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.

2. HopeWorks Formally Opening New Facility Thursday - Wednesday, July 18, 2018

HopeWorks will hold a ribbon cutting Thursday, July 19, to celebrate its new facility, located in Binghampton at 3337 Summer Ave. in the former Southern Security Federal Credit Union. The grand-opening event will begin at 10 a.m., with tours of the facility. Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland will speak prior to cutting the ribbon.

3. Last Word: Storms and Birds, Sizing the MPD and Plans for Early Voting's Opening - Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Very dark skies Monday afternoon over parts of the city. I could be off in this but I think there is a connection to these sudden summer rain showers that we need to consider. I think they line up very closely with areas where you cannot find a Bird scooter or at least not one that is fully charged. Then again it could just be me.

4. 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.

5. Baseball Tigers to Retire Ron McNeely’s Jersey - Saturday, March 31, 2018

Continuing a tradition started by head coach Daron Schoenrock in 2005, the University of Memphis baseball team will retire the jersey of two-time All-American Ron McNeely prior to the Saturday, March 31, game against UCF at FedExPark.

6. Baseball Tigers to Retire Ron McNeely’s Jersey - Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Continuing a tradition started by head coach Daron Schoenrock in 2005, the University of Memphis baseball team will retire the jersey of two-time All-American Ron McNeely prior to the Saturday, March 31, game against UCF at FedExPark.

7. A Look Back At UT’s History In NCAA Tourney - Friday, March 16, 2018

Basketball coach Rick Barnes was fired by Texas in late March of 2015 when he refused to fire members of his coaching staff.

8. Last Word: Brunch Overload, Grade-Changing Misdemeanor and Sports Rebirth - Monday, January 22, 2018

What happens when Memphians have been home and/or work bound for about two weeks between a national flu outbreak and snow and ice that hangs tough in below freezing temperatures and the temperature Sunday under sunny skies is almost 60? The correct answer is brunch overload.

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

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

10. Redbirds’ Eversgerd To Coach for St. Louis - Saturday, November 4, 2017

Bryan Eversgerd, longtime pitching coach for the Memphis Redbirds, will in 2018 work as the bullpen coach for the parent St. Louis Cardinals.

The big league club has made several staff changes of late, including firing pitching coach Derek Lilliquist and replacing him with Mike Maddux, who most recently was with the Washington Nationals.

11. 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.

12. Redbirds’ Eversgerd Promoted To St. Louis Bullpen Coach - Monday, October 30, 2017

Bryan Eversgerd, longtime pitching coach for the Memphis Redbirds, will in 2018 work as the bullpen coach for the parent St. Louis Cardinals.

The big league club has made several staff changes of late, including firing pitching coach Derek Lilliquist and replacing him with Mike Maddux, who most recently was on the staff of the Washington Nationals.

13. Last Word: Pantographs & Catenaries, Grizz Uncertainty and Tuesdays Without Morrie - Monday, September 25, 2017

After three years off the rails, the first significant indications that the trolleys are about to return. It was just a two-block ride that includes the Memphis Area Transit Authority trolley barn on North Main and one very new trolley. But it is a start through what is a very technical and bureaucratic process involving lots of safety vests, clipboards and video cameras.

14. 2 Businesses Seek Inner City Loans From EDGE to Grow - Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Two local businesses that are looking to grow their footprint in traditionally underserved areas of Memphis are seeking forgivable loans for building improvements from the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County.

15. Last Word: MATA and the TBI, Fieldstone Gets Bigger and Wedge Bills - Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Since Gannett bought The Commercial Appeal there has been a lot of speculation about what would remain of the Memphis operation in a newspaper chain known for consolidating not just in-house parts of the publishing process but the reporting side too. The biggest question in the air was the fate of the large printing presses at the CA. And Monday evening, there was an answer.

16. Last Word: Bell at the Grammys, Old Dominick's Return and Luttrell & Strickland - Monday, February 13, 2017

Memphis at the Grammys: William Bell was performer, presenter and winner at the Grammys Sunday evening. Gary Clark Jr. joined Bell to perform Bell’s calling card, “Born Under A Bad Sign” and the duo then presented a Grammy to Beyonce. In the non-televised Grammy awards, Bell won for Best Americana album for his Stax effort “This Is Where I Live.”

17. Last Word: Little Chairs in Longview, Police Pay Raise and Tiger Football Schedule - Friday, February 10, 2017

The toys are in their cubbyholes. No stray Legos yet. The little chairs tucked neatly under little tables. The tall trees with their bare branches are much in need of little eyes inspecting their twisted branches and the shadows they make on the winter ground.

18. Last Word: The Business of Local Sports, Garrison Leaves MATA and Broadband - Friday, January 27, 2017

Marc Gasol makes the NBA’s Western Conference All Star team as a reserve, the first player in the history of the Grizz to make the All-Star Game three times.

Grizz business operations president Jason Wexler asked about Memphis hosting an NBA All-Star Game one of these days at The Daily News Sports Seminar Thursday at the Brooks. Wexler saying the city doesn’t have enough hotel rooms – the same barrier to drawing bigger conventions and meetings to the city.

19. Last Word: Opening Day in Nashville, Parking Pass or Parking Space and Ell Persons - Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Lots of formalities Tuesday in Nashville where the 2017 session of the Tennessee Legislature begins. And that’s what this first week back will be about on the floors of the state House and the state Senate. Away from the floors, the real business of speculation and vote counting and drafting language is already well underway.

20. Nonprofits Raised Value In 2016 In Many Ways - Tuesday, December 27, 2016

In any given year, charitable giving might rise or fall. But when the Chronical of Philanthropy analyzed the giving of the country’s 50 largest cities via Internal Revenue Service data, it captured a larger sample size: 2006 through 2012.

21. Last Word: Turner Dairy Plans, Fred's HQ and Fred Smith's Remarks About Trump - Monday, December 12, 2016

Lots of traffic at FedExForum this weekend with two graduation ceremonies for the University of Memphis – morning and afternoon shifts. Another double-header at the Forum Saturday. The Grizz beat the Warriors 110-89 and the Tigers beat UAB 62-55.

22. Ohio Lawmakers Pass Republican 20-Week Abortion Ban Proposal - Monday, December 12, 2016

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Abortions would be banned after 20 weeks under a bill Republican lawmakers passed Thursday, adding to legislation already on its way to Republican Gov. John Kasich that would prohibit abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected.

23. HopeWorks Busy Helping People While Staying Grounded in Faith - Thursday, December 8, 2016

As executive director of nonprofit HopeWorks, Ron Wade has to be practical. And helping people get their education and find employment is about as practical as it gets.

24. Cubs’ World Series Victory The Start of a New Narrative - Friday, November 4, 2016

You can buy into the goat, into the black cat that walked in front of Ron Santo in 1969, into infamous Steve Bartman and, well, into the whole notion that the Cubs were cursed for 108 years, if you wish. 

25. Last Word: MATA Plans Bigger, Tiger Football Exits and Heartbreak Hotel Closes - Friday, October 28, 2016

With a set of route and schedule changes about to hit the streets in December, the Memphis Area Transit Authority is embarking on a larger more comprehensive change in the city’s bus system. It is nothing less than a rebuilding of the city’s public transportation system that starts the planning process in November.

26. Last Word: Redbirds Box Office, Graceland's Ambition and Alley Parties - Monday, August 29, 2016

Last home game of the season for the Memphis Redbirds Sunday. The Redbirds lost to the Nashville Sounds 14-4.

By early Sunday evening, the Redbirds front office announced attendance at AutoZone Park was up this season by 17 percent compared to the season before.

27. 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.

28. Sports Notebook: If He’s Available, Should Grizzlies Take Labissiere In First Round? - Wednesday, May 25, 2016

While it’s difficult to imagine the NBA matching the NFL for draft night drama this year – hopefully there are no Twitter bong photos seconds before tipoff – the mock drafts don’t seem to agree a lot beyond LSU forward Ben Simmons going to Philadelphia first overall and Duke forward Brandon Ingram going second overall to the Los Angeles Lakers.

29. Last Word: Memphis Gets Busy, Elections Future and Past and Dad Rock In C-Y - Tuesday, April 26, 2016

While their folks are still getting settled over in the front office at The Commercial Appeal, Gannett announces Monday an $815 million offer to buy Tribune Publishing which would put The Los Angeles Times and The Chicago Tribune in the expanding USA Today family.

30. Last Word: The Bible Veto Override Vote, Grizz Nostalgia and Kroger Goes Online - Thursday, April 21, 2016

The Tennessee Legislature hoped to end its 2016 session Wednesday at the end of an eventful day that included a failed attempt to override Gov. Bill Haslam’s veto of the bill that would have made the Bible the official state book.
But into Wednesday evening, the state House was still debating the Hall tax on dividends – specifically further roll backs of it. And the Senate had gone home for the night.
So Thursday looks like a good bet for the adjournment for the year and the formal start of the election season for incumbents.

31. Last Word: Lipscomb's Successor, MATA School Buses and Roland's Big Breakfast - Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Paul Young gets a lot more attention these days than he did when he was the first director of the city-county Office of Sustainability. The attention comes with being the city director of Housing and Community Development where virtually all of the funding comes from the federal government.
That federal funding has changed the face of public housing in the city in the last 25 years. There is only one large public housing project left in the city as a result of the federal funding and its use by Young’s predecessor, Robert Lipscomb.
And what Lipscomb did with the job combined with being the executive director of the Memphis Housing Authority is why a lot of people want to get to know Paul Young these days.
Our centerpiece story by Madeline Faber in Tuesday’s edition makes clear that Young has no desire to wield that kind of power. And it is unlikely anyone in the near future will have the kind of autonomy Lipscomb did.
But beyond that there is still the flow of a lot of federal dollars and Young has some ideas based on his experience in government and finance prior to coming to HCD – everything in government is initials.
It’s a much different experience than Lipscomb’s. Lipscomb coined the phrase “ending public housing as we know it” and at times that slogan wasn’t followed with a lot of detail about what came after public housing was demolished, especially with the first of the projects to fall.
The last public housing project, Foote Homes, will be demolished on Young’s watch which makes his tenure important if more limited than Lipscomb’s tenure.

32. Last Word: The Curtain Falls in Nashville, Political Cuneiform and Ramsey Talks - Thursday, March 31, 2016

And in less than a half hour Wednesday, the de-annexation drama that should qualify as the political equivalent of a Netflix binge-watchable television series made just for Memphis was done.

33. Tennessee Senate Speaker Ramsey Announces He Won't Run Again - Wednesday, March 16, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey, a leading figure in the Republican takeover of all three branches of Tennessee state government, announced Wednesday that he won't run for re-election.

34. Last Word: Mudslide, The Deannexation Storm and Kilzer at Calvary - Friday, March 11, 2016

Lots of news on a very rainy day including the flooding from the constant rain that closed some schools and cancelled a lot of other events. And then there was a mudslide on Riverside Drive from the bluff overlooking Tom Lee Park and the Mississippi River. The rain has also pushed the Wolf River to the point that it is now over some parts of the greenway in Germantown.

35. 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.

36. Last Word: Legislature's Return, Uber Pilot, Minivan Comeback and Bowie's Exit - Tuesday, January 12, 2016

The gavel falls in Nashville.
The Tennessee legislature is back in session Tuesday. This is an election year session for the legislature. So it will be short – likely an early April adjournment. But that doesn’t mean the session is without expectations from outside Nashville.

37. Last Word: El Chapo and Memphis, First Filers for August and Origins in Graffiti - Monday, January 11, 2016

The Mississippi River at Memphis crested and then it rained.
The weekend rain added about two-tenths of an inch by Saturday to Friday’s crest.
But by Sunday, the river had dropped to 39.12 feet, which is still more than five feet above flood stage.

38. AAF Memphis Accepting Award Nominations - Saturday, October 24, 2015

Nominations are open for the 2016 Silver Medal award recipient, an honor given annually by AAF Memphis, the local chapter of the American Advertising Federation.

The Silver Medal is the highest form of individual recognition by the American Advertising Federation. It’s awarded to an industry leader for a career of outstanding accomplishment and advertising contribution. AAF Memphis has recognized remarkable lifetime achievements annually since 1960. Ron Walter was the 2015 recipient.

39. Local Ad Group Accepting Nominations for Major Award - Monday, October 19, 2015

Nominations are open for the 2016 Silver Medal award recipient, an honor given annually by AAF Memphis, the local chapter of the American Advertising Federation.

The Silver Medal is the highest form of individual recognition by the American Advertising Federation. It’s awarded to an industry leader for a career of outstanding accomplishment and advertising contribution. AAF Memphis has recognized remarkable lifetime achievements annually since 1960. Ron Walter was the 2015 recipient.

40. Ramsey Clear in Push to Politicize Supreme Court - Thursday, August 6, 2015

Republican Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey has a penchant for igniting flames of partisanship, and the retirement of Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Gary Wade is no exception.

41. Questions Abound Amid Tennessee Supreme Court Vacancy - Tuesday, August 4, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – When Gary Wade was appointed to the state Supreme Court in 2006, the self-described "mountain boy from the Smokies" planned to serve the eight-year term and retire from his distinguished judicial career.

42. SEC is Better With Steve Spurrier in It - Friday, July 17, 2015

HOOVER, Ala. – If you’re a Tennessee fan, you don’t like him. He was the one who said you can’t spell Citrus without “U-T.”

He started his record-setting 23rd appearance as a coach at the 2015 SEC Media Days by zinging the Vols for their 7-6 season, saying they were “celebrating big” while casting South Carolina’s 7-6 season as a disaster averted.

43. University of Memphis Athletics Communications Staff Honored - Tuesday, July 7, 2015

The University of Memphis athletics communications staff received 12 national awards for its publications and posters for the 2014-15 academic year. That led the nation as the College Sports Information Directors of America announced its final results for its annual publications contests.

44. 'Symphony in Rose Garden' May 17 in Collierville - Wednesday, May 6, 2015

The Collierville Arts Council is once again staging the annual fundraiser, “Symphony in the Rose Garden,” Sunday, May 17.

The annual event will be held on the three-acre estate home of Bob and Mary Jean Smith. The historic home is located at 156 West Poplar Ave., just off the historic town square, and features a garden filled with more than 1,000 roses.

45. Standing Tall - Thursday, March 5, 2015

Lucille O’Neal is 6-foot-2 and the mother of former NBA All-Star Shaquille O’Neal. But that’s not why she stands tall.

“When we make mistakes,” she said, “we have to live with the mistakes. But if we don’t look up, we can’t get up. When we go through trials and tribulations, everything starts with us. It’s never too late for a new beginning.”

46. Shaq’s Mother to Speak at HopeWorks Event - Saturday, February 21, 2015

Memphis-based HopeWorks Inc. will host its seventh annual Morning of Hope breakfast and fundraising event Saturday, March 28 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Woodland Hills Event Center in Cordova. Lucille O’Neal, motivational speaker and mother of former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal, will be the keynote speaker.

47. Shaq’s Mother to Speak at HopeWorks Fundraiser - Thursday, February 19, 2015

Memphis-based HopeWorks Inc. will host its seventh annual Morning of Hope breakfast and fundraising event Saturday, March 28 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Woodland Hills Event Center in Cordova. Lucille O’Neal, motivational speaker and mother of former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal, will be the keynote speaker.

48. Wesley Housing Corp. Names New CEO - Wednesday, December 24, 2014

The Wesley Housing Corp. of Memphis Inc. board of directors has announced that Jim Nasso, current president and chief operating officer, will become chief executive officer following CEO Larry Kaler’s retirement Dec. 31.

49. Shildt to Manage Redbirds in 2015 - Friday, December 12, 2014

The St. Louis Cardinals have selected Mike Shildt as the Memphis Redbirds’ new manager for the 2015 season.

The 46-year-old Shildt becomes the sixth manager in the Redbirds’ 18-year history and takes over for Ron “Pop” Warner, who was named a minor league roving infield coordinator with the Cardinals organization. Warner guided the Redbirds to the Pacific Coast League American South Division title in 2014 as the Triple-A club posted a 79-64 record. Warner managed the Redbirds from 2012-2014.

50. Judicial Retention Travels Complex Path - Saturday, October 4, 2014

The 2014 election year is proving to be a long one for those interested in the judicial races on the ballot.

Voters in Shelby County decided the local judicial races and participated in the August statewide retention races for appellate court positions, including three on the Tennessee Supreme Court.

51. New Chief Justice Echoes Haslam Mantra on Review - Friday, September 19, 2014

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – First, the state Supreme Court hired Gov. Bill Haslam's top legal adviser as Tennessee's next attorney general. Now the high court's new chief justice is also adopting the Republican governor's rhetoric.

52. Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper to Seek Another Term - Tuesday, August 12, 2014

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper announced Monday he will seek another eight-year term after three Democrats were retained on the Supreme Court.

53. Supreme Court Retention Clash Likely to Continue - Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Both sides declared victory when the three Tennessee Supreme Court justices were retained by voters in the Thursday, Aug. 7, statewide judicial elections.

The votes to retain or replace Chief Justice Gary Wade and Justices Sharon Lee and Cornelia Clark ended with all three being retained for an eight-year term.

54. Cohen, Luttrell, Weirich, Harris Take Early Vote - Friday, August 8, 2014

Democratic U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen has taken the early vote over challenger Ricky Wilkins in the hard fought Democratic Congressional primary on Thursday’s Shelby County election ballot.

55. Supreme Court Justices Rally in Court Square - Thursday, August 7, 2014

The three Tennessee Supreme Court justices on the Thursday, Aug. 4, ballot spent the day before the election campaigning in Memphis for retention.

Chief Justice Gary Wade and Justices Cornelia Clark and Sharon Lee are countering a well-financed campaign by Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and others, urging voters to vote against retaining the three justices.

56. Tennessee Supreme Court Races See Spending Spike - Tuesday, August 5, 2014

NASHVILLE (AP) – An influx of campaign spending on three Tennessee Supreme Court seats has transformed what is traditionally a sleepy affair into a hard-fought campaign that has raised questions about the role of partisan politics in the judiciary.

57. Ask a Lawyer - Friday, August 1, 2014

JUDGED BY LAWYERS. Q: What do you when you have a lawyer buried up to the neck in sand?

A: Not enough sand.

Lawyers can’t catch a break.

Q: What the difference between a lawyer and a catfish?

58. Supreme Court Justices Make Campaign Push - Thursday, July 24, 2014

Among the candidates going door to door in Memphis this summer looking for votes was a Tennessee Supreme Court justice.

Sharon Lee, one of three justices seeking re-election in the yes-no retention races on the August ballot, campaigned Saturday, July 19, in Hickory Hill.

59. Justices Stump in Memphis as Early Voting Begins - Friday, July 18, 2014

Early voting in Shelby County opened Friday, July 18, with that most political of omens – rain.

The three Tennessee Supreme Court justices on the ballot statewide were at the Burch, Porter & Johnson law firm a few blocks from the Shelby County Election Commission early voting site Downtown.

60. From Despair to Belief - Saturday, July 19, 2014

A July weekday afternoon, about 2:45. It’s the perfect time for just about anyone to be nodding off in class.

But in the basement of Midtown Church of Christ, where HopeWorks Inc. is housed, class is in session and a dozen men and their teacher are having a lively discussion.

61. Tennessee Bar Poll Calls for Judge Retention - Saturday, June 21, 2014

A first-ever poll of Tennessee Bar Association members shows those the majority of those polled recommend the retention of three of the state’s Supreme Court justices on the Aug. 7 statewide ballot.

62. Tennessee Bar Poll Calls for Judge Retention - Monday, June 16, 2014

A first-ever poll of Tennessee Bar Association members shows those the majority of those polled recommend the retention of three of the state’s Supreme Court justices on the Aug. 7 statewide ballot.

63. Group Supporting Incumbent Justices Raises $600,000 - Tuesday, June 3, 2014

NASHVILLE (AP) – A group supporting the retention of three incumbent Tennessee Supreme Court justices says it has raised $600,000.

The campaign called Keep Tennessee Courts Fair is supporting Justices Connie Clark, Sharon Lee and Gary Wade, who face yes-no votes on the ballot in August.

64. Tennessee Bar Polls on Supreme Court Races - Saturday, May 31, 2014

The Tennessee Bar Association is conducting a first-ever poll of its members on the August retention races for three Tennessee Supreme Court positions.

The polling by secret ballot began Tuesday, May 27, and continues through June 9, with results to be released in mid-June.

65. Lawyers Fight Effort to Oust Justices - Saturday, May 31, 2014

Lawyers are fighting back against an effort by conservatives to oust three sitting justices on the state’s highest court.

Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey of Blountville has been circulating a document that takes aim at Supreme Court Justices Cornelia Clark, Gary Wade and Sharon Lee. All three were appointed by former Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, and all three are up for election on Aug. 7.

66. Lawyers Fight Effort to Oust Justices - Friday, May 30, 2014

Lawyers are fighting back against an effort by conservatives to oust three sitting justices on the state's highest court.

Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey of Blountville has been circulating a document that takes aim at Supreme Court Justices Cornelia Clark, Gary Wade and Sharon Lee. All three were appointed by former Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, and all three are up for election on Aug. 7.

67. Tennessee Bar Polls Members on Supreme Court Races - Thursday, May 29, 2014

The Tennessee Bar Association is conducting a first-ever poll of its members on the August retention races for three Tennessee Supreme Court positions.

The polling by secret ballot began Tuesday, May 27, and continues through June 9, with results to be released in mid-June.

68. Some Expect Costly, Divisive Justice Campaign - Tuesday, May 13, 2014

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee could be facing the costliest state Supreme Court election in its history now that conservatives have targeted three sitting justices on the state's highest court.

69. Harris Files Ford Challenge at Deadline - Thursday, April 3, 2014

Memphis City Council member Lee Harris is challenging Democratic state Sen. Ophelia Ford in the August primary for District 29, the Senate seat held by a member of the Ford family since 1975.

70. HopeWorks Fundraiser To be Held March 1 - Saturday, February 1, 2014

Dr. Ben Carson, an emeritus professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery and pediatrics at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine, will speak at the sixth annual Morning of Hope breakfast and fundraiser Saturday, March 1.

71. HopeWorks Breakfast Fundraiser Planned for March 1 - Friday, January 31, 2014

Dr. Ben Carson, an emeritus professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery and pediatrics at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine, will speak at the sixth annual Morning of Hope breakfast and fundraiser Saturday, March 1.

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

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

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

73. HopeWorks Fundraiser To Feature Poverty Expert - Thursday, March 22, 2012

HopeWorks, a faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping Memphians break the cycle of crime and poverty, will feature Dr. Ruby Payne at its annual fundraiser, “An Evening of Hope,” Thursday, March 22, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Woodland Hills Event Center, 1000 Woodland Hills Drive, in Cordova.

74. State Issues Can be Tricky for Presidential Field - Friday, October 28, 2011

CINCINNATI (AP) — Mitt Romney gingerly distanced himself from a labor issue on the Ohio ballot one day. The next, he embraced the initiative "110 percent."

The equivocation not only highlighted his record of shifting positions but also underscored the local political minefields national candidates often confront in their state-by-state path to the presidency.

75. No Deal: NBA Cancels First Two Weeks of Season - Wednesday, October 12, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Two weeks of NBA games are lost. Many more could be in jeopardy.

There's a "gulf" that separates owners and players, and they will have to close it quickly to avoid further damage to the schedule.

76. HopeWorks, Businesses Give Hope Through Internships - Thursday, August 11, 2011

A number of local businesses are offering hope to the city’s chronically unemployed in the form of internships that provide real-world, on-the-job training.

The program is coordinated by HopeWorks, a 22-year-old nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping poor and chronically unemployed Memphians find steady work.

77. Redistricting Comes Just in Time for Filing Deadline - Thursday, July 21, 2011

Contenders for the 13 seats on the Memphis City Council got some certainty this week with council approval of the new set of district lines for the body.

And it could make the noon Thursday, July 21, qualifying deadline something that hasn’t been seen in many election cycles – a deadline with some last-minute candidates and plenty of politicos watching the last-minute developments.

78. Pow! Duo of Comic Book Stores See Continued Success - Thursday, April 14, 2011

Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and many other comic book heroes and heroines have commanded the attention of dedicated fans since their debuts in the middle of the last century.

Just last month, a copy of “Amazing Fantasy #15,” a comic featuring the first appearance of Spider-Man back in 1962, sold for $1.1 million to a private collector.

79. Haslam Pushes Research Consortium Funding During Memphis Visit - Thursday, March 17, 2011

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam told members of the Memphis Research Consortium that his decision to include $10 million in funding for the effort wasn’t a gift but an investment in the city’s future as a biomedical research center.

80. Lighting the Fuse - Monday, February 21, 2011

Memphis voters have 22 words to weigh as they decide what is to become of Shelby County’s two public school systems.
“Shall the administration of the Memphis City School System, a special school district, be transferred to the Shelby County Board of Education?”
The words seem inadequate to cover what a “yes” or a “no” vote means after a state law and other factors changed the terms of a vote already scheduled for March 8.
Voters for schools consolidation may be against special schools district status but for letting some of the six suburban towns and cities try to go with their own municipal school system.
Voters may be against school consolidation and against special school district status if it includes taxing authority for the county school board, albeit with tax approval required by the Tennessee Legislature.
Some voters may see it as a way of ending reforms driven by MCS superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash. Others may see it as a way of ending Shelby County Schools board chairman David Pickler’s dominance of that school system.
School consolidation advocates are still urging citizens to vote “yes” and school consolidation opponents are still urging citizens to vote “no.”
“The lay of the land has changed, so will people consider the lay of the land or what? That statement stands. It’s on the ballot and everyone knows what it’s designed to do,” said Memphis City Council chairman Myron Lowery. “This occurred after the question was put on the ballot. If someone wants to make that stretch, they’re jumping over a lot of hurdles. This was not in place when this was put on the ballot.”
Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr., along with Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell, sought a transition period even as political positions began to harden. He doesn’t see what’s in the law as a transition period.
“The way it’s structured, there’s every incentive not to reach an agreement. It looks to me like it falls off the face of the earth,” Wharton said. “There was nothing in there that states where do you go if at the end of this (the planning process) there is nothing resolved.”
State Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, disagrees.
“The state has a compelling interest in assuring that the administration of schools is properly discharged,” Norris wrote in an op-ed piece for The Memphis News last week. “To do otherwise defies common sense and common decency.”
Pickler said if voters approve the question, he will quickly move to assemble a team to work on the transition. It’s a transition that Pickler has always emphasized will be controlled by the county school system. That is one point on which the attorneys seem to agree.
“Clearly we understand that this issue is not about educational outcomes,” he said during a WKNO forum last week. “We still do not believe that creating a mega district … doesn’t do anything to improve education.”
MCS board member Tomeka Hart, at the same forum, countered “We do here as an economic issue,” a reference to the University of Memphis study showing special schools district status could cost MCS half of the county property tax base it relies on for funding. “It’s time to rewrite all of this,” Hart concluded.
Here is the timeline – to date – of the ongoing schools showdown:

81. Strickland to Bring Message of Hope to Memphis - Monday, February 21, 2011

Bill Strickland is widely admired for the many hats he wears; CEO, social entrepreneur, writer, speaker and visionary.

82. Candidates Feel The Heat As Election Nears - Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Here comes the blitz.

The last full day of campaigning before the Thursday election will be a dash through triple-digit temperatures for all of the contenders on the county ballot.

Two of the three contenders in the Republican primary for governor, U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp of Chattanooga and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, will be in Memphis.

83. Events Company Sparks New Activity Atop Clark Tower - Tuesday, July 20, 2010

After four years of refining and expanding his catering business, Wade Hartsfield has taken on a soaring new challenge.

84. Early Voting Begins as Candidates Jockey for Votes - Friday, July 16, 2010

Voters begin making decisions Friday as early voting begins in advance of the Aug. 5 election.

Early voting Friday and Saturday is limited to Shelby County Election Commission headquarters, 157 Poplar Ave. Friday hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

85. Ford Wins Democratic Mayoral Primary - Wednesday, May 5, 2010
 

Interim County Mayor Joe Ford became the Democratic nominee for mayor in the August county general elections Tuesday night.

And the August sheriff’s race will be a contest between Democrat Randy Wade and Republican Randy Wade.

All three were among the winners in Tuesday’s low turnout county primaries.

Approximately ten percent of Shelby County’s nearly 600,000 voters cast ballots in early voting and election day polling.

Ford, who was appointed interim mayor in December, beat County Commissioner Deidre Malone and General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson in the Democratic primary. He will face Republican Mark Luttrell who had only token opposition in the Republican primary from perennial contender Ernie Lunati.

Luttrell has raised more money than all three of the Democratic primary contenders combined and began running television ads in the last week runup to election day.

The final unofficial totals in the Democratic mayoral primary are:

Ford 20,360 57%

Malone 12,916 37%

Jackson 2,168 6%

The pair of primaries for Sheriff featured eight candidates, seven of whom either currently work for the sheriff’s department or are past employees. Only Reginald French, in the Democratic primary was not a former or current department official.

Wade was the 2002 Democratic nominee, losing to Luttrell who is leaving as Sheriff after serving two terms. French was the Democratic nominee in the 2006 elections.

Oldham is Luttrell’s chief deputy, the number two position in the department. He is also a former director of the Memphis Police Department.

The final unofficials totals in the Republican primary are:

Bill Oldham 13,821 48%

Dale Lane 7,981 28%

Bobby Simmons 5,886 21%

James Coleman 943 3%

In the Democratic primary:

Randy Wade 22,643 67%

Reginald French 6,777 20%

Larry Hill 2,738 8%

Bennie Cobb 1,814 5%

Voters in the primary elections decided to return six Shelby County commissioners to new four year terms with Tuesday’s results. They also elected six new commissioners. The winner of the thirteenth commission seat will be decided on the August general election ballot in a contest between district 5 Democratic incumbent Steve Mulroy and Republican challenger Dr. Rolando Toyos. The winner of the match up will determine whether the commission remains majority Democrat or goes majority Republican.

Mulroy easily defeated Jennings Bernard in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.

Republican incumbent Mike Ritz ran unopposed as did new Democratic commissioner Walter Bailey.

In the remaining ten contests, the primaries decided who gets the seats since no one ran in the opposing party’s primary.

The most hotly contested contest among the commission races was for District 4 Position 1. Outgoing Probate Court Clerk Chris Thomas beat John Pellicciotti, appointed to a commission seat last year but running for a different position in the same district. Jim Bomprezzi, the former mayor of Lakeland, was the third contender in the contest.

The final unofficial totals in the Republican primary:

Thomas 7,631 52%

Pellicciotti 4,871 33%

Bomprezzi 2,298 15%

In position 2 of the same district incumbent Republican Wyatt Bunker easily overcame two challengers with former Lakeland alderman John Wilkerson finishing second and Ron Fittes finishing third.

Millington businessman Terry Roland claimed the third position in the district that takes in all six of Shelby County’s suburban towns and cities.

Roland beat George Chism to take the seat Pellicciotti was appointed to but opted not to run for in deference to Roland.

Heidi Shafer, an aide to outgoing County Commissioner George Flinn, claimed Flinn’s District 1 Position 2 seat over Albert Maduska.in the GOP primary.

District 1 incumbent Republican Mike Carpenter easily beat businessman Joe Baier.

In the Democratic commission primaries, Melvin Burgess claimed Malone’s District 2 Position 3 seat in a field of six contenders. His closest contender was Reginald Milton. Burgess, a city school system audit manager, had run for the seat before. He brought in 54 percent of the vote.

The other hard fought Democratic commission primary saw Justin Ford, son of the interim mayor, claim his father’s District 3 Position 3 seat.

Ford beat Edith Moore, a retired IBM executive, whom the commission appointed to the seat after the elder Ford became mayor.

The final unofficial vote totals are:

Ford 7,342 66%

Moore 3,822 34%

Democratic incumbent commissioners Henri Brooks, Sidney Chism and James Harvey were all re-elected over primary challengers.

The county-wide primaries for seven clerk’s positions saw the return of former Criminal Court Clerk Minerva Johnican 16 years after Republican challenger Bill Key took her job. Johnican decisively beat Ralph White and Vernon Johnson in her first bid for office since the 1994 defeat. She will face Republican Kevin Key, the son of Bill Key in the August general election.

The final unofficial vote totals are:

Johnican 16,381 51%

White 10,170 31%

Johnson 5,954 18%

Former Juvenile Court Clerk Shep Wilbun easily won the Democratic primary with 76 percent of the vote to face Republican Joy Touliatos in August for the office being vacated by Republican Steve Stamson. Touliatos was unopposed in the primary.

Democrat Coleman Thompson is back for another go at incumbent Republican Register Tom Leatherwood.

Aside from Leatherwood, Jimmy Moore is the only other of the seven clerks seeking re-election. Moore ran unopposed in the GOP primary. He will face Democrat Ricky Dixon in August.

Trustee Regina Newman was appointed to her office following the death last year of Paul Mattila. Newman easily overcame M LaTroy Williams in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. She will face David Lenoir, who beat former Shelby County Commissioner John Willingham in the Republican contest.

The final unofficial vote totals are:

Lenoir 15,922 58%

Willingham 11,569 42%

The other six candidate field on the ballot was in the Democratic primary for Probate Court Clerk. Sondra Becton posted impressive vote totals over her rivals, bringing in 35 percent of the vote with Peggy Dobbins her closest rival. Becton, who is making her fourth bid for the office, will face Republican Paul Boyd, who ran unopposed in his primary.

The final unofficial vote totals are:

Becton 10,929 36%

Dobbins 5,366 18%

Annita Hamilton 4,848 16%

Clay Perry 3,549 12%

Danny Kail 3,120 11%

Karen Tyler 2,782 9%

The closest contest of the evening was in the Democratic primary for County Clerk. Wrestling promoter and television personality Corey Maclin won his political debut by less than 1,400 votes over Charlotte Draper and LaKeith Miller. He will face Republican Wayne Mashburn who beat Steve Moore in the companion primary.

Early voting in advance of the Aug. 5 election day begins July 16. The August ballot will also feature state and federal primary elections including the statewide primaries for governor and the primaries for all nine of the state’s Congressional districts.

86. Proof in Results for HopeWorks - Wednesday, May 5, 2010

HopeWorks, with a reputation for turning people’s lives around, now has the tracking data to prove it.

Less than 10 percent of its graduates from January 2006 to April 2010 who had criminal backgrounds ended up back behind bars. The faith-based program teaches job skills and provides career counseling to the chronically unemployed, including people with felony records.

87. Candidate Filing List -- The Final Version - Friday, February 19, 2010

Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell appeared on his way to the Republican nomination for Shelby County mayor at Thursday’s noon filing deadline for candidates on the May 4 primary ballot.

88. UPDATE: Mayor's Race Grows At Filing Deadline - Thursday, February 18, 2010

Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell appeared on his way to the Republican nomination for Shelby County mayor at Thursday’s noon filing deadline for candidates on the May 4 primary ballot.

Luttrell faces only token opposition from perennial candidate Ernie Lunati.

Meanwhile, the Democratic primary for mayor grew to three contenders as General Sessions Court Clerk Otis Jackson filed his qualifying petition just before the deadline. He joins interim County Mayor Joe Ford and Shelby County Commissioner Deidre Malone.

Luttrell ruled out a bid for Shelby County mayor last year (2009). But when Harold Byrd decided not to run in the Democratic primary, some local GOP leaders asked Luttrell to reconsider.

The result touched off a scramble of candidates from both parties for the open sheriff’s office. But before the noon deadline, the initial field of over a dozen possible contenders was narrowed to ten – six Democrats and four Republicans.

The other surprise at the filing deadline was the return of attorney Walter Bailey to the District 2 Position 1 seat he gave up in the 2006 elections. Bailey sought re-election then to another term despite a two term limit on commissioners. Bailey lost to J.W. Gibson who decided not to seek re-election. He also lost a court fight to overturn the term limits.

Bailey was the only candidate who had filed for the seat at the Thursday deadline.

Only one incumbent county commissioner – Republican Mike Ritz -- was effectively re-elected at the deadline because he had no opposition.

All but one of the eleven contested County Commission races will be decided with the May 4 primaries. The only general election battle for the August ballot is the district 5 contest between GOP challenger Dr. Rolando Toyos and whoever wins the May Democratic primary between incumbent Steve Mulroy and Jennings Bernard.

Former County Commissioner John Willingham also returned to the ballot among a field of Republican contenders in the primary for Shelby County Trustee.

And former Criminal Court Clerk Minerva Johnican joined the Democratic primary field for her old job. Incumbent Republican Bill Key pulled petition to seek re-election but did not file at the deadline.

Here is the list of races and contenders from The Shelby County Election Commission. All candidate have until noon Feb. 25 to withdraw from the ballot if they wish.

D-Democrat

R- Republican

I- Independent

Shelby County Mayor:

Deidre Malone (D)

Joe Ford (D)

Otis Jackson (D)

Mark Luttrell (R)

Ernest Lunati (R)

Leo Awgowhat (I)

Shelby County Sheriff:

James Coleman (R)

Bobby Simmons (R)

Bill Oldham (R)

Dale Lane (R)

Larry Hill (D)

Bennie Cobb (D)

Randy Wade (D)

James Bolden (D)

Elton Hymon (D)

Reginald French (D)

County Commission Dist 1 Pos 1

Mike Ritz (R) (incumbent)

County Commission Dist 1 Pos 2

Albert Maduska (R)

Heidi Shafer (R)

County Commission Dist 1 Pos 3

Mike Carpenter (R) (incumbent)

Joe Baire (R)

County Commission Dist 2 Pos 1

Walter Bailey (D)

County Commission Dist 2 Pos 2

Henri Brooks (D) (incumbent)

David Vinciarelli (D)

County Commission Dist 2 Pos 3

Eric Dunn (D)

Norma Lester (D)

Tina Dickerson (D)

Melvin Burgess (D)

Reginald Milton (D)

Freddie Thomas (D)

County Commission Dist 3 Pos 1

James Harvey (D) (incumbent)

James Catchings (D)

County Commission Dist. 3 Pos 2

Sidney Chism (D) (incumbent)

Andrew "Rome" Withers (D)

County Commission Dist. 3 Pos 3

Edith Moore  (D) (incumbent)

Justin Ford (D)

County Commission Dist 4 Pos 1

Chris Thomas (R)

John Pellicciotti (R)

Jim Bomprezzi (R)

County Commission Dist 4 Pos 2

Wyatt Bunker (R) (incumbent)

John Wilkerson (R)

Ron Fittes (R)

County Commission Dist 4 Pos 3

Terry Roland (R)

George Chism (R)

Edgar Babian (R)

County Commission Dist 5

Steve Mulroy (D) (incumbent)

Jennings Bernard (D)

Rolando Toyos (R)

Shelby County Clerk

Charlotte Draper (D)

Corey Maclin (D)

LaKeith Miller (D)

Wayne Mashburn (R)

Steve Moore (R)

Criminal Court Clerk

Vernon Johnson (D)

Minerva Johnican (D)

Ralph White (D)

Michael Porter (R)

Kevin Key (R)

Jerry Stamson (I)

Circuit Court Clerk

Jimmy Moore (R) (incumbent)

Steven Webster (D)

Carmichael Johnson (D)

Ricky W. Dixon (D)

Juvenile Court Clerk

Joy Touliatos (R)

Charles Marshall (D)

Sylvester Bradley (D)

Shep Wilbun (D)

Julia Roberson Wiseman (I)

Probate Court Clerk

Paul Boyd (R)

Sondra Becton (D)

Danny Kail (D)

Annita Sawyer Hamilton (D)

Peggy Dobbins (D)

Clay Perry (D)

Karen Tyler (D)

Shelby County Register

Tom Leatherwood (R) (incumbent)

Coleman Thompson (D)

Lady J. Swift (D)

Carlton Orange (D)

Shelby County Trustee

Regina Newman (D) (incumbent)

M. LaTroy Williams (D)

John Willingham (R)

Jeff Jacobs (R)

David Lenoir (R)

89. Compromise 101: Who’s going to fund the schools? - Monday, August 3, 2009

In the year he’s been head of the Memphis school system, Superintendent Kriner Cash has been virtually unflappable.

Since the Memphis school board hired him in July 2008, Cash has doggedly pitched a detailed plan for the school system’s renewal with dozens of specific goals in a well-traveled PowerPoint presentation.

90. Hope Works Swims Against Recession Tide to Rebuild Lives - Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Sometimes people who have made the wrong choices in life become so burdened by guilt they become resigned to being bad. Antonio Owens helps them confront that guilt so they can live a good life.

91. Events - Friday, February 27, 2009

The Memphis Bar Association will hold a free legal clinic Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Friendship United Methodist Church, 6220 U.S. 51 N. The clinic is free and open to the public and provides attendees with an opportunity to talk to an experienced attorney. Attorneys will see individuals on a first-come, first-served basis.

92. Events - Thursday, February 26, 2009

The Memphis Chapter of the Society of Information Management will present its annual Strategy Series for Executives today from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Esplanade Conference Complex, 901 Cordova Station. The theme of the series is “Charting a Course Through Challenging Times.” For more information or to register, visit www.hmgstrategy.com/events.

93. GOP Excludes Reporters From Annual Fundraiser - Friday, July 25, 2008

NASHVILLE (AP) – The state’s Republican Party spokesman said this year’s annual fundraiser will be closed to the news media even though reporters have been welcomed at previous dinners.

Communications Director Bill Hobbs told The Associated Press that the “Statesmen’s Dinner” scheduled for Saturday will be a “closed ticketed event and historically has not been open to the media.”

94. Obama Starts TV Ads in 4 Tennessee Markets - Tuesday, January 22, 2008

CHATTANOOGA (AP) - Barack Obama is running television advertisements in Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga and Knoxville, in what supporters say is the first such market buy for Tennessee's Feb. 5 Democratic presidential primary.

95. Archived Article: Memos - Wednesday, October 23, 2002
Marie Burgess, Marissa Mulhern, Elaine Wunderlich and Vince Mashburn joined Askew Hargraves Harcourt & Associates Inc

Seven attorneys from Burch, Porter & Johnson were included in the 2003-2004 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. C. T...

96. Archived Article: Memos - Wednesday, October 4, 2000
John Crow was elected to the board of directors for the Memphis Chapter of the American Institute of Architects John Crow was elected to the board of directors for the Memphis Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Donald A. Friedman was n...

97. Archived Article: Gov't (c'dovasuit) - Friday, January 8, 1999
Chancery Judge D Cordova zoning case requires expert review By KATHLEEN BURT The Daily News Chancery Judge D.J. Alissandratos will appoint a land-use expert to review a zoning decision made by the Memphis City Council in connection to a lawsuit file...