Republican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn’s Senate campaign received an injection of old-school political support Tuesday, Sept. 4, from Pilot Corp. founder Jim Haslam II and Middle Tennessee State University board of trustees chairman Stephen Smith.

2. Dean, Lee Differ on Many Tennessee Topics - Wednesday, August 29, 2018

On first blush, gubernatorial candidates Bill Lee and Karl Dean appear to be cast in a similar mold – business-friendly moderates.

3. It’s Lee’s to Win Unless He Makes a Rookie Mistake - Thursday, August 23, 2018

When Bill Lee drove a tractor through tiny Eagleville last October, hardly anyone noticed. Only a handful of supporters milled around in the parking lot of the Farmers Co-op in southwest Rutherford County that morning where Lee spent a few minutes talking to people inside the store before emerging to ride to another town as part of a statewide tour, a precursor to an RV ride he would take later in the Republican primary race.

4. Harris Claims County Mayor, Democrats Sweep Other Countywide Offices - Monday, August 6, 2018

State Sen. Lee Harris easily beat County Trustee David Lenoir to become the next Shelby County mayor in the Thursday, Aug. 2, county general election, leading a Democratic resurgence in county politics.

5. Last Word: Lee's Win, Harris' Way and Turnout Questions - Friday, August 3, 2018

What to choose from now that the Aug. 2 election is tentatively in the books? First this is going to be an all-election Last Word because the sugar buzz from a bag that was full of jelly beans is starting to wane and I don’t want to be here when the sun rises in just a bit. Kind of a vampire thing, isn’t it?

6. Harris Elected County Mayor, Bonner as Sheriff - Friday, August 3, 2018

State Sen. Lee Harris easily beat County Trustee David Lenoir to become the next Shelby County mayor in the Thursday, Aug. 2, county general election, leading a Democratic resurgence in county politics.

7. Hard To Find an ‘Adult In The Room’ in This Year’s Ads - Thursday, August 2, 2018

Television executives, ad reps and political consultants will hate to see this governor’s primary race end. But they can take solace from all the pain they’ve helped dole out while dining on caviar and grilled halibut while in the Caribbean Islands this fall, if they like fish eggs.

8. Election Verdict - Thursday, August 2, 2018

A week into the early voting period, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen was quizzing Democratic nominee for Shelby County mayor Lee Harris about the path of Harris’ campaign to election day. The race between Harris and Republican nominee David Lenoir was already getting dicey, with Lenoir’s attacks on Harris continuing at their debates and moving into mailers, including a controversial mailer featuring a picture of Harris that was noticeably darker than Harris is in real life.

9. Last Word: Back To School, Chamber Changes and The Race For Governor - Tuesday, July 31, 2018

In many schools Monday, there were new faces and new places for familiar faces as well as the normal rituals of the start of another school year. And in many of those schools that was before the kids arrive next week. Why yes, teachers have back to school rituals and familiar totems they look for. The difference is they go back to school earlier and in this day and age often work through the summer in a city where there are lots of efforts to combat a summer slide – the ebb of summer eroding learning gains between school years.

10. Primaries For Governor Move to Contentious End - Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Randy Boyd has heard the saying about a race for elected office being a marathon and not a sprint. And he agrees. The Republican contender for Tennessee governor is also a marathon runner who has run 36 of the races.

11. Last Word: Early Voting's Strong Finish, School Moves and City Hall Crackdown - Monday, July 30, 2018

Most of the major contenders for Tennessee Governor – Democratic and Republican – were in Shelby County over the weekend in which early voting ended and the campaigns now adjust their last minute efforts to the gap between early voting and election day on Thursday.

12. Early Voter Turnout Tops 2014, Surges on Final Day - Monday, July 30, 2018

Early voter turnout in advance of the Thursday, Aug. 2, election day in Shelby County was higher than four years ago with a surge on Saturday’s final day that was almost as big as the Friday turnout – the largest of the 14-day period.

13. In His Final Months as Tennessee Governor, Haslam Reflects on His Education Legacy - Monday, July 30, 2018

While Gov. Bill Haslam entered office as an education-minded leader intent on reforms, much of his administration’s K–12 public school work has focused on holding the line on sweeping policies launched under his predecessor.

14. Last Word: Early Voting Tea Leaves, More Sunflowers and Marketing the Airport - Friday, July 27, 2018

The blitz is on to the last weekend of campaigning as early voting finishes up Saturday and election day awaits next Thursday. Some of the contenders on the ballot have their second wind. Others are waiting for their political sails to fill. All of them are still moving at various speeds in the Memphis summer of unrelenting heat, sun screen, three changes of campaign t-shirts per day, 100-foot markers at early voting sites, robo-calls, replaced yard signs, new direct mail pieces and voters who swear they voted for you even if they have no idea what you are running for.

15. Turnout Growing With 2 Days to Vote Before Aug. 2 - Friday, July 27, 2018

With two days left in the early voting period, 63,244 citizens had cast ballots in Shelby County in advance of the Aug. 2 election day. The last day of the early voting period is Saturday, July 28.

16. Tennessee GOP Governor's Race Turns to Spat Over Trump, Immigration - Thursday, July 26, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Loyalty to President Donald Trump tops the Republican checklist in the governor's race in Tennessee, right up there with championing gun rights and low taxes and decrying abortion.

17. Last Word: Polls & Precinct Splits, Behind The Roundhouse Revival and The Bubba - Tuesday, July 24, 2018

With a week left in early voting we have reached that part in the campaign where candidates and campaigns have one last chance to read the signs, interpret them on how this is going and act. They will still be doing the first two things up until the polls close on Aug. 2. But very shortly there won’t be time to do the third and have it make a difference in the outcome.

18. 2 Dems Give Final Debate Pitch Before Tennessee Gov Primary - Tuesday, July 24, 2018

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Two leading Democratic candidates for Tennessee governor were largely in agreement on the issues during their final debate Sunday night before the Aug. 2 primary.

19. Last Word: The Fuse, TnReady on SCS Literacy Efforts and Death By Amazon? - Monday, July 23, 2018

More than 32,000 of you have voted early in advance of the Aug. 2 election day through Saturday and going into the final week of early voting, which runs through July 28. That compares to 37,168 early voters through the first eight days in 2014 for this same election cycle and 41,310 in 2010 at the same point. In 2010 and 2014 there were 21 early voting sites compared to today’s 27. And the Downtown location was the only site open for the first two days of those early voting periods compared to five of the 27 sites open for the first three days of the current period. For the full 2014 early voting period, keeping in mind the differences, there were 82,403 early voters and in 2010 there were 93,700.

20. Harwell Backs Medical Marijuana in GOP Tennessee Governor's Race Ad - Monday, July 23, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — State House Speaker Beth Harwell is running a TV ad about supporting medical marijuana as she tries to separate herself from the Republican field for Tennessee governor before the Aug. 2 primary.

21. Pence Touts Conservative Credentials of Blackburn, Black - Monday, July 23, 2018

CLEVELAND, Tenn. (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence touted Republican tax cuts and regulatory rollbacks Saturday, using a visit to Tennessee to also heap praise on the conservative credentials of two GOP congresswomen waging tough campaigns for statewide offices.

22. Boyd Takes His 1st Swipe at Lee in Tennessee GOP Gov Race Ad - Thursday, July 19, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Ex-state economic development commissioner Randy Boyd is waging his first attacks on businessman Bill Lee in Tennessee's four-way Republican gubernatorial primary.

23. Tennessee Republican Governor Race Debate Canceled - Wednesday, July 18, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A Republican debate in the Tennessee governor's race is canceled after three of four leading candidates dropped out.

According to WKRN-TV, on Friday former state economic development chief Randy Boyd announced he was pulling out of the Nexstar debate Sunday night due to a scheduling conflict. Boyd said early voting already started and he will be out visiting with voters.

24. Early Opening - Friday, July 13, 2018

Early voting in advance of the Aug. 2 Election Day opens Friday, July 13, at five locations across Shelby County. On Tuesday, 22 additional sites will be open through July 28. Between the Shelby County Election Commission and Chancery Court there were three other sets of early-voting locations and hours in a three-week period before Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins signed off Tuesday afternoon on a fourth set.

25. Lee: GOP Governor Race Attack Ads 'Not What a Leader Does' - Thursday, July 12, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Bill Lee has released an ad criticizing what he calls dishonest attack ads in the GOP gubernatorial primary, saying he's "not going down that road."

With early voting approaching Friday, Lee's ad argues the attacks aren't what a leader does and show some candidates will say and do anything to get elected.

26. What Do Statewide Candidates Say About Education in Tennessee? - Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Gov. Bill Haslam and the General Assembly have invested in education during the last eight years. Has that been a good investment and should it continue? What do the candidates propose for the next four to eight years?

27. Late Entry, Different Strategy Set Tone In Harwell’s Run for Gubernatorial Nomination - Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Her campaign got a later start than her rivals seeking for Republican nomination for Tennessee governor.

House Speaker Beth Harwell has also conducted a basic campaign built around her experience in government.

28. Fitzhugh Challenges Dean’s 'Pragmatism' - Monday, July 9, 2018

Democratic contender for Tennessee governor Craig Fitzhugh is challenging the idea of rival Democrat Karl Dean’s “pragmatic” view of coexisting as governor with Republican supermajorities in the state House and Senate.

29. Diane Black Proud of Unfavorable Ratings With ‘Far Left’ - Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Republican contender for Tennessee governor U.S. Rep. Diane Black drew the endorsement of the American Conservative Union as she spoke at the national group’s Memphis forum Monday, July 2, on jobs and the economy.

30. Floodgates Burst On Attacks In Tennessee Gop Governor’s Race - Monday, July 2, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The floodgates have burst on attack ads in Tennessee's Republican gubernatorial primary.

New TV ads keep hitting the airwaves after U.S. Rep. Diane Black's commercial this week that labeled former state economic development chief Randy Boyd and businessman Bill Lee as moderates. All four leading Republican contenders have touted their conservative credentials throughout the campaign, and now Black and Boyd are trying to pick each other's claims apart.

31. Black Fires First Candidate Attack Ad in Tennessee Governor's race - Friday, June 29, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Congresswoman Diane Black labels businessmen Randy Boyd and Bill Lee moderates in the first Tennessee gubernatorial race attack ad by a campaign.

32. Mike Huckabee endorsing Randy Boyd for Tennessee governor - Monday, June 25, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee is endorsing Republican Randy Boyd for Tennessee governor.

33. Republican debate for Tennessee governor canceled - Monday, June 25, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Organizers have canceled a scheduled Republican debate for governor because two of the leading candidates said they would not participate.

The Tennessean reports the debate had been scheduled for Tuesday at Belmont University between Knoxville businessman Randy Boyd, House Speaker Beth Harwell and Williamson County businessman Bill Lee. But organizers decided to cancel the debate after Boyd and Harwell withdrew amid negotiations about the event's details.

34. Where the Jobs Are - Saturday, June 23, 2018

Out of more than 15,000 Shelby County Schools students who took some kind of career and technical education, or CTE, courses in the 2015-2016 academic year, only 1 percent – roughly 150 – completed those classes to get some kind of work certification.

35. NRA endorses Black in Tennessee governor's race GOP primary - Friday, June 22, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The National Rifle Association has endorsed U.S. Rep. Diane Black in a crowded Republican primary field for Tennessee governor.

36. Last Word: County Budget Compromise, MEM After 5 Years and Elvis - Tuesday, June 19, 2018

There is nothing like the end of a term for those holding elected office. That’s what gets most of the credit for the Shelby County commission’s smooth ending to its budget season Monday. A final reading of the revised county property tax rate of $4.05 still awaits. But the commission went a long way toward locking that in with the approval of everything else at the Monday session.

37. Complaint Targets Tennessee Governor Hopeful's Business Help - Tuesday, June 19, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A campaign finance complaint is questioning how a Republican hopeful for governor is getting political help from his businesses, among other concerns about how he's raising money.

38. What Do Statewide Candidates Say About Health Care in Tennessee? - Tuesday, June 19, 2018

According to Think Tennessee’s State of Our State dashboard, the state ranks near the bottom in the number of adults with heart disease, obesity and diabetes. It also ranks near the bottom of all states for the health of senior citizens, infant mortality, number of adults who smoke, and at the absolute bottom in childhood obesity. Tennesseans are, on the whole, not healthy. What can and should our next political leaders do about it?

39. 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.

40. TBA Gubernatorial Forum Focuses on Criminal Justice Reform - Friday, June 15, 2018

Four of the major contenders for Tennessee governor told the annual convention of the Tennessee Bar Association Thursday, June 14, that they each favor keeping the state attorney general a position appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court.

41. Haslam Says Immigration Issues Have Little to Do With Being Governor - Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has been watching the television ads in the Republican primary race for governor – especially the ads about immigration and pledges to help President Donald Trump build a wall at the border with Mexico.

42. Line Between ‘Get Out the Vote,’ ‘Crossover’ Melts In Campaign Heat - Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Get Out The Vote – the plan known among politicos by the shorthand GOTV – has slipped across the line that separates it from “crossover” – the sometimes-controversial act of pushing to get those on the other side of the partisan divide to cross political lines and vote for the other party’s nominee.

43. Last Word: One for Graceland, Randy Boyd in Millington and Green Eyeshades - Tuesday, June 5, 2018

From the distance of 50 years – half a century – it’s hard to relate what it was like to grow up in the 1960s – in particular the year 1968 in a city that figured prominently in the year’s turbulent trajectory.

44. Boyd Says He Favors State Funding for Shelby County Pre-K Push - Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Republican contender for Tennessee Governor Randy Boyd says he supports the move to expand prekindergarten in Shelby County including the possibility of state funding.

45. Leaders of Local Pre-K Expansion Say Opposition More About State Funding - Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Since three of the four major Republican contenders for Tennessee governor said at a Memphis forum in April that they oppose universal prekindergarten, the forces behind such a plan for Shelby County have been talking with them about their position.

46. Tennessee Candidate: Florida Students Used as Anti-Gun Props - Thursday, May 17, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Republican candidate for Tennessee governor Bill Lee is claiming that the "liberal media," teachers unions and the "far-left lobby" have used students who survived the deadly Florida school shooting as "props to push their anti-gun agenda," saying he's sickened by it.

47. What Do Statewide Candidates Say About Rural Tennessee? - Saturday, May 12, 2018

Like most of America, Tennessee’s metropolitan areas have prospered during the last eight years, while the rural areas have lagged in almost every measure. The state has 19 of its 95 counties classified as “distressed.” What can and should we do to give every Tennessean a chance to succeed?

48. Editorial: GOP Governor Contenders Botched Pre-K Opposition - Saturday, April 28, 2018

When three of the four major Republican contenders for Tennessee governor came to Memphis recently and each said without hesitation they oppose universal prekindergarten, it got the attention of those at the forum.

49. Last Word: TNReady Blinks Again, Gov. Debate Thoughts and Mud Island's Museum - Friday, April 20, 2018

There was a point Thursday morning during the troubled TNReady testing at some Tennessee school districts when there was a “brief” slow down in the online testing, according to the Tennessee Education commissioner’s office. By noon that had been resolved and more than 250,000 completed tests had been submitted since testing began Monday. One can only imagine what some of the thoughts were in the office during the slow down and the gap between how long the slow down seemed and how long it actually was.

50. Last Word: 'Poking The Bear,' National Walk Out Day and McQueen on Capitol Hill - Thursday, April 19, 2018

The state House’s Tuesday action cutting $250k in funding for Memphis from Gov. Bill Haslam’s budget proposal is turning into a cause back here, starting with a GoFundMe page. Elsewhere on social media, you can see the unmistakable outline of a party or parties for the cause beginning to form. This is near the end of session for the Legislature when the budget is the last action before going back to the district to run for re-election. Different timing over here, with multiple crawfish outings leading into Memphis in May.

51. Lee, Boyd, Black Talk Confederate Monuments, Oppose Pre-K Expansion - Thursday, April 19, 2018

Three of the four major contenders for governor in the Aug. 2 Republican primary disagree with the removal of Confederate monuments from city parks but also disagree with the state legislature’s decision to cut $250,000 of city funding in retaliation.

52. Last Word: Failed Test, Trolley Back Story and Violent Crime Down City and County - Wednesday, April 18, 2018

The state’s third problem with online student achievement testing in three years is gathering political force in Nashville. And that force is aimed for the most part at testing in general and the role it plays in evaluating teachers and students.

53. Republican Gubernatorial Debate Wednesday Will Air Statewide - Wednesday, April 18, 2018

The Greater Memphis Chamber Chairman’s Circle announced Tuesday the organization will co-host the first statewide televised Tennessee gubernatorial debate for Republican candidates on Wednesday, April 18, at 7 p.m. at the Halloran Centre of The Orpheum Theatre, 225 S. Main St.

54. What Statewide Candidates Say About Opioid Crisis, Public Safety - Saturday, April 14, 2018

The spread of opioid abuse claimed over 1,600 lives in Tennessee in 2016, and it is getting worse. Methamphetamine abuse, while not getting the headlines, has increased. Gun violence and murder is increasing. What proposals do our candidates have to help Tennesseans address these public safety issues?

55. Candidates for Governor Give Millions to Their Own Campaigns - Friday, April 13, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee candidates for governor are raising millions of dollars in contributions, but the big money is coming from the contenders themselves.

A state campaign finance disclosure report filed this week shows that Republicans Diane Black and Bill Lee had the most in contributions this quarter – each around $3.3 million.

56. Three Incumbents Unopposed at August Primary Ballot Deadline - Monday, April 9, 2018

Three incumbent Democratic state House members in the Shelby County delegation to the Tennessee Legislature were effectively re-elected Thursday, April 5, at the noon deadline for candidates in the Aug. 2 state and federal primaries to file their qualifying petitions.

57. Three Incumbents Unopposed at August Primary Ballot Filing Deadline - Friday, April 6, 2018

Three incumbent Democratic state House members in the Shelby County delegation to the Tennessee Legislature were effectively re-elected Thursday, April 5, at the noon deadline for candidates in the Aug. 2 state and federal primaries to file their qualifying petitions.

58. What Do Statewide Candidates Say About Infrastructure Investment? - Saturday, March 24, 2018

Is investment in public infrastructure important? And should Tennessee have more dedicated revenue sources to pay for construction and maintenance of infrastructure across the state, or is the existing tax structure – primarily the state tax on fuel, and wheel taxes – sufficient to pay for what Tennessee needs to sustain and grow its economy?

59. Dean: ‘It’s Kind of Our Turn’ in Governor’s Race - Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Democratic contender for governor Karl Dean is pushing hard the idea that Democrats can win one of the two statewide races on the Tennessee ballot this year.

60. Governor Hopefuls Largely OK With TennCare Work Requirements - Thursday, March 1, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee's candidates for governor said Tuesday that they are largely supportive of proposed TennCare work requirements, but some of them expressed concerns about possible costs and bureaucracy.

61. Last Word: City Hall Fallout, 8Ball on Room 306 and Clark Tower Update - Tuesday, February 27, 2018

A group of students at Maxine Smith STEAM Academy at the Fairgrounds started the school week Monday with a gathering in a circle outside the art deco school building at Central and East Parkway in a student-led memorial for the students killed in Parkland, Florida almost two weeks ago. There was a moment of silence followed by reading the names of the 17 students who died in the massacre.

62. Local Political Partisans Begin Looking Beyond Trump - Tuesday, February 27, 2018

The founder of one of the city’s Trump “resistance” groups is among those looking for something beyond the resistance.

“We don’t want to resist Trump forever,” Emily Fulmer, the founder of Indivisible Memphis, told a gathering of 50 Friday, Feb. 23, at the National Civil Rights Museum under the “Take Back Tennessee” banner. “The goal is not to be in a state of resistance forever.”

63. Governor Hopeful's Group to Manage Minor League Ballclub - Tuesday, February 27, 2018

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A company owned by Tennessee candidate for governor Randy Boyd will manage day-to-day operations of another minor league baseball team.

64. Last Word: Looking In The Lookout, Women in Business and The Race for Governor - Monday, February 19, 2018

What would bring a Memphian on his own to The Lookout – the restaurant and bar at the top of the Pyramid? The view, of course. So after the obligatory walk outside to the views south along the riverfront and west across the river, I settled in Sunday for the view from within. I lined up with both of the tree stumps in the round fish tank in the center of the Pyramid’s apex, a steampunk frog watching from above.

65. Last Word: Higher Ed Pushback, 50 Years Later and Attack Ads in the Race for Gov. - Tuesday, February 13, 2018

The idea that higher education is primarily about getting people into jobs as soon as possible is getting some push back. And it comes several years into an emphasis at the state level on associate degrees and trade certifications. Rhodes College president Marjorie Hass said several times during our talk on “Behind The Headlines” that she isn’t downplaying the importance of trade skills and the education necessary for those skills.

66. Tennessee Governor Race: Boyd Donor Aids Anti-Black Group - Tuesday, February 13, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A political committee whose radio ad used toilet-flushing sounds to attack Republican U.S. Rep. Diane Black received $200,000 from a donor to Randy Boyd's rival campaign for governor.

67. Rhodes’ Hass Defends Liberal Arts Education - Tuesday, February 13, 2018

The president of Rhodes College says trade schools, associate degrees and certification in specific skills can’t be the city’s only economic driver.

“I think we can all agree that we do not and cannot foresee an economy in which the trades are the only drivers,” said Rhodes president Marjorie Hass on the WKNO/Channel 10 program “Behind The Headlines.”

68. Governor’s Race Mixes Political Culture With Nuts-and-Bolts Policy - Tuesday, February 6, 2018

As most of the other major contenders for Tennessee governor were on the same stage in Nashville last week, Republican Diane Black was in East Memphis meeting with a group of 15 local homebuilders. It was one in a set of meetings with small groups of potential supporters Black held in and around Memphis.

69. Last Word: Closing the Loophole, Skeleton Hotel Update and Jubilee Conversion - Friday, February 2, 2018

The state legislator who sponsored the most recent version of the law making it much more difficult to remove Confederate monuments acknowledges that the city of Memphis found a legitimate loophole in the 2016 law he crafted. Republican Steve McDaniel, of Parkers Crossroads, tells our Nashville correspondent Sam Stockard that he has a bill in the House to close the loophole. But it won't undo what happened here. Although there is still a court fight over that taking shape.

70. Tenn. Governor Candidates Talk Transparency, Medicaid and Megasite - Friday, February 2, 2018

Five of the seven major contenders in the 2018 Tennessee governor’s race called for more transparency in government but said there are questions about when to disclose information about companies seeking to locate or expand in Tennessee.

71. 9:30 a.m.: Live-Stream the Tennessee Gubernatorial Forum - Thursday, February 1, 2018

The Tennessee Press Association holds a forum Thursday, Feb. 1, in Nashville featuring the announced candidates for Tennessee governor. The live stream – moderated by Eric Barnes, publisher of The Daily News and TPA president – starts at 8:30 a.m., and the forum is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.

72. Last Word: Wiretaps in the Wright Case, Target Layoffs and SCS Looks To Move - Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Democratic Congressman Steve Cohen of Memphis among those boycotting the State of the Union address Tuesday evening by President Donald Trump. “The president is unworthy of the podium, the position and the power.” Republican Congressman David Kustoff of Germantown among those not boycotting SOTU. “Just one year after president Trump took the oath of office, our economy is the strongest it has been in decades. … We passed historic tax reform and we bolstered our military and support our veterans. Last year, the president kept his promises and tonight, he told the American people that he is not done.”

73. Last Word: Credit Hours & Tn Promise, Opioid Differences and Nikki's Hot Rebrand - Tuesday, January 30, 2018

A very busy Monday and I feel like some of this is may be fueled by some of us just now getting completely over the flu or someone close who has the flu for the first time in the New Year. Whatever the case, Monday came with a curtain call of sorts by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, a court order on the Confederate monuments, year-end stats on crime in Memphis and countywide… a PILOT here, a building permit or three there.

74. Boyd Hears Concerns About Testing, BEP Funding, Graduation Rates - Tuesday, January 30, 2018

When Republican contender for Tennessee governor Randy Boyd came to Christian Brothers University last week for a roundtable discussion with several dozen teachers and other educators, he walked into a lively exchange.

75. Lee, Boyd Pushing For Technical Education - Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Bill Lee led with his master plumber’s license last week as he toured Moore Tech. “I’m running for governor, too, by the way,” the Republican primary contender from Williamson County said as he talked with those attending classes and their instructors.

76. Last Word: Risks by Race, ASD Changes in Frayser and Binghampton Style - Thursday, January 25, 2018

African-American children are more likely to die after surgery than white children, according to a new study by researchers at UTHSC and Le Bonheur. The researchers found that in every category that goes into determining the chance of dying, the risk for white children was overestimated and underestimated for black children. And the dynamics of the risk work differently by race. The conclusion is race-specific models on the issue work better than non race specific models.

77. Immigrant Tuition Splits Tennessee Governor's Field in Forum - Thursday, January 25, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Candidates for governor in Tennessee largely agreed on broad issues facing education during the race's first televised forum Tuesday, except for a partisan split on in-state tuition for immigrants whose parents brought or kept them in the country illegally.

78. Medicaid Expansion Splits Tenn. Governor Hopefuls in Health Forum - Monday, January 22, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A health care forum Friday illustrated the partisan split in the Tennessee governor's race over Medicaid expansion, with Democrats ranking it their top priority and Republicans opposing it or espousing other priorities.

79. Boyd Reports Earning $42.4M With Release of 2015, 2016 Tax Returns - Monday, January 1, 2018

Republican contender for governor Randy Boyd has released federal and state income tax returns for 2015 and 2016 that show he and his wife earned $42.4 million from business investments across both years.

80. Black Steps Down as US House Budget Chair Amid Governor Bid - Thursday, December 28, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – U.S. Rep. Diane Black announced Wednesday that she is stepping down as House Budget Committee chairwoman, but will remain in Congress as she runs for governor of Tennessee.

81. Last Word: Early Statewide Poll, New Chandler Numbers and Lyfe in East Memphis - Friday, December 15, 2017

Vanderbilt has a new statewide fall poll out that shows a few things – most of them very preliminary other than this is still early for voters who don’t live and breathe politics. Diane Black and Randy Boyd are tops in terms of name recognition in the Republican six-pack running for Governor. And the Marsha Blackburn-Phil Bredesen November general election matchup for the U.S. Senate is rapidly becoming a lock before Christmas 2017.

82. 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.

83. Poll: Tennessee Voters More Moderate Than Some Think - Friday, December 15, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennesseans are more moderate than their neighbors think they are, and their views of Congress and President Donald Trump have soured some in the past few months, according to a Vanderbilt University poll released Thursday.

84. Vice President Pence Gives $4K to Black's Gubernatorial Bid - Thursday, December 14, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Republican gubernatorial candidate Diane Black can count Vice President Mike Pence among her supporters.

85. Haslam: Devising Different Incentives for Border Areas Like Memphis Difficult - Monday, December 11, 2017

Changing the economic development strategy Tennessee cities use isn’t a new concept. But doing so is easier said than done when bordered by eight states – more than another other state in the union.

86. Last Word: Grizz Ownership Moves, Confederate Deadline and Medical Family Tree - Monday, December 4, 2017

As many of us were focused on Tigers football and the journey to Orlando last week, there was word that either both or one of the two minority owners of the Grizz had exercised a buy-sell provision in the NBA team’s unique ownership agreement. And what could be a fight for control of the team’s ownership is underway. The sports website The Athletic broke the story last Thursday. Here it is. It also talks about the timing of this coming with the controversial sacking of David Fizdale, an interim coach at the helm of a changing team and lead owner Robert Pera’s lack of visibility in all things Grizz around the city.

87. 4 Governor Candidates Won’t Release Tax Returns - Saturday, December 2, 2017

Four of the seven major candidates for Tennessee governor are declining to release details of their federal income tax returns.

The Tennessean newspaper asked the five Republicans and two Democrats in the race for copies of their federal tax filings. U.S. Rep. Diane Black and fellow Republican state House Speaker Beth Harwell provided financial summaries, and Democrat Craig Fitzhugh released his 2016 tax return.

88. Last Word: Lake District Recycling, The New First and The AAC 'Glass Ceiling' - Friday, December 1, 2017

The U.S. Senate vote on a tax reform plan is now set for 10 a.m. our time Friday morning following more debate in D.C. that began Thursday as the trigger provision to raise tax rates if economic growth from the proposed tax cuts doesn't materialize was ruled out of order by the Senate parliamentarian. This was the provision on which the support of U.S. Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee hinged. And Corker is leading a group of deficit hawks whose block of votes is considered crucial in what happens to a proposal that was being reshaped as midnight approached. Here's Politico with comments from Corker as of late Thursday

89. 4 Tennessee Governor Candidates Won't Release Tax Returns - Tuesday, November 28, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Four of the seven major candidates for Tennessee governor are declining to release details of their federal income tax returns.

The Tennessean newspaper asked the five Republicans and two Democrats in the race for copies of their federal tax filings. U.S. Rep. Diane Black and fellow Republican state House Speaker Beth Harwell provided financial summaries, and Democrat Craig Fitzhugh released his 2016 tax return.

90. The Next Four Years - Saturday, November 18, 2017

A week before candidates for the 2018 Shelby County elections could pull qualifying petitions to run, Shelby County Commissioner David Reaves was thinking out loud on Facebook.

“Next four years,” was how it began.

91. Last Word: Mega-Site, New Chandler Real Estate Numbers and Grizz Second Unit - Friday, November 10, 2017

When the state’s new commissioner of Economic and Community Development met several months ago with local leaders in Arlington, Bob Rolfe said Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam had made it clear that Rolfe’s primary task between then and when Haslam leaves office at the end of 2018 is to find a tenant for the west Tennessee megasite in Haywood County. Toyota-Mazda executives told the state this week that their $1.6 billion electric car plant to be built in the U.S. and create 4,000 jobs will not be considering the megasite and another un-named prospect has also walked away, according to the state.

92. Last Word: Lawyering Up, No More Beale Street Cover and Pastner Probe - Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Committee day for the Shelby County Commission on Wednesday has now come to include a special meeting to vote on something. And that something amounts to doubling down on the move by commission chairwoman Heidi Shafer to lawyer up on the issue of opioid abuse and the role big pharma has played in the problem. The special meeting comes two days after Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell sued Shafer in Chancery Court claiming she violated the county charter by unilaterally making that decision last week.

93. Boyd Completes Statewide Trek at Beale Street Landing - Wednesday, November 8, 2017

The finish line was uphill Tuesday, Nov. 7, as Republican contender for Tennessee governor Randy Boyd completed a 537.3-mile run across the state that began in August at the Tennessee-Virginia state line in Bristol.

94. Last Word: Fairgrounds Surprises, Aquarium Reprise and Six Open Commission Seats - Tuesday, November 7, 2017

There are lots of renderings and blueprints floating around this city of ours these days. Land opening up, locations changing, possibilities revealed, new uses for old places and old places giving way to new. So it’s not surprising to see some smaller changes that are nevertheless highly visible. Thus comes word with the new week that Spin City, the corner tenant at Poplar and Highland in Poplar Plaza, will close with the new year and Spaghetti Warehouse, on Huling Downtown, will close later this month in the week before Thanksgiving.

95. Last Word: The Run, 70 Million Gallons a Day and More Shipping Containers - Monday, November 6, 2017

This will be another busy week on the political front with more candidates declaring their intentions in advance of Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, Republican contender for governor Randy Boyd ends his run across the state Tuesday morning on Mud Island – a variation on Lamar Alexander’s walk across the state in the 1978 Republican primary for Governor that remains a part of the state’s political folklore almost 40 years later.

96. Last Word: Changes Behind Highland Row, Lee Harris Opens and Ron Olson Moves - Friday, November 3, 2017

Shelby County Commission chairwoman Heidi Shafer says the commission, through its attorneys, is in ‘the final stages of launching litigation” against big pharma over the opioid problem locally. And in a written statement Thursday she said she believes the litigation “will result in significant recovery for hundreds of millions of dollars that Shelby County has spent trying to heal, save, nurse and otherwise deal with the opioid crisis.” Shafer specifically announced the hiring on a contingency basis of a national law firm.

97. Last Word: Black & Boyd, SCS Refuses State Order and Opening Tigers Basketball - Wednesday, November 1, 2017

There were already some sparks between U.S. Rep. Diane Black and former Tennessee Commissioner of Economic and Community Development Randy Boyd in the Republican primary for Governor. They were evident at the Oct. 20 forum among the six declared GOP candidates here when the Tennessee Federation of Republican Women met. Black went after Boyd Tuesday and the back and forth suggests at this very early stage this is turning into a race between these two.

98. Black Launches Latest Broadside in Tennessee Governor's Race - Wednesday, November 1, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – U.S. Rep. Diane Black's gubernatorial campaign is taking aim at Republican rival Randy Boyd, launching a broadside Tuesday at the former member of Gov. Bill Haslam's Cabinet for everything from his running attire to what the congresswoman decries as his moderate record.

99. Early Differences Surface at Republican Governor’s Forum in Memphis Oct. 20 - Tuesday, October 24, 2017

When the six declared contenders for the Republican nomination for governor met at this weekend’s Tennessee Federation of Republican Women convention in Memphis, there were some early differences certain to grow as the campaign intensifies.

100. Republican Contenders for Governor Acknowledge Memphis Differences - Monday, October 23, 2017

The red Farmall tractor that Republican contender for governor Bill Lee drove through 30 counties in a 758-mile journey from Mountain City to Memphis at 24 mph was pretty comfortable as tractors with cabs go.