Three new coaches are joining Mike Norvell’s staff at the University of Memphis.

Keith Patterson and TJ Rushing will immediately fill the spots recently vacated by Dan Lanning and Marcus Woodson. In addition, Will Hall will join the coaching staff as associate head coach and tight ends coach when the new NCAA rule allowing a 10th assistant coach goes into effect Jan. 9.

2. Tigers Coach Norvell Adjusts Football Staff - Thursday, January 4, 2018

Three new coaches are joining Mike Norvell’s staff at the University of Memphis.

Keith Patterson and TJ Rushing will immediately fill the spots recently vacated by Dan Lanning and Marcus Woodson. In addition, Will Hall will join the coaching staff as associate head coach and tight ends coach when the new NCAA rule allowing a 10th assistant coach goes into effect Jan. 9.

3. Summer in the City - Saturday, July 15, 2017

Saturday night on Beale Street is more than a catch phrase for businesses there.

It is chapters in old, out-of-print books like Lt. George W. Lee’s “Where The Blues Began” that you can only see in the Memphis-Shelby County Room of the Central Library. You can’t check the book out because of its rarity and age. But you can also find references to the lore of Saturday nights on Beale Street on plaques in the entertainment district that current patrons walk past without even noticing.

4. The Week Ahead: December 5-11 - Monday, December 5, 2016

Good morning, Memphis! December has arrived, which mean holiday happenings are officially underway – from tours of decked-out historic Collierville homes to shopping all things local at the Holiday Farmer’s Market. Oh, and did we mention Jerry Springer’s in town? Here’s the 411 on this week’s need-to-know events…

5. Massacre: 1866 and the Battles Over How Memphis History is Told - Saturday, May 7, 2016

At the end of March with much secrecy, Rev. Keith Norman took delivery and responsibility for a large, heavy crate that stayed in his office for the next month.

“Don’t tell anybody, don’t let anybody get it, if they come in and say they work for the park commission or anybody, tell them to show identification,” were the instructions said Norman, who is president of the Memphis Branch NAACP.

6. Farmers First - Wednesday, September 9, 2015

After all these years – 27 weeks of Saturdays for a decade – Jill Forrester calls it a “nice routine.” And by that she means she and husband Keith getting up at 3 a.m., loading their produce, herbs and flowers, and driving to the Memphis Farmers Market downtown.

7. Outbid on Your Dream House? Just Wait for Deal to Fall Through - Saturday, August 8, 2015

The real estate market remains frenzied with every passing week, with multiple-offer scenarios on numerous listings. As has been noted in this column, these spontaneous sales have often led to buyer’s remorse and, as a result, more terminated contracts than ever before.

8. Events - Saturday, June 21, 2014

Healthy Shelby will hold the 140/90: Living Life Under Pressure men’s health kickoff Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kroc Center, 800 East Parkway S. The event will include healthy food samples, blood pressure screenings, 3-on-3 basketball, Lionel Hollins and more. Cost is free. Visit commontablehealth.org.

9. Private Legal Talks Underway on Schools - Friday, August 23, 2013

As Bartlett citizens got an update this week on the move by it and the five other suburban towns and cities in Shelby County to form their own school systems, Bartlett Mayor Keith McDonald fielded a pointed question with an interesting answer.

10. New Brewery on Tap for Cooper-Young - Friday, December 21, 2012

A new brewery is headed to Cooper-Young. 

Memphis native and craft beer enthusiast Drew Barton plans to open Memphis Made Brewing Co. LLC at 768 S. Cooper St. near York Avenue along with two other silent partners by mid 2013. The 6,000-square-foot space is adjacent to Signworks and owned by Richard Sullivan.

11. Several New Businesses on Tap for South Main - Friday, November 11, 2011

The Center City Development Corp. at its Wednesday, Nov. 16, meeting will be voting on applications for development incentives totaling almost $27,000 for six Downtown projects that include new restaurants, retail stores and office locations. The meeting starts at 9 a.m. in the Downtown Memphis Commission at 114 N. Main St.

12. After the Flood - Monday, June 14, 2010

For two weeks after the floodwaters in Nashville receded, lawyers from Bass, Berry & Sims PLC worked from makeshift offices all over the city.

Their own offices, on the 23rd through 29th floors of a Downtown building two blocks from the swollen Cumberland River, sustained no damage. However, the parking garage – which is also where the electrical and HVAC systems were located – flooded and stayed that way for days. Without power, none of the building’s tenants could return.

13. How to Build a Government in 71 days - Monday, May 24, 2010

The idea of consolidation is a political perennial in Memphis, but the details of merging Memphis and Shelby County governments are much more elusive.

The Metro Charter Commission’s formation last year represented the most meaningful move toward consolidation in almost 40 years.

14. Events - Thursday, October 1, 2009

The Memphis Business Xchange will hold a networking luncheon today from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bonefish Grill, 1250 N. Germantown Parkway. Cost is $30 in advance and $35 onsite. To register, visit www.networktn.com.

15. UPDATE: Lowery Appoints Coleman-Davis Deputy City Attorney - Monday, August 3, 2009
 

Memphis Mayor Myron Lowery has appointed his choice to be city attorney to be deputy city attorney until the City Council can act on her nomination.

The naming of Veronica Coleman-Davis to the number two spot is the latest twist in a controvery that began minutes after Lowery took the oath of office Friday and fired City Attorney Elbert Jefferson.

Jefferson then filed suit in Chancery Court against Lowery contesting Lowery's decision to fire him. Chancellor Walter Evans issued a preliminary injunction preventing Jefferson's dismissal at least until a hearing before Evans Wednesday afternoon.

On the Drake & Zeke Show on radio station 98.1 The Max, Lowery said until the council acts, Coleman-Davis, a former U.S. Attorney, will be deputy director. Her appointment to that position is immediate and does not require council approval.

Meanwhile, Jefferson's attorney, Ricky E. Wilkins, told The Daily News her confirmation Tuesday as City Attorney would have to come after a council vote to back Jefferson's firing.

"We will ask the court to continue to keep that injunction in place throughout the tenure of Myron Lowery as mayor pro tempore," Wilkins said. "If Myron is able to get the necessary votes to terminate Mr. Jefferson and to get the votes to replace him with a substitute city attorney ... then that's what the process calls for and I think Mr. Jefferson understands that. But Myron Lowery cannot ignore and violate the city charter to satisfy his own political means."

Jefferson was at City Hall over the weekend, escorted by City Council attorney Allan Wade, according to Lowery.

After taking the oath of office Friday afternoon from U.S. District Court Judge Hardy Mays, Lowery told reporters he had offered Jefferson a severance and a chance to resign the appointed post. Jefferson refused which apparently surprised Lowery since Jefferson had tendered his resignation to outgoing Mayor Willie Herenton earlier in the month and Herenton refused to accept it.

Lowery met with Jefferson in a City Hall stairwell after the swearing in ceremony. Lowery emerged without Jefferson and told reporters he had fired the attorney. Several sources said later that Jefferson was escorted from the building and his parking pass and other identification taken as he was walked to his car and out of City Hall.

Wilkins termed the forcible exit a "low blow" and a "fairly drastic action."

“The legal department has almost been a black hole for dollars,” Lowery said Friday, minutes after the stairwell meeting. “I think that we spend too much money on attorney fees. I think that our city attorney has allowed this to happen without adequate controls on this. And I’m looking for stronger controls in the city attorney’s office.”

“If the mayor pro tempore doesn’t have the power, who does?” Lowery said. “Of course I do.”

Power play

In addition to Coleman-Davis, Lowery will also take the nomination of former council member Jack Sammons as his Chief Administrative Officer to the council Tuesday.

Herenton CAO Keith McGee had retired effective July 4. But when Herenton moved back his resignation date to July 30, McGee extended his stay on a voluntary basis. McGee is working with Lowery on a transitional basis. Lowery said he had hoped Jefferson would work under the same arrangement.

“He wanted to keep the title and the salary that comes with it. So I had to make a decision,” Lowery said. “I wish he had accepted it. … He’s forced me to take this action.”

Lowery said he wants Coleman Davis to examine past city legal bills and expenses.

“I have heard that several individuals have been hired … in the legal department to fill vacancies who were scheduled to start work Monday. I just found this out,” Lowery told reporters. “I want to make sure that we don’t have cronies of our former legal division director who have been hired.”

Those appointments will be examined.

“I don’t want any friends of the division director receiving dollars or any backroom deals outside the scope of the City Council. You know what I’m talking about,” he told reporters. “That is not going to occur under my administration.”

‘Hard work and enthusiasm’

As Lowery moved into the seventh floor mayor’s office Friday at City Hall, council member Harold Collins moved into the council chairman’s office on the fifth floor as part of the transition in power following Herenton’s resignation. Collins indicated his displeasure with the firing of Jefferson and said he wants Lowery and Jefferson to be at Tuesday's council committee sessions to tell their sides of the story.

“It’s a new day at City Hall,” Lowery told a crowd in the Hall of Mayors the day after Herenton’s farewell address in the same hall. Lowery’s guests at the ceremony were Herenton, former Mayor Dick Hackett and J.O. Patterson Jr., the city’s first African-American mayor who served in the top post for 20 days after the resignation of Mayor Wyeth Chandler in 1982. Patterson was City Council chairman at the time. Like Lowery, Patterson also ran in the special election that followed and lost to Hackett, who lost to Herenton nine years later by 142 votes.

“With new life, new individuals, comes hope and promise,” Lowery said. “As mayor, I will promote a moral philosophy of customer service – customer-driven government. … I’m here also to say that I’m going to promote ethical leadership in government.”

One priority will be a new crime fighting strategy, although Lowery was quick to say he likes the direction the police department and those efforts have taken under current Police Director Larry Godwin. The other immediate priority is a more aggressive city cleanup campaign.

Lowery didn’t refer to Herenton directly in any of his comments, but the contrasts were apparent.

“We will be energetic in city government – more productive There’s a phrase, ‘We need to be workhorses, not showhorses.’” Lowery said. “You will not get a lot of catchy phrases from me. But you will get a lot of hard work and enthusiasm.”

The remark came the day after Herenton’s farewell address and press conference in which Herenton repeatedly invoked what looks to be the campaign slogan “Keep It Real” in his bid for the Democratic congressional nomination in 2010.

“As everyone knows, we’ve lost many people during the past several years. I’m going to say come home to Memphis,” Lowery said.

The remark is in contrast to one of Herenton’s most cited quotes from his 18-year tenure. When asked about citizens moving out of Memphis for the suburbs, Herenton responded by saying he had no problem with that and adding “goodbye.”

16. UPDATE: Lowery Promises 'New Day' for Memphis - Friday, July 31, 2009

Memphis Mayor Myron Lowery fired City Attorney Elbert Jefferson on his first day in office, apparently during a meeting in a City Hall stairwell.

After taking the oath of office Friday afternoon from U.S. District Court Judge Hardy Mays, Lowery told reporters he had offered Jefferson a severance and a chance to resign the appointed post. Jefferson refused and Lowery met with him in a City Hall stairwell after the swearing in ceremony. Lowery emerged without Jefferson and told reporters he had fired the attorney.

17. Herenton-Lowery Transition Under Way in Choppy Waters - Monday, July 13, 2009

He is serving his fifth term in office, having come to political power in the historic 1991 city elections. He became a politician after a career in which he was already in the public eye. He is outspoken and intense and he is not Willie Herenton.

18. Herenton Resigns - Friday, June 26, 2009

It’s over.

Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton is resigning effective July 10 to devote all of his time to a bid for Congress in the 2010 election and to join his son, Rodney, in a financial investment business, the mayor announced Thursday.

19. Archived Article: Gov Focus - Friday, October 1, 2004
City Leaders Collaborate on South Forum Redevelopment

City Leaders Collaborate on South Forum Redevelopment

ANDY MEEK

The Daily News

At a recent series of meetings held by the Center City Commission on redevelopment of the area south of ...

20. Archived Article: Newsmakers - Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Le Bonheur Hires Two New Surgeons

Taylor Elected to TTLA Board of Governors

Chris Taylor was elected to the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association Board of Governors. Taylor, a shareholder in Hill Borens Memphis office, also will serve as a TTLA ...

21. Archived Article: Newsmakers - Wednesday, May 26, 2004
MLGW EXEC PRESENTED BEST COMMUNICATIONS AWARD

FedEx's Fred Smith Named CEO of the Year
FedEx Corp. chairman, president and chief executive officer Frederick W. Smith was named Chief Executive of the Year for 2004 by Chief Executive magazine....

22. Archived Article: Calendar - Monday, July 15, 2002
Calendar of events Jan

Calendar of events July 15-July 21

July 16

The Memphis Bar Association hosts Obtaining a Patent and Litigating Patent Infringement for the Non-Practitioner from noon to 2 p.m. in the Memphis Bar Association conference...

23. Archived Article: Comm Briefs - Friday, July 12, 2002
A Buddy Up Fore Kids golf tournament is July 19 at the Links of Whispering Woods golf course, 11300 E

A Buddy Up Fore Kids golf tournament is July 19 at the Links of Whispering Woods golf course, 11300 E. Goodman Road, in Olive Branch, Miss. This...

24. Archived Article: Calendar - Monday, July 8, 2002
Calendar of events Jan

Calendar of events July 8-July 14

July 9

Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women, 6225 Humphreys Blvd., will offer a community seminar, "Journal Keeping" from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., for four Tuesdays beginning thi...

25. Archived Article: Calendar - Monday, August 13, 2001
Calendar of events: June 5 11 Calendar of events: Aug. 13-Aug. 19 Aug. 13 The International Association for Administrative Professionals will have a meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at the Holiday Inn East. Members attending the recent IAAP international co...

26. Archived Article: Calendar - Monday, August 6, 2001
Calendar of events: June 5 11 Calendar of events: Aug. 6-Aug. 12 Aug. 6 The "Gods of Ancient Memphis" will be on exhibit at the Art Museum of Memphis through Oct. 4. The exhibit presents a multifaceted image of the sacred world and everyda...

27. Archived Article: Memos - Wednesday, September 16, 1998
Easley To Replace Georgiu As Brett Easley was appointed acting president of Alldata. Easley was formerly vice president of information and training for AutoZone. Keith Johnson was named senior vice president of the YMCA of Memphis and the Mid-South....