Shelby Farms Park is gearing up for the second annual Mempho Music Festival and another chance to showcase the country’s largest urban park to a diverse and wide-reaching audience.
Memphis’ newest music festival is expecting a crowd of 20,000 on Oct. 6 and 7, which is impressive for a park two years out from a $70 million renovation embarked upon in 2010 with a distant vision for such an event.
The master plan for the park was designed not only for people to recreate and relax, but as a place to build community, and a music festival can be a big part of that, said Jen Andrews, executive director of Shelby Farms Park. Andrews has always had a larger vision for the park as a place where the community could come together and take ownership and pride in the best that Memphis has to offer.
Enter another visionary, native Memphian Diego Winegardner, founder of Mempho Fest and CEO of Big River Presents, which is putting on the festival. Winegardner grew up in Memphis and now lives outside of New York City where his day job is in finance and investment management. A couple of years ago on a trip home to Memphis he met some old friends for a bike ride at Shelby Farms Park.
“I was completely blown away,” Winegardner said. “The sun was setting on Hyde Lake, and I had this lightning-bolt moment of how special it would be to bring a world-class music festival to this site.
I thought about Memphis’ place in the annals of American music as the birthplace of blues, soul and R&B and the hip hop scene that we have here.
“If you think about the labels … Sun, Stax, Royal…I was exposed to all of that growing up, and seeing B.B. King on Beale Street was just normal,” he said. “I didn’t appreciate it until I was gone. I started to get really nostalgic about my hometown.”
Winegardner is a music enthusiast who has been to most of the notable music festivals in the U.S. and many around the world. He had the resources and connections to realize his dream. Last year, the first Mempho Fest kicked off with great success with 10,000 in attendance for two days of concerts featuring a variety of bands from different music genres.
“I’ve always been a big fan of (Memphis) and its people and a big defender of the city and its history,” Winegardner said. “This music festival was born out of my passion for music and my passion for the city of Memphis.”
When Winegardner first met with Andrews two years ago to pitch his idea, she caught his vision right away.
He approached it cautiously and wanted to understand how to protect the park and still give people a good experience, she said. “We like working with Diego,” she said. “They care about the park, and like us, have a big, bold vision, and they hired a professional team who knew how to put on a safe and fun event.”
This year’s festival will feature two days of multi-genre music headlined by Grammy Award-winning artist and hip-hop superstar Post Malone as well as Beck, Phoenix, NAS and Janelle Monae. Local talent like Lucero and alternative Mac deMarco also will perform, and there will be a special tribute to Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studios featuring the label’s past and present stars.
Sunday will feature performances by crowd favorites like George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic and Stones Throw, Chuck Laevell’s Rolling Stones’ backer band.
The festival will not only expand in attendance, but will add a larger culinary and craft beer presence in addition to on-site camping and VIP and super-VIP experiences.
“We’re trying to create more than just music on a stage,” said Winegardner, who also created a nonprofit arm called Mempho Matters that will partner with organizations that line-up with the vision of the festival, such as Oceanic Global Foundation, #BringYourSoul, Learn to Rock and the Memphis Area Women’s Council’s “Memphis Says NO MORE” campaign.
As part of Mempho’s partnership with the Oceanic Global Foundation, the festival has a 100 percent waste-free goal, which will start with its no straw policy.
“A best practice environmental policy is important to help make sure the park is as pristine when we leave as when we showed up,” said Winegardner.
The partnership promoting the Memphis Area Women’s Council’s “NO MORE” campaign is to make sure that Mempho Fest’s female attendees feel safe. Winegardner, who has a teenage daughter, knows stories about the lack of safety for females at other events, prompting him to take up the cause.
“In this day and age, you really have to take a stand and make it an institutional part of our way of doing things,” he said.
Money raised through Mempho Matters will also benefit the Memphis community through contributions to musical education in the form of free tickets for students and teachers to attend the festival as well as instruments and money for music education in local schools.
Last year, Mempho Matters gave away 2,000 tickets to students and teachers.
“We want to build bridges into the community and be as inclusive as possible,” Winegardner said. “We want to educate the children and the youth of tomorrow about the history of Memphis musically and create a sense of pride for its citizens while also attracting new people and adding another chapter to Memphis’ long, rich history.”
Andrews is optimistic about the growth of Mempho Fest this year, projecting double the attendance in its second year as well as adding 400 weekend camping permits. Those include primitive camping, RV hookups and glamping.
“The camping option is an important part of festival culture, and one of the great benefits of the park is its tremendous scale, which can accommodate that,” Andrews said.
But the plan is to grow Mempho Fest slowly, she said.
“We learned a lot the first year, and we’re applying the learning to this year’s festival,” she said. “We have a strong plan for safely managing the crowd. We want this to be a world-class festival.”
Big River Productions and Winegardner have an undisclosed agreement with Shelby Farms Park, and both entities hope to continue the relationship.
“I’m hoping that Mempho Fest will become a long-term asset for the city of Memphis,” Winegardner said.
Music remains a big driver of visitors to Memphis — 56 percent of leisure visitors come to the city for something related to music, said Kevin Kane, president and CEO of Memphis Tourism, formerly called the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We’re supporters of (Mempho Fest),” he said. “We believe in it and want to see it grow. Music festivals have a big impact on the economy. The more events we have based in music the better, and we think it’s great to utilize Shelby Farms in this way.”

2. Trump Administration Orders Closure of Palestinian office - Tuesday, September 11, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration ordered the closure of the Palestinian diplomatic mission in Washington on Monday and threatened sanctions against the International Criminal Court if it pursues investigations against the U.S., Israel, or other allies. The moves are likely to harden Palestinian resistance to the U.S. role as a peace broker.

3. Supreme Court Nominee Kavanaugh Stresses Independence, Won't Discuss WH subpoenas - Thursday, September 6, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh repeatedly stressed the importance of judicial independence on the second day of his confirmation hearing Wednesday as he faced questioning from senators, including Democrats who fear he would be President Donald Trump's man on the high court. But he declined to address whether Trump could be subpoenaed or could pardon himself.

4. Trump Disputes Book's Portrayal of White House Dysfunction - Thursday, September 6, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump unloaded Wednesday against an explosive new book from journalist Bob Woodward, labeling the tell-all memoir "a work of fiction" as West Wing staff scrambled to rebut its vivid depictions of White House dysfunction.

5. Chaos Marks Start of Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearing - Wednesday, September 5, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Quarreling and confusion disrupted the start of the Senate's confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh on Tuesday, with Democrats trying to block the proceedings over documents withheld by the White House while protesters interrupted the session in a persistent display of opposition.

6. White House Faces Brain Drain at Perilous Moment - Monday, September 3, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Increasingly convinced that the West Wing is wholly unprepared to handle the expected assault from Democrats if they win the House in November, President Donald Trump's aides and allies are privately raising alarm as his circle of legal and communications advisers continues to shrink.

7. Sen. Collins, Potential Swing Vote, Meets With Kavanaugh - Wednesday, August 22, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh met Tuesday with Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a centrist who's seen as a potential swing vote on his confirmation, while Democrats push him to release more documents from his years in the George W. Bush White House.

8. Hearings for Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh to Start Sept. 4 - Monday, August 13, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh will begin the day after Labor Day, Republicans announced Friday over Democratic objections that they are rushing the process without properly delving into his background.

9. Study: 'Medicare for all' projected to cost $32.6 trillion - Tuesday, July 31, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Bernie Sanders' "Medicare for all" plan would boost government health spending by $32.6 trillion over 10 years, requiring historic tax hikes, says a study released Monday by a university-based libertarian policy center.

10. Kavanaugh: Watergate tapes decision may have been wrong - Monday, July 23, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh suggested several years ago that the unanimous high court ruling in 1974 that forced President Richard Nixon to turn over the Watergate tapes, leading to the end of his presidency, may have been wrongly decided.

11. Trump Slams Rate Increases by Independent Federal Reserve - Friday, July 20, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump on Thursday cast aside concerns about the Federal Reserve's independence, saying he was "not happy" with the Fed's recent interest rate increases.

12. Court Nominee Kavanaugh Begins Making His Case to Senators - Wednesday, July 11, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, mapped out strategy with Republican leaders Tuesday, launching a fierce confirmation battle that could remake the court for decades and roil the midterm elections in the meantime.

13. Bill Clinton, George W. Bush to Join 59 Scholars in Arkansas - Wednesday, July 11, 2018

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush will join dozens of scholars who've been focusing on topics ranging from immigration to veterans issues.

14. Justice Kennedy retiring; Trump gets 2nd Supreme Court pick - Thursday, June 28, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement Wednesday, giving President Donald Trump a golden chance to cement conservative control of the high court.

15. Sanders says she was told to leave Virginia restaurant - Monday, June 25, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was booted from a Virginia restaurant because she works for President Donald Trump, setting off a fierce debate about whether politics should play a role in how administration officals are treated in public.

16. 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.

17. Mempho Festival Headliners Announced for October Event - Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Beck, Phoenix, Post Malone and Nas are the headliners for the second annual Mempho Music Festival Oct. 6 and 7 in Shelby Farms Park.

18. Barr Blames Ambien for Tweet; Drug Maker Replies - Thursday, May 31, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – The maker of Ambien said Wednesday that "racism is not a known side effect" after Roseanne Barr cited the insomnia drug in explaining the tweet that led ABC to cancel her show.

19. ABC Cancels 'Roseanne' Following Star's Racist Tweet - Wednesday, May 30, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – ABC canceled its hit reboot of "Roseanne" on Tuesday following star Roseanne Barr's racist tweet that referred to former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett as a product of the Muslim Brotherhood and the "Planet of the Apes."

20. 'It's About Time': Trump Pardons Late Boxer Jack Johnson - Friday, May 25, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump on Thursday granted a rare posthumous pardon to boxing's first black heavyweight champion, clearing Jack Johnson's name more than 100 years after what many see as his racially-charged conviction.

21. First Primaries Kick Off Busy Election Year - Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Shelby County voters go to the polls Tuesday, May 1, in the first of three elections this year that will take in county, state and federal offices by the time the last vote is counted in November.

The primary elections Tuesday for 23 Shelby County government offices are being watched closely by local Republican and Democratic leaders. They are watching the turnout and what the results say about the political temperament and activism of a county Hillary Clinton carried with 60 percent of the vote in the November 2016 presidential general election won by Republican Donald Trump.

22. May Primaries Feature More Candidates, Women - Friday, March 2, 2018

The May 1 Shelby County primary ballot is set, with 33 Republicans and 50 Democrats seeking 23 county offices – specifically the right to advance as the nominees of their respective parties to the August county general election.

23. Rev. Billy Graham, Known as 'America's Pastor,' Dies at 99 - Thursday, February 22, 2018

MONTREAT, N.C. (AP) – The Rev. Billy Graham, the magnetic, movie-star-handsome preacher who became a singular force in postwar American religious life, a confidant of presidents and the most widely heard Christian evangelist in history, died Wednesday at 99.

24. Trump 'Looking Forward' to Being Questioned Under Oath - Friday, January 26, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump declared he's "looking forward" to being questioned – under oath – in the special counsel's probe of Russian election interference and Trump's possible obstruction in the firing of the FBI director.

25. Last Word: A New Majority, A Plan After Kroger and Cold Cases - Friday, January 12, 2018

Shelby County elections administrator Linda Phillips has been watching the ebb and flow of petitions for the 2018 elections and has found what she believes is a link to the weather. “Apparently when the dreaded ‘snow’ word is mentioned in the forecast, not only do people go out and clear the shelves of milk, bread and eggs. They also decide to pick up a petition,” she wrote in an email with the list of who has pulled and who has filed in the last two days.

26. Last Word: Saturday In The Parks, The Citizen and Kroger Backlash - Friday, January 5, 2018

No protest or march permits applied for at City Hall as of Thursday morning in anticipation of a Saturday Confederate monuments protest, according to city chief legal officer Bruce McMullen at Thursday’s taping of “Behind The Headlines.” Our discussion included lots about the city’s move toward taking down the monuments Dec. 20 and what could happen next. Also, McMullen tells us there were some other nonprofits that talked with the city about Health Sciences and Memphis Parks before Memphis Greenspace. The show airs Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on WKNO TV.

27. Mississippi Lawmakers Could Debate Creation of a Lottery - Thursday, December 28, 2017

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Mississippi residents for years have been crossing into Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee to buy lottery tickets.

In 2018, lawmakers could debate whether Mississippi will join the large majority of states that offer games of chance.

28. Giant Peach, Massive Moonpie to Ring in 2018 in the South - Wednesday, December 27, 2017

ATLANTA (AP) – There will be a new site this year for Atlanta's New Year's Eve Peach Drop, one of several large events planned across the South, organizers say.

For the first time, the peach will drop from the 120-year-old Flatiron Building downtown on Dec. 31, the Atlanta mayor's office announced. The new site is a few blocks from Underground Atlanta, where the Peach Drop has been held in recent years.

29. FBI Director Defends His Agency Against Trump's Attacks - Friday, December 8, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – Countering strident attacks on his agency from the president who appointed him, FBI Director Christopher Wray on Thursday defended the tens of thousands of people who work with him and declared, "There is no finer institution, and no finer people, than the men and women who work there and are its very beating heart."

30. Trump Choosing White Men as Judges, Highest Rate in Decades - Tuesday, November 14, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump is nominating white men to America's federal courts at a rate not seen in nearly 30 years, threatening to reverse a slow transformation toward a judiciary that reflects the nation's diversity.

31. Trump Names Former Drug Exec as New Health Secretary - Tuesday, November 14, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – Turning to an industry he's rebuked, President Donald Trump on Monday picked a former top pharmaceutical and government executive to be his health and human services secretary, overseeing a $1 trillion department responsible for major health insurance programs, medical research, food and drug safety, and public health.

32. Trump Distances Himself From Indicted Former Aides - Tuesday, October 31, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump moved quickly Monday to distance himself and the White House from the indictment of his former campaign chairman and another aide, saying Paul Manafort's alleged misdeeds occurred "years ago" and insisting there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

33. Still No Charity Money From Leftover Trump Inaugural Funds - Monday, September 18, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump's inaugural committee raised an unprecedented $107 million for a ceremony that officials promised would be "workmanlike," and the committee pledged to give leftover funds to charity. Nearly eight months later, the group has helped pay for redecorating at the White House and the vice president's residence in Washington.

34. Remember Memphis? Titans Would Rather Not - Friday, July 28, 2017

Time flies, doesn’t it? A lot can happen in 20 years. Think about it: In 1997, Bill Clinton was sworn in for his second term as president. Princess Di was killed in a car crash. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 8,000 for the first time. And the Tennessee Oilers played their home games in Memphis.

35. Last Word: Vince Carter Leaves, Fairgrounds and Pulling the Plug on Green Tech - Friday, July 7, 2017

Vince Carter joins Zach Randolph with the Sacramento Kings next NBA season with an $8 million one-year pact for Carter. Still no word on Tony Allen’s free agency status as we put this up. The Grizz plan to retire Randolph’s jersey.

36. Who are the Lawyers and Judges Debating Trump Travel Ban? - Tuesday, May 16, 2017

SEATTLE (AP) – Two lawyers with broad experience before the U.S. Supreme Court argued for and against President Donald Trump's travel ban Monday before a panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Three judges appointed by President Bill Clinton heard the case over the executive order that targets six predominantly Muslim countries.

37. Kustoff Talks Comey Missteps, Health Care - Tuesday, May 16, 2017

The FBI investigation into possible Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign will continue without fired FBI director James Comey, says U.S. Rep. David Kustoff.

38. Comey Sought More Russia Probe Resources Before Firing - Thursday, May 11, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – In the days before his firing by President Donald Trump, FBI Director James Comey told U.S. lawmakers he had asked the Justice Department for more resources to pursue the bureau's investigation into Russia's interference in last year's presidential election, three U.S. officials said Wednesday.

39. Trump's Comments Likely to Cause Heartburn for US Lawyers - Monday, February 13, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump lobs verbal bombshells on Twitter and fiercely criticizes federal judges overseeing his court cases. He openly discusses pending legal matters on which lawyers usually advise their clients to stay mum.

40. 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.

41. 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.

42. 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.

43. Presidential Election Tops Busy Year for Memphis Voters - Friday, December 30, 2016

2016 was an eventful election year in Shelby County, ending with the most popular voting cycle in Shelby County politics: the U.S. presidential general election in November. Slightly more than 60 percent of the county’s voters cast a ballot either during early voting in October or on the Nov. 8 Election Day.

44. Ethics Experts: Trump Invites Trouble If He Keeps Businesses - Tuesday, December 13, 2016

NEW YORK (AP) – Donald Trump says he will step away from managing his business empire while he's in office – but he's not going to sell it off. If he follows through, he will shatter a presidential precedent on conflicts, and ethics experts say he will open the door to investigations and lawsuits that could hobble his administration.

45. Trump Says He's Leaving Businesses to Avoid Conflicts - Thursday, December 1, 2016

NEW YORK (AP) – President-elect Donald Trump declared Wednesday he will leave his business empire behind to focus on his presidency. But the prospect that he could simply shift more control to three of his adult children looked too cozy to some business-ethics specialists who suggest the arrangement could bring unprecedented conflicts of interest into the Oval Office.

46. Last Word: Pants Suits On the River, Early Vote Numbers & Chandler Parsons' Debut - Monday, November 7, 2016

A busy last weekend for the Presidential campaigns in Shelby County where we have seen neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump in the flesh since the primary campaign season and haven’t even seen their surrogates in the general election campaign.

47. Pursuing Corruption Cases Near Elections - Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Presidential elections aren’t the only political contests federal prosecutors weigh in making decisions about investigations and possible criminal charges against candidates or elected officials.

48. Local Early Vote Turnout Tops 56,600 - Tuesday, October 25, 2016

More than 56,000 citizens voted early in Shelby County over the first four days of the early voting period in advance of the Nov. 8 general election.

The 56,614 early voters is a bit ahead of the early voting pace in the presidential general election of 2012 and a bit behind the pace in 2008.

49. Electoral College Scenarios Emerge Early in 2016 - Thursday, October 6, 2016

More than a month after all of the votes are counted in the Nov. 8 presidential general election, the real decision is made on who will be the next president.

Dec. 19 is when the Electoral College meets in state capitals across the nation including in Nashville where Tennessee’s 11 electors will put an end to an election in which former Tennessee Attorney General Robert Cooper says Tennessee voters have been “bystanders.”

50. Last Word: The Grizz Are Back, Bass Pro Shops Buys Cabela's and Stein at Amurica - Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Some of you will remember the late George Lapides, whom I worked with for a time at WREC, had a policy about pre-season baseball games or what he called the “Grapefruit League.” It was that they didn’t exist. He wouldn’t acknowledge the games much less the scores.

51. Last Word: The Debate, Arnold Palmer and an Analysts' Poll on First Horizon - Monday, September 26, 2016

Monday evening is the first of the Trump-Clinton Presidential debates and it will probably be watched very closely for a number of reasons – not the least of which is vigorous fact-checking of both candidates and the unique nature of this campaign between the two major contenders who are by several standards the most unpopular Presidential candidates to run against each other in our lifetimes.

52. With Economic Outlook Hazy, Fed Likely to Leave Rates Alone - Tuesday, September 20, 2016

WASHINGTON (AP) – Again and again in recent months, the Federal Reserve has signaled that it's edging closer to resuming the interest-rate hikes it began in December.

It just doesn't seem to be there quite yet.

53. What Would It Take for Trump to Lose Tennessee Voters? - Thursday, August 11, 2016

Murfreesboro Realtor Larry Sims almost closes his ears when Donald Trump speaks.

“He gets out of bounds. Of course, the press, they love it because they get to exploit his sayings and doings,” says Sims, who traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, as a Trump delegate for the Republican National Convention. 

54. Crowded Race in 8th District GOP Primary Tops Thursday's Ballot - Thursday, August 4, 2016

Two days before the Thursday, Aug. 4, election day, state Rep. Curry Todd was arrested by Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies for removing a rival’s campaign signs in Collierville.

The arrest Tuesday on a warrant sworn out against Todd for theft is an indication of just how hard fought some of the races are in what is considered a minor election cycle in the shadow of the November presidential general election.

55. Last Word: Union Turns A Corner, Parkside's TIF and Bee Cause - Wednesday, July 27, 2016

There hasn’t been this much excitement since right turn on red came to town 40 years ago.

In less than a week you will be able to make a left turn onto McLean Boulevard from Union Avenue eastbound and westbound. And the traffic signal that lets you do that will flash a yellow arrow that indicates you can turn left if there are no pedestrians and no cars coming the other way.

56. Gore Not Attending Convention But Endorses Hillary Clinton - Tuesday, July 26, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Former Vice President Al Gore may not be attending the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this week, but he is for the first time endorsing Hillary Clinton for president.

57. Last Word: Cavaliers, The Longer County Tax Season and The New Elections Chief - Monday, June 20, 2016

The Cleveland Cavaliers are the NBA champs, beating the Golden State Warriors 93 – 89 in the final game of the NBA’s second season. I don’t want to hear a word about how baseball takes too long.

58. August Ballot Known for What’s Not at the Top - Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Just before the Memorial Day weekend, candidates in the most hotly contested races on the Aug. 4 ballot got the packages they’ve been waiting on – yard signs.

And social media messages were out by Friday afternoon urging supporters to sign up for them.

59. The Week Ahead: May 30-June 5 - Monday, May 30, 2016

It's time to get this week started, Memphis! Here’s our roundup of local happenings you need to know about, from a Funkadelic party at the New Daisy to a Day of Merrymaking on the Greensward... 

60. New Daisy Planning 74th Birthday Bash - Saturday, May 21, 2016

The New Daisy Theatre is celebrating its 74th birthday in a few weeks and is inviting the public to celebrate it with George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic.

61. New Daisy Planning 74th Birthday Bash - Tuesday, May 17, 2016

The New Daisy Theatre is celebrating its 74th birthday in a few weeks and is inviting the public to celebrate it with George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic.

62. Country Icon Merle Haggard, Champion of the Underdog, Dies - Thursday, April 7, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Country giant Merle Haggard, who rose from poverty and prison to international fame through his songs about outlaws, underdogs and an abiding sense of national pride in such hits as "Okie From Muskogee" and "Sing Me Back Home," died Wednesday at 79, on his birthday.

63. Lawmakers Lure Us In With Momentary Sanity, And Then... - Thursday, April 7, 2016

Just when it appears the Tennessee Senate is made up of sensible people – as evidenced by the killing of de-annexation legislation – the body is changing course with a Bible-thumping measure.

64. Last Word: Rain & Votes, Setting Madison's Boundaries and The Rise of Renters - Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Here comes the rain. Not a Beatles tune but close enough with the word late Tuesday that George Martin – to my mind at least, the closest thing to a fifth Beatle – has died.
Rolling Stone’s story and many links within to their coverage of Martin over the decades.

65. Kasich Draws Memphis Crowd of 700 - Monday, February 29, 2016

Republican presidential contender John Kasich told a group of more than 700 people in Memphis Friday, Feb. 26, the country needs leaders who think as Americans first and Republicans and Democrats second.

66. Kasich Draws Memphis Crowd of 700 - Saturday, February 27, 2016

Republican presidential contender John Kasich told a group of more than 700 people in Memphis Friday, Feb. 26, the country needs leaders who think as Americans first and Republicans and Democrats second.

67. Last Word: Presidents Day In An Election Year, Minority Business and Spring Training - Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Presidents Day in a presidential election year.
Consider the political kaleidoscope of a foggy office-bound or home-bound Monday in Memphis with former President George W. Bush on the tube in the late afternoon defending his brother’s presidential campaign without once uttering the word Trump.
No further word of a Trump appearance promised for Memphis and some of Donald Trump’s own statements Monday suggested that by the time Memphis is on his schedule, he might be running as an independent.
Then there is the obsession in one corner of social media with Supreme Court history in rich detail.
And heads were turned Monday evening by the excerpt on the Grammys from the Broadway musical about Alexander Hamilton – a founding father born in the West Indies who established the nation’s financial system and the Federalist party. He never became a president, in part, because the vice president killed him. Hamilton wasn’t the only one who had been talking bad about Aaron Burr. The top of the ticket, President Thomas Jefferson, had decided to dump Burr from the ticket in the next election and Burr was trying to transition to become governor of New York.

68. Early Voting Opens in Tennessee Presidential Primaries - Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Tennesseans can begin casting their ballots in the presidential primaries on Wednesday, Feb. 10, the day after the votes were counted in New Hampshire on the political road to the summer conventions.

69. Cutting taxes, school choice, tort reform drive Sen. Kelsey - Saturday, January 30, 2016

State Sen. Brian Kelsey calls himself “a proud conservative who likes to get results.”

70. Presidential Primary Ballot Set in Tennessee - Thursday, December 3, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — When Tennessee voters go to the polls for the March 1 presidential primary, they will be able to choose among either 14 Republicans or three Democrats.

Secretary of State Tre Hargett on Tuesday released the final list of candidates that will appear on the Super Tuesday ballot.

71. Clinton Declaration Signals Attempt to Upset Tennessee’s Presidential Rhythm - Thursday, November 26, 2015

By the time Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton walked on a stage at LeMoyne-Owen College a week ago, her campaign was already emphasizing what it viewed as the central message of the stop.

72. Clinton to Propose Increasing Capital Gains Taxes - Tuesday, July 21, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton plans later this week to propose raising capital gains taxes for some investors, part of a larger campaign effort to encourage greater focus on longer-term economic growth rather than more immediate gains for investors.

73. 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.

74. Prep Coaches, Players Sold on Jones the Recruiter - Saturday, September 20, 2014

Nothing surprises Murfreesboro Blackman High School football coach Philip Shadowens when it comes to college recruiting.

Shadowens has seen it all – including the flurry of activity created by Blackman senior quarterback and safety Jauan Jennings, rated the No. 18 athlete in the nation by Rivals.com.

75. Congress OKs New IRS Chief, Ends Turbulent Year - Monday, December 23, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – A cross Congress ended its business for the year Friday as the Senate approved a new boss for the troubled Internal Revenue Service but remained slowed and bitterly riven over majority Democrats' weakening of Republicans' power to filibuster.

76. Obama Nominates 3 to Appeals Court, Testing GOP - Wednesday, June 5, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Opening a summer showdown with Congress, a combative President Barack Obama nominated three judges to a powerful appellate court Tuesday and challenged Republicans to stop the "political obstruction" holding up his nominees.

77. Obama Nominates Justice Official to Top Labor Slot - Tuesday, March 19, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Thomas Perez, President Barack Obama's choice for Labor secretary, has used his perch as the nation's chief civil rights enforcer to crack down on voter suppression, discrimination and police brutality.

78. Small Business Administration Head Mills to Depart - Tuesday, February 12, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – Karen Mills, the head of the Small Business Administration as it focused on helping small companies recover from the Great Recession, is stepping down.

79. White House: Tax Hike Threat Could Hurt Retailers - Tuesday, November 27, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – White House economists warned Monday that the uncertainty of a potential hike in taxes next year for middle class taxpayers under the looming fiscal cliff could hurt consumer confidence during the crucial holiday shopping season.

80. Reardon Speaks Out Against City’s Approach to Housing - Tuesday, November 27, 2012

The University of Memphis professor leading the resistance to a still-forming plan to demolish the city’s last large public housing project says the city’s approach to transforming public housing since the late 1990s hasn’t worked.

81. George Clinton to Talk Music at Memphis Conference - Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Funk music king George Clinton is scheduled to speak at a conference geared toward bringing access to music education to students in underserved communities.

The Stax Music Academy is hosting the Berklee City Music Network’s conference in Memphis, set to run through Wednesday.

82. Political Outsourcing - Monday, October 15, 2012

It has been 12 years since Shelby County voters have encountered a Democratic or Republican presidential nominee on the general election ballot who had some kind of political presence in the region, if not the city, before they made their bid for president.

83. Black Mississippi Officials Want Districting Lawsuit Dismissed - Tuesday, October 9, 2012

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – The four black elected supervisors in Mississippi's most populated county asked a federal judge on Monday to dismiss a lawsuit accusing them of improperly using race as a consideration in redrawing voting districts.

84. Airline Bid to Block Consumer Protections Rejected - Wednesday, July 25, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The government can require airlines to show consumers a total ticket price that includes taxes and fees in print and online ads, the U.S. Court of Appeals said Tuesday, rejecting an industry challenge to a series of consumer protection regulations.

85. Cohen Keeps Focus on Bigger Picture - Monday, July 9, 2012

Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Memphis, says he works well with Republicans in Congress but that most of the federal funding and help he has secured for the city comes from the Democratic-controlled White House.

86. Alternative Sound - Wednesday, June 27, 2012

When the Flaming Lips perform in Handy Park Wednesday, June 27, it will be a different sound for the street where the blues were born but showmanship of all kinds is a tradition.

The alternative rock band is kicking off an eight-stop, 24-hour tour to New Orleans in the Beale Street outdoor venue. It is an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most performances in multiple cities in a 24-hour period.

87. Obama-Romney Showdown Starts Off With a Harsh Tone - Thursday, April 12, 2012

MENDENHALL, Pa. (AP) — The 2012 presidential general election has begun. It won't be pretty.

Tuesday marked Day One, in essence, of the contest between the two virtually certain nominees, Republican Mitt Romney and Democratic President Barack Obama. Rick Santorum's departure removed the last meaningful bump from Romney's path to the GOP nomination. Romney and Obama wasted no time in portraying the voters' choice in dire, sometimes starkly personal terms.

88. New District Lines Lead to New Races - Monday, April 9, 2012

“This time I waited to be sure,” Ian Randolph said just before the Thursday, April 5, deadline for candidates to file in the Aug. 2 elections.

89. Republicans Aim to Quash New Union Rules - Thursday, December 1, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Republicans are maneuvering to short-circuit an effort by Democrats on the National Labor Relations Board to approve rules that would quicken the pace of union elections.

90. House Says No to Mandating Balanced Federal Budget - Monday, November 21, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Rejecting the idea Congress can't control its spending impulses, the House turned back a Republican proposal Friday to amend the Constitution to dam the rising flood of federal red ink. Democrats – and a few GOP lawmakers – said damage from the balanced-budget mandate would outweigh any benefits.

91. Supreme Court Will Hear Health Care Case This Term - Tuesday, November 15, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear arguments next March over President Barack Obama's health care overhaul – a case that could shake the political landscape as voters are deciding if Obama deserves another term.

92. Obama Tax Proposal Worries Social Security Allies - Tuesday, September 13, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Some Social Security advocates fear that President Barack Obama's desire to cut taxes supporting the program will undermine its vaunted stature as a self-financing pension system that provides checks to retirees based on contributions they made while working.

93. Appeals Court Strikes Health Insurance Requirement - Monday, August 15, 2011

ATLANTA (AP) – A federal appeals court panel on Friday struck down the requirement in President Barack Obama's health care overhaul package that virtually all Americans must carry health insurance or face penalties.

94. US Malaise, Debt Stalemate Shake Allies Globally - Monday, August 1, 2011

BEIJING (AP) — America's debt crisis and economic malaise are shaking confidence in its global leadership.

Many governments see Washington's paralysis as political theater ahead of a presidential election and wonder how American hardliners can be allowed to hold up a deal and bring a globalized economy to the brink.

95. Both Parties Helped Run Up US $14 Trillion Debt - Friday, April 15, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Two centuries after America's birth, the national debt was a bit under $1 trillion when Ronald Reagan took office in 1981. Just three decades later, it has soared above $14 trillion, and accusations of blame are flying. Both Republicans and Democrats played major roles in driving the figure sky high.

96. Retired General: US Vulnerable to Cyber Attacks - Tuesday, April 12, 2011

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) – The United States is still "hugely vulnerable" to cyber attacks, but so are most other nations, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday.

97. Conservative Radio Launches in Memphis - Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Two years before the next national election and with fervor for conservative activism, Memphis-based MPS Broadcasting Monday announced the launch of WMPS “The Point” simulcast on 87.7 FM and 1210 AM.

98. Homeownership Stays at Lowest Level in a Decade - Wednesday, November 3, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – The nation’s homeownership rate remained at its lowest in more than a decade, hampered by a rise in foreclosures and weak demand.

The percentage of households that owned their homes was unchanged at 66.9 percent in the July-September quarter, the Census Bureau said Tuesday. That’s the same as the April-June quarter.

99. Even in Liberal Bastions, GOP Sees Election Chance - Wednesday, October 20, 2010

HYANNIS PORT, Mass. (AP) — In the congressional district that's home to the Kennedy family compound, a Kennedy public skating rink and a Kennedy museum, the heart of liberalism is beating uneasily.

100. Record Gains for US Poverty With Elections Looming - Tuesday, September 14, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – The number of people in the U.S. who are in poverty is on track for a record increase on President Barack Obama's watch, with the ranks of working-age poor approaching 1960s levels that led to the national war on poverty.