dispatch the Washington Wizards (0-3) and the New Orleans Pelicans (0-5).

82. Mariota Still Searching for His McNair Moment - Friday, October 28, 2016

By the time many of you read this, Marcus Mariota might have already torched the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Or he might not. Such is life dealing with the trials and tribulations of breaking in a young quarterback.

83. Fizdale Gets First Win as Grizzlies' Coach the Hard Way - Thursday, October 27, 2016

The night before his first game as an NBA head coach, David Fizdale received a surprise when he went to his front door.

“I thought I had a delivery,” the Grizzlies’ new coach said. “It turned out to be my mom. We had a great moment last night just talking about what (this first game) meant to us and our family.”

84. Z-Bo, Baldwin May Fit Well On Grizzlies’ Second Unit - Friday, October 7, 2016

In a film session not long before the Grizzlies started preseason play, first-year coach David Fizdale wanted to drive home a point about veteran Zach Randolph’s offensive productivity – especially to the young point guards vying to be Mike Conley’s backup this season.

85. Z-Bo, Baldwin May be Nice Fit on Grizzlies’ Second Unit - Thursday, October 6, 2016

In a film session not long before the Grizzlies started preseason play, first-year coach David Fizdale wanted to drive home a point about veteran Zach Randolph’s offensive productivity – especially to the young point guards vying to be Mike Conley’s backup this season.

86. Last Word: Trezevant Football and The Past, Change by Trial and Instagram - Friday, September 30, 2016

Almost a year ago Trezevant High School was the state football champion in their division – the Frayser school’s first ever football championship. And for those with long memories of the city’s colorful history of high school athletics, there was some vindication in that.

87. A Tasteful List 2016 - Friday, September 16, 2016

MEMPHIS BY THE BITE. Presenting the sixth serving of the Tasteful List, updated for 2016 – alphabetical local favorites in one decidedly local man’s opinion – the only things easy to swallow in an election year.

88. Last Word: Candlelight Protest, International Paper Rumors and Ruby Wilson - Monday, August 15, 2016

Graceland and Black Lives Matter meet again Monday evening, according to the announcement as the weekend began of the Coalition of Concerned Citizens.

The coalition, which includes leaders of the July 10 bridge protest as well as the July 12 protest that briefly blocked traffic on Elvis Presley Boulevard outside Graceland, isn’t too happy with how its meeting with Mayor Jim Strickland went last Thursday.

89. Jordan Takes Leading Role At Child Advocacy Center - Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Mark Jordan has joined the Memphis Child Advocacy Center as development director, responsible for connecting people in a meaningful way to the critical services MCAC provides to vulnerable children. In his new role, Jordan will create and administer a comprehensive development plan to both enhance connections and build new relationships with volunteers and the philanthropic community to grow fundraising, donor relations and public engagement. 

90. Live-Streamed Eye Surgeries Benefit Memphis Optometry Students - Friday, August 5, 2016

Eye Specialty Group (ESG) is teaming up with Southern College of Optometry (SCO) to provide another way of educating the area’s young doctors, helping them to better understand the latest surgery techniques. Late last week, three Lasik eye surgeries took place at the ESG Collierville medical offices and were live-streamed to students at SCO in the Medical District, marking the first of what is hoped will be many live-streamed collaborations.

91. After Receiving Prestigious Award, Juice Plus+ Founder Jay Martin Speaks on Volunteerism - Monday, August 1, 2016

Recently, Juice Plus+ founder and president Jay Martin received the 2016 Ballington and Maud Booth Award from Volunteers of America, one of the nation’s largest and oldest human service charities.

92. 10 Years After Housing Peaked, US is More of a Renter Nation - Tuesday, June 21, 2016

MOUNT PLEASANT, South Carolina (AP) – It's a troublesome story playing out across America in the 10 years since the housing bubble peaked and then burst in a ruinous crash: As real estate has climbed back, homeowners are thriving while renters are struggling.

93. Attorney Schattgen Joins Bass, Berry & Sims - Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Shine Chen Schattgen has joined the Memphis office of Bass, Berry & Sims LLP as an associate in the law firm’s health care group. Schattgen, who previously practiced in the Boston office of Ropes & Gray LLP, counsels health care clients on a range of operational, regulatory and transactional matters.

94. Attorney Wesley Fox Joins Shea Moskovitz & McGhee - Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Wesley Fox has joined family law firm Shea Moskovitz & McGhee PLC as an associate attorney. Fox earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2014 and previously served as a Title IV-D attorney for Shelby County.

95. Events - Thursday, March 3, 2016

Company d Dancers will perform “LOCAL, Dancing through time … places in Memphis” on Thursday and Friday, March 3-4, at 7 p.m. at Hutchison School, 1740 Ridgeway Road. This collaboration unites some of Memphis’ most talented artists with Company d’s dancers, all of whom are young adults with Down syndrome. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Visit facebook.com/companyddancers for details and tickets.

96. Last Word: Timing and Numbers, Old Dominick Takes Shape and Zip Lines To Spring - Thursday, February 25, 2016

Political opportunity is defined by timing.
Witness a look at the early voting turnout numbers in advance of Tuesday’s election day.

More than half of the more than 43,000 Shelby County voters who cast early ballots voted Monday and Tuesday – the last two days of an early voting period that began Feb. 10 – way back there when Martin O’Malley was the third Democratic presidential contender and Jeb Bush was considered a force to be reckoned with in the Republican primaries.

97. Cohen Urges Memphis Clinton Supporters To Speak No Ill of Sanders - Monday, February 22, 2016

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen told a group of 70 supporters of Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton that they should avoid attacking Bernie Sanders, her rival for the Democratic nomination.

98. Cohen Urges Clinton Supporters To Speak No Ill Of Sanders - Friday, February 19, 2016

U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen told a group of 70 supporters of Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton that they should avoid attacking Bernie Sanders, her rival for the Democratic nomination.

99. Confident Serrano Playing for Future at UT - Saturday, February 6, 2016

Tennessee baseball coach Dave Serrano wasn’t setting the bar too high when he met with the media for his 2016 preseason press conference.

Serrano made that mistake before the 2015 season with talk of reaching an NCAA regional and perhaps Omaha, Nebraska, site of the College World Series.

100. Nashville Developer Submits Plans for Downtown Memphis Housing - Monday, February 1, 2016

Two plans recently filed with the Memphis-Shelby County Office of Planning and Development will turn empty lots into housing for disadvantaged Memphians.

Nashville developer Elmington Capital Group submitted plans for gated multifamily housing in Downtown's South End.