NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A Tennessee lawmaker on Wednesday questioned the motives of three women who accused him of sexual misconduct as their high school basketball coach decades ago, but he didn't outright deny the accusations.

2. Tenn. Lawmakers Joke, Cite Female Attire in Harassment Training - Friday, January 12, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – When Tennessee House members and staffers gathered Wednesday for their first-ever in-person training on sexual harassment, one female lawmaker said women should mind how they dress and a male lawmaker jokingly said a male colleague was harassing him.

3. Rep. Black Describes Enduring Sexual Misconduct as Lawmaker - Friday, December 15, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – U.S. Rep. Diane Black says she knows from personal experience, having endured sexual misconduct as a state lawmaker, why Congress needs to expose federal lawmakers who settled cases, force them to repay any tax dollars involved and ban such taxpayer-funded settlements going forward.

4. Legislators Not Shy in Pushing ‘Model’ Bills - Thursday, December 14, 2017

The group that brought Tennessee the voter photo ID law could be on the brink of spawning another kink on the voting process, one that cross-checks jury service with voter rolls.

At the behest of the American Civil Rights Union, legislators across the nation who belong to the American Legislative Exchange Council could be sponsoring bills in the next couple of years requiring local election commissions to take a closer look at people who miss jury duty.

5. Judge Dismisses Expelled Tennessee Lawmaker's Lawsuit - Monday, December 11, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A federal judge has dismissed a former Tennessee lawmaker's lawsuit to recoup lifetime health care and pension benefits he lost when the state House voted to expel him last year.

6. Black: State, Congress Should Release Sex Harassment Claims - Monday, December 4, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Congresswoman Diane Black wants Tennessee's General Assembly and Congress to disclose sexual harassment claims and settlements involving lawmakers and staffers.

7. Tennessee House Members, Staff to Receive YWCA Training - Wednesday, November 22, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee state representatives and their staffs are being required to attend sexual harassment training led by the YWCA.

The Tennessean reports House Speaker Beth Harwell, a Nashville Republican who is running for governor next year, has mandated the in-person sessions to replace a requirement to watch a 15-minute video.

8. State Politicians in No Hurry to Fix Health Insurance - Thursday, October 5, 2017

We don’t need no stinkin’ special session on Medicaid expansion.

That’s pretty much the Republican response to House Democratic Leader Craig Fitzhugh’s call for Gov. Bill Haslam to bring lawmakers back to Nashville after the Graham-Cassidy bill failed in Congress.

9. Longtime Tennessee State Rep. Steve McDaniel to Retire - Monday, October 2, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – State Rep. Steve McDaniel, who is tied with Speaker Beth Harwell as the longest-serving members in the Tennessee House, plans to retire next year.

10. Last Word: Easy Fishing on Big River, Competing City Priorities and Durham's Fine - Thursday, June 8, 2017

The Arkansas side of the Big River Crossing opened Wednesday for the first time since May 2 when a rising Mississippi River prompted its closing while the crossing proper on the north side of the Harahan Bridge remained open. There is still some of the muddy river left on the Arkansas flood plain and several dozen cranes stopping in Wednesday afternoon for some easy fishing in the shallow waters.

11. Tennessee Campaign Finance Panel Fines Former Lawmaker $465K - Thursday, June 8, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee campaign finance officials have imposed a nearly $465,000 fine on a former lawmaker who was expelled from the General Assembly last year.

The Tennessean reports (http://tnne.ws/2sEsral) that the fine is the largest ever imposed by the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance.

12. View From the Hill: Gas Tax Rancor Lingers as Session Coasts to Close - Thursday, May 11, 2017

Remnants of rancor over Republican leadership roiled the House, a reminder of outrage over roguish behavior as representatives reached the finish line.

Alliteration is probably better suited for poetry. But in a case of what could be considered poetic justice, at least for some, this literary device – goofiness maybe – is suitable for legislative action requiring a score card to keep up with the characters and a bit of history to put it all together.

13. Newspaper Finds Double Dipping Among Tennessee Lawmakers - Tuesday, April 4, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A newspaper analysis has found that Tennessee lawmakers drew thousands of dollars from their campaign funds for expenses that may have been covered by their allowances for meals, travel and housing when they are serving at the state Capitol.

14. Limits on Tennessee Campaign Investments Headed to Governor - Wednesday, March 29, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A bill to prevent campaign funds from being invested in private companies is headed for Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's desk.

The legislation was introduced following reports that expelled Rep. Jeremy Durham heavily invested campaign funds in a company owned by prominent GOP donor Andy Miller Jr.

15. Singing Along With Tone-Deaf Legislators - Thursday, March 16, 2017

Often dull, but never boring. They might even make you break out into song.

Halfway through the 2017 session, the General Assembly could be accused of lacking sharpness or sensibility, but what it lacks in luster it makes up for with lots of political song and dance.

16. Audit: Ex-Lawmaker Failed to Report $36K in Contributions - Friday, March 10, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Tennessee Registry of Campaign Finance has informed expelled state Rep. Jeremy Durham that he faces potential fines for failing to report more than $36,000 in contributions and more than $51,000 in expenditures.

17. View From the Hill: House Leaders Still Figuring Out Sexual Harassment Policy - Thursday, March 2, 2017

In a case of déjà vu all over again, Democratic state Rep. Bo Mitchell isn’t willing to give Republican House leaders a break on their handling of former Rep. Mark Lovell’s resignation for alleged sexual misconduct.

18. Senate Passes Bill Limiting Tennessee Campaign Investments - Wednesday, March 1, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The state Senate has passed a bill seeking to prevent campaign funds from being invested in private companies.

The legislation follows the release of a Tennessee Registry of Campaign Fiance audit that found that former Rep. Jeremy Durham loaned $120,000 to a company run by prominent GOP donor Andrew Miller Jr.

19. Harwell: Lovell Investigation Handled Correctly - Friday, February 24, 2017

NASHVILLE – An investigation into now-former Rep. Mark Lovell started a day after he allegedly had inappropriate contact with a woman and lasted two to three days, House Speaker Beth Harwell says.

20. Harris: House Leaders Took Right Action With Lovell Probe - Tuesday, February 21, 2017

NASHVILLE – A Memphis legislator critical of the initial reaction to former Rep. Mark Lovell’s resignation is “somewhat satisfied” with the conclusion of a House investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.

21. Sexual Harassment Takes Stage in State Capitol Again - Monday, February 20, 2017

NASHVILLE – Saying she was a victim of sexual harassment when she entered the Legislature, state Rep. Barbara Cooper is calling on tougher rules to stop inappropriate behavior toward women.

“When I first got here I was violated and disrespected by one or two of the legislators. And of course I did get an apology, but that’s all that was done. And I feel like if we have some strong measures in place, these kinds of things will not continue,” Cooper says.

22. Democrats Want Investigation of Lovell’s Resignation - Thursday, February 16, 2017

NASHVILLE – A day after former Rep. Mark Lovell resigned abruptly, House Majority Chairman Ryan Williams says he asked Lovell to step down, but only if accusations of sexual misconduct against him were true.

23. Last Word: Lovell's Fall, Critical Focus Debut and Super Lice - Wednesday, February 15, 2017

That didn’t last long – the political career of state Representative Mark Lovell. About six weeks into a two-year term of office six months after he upset veteran Republican state Rep. Curry Todd, Lovell resigned Tuesday in Nashville. But the Legislature probably isn’t done with him yet. Even if it turns out the Legislature is done in terms of dealing with him directly, it will probably be talking about him for longer than the six weeks he was a legislator.

24. Lovell Resigns Tennessee House Seat, Democrats Seek Probe - Tuesday, February 14, 2017

NASHVILLE – House Democrats are calling for a probe into the sudden resignation of first-term Rep. Mark Lovell, who denies being involved in sexual misconduct as he leaves the state Legislature after just one month.

25. Campaign Audit: 100s of Potential Violations by Ex-Lawmaker - Thursday, February 9, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – An audit released Wednesday outlines hundreds of potential campaign finance violations by former state Rep. Jeremy Durham, a Franklin Republican who was expelled from the state House last fall amid a series of sexual harassment allegations.

26. Former Knoxville Lawmaker Gets Probation for Tax Conviction - Thursday, January 26, 2017

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Former Democratic state Rep. Joe Armstrong has avoided a prison sentence for his federal tax fraud conviction.

27. View From the Hill: Cooperatives Ready to Fill Broadband Void - Thursday, January 19, 2017

Rural broadband backers such as Misty O’Beirne in Rutherford County can take heart. Legislation to spread high-speed internet into cyberspace deserts is making the right connections.

28. New Year, New Resolutions for Legislators - Thursday, December 29, 2016

Some Tennesseans recall the days when the state Legislature met every other year and wonder if it should revert to that schedule. Considering the General Assembly pushes most of its work into 3 1/2 months, it might be worth a try.

29. Harwell Learning How to Dodge Challengers - Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Beth Harwell has been called a lot of things over the last few years, “trailblazer” chief among them as Tennessee’s first female House speaker. 

Now she’s a “survivor” after eking out a Republican Caucus victory as speaker nominee to continue leading the lower chamber in the 110th General Assembly.

30. Harwell Wins GOP Nomination for New Term as House Speaker - Monday, November 21, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – House Speaker Beth Harwell on Thursday won the Republican nomination to serve for another two-year term as leader of the lower chamber of the Tennessee General Assembly.

31. Democratic Donor Freeman Wants New State Party Leader - Tuesday, November 15, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Democrat Bill Freeman, who came in third in Nashville's mayor's race despite spending $3.5 million of his own money, says the state party should replace Chair Mary Mancini following last week's election results.

32. Tennessee Statehouse Refuses to Release Sex Harassment Data - Wednesday, November 2, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Legislative leaders have said that sexual misconduct accusations levied against ex-lawmaker Jeremy Durham are not demonstrative of the state Capitol culture, but officials have refused to give data about sexual harassment in state government.

33. At Least 7 Lawmakers Had Financial Ties to GOP Donor Miller - Monday, October 31, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – At least seven current and former Republican lawmakers in Tennessee had financial ties to a prominent GOP donor who recently settled a federal fraud case involving the military health care program.

34. State Rep. Feels Heat From Staffer’s Firing - Thursday, October 13, 2016

Like sands through the hour glass, these are the days of our Legislature’s lives.

When General Assembly candidates run for office, they talk of high ideals such as reforming education, creating jobs, saving tax dollars and stifling sexual offenders, even restricting abortion, adopting a state rifle or making the Holy Bible Tennessee’s state book.

35. Spivey: Harwell Shots Not About Durham - Thursday, October 6, 2016

Fallout from Jeremy Durham’s House expulsion keeps piling up. In the latest brouhaha, outgoing Rep. Billy Spivey is calling for an investigation into a report of alleged abuse by House Chief Clerk Joe McCord involving a female staff member working in the office of House Speaker Beth Harwell.

36. Last Word: The Law & Darrius Stewart, MEMShop's Return and The Pot Debate - Thursday, September 29, 2016

The Memphis Bar Association’s Law School for Journalists is where reporters and attorneys and a few judges meet annually to talk over the issues they have with each other. And it is usually about a specific topic. This year that topic was the July 2015 police shooting of Darrius Stewart.

37. House Speaker Chides Angry Lawmaker for Claim of Bad Conduct - Thursday, September 29, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A complaint filed against the House clerk is being brought by a lame-duck lawmaker who is angry about the chamber's expulsion of fellow Republican Rep. Jer-emy Durham over a series of sexual harassment allegations, House Speaker Beth Harwell said Wednesday.

38. Last Word: FedEx Changes, The Blue Cross Exit and Armageddon - Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Was that really autumn Monday or was the drop in humidity a prank to get the trees to drop their leaves?

The FedEx shareholder’s meeting Monday included some changes in the management chart at FedEx Corp. – more like some changes in the seating with one retirement by Mike Glenn, whose office is next to company founder Fred Smith.

39. Last Word: In Charlotte's Shadow, EDGE Action and Elvis TV Bio at Graceland - Thursday, September 22, 2016

The Memphis City Council’s final vote next month on pot decriminalization is shaping up to be about more than marijuana. The vote on the ordinance proposed by council member Berlin Boyd is the leading edge of a larger push for changes in the local criminal justice system, according to Boyd.

40. The Crooked Path to Durham’s Ouster - Thursday, September 22, 2016

State Rep. Kevin Brooks set the tone for Jeremy Durham’s ouster in prayer, of all places. Quoting from Luke, the Cleveland Republican opened the recent extraordinary session of the General Assembly saying, “Heavenly Father, you’re very clear in your word when you say that every valley will be filled, every mountain and hill brought low and the crooked places made straight and the rough places made smooth.

41. Last Word: Rallings on Protests, New Home Sales Numbers and Special Session Over - Thursday, September 15, 2016

$10 million goes a long way toward establishing a new school.

But Crosstown High School was not among the new high schools that garnered grants Wednesday from the XQ Super School Project.

42. Last Word: After The Fire, Hard Changes at Fred's and Durham Doesn't Go Quietly - Wednesday, September 14, 2016

The immediate questions have simple answers. It was a short in an air conditioner cord that caused the fire that killed 9 people – three adults and six children – before dawn Monday morning in South Memphis.

43. Tenn. House Expels Durham Amid Sexual Harrassment Allegations - Wednesday, September 14, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Tennessee House voted Tuesday to expel Republican state Rep. Jeremy Durham following allegations of widespread sexual harassment.

44. Tennessee Rep. Armstrong Resigns Ahead of Expected Ouster - Monday, September 12, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Democratic State Rep. Joe Armstrong on Friday submitted his resignation from the Tennessee General Assembly, avoiding an expected move to oust him following a felony tax fraud conviction in federal court.

45. As Long as You’re Here, Kick Durham Out - Thursday, September 8, 2016

State lawmakers hit the snooze button in July when prospects were high for a special session to oust Rep. Jeremy Durham over a career of carousing.

46. Matlock the ‘Truth,’ ‘Justice’ Candidate For Tennessee House Speaker - Thursday, August 18, 2016

Republican state Rep. Jimmy Matlock insists his quest for the House Speaker’s post is not a challenge of Beth Harwell’s leadership.

But it’s clear he sees a need for change.

47. Kustoff Claims 8th GOP Primary, Todd Upset by Lovell, Jenkins Over Newsom - Friday, August 5, 2016

Former U.S. Attorney David Kustoff claimed the Republican nomination for Tennessee’s 8th Congressional district Thursday, Aug. 4, in a 15-county contest in which the eastern parts of Shelby County played a decisive role.

48. Prosecutors: State Lawmaker Planned to Profit From Tax Hike - Thursday, August 4, 2016

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – As Tennessee lawmakers raised cigarette taxes to 62 cents per pack in 2007, one veteran representative wanted even more, saying it "should have been a dollar."

Prosecutors say that was part of Rep. Joe Armstrong's elaborate scheme not to raise revenue or curb smoking rates but to line his own pockets. He's accused of failing to pay taxes on money he made – more than $300,000 – by buying tax stamps at the old rate and selling them at the higher one.

49. 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.

50. Haslam Urges Durham to Resign, Won't Call Special Session - Wednesday, July 27, 2016

CAMDEN, Tenn. (AP) – Republican Gov. Bill Haslam is renewing his call for state Rep. Jeremy Durham to resign, but says he won't speed up the process for convening a special legislative session to oust him.

51. TPA Recognizes House Speaker for Open Government Efforts - Monday, July 25, 2016

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) – State House Speaker Beth Harwell and two other state lawmakers have been honored for their support of open government in Tennessee.

52. Democrats Want to Expel Republican Lawmaker to Block Pension - Thursday, July 21, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – House Democrats in Tennessee are calling for a special session to expel a Republican lawmaker accused of sexually harassing at least 22 women to block him from receiving a lifetime pension.

53. Leadership Allowed Durham Sleaze To Fester for Too Long - Thursday, July 21, 2016

The Tennessee attorney general’s sexual harassment investigation of Republican Rep. Jeremy Durham dragged halfway through the summer. Now we know why.

54. Last Word: Conley Makes It Official, No "Figure Heads" and Early Voting Opens - Friday, July 15, 2016

Mike Conley signed on the dotted line about an hour before the press conference confirming that he and the Grizz front office have closed on the deal that makes him the highest paid player in NBA history… for now.

55. Democratic Women to Address Lawmaker Sexual Harassment Report - Friday, July 15, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A group of Democratic women plans to address a report that found Republican state Rep. Jeremy Durham used his position to sexually harass at least 22 female interns, lobbyists, staff and political workers.

56. Last Word: Regrouping, Freedom Awards and The View From Another Bridge - Thursday, July 14, 2016

It will be a year come Sunday – a year since Darrius Stewart, a passenger in a car pulled over by Memphis Police in Hickory Hill was shot and killed by Officer Conner Schilling.

57. Schism Among State Republicans Hits Critical Point With Resignation - Thursday, July 14, 2016

A rift within the Tennessee Republican Party, whether a tempest in a teapot or the early signs of implosion, isn’t likely to hit the big tent party hard at the polls this fall.

But make no mistake, there is some trouble in paradise.

58. Election Officials to Audit Finances of Embattled Lawmaker - Friday, June 10, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – State election officials say they intend to audit the finances of embattled state Rep. Jeremy Durham.

59. Tennessee AG Says He Has Authority in Durham Probe - Saturday, June 4, 2016

Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery is reasserting his authority to investigate sexual harassment allegations against state Rep. Jeremy Durham.

60. Tennessee AG Says He Has Authority in Durham Probe - Thursday, June 2, 2016

Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery is reasserting his authority to investigate sexual harassment allegations against state Rep. Jeremy Durham.

61. Embattled Lawmaker Accuses Reporter of Trespassing - Tuesday, May 24, 2016

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) – Embattled state Rep. Jeremy Durham has brought criminal trespass charges against a reporter for the Nashville Scene weekly newspaper, accusing her of trying to enter his Franklin home while seeking an interview.

62. Akbari Proving to be Worthy Successor to Iconic DeBerry - Friday, May 6, 2016

Those who wondered how Raumesh Akbari would do in following legendary Memphis legislator Lois DeBerry now have a much clearer picture.

63. Legislative Losers: All Who Disagree With Legislators - Thursday, May 5, 2016

The 109th General Assembly is done – almost – for the year. Here’s a look at the winners and losers.

Winner: State budget

Buoyed by $400 million in surplus revenue from fiscal 2015 and $450 million in projected surpluses for the coming fiscal year, Gov. Bill Haslam spread the wealth in a $34.9 billion budget. 

64. Last Word: Pastner's Georgia Tech Post-Season, Who Filed and Greensward Invitations - Friday, April 8, 2016

Not so fast with the off-season. There is a Memphis post-season after all.

And the Grizz found it Thursday like a light at the end of a long-tunnel where a lot of people slipped and fell and can’t get up.
The light was Houston flaming out at home to Phoenix without the Grizzlies having to make a basket.
It’s all about the math. Stay in school, young people.

65. House Speaker Exiles Durham Over 'Pattern of Conduct' - Friday, April 8, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – House Speaker Beth Harwell is taking steps to move the offices and limit the access of state Rep. Jeremy Durham, who is under investigation for sexual harassment.

66. Tennessee Senate Passes Bill to Make Lawsuit Losers Pay - Friday, March 25, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The state Senate has passed a bill that would force people who sue state employees or elected officials to pay legal fees if they fail in a lawsuit.

Supporters say the bill would prevent frivolous lawsuits from being filed and save taxpayers money. Opponents argue that it allows elected officials to insulate themselves from being sued, especially when they sexually harass the workers underneath them.

67. Embattled Lawmaker Wants to Revive Bill Killed in House - Friday, March 18, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Embattled Republican Rep. Jeremy Durham wants a full House committee to reverse a vote that killed one of his bills.

68. ‘Fearless’ Stewart Embraces Battles With Supermajority - Saturday, March 12, 2016

Democratic state Rep. Mike Stewart lives on the front lines of the Tennessee General Assembly. As chairman of the House Democratic Caucus with 26 members, Stewart could employ a bunker mentality, but instead has chosen to take the fight to the other side of the aisle.

69. Tennessee AG Won't Divulge Details Of Durham Investigation - Friday, March 11, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Tennessee attorney general on Wednesday declined in a committee meeting to give lawmakers details about his investigation into sexual harassment allegations against state Rep. Jeremy Durham, saying any public discussion could put the probe "in peril."

70. Bill Would Open Door for Utilities to Expand Broadband - Thursday, March 3, 2016

Legislation to expand broadband access across Tennessee is evolving – by necessity.

State Rep. Kevin Brooks’ bill HB1303 to allow public utilities to provide Internet service outside their footprint is alive, he says, but it is being “argued vehemently.”

71. Tennessee AG Seeks Durham's Electronic Devices, Emails - Thursday, February 18, 2016

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) – The Tennessee attorney general's office has requested that Rep. Jeremy Durham turn over all state electronic devices and personal email accounts as part of an investigation into sexual harassment allegations, the Republican lawmaker said Tuesday.

72. School Voucher Bill Stalls in House Amid Flagging Support - Friday, February 12, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A proposal to create a school voucher program stalled in the House on Thursday despite efforts to drum up support among wary rural lawmakers by limiting the areas of Tennessee where parents could receive state money to pay for private school tuition.

73. Last Word: TN(not)Ready, Hatiloo Expands and Tax Season Advice - Tuesday, February 9, 2016

So what do you do when the test-makers fail the test?

You go back to the old test in the case of the Tennessee Education Department and the TNReady tests.
These were the new tests for the new statewide student achievement standards that replaced Common Core standards.
They can only be taken online.
But the system crashed Monday, which was the day that all of the preparation in the last year was geared toward. That included two tests locally of the on-line capacity and other technical standards necessary to make this go smoothly.
Here is a good account of what happened statewide and locally with a few other stops across the state to take in the scope of how big a failure this was and what failed.

74. Last Word: History As Geology, Beyond the Greensward and City Hall's HR Director - Thursday, February 4, 2016

History can be like geology once you get it in something that isn’t in the form of a book.
There are layers on top of layers that you may not ever see or miss until a site is wiped clean for the next present that used to be the future and will eventually become the past.
That’s the case with the city’s historic Medical Center where much has come and gone several times over as our city’s considerable investment in medicine and health approaches the end of its second century.
Health Sciences Park used to be the site of a hospital. You would think something as massive as the tower of Baptist Memorial Hospital’s central campus on Union Avenue would be missed. Yet even those of us who grew up with its presence drive past it every day without a thought of what was once there.
The same with the site of Russwood Park on the north side of Madison Avenue and the old bus barns where Beale used to run further east than it does now.
In recent years, new facilities have arisen as the medical center makes itself over in a kind of economic regeneration without a comprehensive plan.
There is now an effort to come up with a comprehensive plan for the area that is more than different ventures buying or leasing land and making plans for their needs.
Eight of the institutions in the area have hired a consulting firm to develop a master plan that includes not just facilities but residential and retail areas.
It’s a significant step for an area that remains intriguing for those of us trying to remember what was where and how long some of the survivors have been holding out in much different streetscapes than were there when they arrived.
The Masonic lodge at the dead end of Dunlap into Union Avenue is a survivor. It’s where the funerals were held for some of those killed in the 1925 river disaster in which Tom Lee rescued so many others.
The lodge at one time had an earth-shaking pipe organ that I had the rare privilege of hearing at a concert following its restoration in the 1980s – the ancient 1980s.
And I still wonder about the tiny medical textbook storefront and how it endures at a time when students rent books and others use digital versions.
There are still remnants of the porous border between the medical center and the Union Avenue auto row that used to exist and arose around the old Ford plant.

75. Harwell: Durham Scandal Won't Affect Gubernatorial Decision - Thursday, February 4, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — House Speaker Beth Harwell said Tuesday that the scandal surrounding a Republican lawmaker who has gone on hiatus amid sexual harassment allegations shouldn't damage her prospects as a serious gubernatorial candidate in Tennessee.

76. Only So Much Durham Could Blame on Media - Thursday, February 4, 2016

It’s little wonder state Rep. Jeremy Durham had to take a two-week break from the General Assembly.

77. Last Word: Rallings Meets the Council, Million Dollar Auditions & A Pinch Plan Emerges - Wednesday, February 3, 2016

His second day on the job, the new Memphis Police Director, Michael Rallings, met the Memphis City Council and discovered just what a huge issue police body cameras are – if he didn’t know that already.
His answers to some pointed questions about when police can turn off those cameras and why made this an uneven first encounter.
Council members told him they got an earful from constituents over the weekend in the wake of the fatal police shooting of Johnathan Bratcher in South Memphis. And some of the reaction they got was to reports that a police dispatcher ordered police trying out the body cameras to turn them off as they arrived at the scene of the shooting.
There are three cameras being tested. And one of the officers with them showed up after the shooting, according to police.
Meanwhile, Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland still didn’t have a timetable for the roll-out of the cameras but did offer some specifics including hiring by the MPD of 10 new personnel to deal with the handling of what the camera records.
And Strickland’s intention is to pay for it out of the existing MPD budget.

78. House GOP Elects Timothy Hill to Replace Durham as Whip - Wednesday, February 3, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The House Republican Caucus has elected Rep. Timothy Hill to succeed Jeremy Durham as majority whip.

79. 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.”

80. Last Word: New Minority Business Numbers, The House Affair and The Heights - Friday, January 29, 2016

The recently revived discussion on minority business in Memphis is about to go back on the front burner again. Fueling the intensity are new U.S. Census numbers. They show the percentage of business receipts in Memphis produced by black-owned businesses has dropped since the 2007 census numbers showed a 1.08 percent share of those receipts by black-owned businesses. That in a city whose population is 63 percent African-American.
The drop to below one percent is even though the overall receipts in 2012 were higher than they were in 2007.
Madeline Faber is the first to report the new numbers as part of a cover story in our weekly, The Memphis News, that will be on the streets and in the racks Saturday, on-line Friday afternoon.
The numbers are such a telling story and such an important indicator that we broke it out as its own story in advance of the cover story.

81. Ramsey Alleges Durham Affair With Ex-Lawmaker - Friday, January 29, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey says state Rep. Jeremy Durham had an affair with another lawmaker, causing her to resign.

82. Last Word: Out of Time, Brian Collins and Fear of Heights & A Different No Gang Zone - Thursday, January 28, 2016

I have a confession. Hillary Clinton is not happy with me.
I’ve seen the signs in recent weeks but didn’t want to accept the truth.
Then Wednesday evening, as I was about to put this column together, I got an email from the former First Lady and Secretary of State and Democratic presidential contender.
The subject line cut to the chase: “We’re running out of time, Bill.”
The message itself, on a backdrop of Blue State blue read:

83. Durham Removes Self From House GOP Caucus Amid Investigation - Thursday, January 28, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — State Rep. Jeremy Durham on Wednesday withdrew from the Tennessee House Republican Caucus amid an investigation into sexual harassment allegations.

84. Last Word: A Turn Away From Mud Island, Capitol Hill Soap & Collierville Keeps FedEx - Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Sometimes you get another story when you are pursuing a different story.

In this case, the quest was a simple one. Get a good basic idea of what the five companies interested in redeveloping Mud Island River Park are telling the Riverfront Development Corp. of their still-forming plans.
While going through the submissions, we had a talk with RDC president Benny Lendermon about the process and the interview moved pretty effortlessly into the Pyramid’s relationship to Mud Island.
It’s a natural follow-up given the history of past efforts to link up the two landmarks on different sides of the city harbor and the decidedly mixed results of those attempts. I might have been charitable there in describing the results as mixed.
That context led to a discussion about how the Pyramid is faring eight months into Bass Pro Shops' long-term lease in the reconfigured Pyramid.
When Lendermon said, “This probably isn’t a politically correct thing to say,” the interview turned topics and we followed it.
The result is, I think, at least something to consider and probably pretty provocative.
Judge for yourself.

85. Haslam: Will Be 'Hard' for GOP Rep. Durham to Be Effective - Wednesday, January 27, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Republican Gov. Bill Haslam said Tuesday that it will be difficult for state Rep. Jeremy Durham to be an effective lawmaker after GOP leaders called for him to resign from his seat amid sexual harassment allegations.

86. Last Word: Kroger Disses Clarence Saunders, Mud Island Plans and The Australians - Tuesday, January 26, 2016

What is old has become new again. And judging by your reaction to Andy Meek’s story on the Kroger plans for online ordering of groceries, what is old has gone viral as well.
Here are the basics:
You order from a list of items and Kroger fills the order and has it waiting for you to pick up.
When you think about the idea of supermarkets, which originated here in Memphis with Piggly Wiggly, it’s enough to make the Piggly Wiggly founder himself, Clarence Saunders, spin in his grave.
Before he came up with the idea of taking store shelves from behind the counter and putting them out there for you to get your own stuff from them, you would tell your grocer what you wanted and he would write it down on a paper bag and get it for you, wrap it up and present it to you.
Saunders changed all of that as you know if you’ve seen the Pink Palace’s child-sized replica of a Piggly Wiggly store from the start of the 20th century.
A century later, no paper bags and you can still walk among the shelves if you wish.
Perhaps this isn’t that extreme. Maybe this is simply a swing of the pendulum, back toward the middle ground.
Saunders tried to push it even further with his Keedoozle stores that followed Piggly Wiggly. In those stores, the items were lined up in what amounted to vending machines with shoppers releasing an item from the vertical row with a key.
Here Saunders went too far. He mashed the bread.

87. Dem Chair: State House GOP Leaders Should Resign Over Durham - Tuesday, January 26, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The chairwoman of the Tennessee Democratic Party is calling on House Republican leaders to resign over their handling of Rep. Jeremy Durham and sexual harassment at the Tennessee General Assembly.

88. Last Word: The Big Fizzle, John Jay Hooker's Exit And "A Great Sports Town" - Monday, January 25, 2016

Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it – isn’t that how the saying goes?
In our case, it might be better to say everybody talks about the television weather coverage but nobody does anything about it.
As we all know now, Memphis dodged the “blizzard” warning artfully and passive-aggressively teased by several television stations who shall go un-named here because they know who they are and you do too.
That’s because they spent much of the day of "the blizzard that wasn’t" whining about the reaction from viewers who complained about the hype and then the promos the stations ran the day of the big fizzle.
We didn’t get much in the way of snow in Memphis, but we got a couple of feet of hype.

89. Last Word: The View Across The Harbor, Crosstown Undercurrents and Bonnaroo - Thursday, January 21, 2016

The fishing puns are overpowering as Bass Pro Shops expresses its interest in redeveloping Mud Island River Park, on the other side of the city harbor from the Pyramid Bass Pro Shops opened at just this past May.
Bass Pro Shops is one of five companies to express interest in Mud Island as part of the process by the Riverfront Development Corporation to go a different way with the park.
The RDC released the names of the companies Thursday.
Earlier this month, we outlined the RVC Outdoor Destinations proposal.
We don’t know nearly as much about what Bass Pro Shops has in mind or the other three firms.
All five now head for what amounts to a second round in which they submit specific plans to a search committee of the RDC including how they will pay for their plans.

90. The Persecution of Jeremy Durham - Thursday, January 21, 2016

Inhumane and unfair: That’s the only way to describe the “liberal media’s” treatment of state Rep. Jeremy Durham over the last month.

91. Medicaid Expansion Advocates Greet Returning Tenn. Lawmakers - Wednesday, January 13, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Protesters advocating for the passage of Gov. Bill Haslam's Medicaid expansion proposal packed the state Capitol on Tuesday, singing, chanting and waving signs as lawmakers who defeated the measure last year returned for the first day of the legislative session.

92. Tennessee Lawmaker Facing Ouster Benefited From '2nd Chance' - Tuesday, January 12, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — When Republican members of the Tennessee House gather Tuesday to decide whether to oust embattled Rep. Jeremy Durham from his leadership post, it won't be the first time that two-term lawmaker has had to answer for questionable behavior.

93. GOP Challenge Planned to Embattled Tennessee Representative - Thursday, January 7, 2016

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (AP) — A Franklin man is planning a Republican primary challenge to embattled state Rep. Jeremy Durham.

94. Tenn. House GOP to Discuss Durham Leadership Post - Friday, December 18, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's House Republican caucus will meet next month to reconsider embattled Rep. Jeremy Durham's leadership position over what one colleague called his "questionable judgment."

95. Judge Praises Durham for 'Moral Courage' - Thursday, December 17, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — While many GOP leaders in the Tennessee Legislature have distanced themselves from state Rep. Jeremy Durham for writing a character reference letter on behalf of a former youth minister who pleaded guilty to child porn possession, a judge in the Franklin Republican's home county is praising what he calls the lawmaker's "moral courage."

96. Grand Jury Declines to Indict Tennessee House GOP Whip - Friday, December 11, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Prosecutors sought an indictment of a top Republican in the Tennessee state House on charges of prescription fraud, but a grand jury in his home county declined to allow the case to move forward.

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

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

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

98. Community Health Systems to Open New Office in Nashville - Friday, May 15, 2015

Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems is bringing back-office jobs from across the country to a new Nashville office.

The health care giant announced Thursday that it will build a 240,000-square-foot office in the south Nashville neighborhood of Antioch. More than 2,000 jobs will move to Davidson County.

99. Secret 'Pre-Meetings' Become Commonplace in Tennessee House - Wednesday, March 18, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee House committees are increasingly gathering in cramped, tucked-away conference rooms in the legislative office complex to hold secret "pre-meetings" to discuss pending legislation. The public isn't informed or invited.

100. Battle of the Band(width) - Saturday, March 14, 2015

Joyce Coltrin’s business is wandering in Bradley County’s technological wilderness. And it’s likely to remain there – because of legal threats – until the General Assembly changes state law.