Here comes Trader Joe’s with a Friday opening in Germantown after lots of mystery and delays and changes for what is a pretty simple concept. For so many of us, this has been a long-hoped for goal. It’s kind of up there with smuggling in Coors beer from the west in the 70s before it became available everywhere and Coors had a brewery here.

2. Edmund Ford Jr. Sticks to Council, Commission Seats As He Pursues Transit Fee - Friday, September 14, 2018

Edmund Ford Jr. is pushing for a dedicated revenue stream for the Memphis Area Transit Authority and road projects while holding seats on the Memphis City Council and the Shelby County Commission.

And it could take him through the 90 days he has before he must give up the council seat, Ford said this week.

3. Council Approves Conditional Return of Beale Street Cover - Thursday, September 13, 2018

After much debate and consultation with attorneys, the Memphis City Council voted Tuesday, Sept. 11, to allow Memphis Police and the Downtown Memphis Commission to reinstate a cover charge for the Beale Street entertainment district.

4. Council Approves Conditional Return of Beale Cover - Wednesday, September 12, 2018

After much debate and consultation with attorneys, the Memphis City Council voted Tuesday, Sept. 11, to allow Memphis Police and the Downtown Memphis Commission to reinstate a cover charge for the Beale Street entertainment district.

5. Last Word: Rain and Lightning, Recycling Blues and Polls and Campaigns - Monday, September 10, 2018

Signs of festival season in the air Sunday after what was left of Tropical Storm Gordon dumped most of its remaining rain and wind on the city Saturday. The Central Gardens home tour was doing a brisk business Sunday afternoon with lots of foot traffic in light jackets and lines outside a few of the homes on Belvedere as Birds and golf carts buzzed around. Further south Cooper-Young practicing moderation a week ahead of its milestone event for festival season – a new mural on Young west of Cooper toward the Fairgrounds awaiting your judgment next weekend.

6. Leadership Holes in State Legislature - Thursday, September 6, 2018

With apologies to Robert Zimmerman, “the times they are a-changing.”

Unlike Bob Dylan’s 1964 song of rebellion, Capitol Hill isn’t turning into a bed of liberals, although someday the first could be last. In fact, it could turn more conservative this fall before things take a different direction. But leadership down the line in both parties is due for a big turnover.

7. Karl Dean Pledges Commitment to Completing Megasite - Thursday, September 6, 2018

Pointing at the need to bolster distressed West Tennessee counties, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Karl Dean is pledging to complete the Memphis Regional Megasite and appoint an adviser to oversee the project.

8. Karl Dean Pledges Bigger State Role in Memphis Economic Development - Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Karl Dean, the Democratic nominee for governor, says each of the 61 days he has campaigned in Memphis, someone has complained that the city has “been cut adrift by the state of Tennessee.”

9. Democratic Nominee for Governor Pledges Bigger State Role in Memphis Economic Development - Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Karl Dean, the Democratic nominee for governor, says each of the 61 days he has campaigned in Memphis, someone has complained that the city has “been cut adrift by the state of Tennessee.”

10. Code Enforcement Losing Esteemed Leader Allen Medlock to Retirement - Friday, August 31, 2018

About 50 years of experience in making Memphis-area buildings safer walks out the door Friday, Aug. 31, when Allen Medlock retires.

11. Memphis City Council Considers Surface Parking Lot at Main and Beale - Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Memphis City Council members vote Tuesday, Aug. 28, on a special-use permit to turn the land on the northeast corner of South Main Street and Beale Street into a surface parking lot with landscaping.

12. MPD Officer Unmasked as 'Bob Smith' in Federal Hearing - Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Memphis police Sgt. Tim Reynolds is “Bob Smith” – the fake Facebook persona the veteran officer used to befriend local protesters and monitor their activities.

13. TN Promise Needs More than 1,200 Local Volunteers - Monday, August 20, 2018

While thousands of students across the state are applying for TN Promise, tnAchieves, the organization that operates the program in 83 counties is recruiting 9,000 volunteers to serve as mentors.

Although TN Promise is a financial aid program, one critical component often overlooked is the volunteer mentor program. Mentors work with a small group of three to seven students as they transition from high school to college. Mentors send reminders of important deadlines, serve as a trusted college resource and, most importantly, encourage students to reach their full potential. All mentors complete a one-hour training in person or online, and attend two, one-hour meetings with their students over the course of the year.

14. Newsmakers: Aug. 15, 2018 - Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Joseph W. Smith, associate attorney at Rice, Amundsen & Caperton PLLC, has been selected as an associate member in the Leo S. Bearman Sr. American Inn of Court. Smith was nominated and voted by the Masters of the Inn. He began his legal career at Rice, Amundsen & Caperton as a runner during his undergraduate studies at the University of Memphis and continued as a law clerk while attending the U of M Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. He joined the firm as an attorney in May 2016 and focuses his practice on all aspects of domestic relations, including divorce, custody, support and adoption.

15. Memphis City Council Could Take Final Vote On Historic Districts Oversight - Tuesday, August 14, 2018

After a two-and-a-half-month delay, Memphis City Council members may be ready Tuesday, Aug. 14, to take a final vote on new rules for historic districts including more oversight by the council.

A vote on third and final reading of the ordinance was delayed in June so the sponsor, council member Kemp Conrad, could meet with all sides of the issue to come up with a compromise. The ordinance follows council votes to grant historic district status, with guidelines enforced by the Landmarks Commission, for the Cooper-Young and Speedway Terrace neighborhoods.

16. Large Subdivision Planned In De-annexed Area - Saturday, August 11, 2018

With plans submitted for a nearly 400-home subdivision, the city of Memphis could be missing out on more tax revenue than it originally anticipated when it recently de-annexed an area of Eads.

PFMT Holdings, a Tennessee limited liability company, is planning a 398-home subdivision on 130 acres at the southeast corner of Highway 64 and Cobb Road.

17. Large Subdivision Planned In De-annexed Area - Thursday, August 9, 2018

With plans submitted for a nearly 400-home subdivision, the city of Memphis could be missing out on more tax revenue than it originally anticipated when it recently de-annexed an area of Eads.

PFMT Holdings, a Tennessee limited liability company, is planning a 398-home subdivision on 130 acres at the southeast corner of Highway 64 and Cobb Road.

18. LeMoyne-Owen Adds Talent To Be More Competitive - Wednesday, August 8, 2018

As a child, Adriane Johnson-Williams remembers plucking honeysuckles off the fence as she passed Elmwood Cemetery, cutting through apartment buildings and meeting friends on the way to summer camp at LeMoyne-Owen College.

19. Human Case of West Nile Virus Confirmed in Tennessee - Monday, August 6, 2018

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee health officials say they have confirmed a human case of West Nile virus in Shelby County.

A statement from the Shelby County Health Department on Thursday says the virus has been detected in mosquitoes throughout the county and officials are advising residents to take extra precautions.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. University of Memphis, Slider Inn Projects Move Forward - Monday, July 30, 2018

1115 E. Getwell Loop St., Memphis, TN 38152 - Turner Construction Co. is beginning the first phase of a $10.6 million expansion and renovation of the University of Memphis’ athletic training facility on its Park Avenue campus. 

25. TIF Designation Could Bring Poplar Improvements - Saturday, July 28, 2018

With several office, hotel and mixed-use projects planned along the Poplar Corridor, a group of property owners want a public financing subsidy to help pay for infrastructure improvements.

The Poplar Corridor Business District Association of Owners, a nonprofit formed by several Poplar Avenue property owners for the purpose of “improving the economy, aesthetics and quality of life within the Poplar Corridor Business District,” is asking the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County board to establish a tax increment financing district immediately east and west of Interstate 240, according to documents made publicly available Monday, July 23.

26. Last Word: T.O. Jones, One Beale's Launch and De-Annexation in Trouble - Wednesday, July 25, 2018

You might call it the final act of the MLK 50 observances around our city this year. With very little fanfare at the start of Tuesday’s city council session, the council honored T.O. Jones, the leader of the union representing city sanitation workers and the leader of the 1968 strike by those workers. Jones was a pivotal figure in the strike who soon after lost his position with the local union in the internal politics of AFSCME as the local became a powerful political symbol.

27. TIF Designation Could Bring Improvements to Poplar Ave. - Tuesday, July 24, 2018

With several office, hotel and mixed-use projects planned along the Poplar Corridor, a group of property owners want a public financing subsidy to help pay for infrastructure improvements.

The Poplar Corridor Business District Association of Owners, a nonprofit formed by several Poplar Avenue property owners for the purpose of “improving the economy, aesthetics and quality of life within the Poplar Corridor Business District,” is asking the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County board to establish a tax increment financing district immediately east and west of Interstate 240, according to documents made publicly available Monday, July 23.

28. 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.

29. The Week Ahead: July 23-29 - Monday, July 23, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! Get ready to stock up on back-to-school gear during Tennessee’s sales tax holiday is this weekend. Plus, swoop in for a superhero double feature and boogie down on National Dance Day. Here’s the lowdown on all those and more hot happenings in The Week Ahead…

30. Last Word: MemFix 4's Big Weekend, Early Voting Six Days In and Grizz Moves - Friday, July 20, 2018

A big weekend to avoid the interstate with a rare closing of I-240 between the 385 split and the I-40 split and Poplar over I-240 also closed in both directions. This kicks in Friday evening and runs up to Monday morning’s rush hour as TDOT crews work to replace four bridges in East Memphis using a relatively new process in which parts of the bridges are assembled in advance and then moved into place. The bridges are both Poplar bridges, the Park Avenue bridge and the Norfolk Southern rail bridge. And this will happen all over again in about a week’s time using the same schedule, weather permitting. Weekenders on the interstate already have some experience with a milder version of this with the interstate projects on the south leg

31. Shortages of Serviced Lots, Skilled Labor Plague Builders and Developers - Saturday, July 21, 2018

Despite a booming housing market for the past few years, construction on new housing in Memphis still remains low and is considered by some to be the last missing piece of the puzzle.

Two main limiting factors to new home construction in West Tennessee right now, according to Donald Glays, executive director of the West Tennessee Home Builders Association, are a shortage of serviced lots and a shortage of skilled laborers, such as plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, framers, roofers and bricklayers – all trades that are seriously underserved.

32. More Detailed Fairgrounds Plan Includes Smaller Garage, Lower Priced Sports Site - Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland plans to take a more specific $95 million to $100 million plan for Fairgrounds redevelopment to the City Council and Shelby County Commission in two weeks and the state building commission in Nashville in the fall.

33. Lake District’s Newest Tenant, New Medical District Apartments - Monday, July 2, 2018

3536 Canada Road,
Lakeland, TN 38002

Tenant: Gould’s Salon and Spa

34. June 29-July 5, 2018: This week in Memphis history - Saturday, June 30, 2018

2016: Four children – ages 6 months to 4 years old – are found stabbed to death in their apartment at The Greens of Irene complex in southeast Shelby County. A fifth child, 7 years old, escapes the house and alerts neighbors, who call Shelby County sheriff’s deputies. The mother of the children, Shanynthia Gardner, is charged with the murders.

35. Arkansas man charged in fatal Tennessee crash - Wednesday, June 27, 2018

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — An Arkansas man has been indicted in a crash that killed a 22-year-old Tennessee woman.

The Shelby County District Attorney's Office said Monday that 28-year-old William Lapradd has been charged with reckless vehicular homicide. He is out of jail on $60,000 bail.

36. Triplett Returns to Ensafe as Director of Design Engineering - Wednesday, June 27, 2018

After beginning his career with EnSafe in 1990 and working his way up to project manager and lead engineer over the next 17-plus years, Chris Triplett has rejoined the company as its director of design engineering. He spent the past decade working with Barge Design Solutions, and in his new role Triplett will provide leadership to EnSafe’s corporate engineering design group for design execution and delivery. He will also work closely with clients across EnSafe’s landscape to understand their needs and to provide engineering solutions.

37. Sprint Triathlons Saturday At Shelby Farms Park - Friday, June 22, 2018

The 3rd Annual Annie Oakley & Buffalo Bill Super Sprint and Sprint Triathlons will be Saturday, June 23, at Shelby Farms Park (south of the intersection of Farm Road and Walnut Grove Road). The event includes four races: an all-women super sprint triathlon, an all-women sprint triathlon, an all-men super sprint triathlon, and an all-men sprint triathlon.

38. Binghampton Apartments, Parkside TIF Get EDGE Greenlight - Thursday, June 21, 2018

Several hundred new apartments, a South Memphis grocery store and a new TIF district were all given the green light by the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County during a busy Wednesday, June 20, board meeting. 

39. Council Approves 13-Year Contract with MRPP - Thursday, June 21, 2018

Memphis City Council members gave the Memphis River Parks Partnership a 13-year contract to manage and operate the city’s riverside parks Tuesday, June 19, with a 10-year renewal option.

The MRPP, which until earlier this year was the Riverfront Development Corp., sought a 10-year contract with the city in order to promote the stability of the organization in drawing private and philanthropic funding for the city’s riverfront plan.

40. Council Approves 13-Year Contract with MRPP, Makes End of Fiscal Year Moves - Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Memphis City Council members gave the Memphis River Parks Partnership a 13-year contract to manage and operate the city’s riverside parks Tuesday, June 19, with a 10-year renewal option.

The MRPP, which until earlier this year was the Riverfront Development Corp., sought a 10-year contract with the city in order to promote the stability of the organization in drawing private and philanthropic funding for the city’s riverfront plan.

41. Council Approves 13-Year Contract With MRPP, Makes End of Fiscal Year Moves - Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Memphis City Council members gave the Memphis River Parks Partnership a 13-year contract to manage and operate the city’s riverside parks Tuesday, June 19, with a 10-year renewal option.

The MRPP, which until earlier this year was the Riverfront Development Corp., sought a 10-year contract with the city in order to promote the stability of the organization in drawing private and philanthropic funding for the city’s riverfront plan.

42. 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.

43. Last Word: Kiwanis Debate, Haslam on the Gov. Race and Street Work - Thursday, June 14, 2018

For the last couple of days there has been this brewing story that Kim Kardashian West was on her way to the city to meet with Alice Marie Johnson, the convicted drug dealer sentenced to life in prison who was pardoned by President Donald Trump last week after serving 21 years in federal prison. And that is just what happened Wednesday – almost. The meeting was in Southaven. And, according to People, it included lessons in how to use Snapchat. The meeting included an interview with the Today show that will air Thursday morning.

44. Bartlett High Joins Wave of School Construction - Friday, June 8, 2018

Though summer break has started, some of the school-year buzz remained on the campus of Bartlett High School this week as a group of adults gathered with ceremonial shovels for a groundbreaking.

Student-athletes came and went from other parts of the sprawling 26-acre campus that has been home to Bartlett’s only high school for more than a century.

45. Last Word: The Commutation, Tuition Freeze and Blackburn and Sundquist - Thursday, June 7, 2018

Alice Marie Johnson walked out of a federal prison in Alabama Wednesday after serving 21 years of a life prison sentence for dealing drugs and laundering money as part of a Memphis drug ring with Texas connections in the 1990s. Johnson’s release came the same day that President Donald Trump commuted her life sentence less than a week after he met with reality television personality Kim Kardashian West who appealed for Johnson’s release. Here is the Associated Press story.

46. Allegiant Air Offering Nonstop Flights to Oakland - Saturday, June 2, 2018

Allegiant Air is offering new nonstop service between Memphis International Airport (MEM) and Oakland International Airport (OAK), the company announced. The flight will run twice weekly on Wednesday and Saturday.

47. Big River Summer - Friday, June 1, 2018

There hasn’t been a formal opening ceremony for the part of the Big River Trail across the West Memphis flood plain on the Arkansas side of the Mississippi River, part of a 7-mile loop bikers and hikers began using last fall.

48. Last Word: Kim Kardashian's Plea, The Duran Stay and Mid-Term Moves - Thursday, May 31, 2018

A drug case from Memphis federal court in the early 1990s was the reason Kim Kardashian West was at the White House Wednesday. Kardashian West is among those pushing for a presidential pardon for Alice Marie Johnson – serving a life sentence on a federal drug and money laundering conviction. Here is the Associated Press story.

49. Allegiant Offering Nonstop Service from Memphis to Oakland - Thursday, May 31, 2018

Allegiant Air is offering new nonstop service between Memphis International Airport (MEM) and Oakland International Airport (OAK), the company announced. The flight will run twice weekly on Wednesday and Saturday.

50. Are Nonprofits For ‘Them’ Or For Everyone? - Tuesday, May 29, 2018

The impact of the nonprofit sector can be felt in all aspects of our individual and collective lives. We may not always see that impact, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

Direct services, advocacy, education, research and performing arts are but a few of the types of organizations with impact that rolls, ripples and roars across our country and beyond our borders.

51. Last Word: A New Council Member, Law Without Signature and Corker Down Under - Tuesday, May 22, 2018

The Memphis City Council should be back up to full strength by the time Tuesday becomes Wednesday. Filling the Super District 9 seat left vacant by the resignation earlier this month of Philip Spinosa to join the leadership of the Greater Memphis Chamber is on the council’s agenda Tuesday afternoon – the last item on the agenda. But the council usually skips around.

52. May 18-24, 2018: This week in Memphis history - Saturday, May 19, 2018

1993: On the front page of The Daily News, The Memphis-Shelby County Sports Authority is readying its public relations campaign for an NFL team in Memphis. Memphis is competing with St. Louis; Baltimore; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Jacksonville, Florida. All of the cities except Memphis would eventually get an NFL franchise and the bid would be the city’s last effort at landing an NFL team.

53. Dot Transportation To Open Terminal In West Memphis - Friday, May 18, 2018

With a new distribution terminal opening in West Memphis this month, Dot Transportation, an affiliate of Dot Foods Inc., is looking to hire new truck drivers to add to its fleet.

54. AutoZone Expanding Downtown, One Commerce Square Hits Market - Monday, May 14, 2018

40 S. Main St.

Memphis, TN 38103

Property: One Commerce Square Building 

Seller: Memphis Commerce Square Partners LLC

Details: One Commerce Square, the fourth-largest building in Memphis, has hit the market.

55. Last Word: Veto Override Drama, Iran Reaction & Rise of the Rest Meets Soundways - Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Shelby County Commissioners have a busy committee day Wednesday with a budget presentation – county mayor Mark Luttrell’s final one as the county’s chief executive, more discussions about the Graceland plan and a veto override.

56. Stengel Elected President Of Construction Counsel Association - Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Evans Petree PC shareholder Elizabeth B. Stengel has been elected the first female president of the Tennessee Association of Construction Counsel, a not-for-profit professional association of Tennessee attorneys with practices related to the construction industry.

57. Strickland: City Given Enough For Entertainment - Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland says he would support some kind of incentives for the manufacturing facility Graceland wants to open in Whitehaven. But not if it’s linked to a greater share of city and county property tax revenue for a 6,200-seat arena Graceland also wants to build.

58. Last Word: About The Election Turnout, Luttrell's Last Budget and Gold Records - Thursday, May 3, 2018

It turns out election turnout in Tuesday’s county primary elections was up from the same election cycle four years ago – almost 19,000 more voters – a 14.9 percent turnout if you only go by the number of “active” voters – 13.4 percent if you go with combined active and “inactive”. Yes, when last we met, I said it was a decrease from 2014. It’s not. And here is how that happened.

59. Last Word: Graceland Offensive, Mural Lawsuit, and a TNReady Encore - Friday, April 27, 2018

It’s on in The Haven. Graceland’s managing partner, Joel Weinshanker, is looking to turn out Whitehaven residents in support of Graceland’s plans for a 5,000 to 6,000 seat arena and in the process a showdown over just what the city and county noncompete for FedExForum means. During a townhall meeting at Guest House Thursday evening, Weinshanker made his case to about 150 Whitehaven residents and around eight or nine candidates in this election year. And he said the chief problem is Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland won’t talk to him about projects he says will open up Whitehaven for future economic development and prosperity.

60. Last Word: Last Day of Early Voting, Senate Poll and Legislature Goes to Overtime - Thursday, April 26, 2018

The last day of early voting before the May 1 election day is Thursday. And the turnout count through Wednesday has eclipsed the total early voting turnout in this same set of elections in 2010 and 2014. You can find a list of early voting locations and the hours at www.shelbyvote.com, the website of the Shelby County Election Commission. The winners on election night next Tuesday advance to the August county general election.

61. Republican Contenders for County Mayor Offer Different Views on Taxes - Wednesday, April 25, 2018

The three Republican primary contenders for Shelby County mayor have spent a lot of their time together talking about taxes this campaign season.

Shelby County commissioner Terry Roland has talked about the last budget season’s two-cent reduction in the county property tax rate after the tax rate was adjusted down to a new certified rate following the 2017 property reappraisal.

62. Mayor Strickland Takes Third Budget Proposal to City Council - Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland takes his third budget proposal to the Memphis City Council Tuesday, April 24, opening City Hall’s budget season with what is expected to be a budget that keeps the city property tax rate stable.

63. Opioid Litigation, FedExForum NonCompete Top Local Law Developments - Saturday, April 21, 2018

Here are some of the legal issues making news in recent months.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery says lawsuits by local prosecutors over the opioid epidemic are complicating his efforts to reach a multistate settlement with drug companies. In response, the prosecutors, who represent about half of Tennessee's counties, say local communities lose out when lawsuits like theirs are rolled into one settlement.

64. Regional Win - Saturday, April 21, 2018

In an increasingly interconnected world, having a cohesive economic regionalism strategy is becoming more of a must-have for successful metropolitan areas.

To facilitate this, the Urban Land Institute held Memphis’ first RegionSmart Summit in 2016 to gather all of the area’s government, economic development and community leaders in one place to collectively address some of the region’s most pressing planning and development issues.

65. Republican Contenders for Mayor Say City Paying for Monuments Misstep - Thursday, April 19, 2018

The three Republican contenders for Shelby County Mayor believe the city of Memphis acted improperly in removing Confederate monuments from city parks last year and is, in effect, paying the piper for challenging the Tennessee Legislature.

66. Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation Puts $5 Million in Whitehaven Park Renovation - Wednesday, April 18, 2018

A Whitehaven park is getting a $5 million remake, including a $900,000 endowment fund to keep the new David Carnes Park ready for recreation.

67. Overton Square Adds Two New Restaurants in One Week - Monday, April 16, 2018

2110 Madison Ave.

Memphis, TN 38104

Lease Amount: 3,790 square feet 

Tenant: Bogard

Tenant’s Agent: Barry Maynard, LRG

Landlord: Loeb Properties Inc.

68. UTHSC Addiction Center To Host Opioid Forums - Tuesday, April 10, 2018

The Center for Addiction Science at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and the Memphis Area Prevention Coalition will present forums April 18 and 19 to educate health care providers, first responders and the public on recognizing and treating opioid use disorder.

69. 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.

70. Local Investor Buys Apartments Near U of M - Saturday, April 7, 2018

Local multifamily property owner Harvard Stephens has purchased a 92-unit apartment complex about a mile and a half from the University of Memphis for $2.5 million.

In the deal, Stephens purchased the townhouse-style Commons at Brentwood, located at 2853 Waverly Ave., from the Orange Mound Development Corp., doing business as Commons at Brentwood LLC, according to a March 21 warranty deed filed with the Shelby County Register.

71. Events - Saturday, April 7, 2018

Art by Design, a designer showcase benefiting ArtsMemphis, is underway through Sunday, April 8, in the Pipkin Building at the Mid-South Fairgrounds. More than a dozen interior design team have created custom “vignettes” within a chic gallery showroom, with special presentations each day. Single-day tickets are $20.  Visit artsmemphis.org for details and hours.

72. Last Word: I Am A Man Plaza, Graceland Clears EDGE and Filing Deadline Action - Friday, April 6, 2018

Sometimes the simplest concepts say more than an elaborate explanation can – even when the history it depicts is complex. A plaza dedicated to the 1,300 city sanitation workers who went on strike in 1968 formally opened Thursday on what had been a vacant lot just across Pontotoc from the south side of Clayborn Temple. And the occasion included more of the small moments that have made this week so compelling. Watching civil rights icon Rev. James Lawson walk around the plaza and discover it includes one of his quotes from the 1968 strike.

73. 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.

74. Events - Friday, April 6, 2018

Art by Design, a designer showcase benefiting ArtsMemphis, is underway through Sunday, April 8, in the Pipkin Building at the Mid-South Fairgrounds. More than a dozen interior design team have created custom “vignettes” within a chic gallery showroom, with special presentations each day. Single-day tickets are $20. Visit artsmemphis.org for details and hours.

75. Local Investor Buys Apartments Near U of M - Thursday, April 5, 2018

Local multifamily property owner Harvard Stephens has purchased a 92-unit apartment complex about a mile and a half from the University of Memphis for $2.5 million.

In the deal, Stephens purchased the townhouse-style Commons at Brentwood, located at 2853 Waverly Ave., from the Orange Mound Development Corp., doing business as Commons at Brentwood LLC, according to a March 21 warranty deed filed with the Shelby County Register.

76. Events - Thursday, April 5, 2018

The city of Memphis dedicates I Am A Man Plaza with a ceremony and open house Thursday, April 5, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the plaza, which is adjacent to Clayborn Temple at Hernando Street and Pontotoc Avenue. The city plaza is dedicated to the 1,300 city sanitation workers that went on strike in 1968 and includes a wall with the names of the strikers. Thursday’s event will also feature food trucks and live performances. Cost is free. Visit iammemphis.org.

77. Lenoir: County Tax Decrease Was ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ - Tuesday, April 3, 2018

With the estimate last month of an $18 million to $25 million county budget surplus for the fiscal year that ends June 30, taxes are about to become an even bigger issue in the Republican primary for Shelby County mayor.

78. The Week Ahead: April 2-8 - Monday, April 2, 2018

Hello, Memphis! We celebrate the courage of a man this week who improved the lives of so many. The somber occasion of remembering his death 50 years ago should not overshadow the admiration we have for someone who refused to not speak up against obvious injustices in spite of the danger it put him in.

79. The Aftermath: Memphis' Political Journey Since 1968 - Saturday, March 31, 2018

For 50 years and counting, April 4 has been an important day in the life of Memphis.

To some Memphians, it is a holy day; to others, it’s a day of reflection, or perhaps one of action and service.

80. MLK 50 Years Later - Saturday, March 31, 2018

Bernard Lafayette remembers being in Memphis April 3, 1968, and a dejected Martin Luther King Jr. being roused from his room at the Lorraine Motel to speak at Mason Temple on a rainy night.

81. Explore Bike Share Reveals Station Locations - Wednesday, March 28, 2018

The launch of Explore Bike Share is getting closer with the nonprofit revealing Wednesday, March 28, the locations of the stations for the 600-bike system.

Explore Bike Share’s 60 stations span from Downtown, South Memphis and Cooper-Young to Orange Mound, Overton Square and Crosstown. The stations and bikes are being funded through a combination of donations from foundations and individuals, plus a $2.2 million federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality grant, said Explore Bike Share executive director Trey Moore.

82. Prescription for Tragedy - Saturday, March 24, 2018

He has his own GPS, an internal shield that keeps him from driving anywhere near 637 Poplar Ave. Home to the Memphis morgue. That’s where they showed Jerry Davidson his 22-year-old son, Oliver, his eyes closed and his lips purple.

83. Last Word: Hardaway Day, 'Our Turn' and Elvis Documentary Takes on Col. Parker - Tuesday, March 20, 2018

By the time Penny Hardaway is formally announced as the new Tigers basketball coach Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. the reaction could make you wonder what is going to be left by the time the first Tigers team led by Hardaway takes the court next season. Among those reacting Monday to the word of a contract agreement between Hardaway and the University was none other than LeBron James tweeting about the Tigers possible choices of footwear.

84. Southwest Adds Nonstop MEM Service to Denver - Saturday, March 17, 2018

Southwest Airlines has announced that it will begin a new nonstop route from Memphis International Airport to Denver International Airport effective Oct. 3.

The daily flights to and from Denver will operate out of a 143-seat Boeing 737 aircraft.

85. Raleigh Springs Marketplace Sells for $6.2 Million - Saturday, March 17, 2018

A large retail strip center across Austin Peay Highway from the former Raleigh Springs Mall has sold for more than $6 million as the city of Memphis prepares to build its Raleigh Town Center concept on the site of the razed mall.

86. Riviana, Ebrofrost Continue Work On $26M Frozen Food Facility - Monday, March 19, 2018

2360 Prospect St.

Memphis, TN 38106

Permit Amount: $3.1 million

Project Cost: $26.5 million

Application Date: March 2018

Owner: Riviana Foods

87. Raleigh Springs Marketplace Sells for $6.2 Million - Thursday, March 15, 2018

A large retail strip center across Austin Peay Highway from the former Raleigh Springs Mall has sold for more than $6 million as the city of Memphis prepares to build its Raleigh Town Center concept on the site of the razed mall.

88. Southwest Adds Nonstop MEM Service to Denver - Monday, March 12, 2018

Southwest Airlines has announced that it will begin a new nonstop route from Memphis International Airport to Denver International Airport effective Oct. 3.

The daily flights to and from Denver will operate out of a 143-seat Boeing 737 aircraft.

89. Allegiant Adds Nonstop Service to California - Saturday, March 10, 2018

Allegiant will be adding new nonstop service between Memphis International Airport and Oakland International Airport (OAK) beginning May 30.

The seasonal biweekly flight will run on Wednesdays and Saturdays and end in mid-August. However, much like Allegiant’s Memphis to Los Angeles route, strong demand could open the door for year-round service.

90. Digest - Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Memphis Grizzlies Suffer 15th Consecutive Loss

The Grizzlies lost their 15th straight game, 119-110 at Chicago, on Wednesday, March 7.

The team has not won since defeating the Phoenix Suns at FedExForum on Jan. 29.

91. Civil War Re-Enactor Outflanked On Statues, Medicaid Expansion - Friday, March 9, 2018

When state Rep. Steve McDaniel was a youngster he often read the historical marker at the intersection of Highway 22 and Wildersville Road detailing Confederate Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest’s first West Tennessee raid in the Battle of Parker’s Crossroads.

92. Republican Mayoral Candidates Find Ways to Differentiate - Friday, March 9, 2018

The three contenders in the May Republican primary for Shelby County mayor didn’t disagree on much when they met this week at the Southwind clubhouse. But David Lenoir, Joy Touliatos and Terry Roland did try to distinguish themselves from the other two in a relatively spark-free first encounter as a trio.

93. Last Word: On The EDGE, Tubby Smith and Timing and TVA Keeps Its Wells Off - Thursday, March 8, 2018

Remember when the Memphis City Council and the Shelby County Commission got together a week ago at Beale Street Landing? Here’s a refresher. Among those watching the discussion was Richard Smith, the chairman of the Greater Memphis Chamber, who responded to the criticism of the local approach to economic development this week with an email to members of both bodies that could prompt some changes to the approach and specifically to EDGE.

94. Allegiant Adds New Nonstop Flight to California - Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Allegiant will be adding a new nonstop service between Memphis International Airport and Oakland International Airport beginning May 30.

The seasonal biweekly flight will run on Wednesdays and Saturdays and end in mid-August.

95. The Week Ahead: March 5-11, 2018 - Monday, March 5, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! Daylight Saving Time is just around the corner, but you don’t have to sit around waiting to “spring forward” next Sunday. From defying gravity at “Wicked” to creating a ChalkFest masterpiece, here’s our list of things to do in The Week Ahead....

96. Lawmakers Consider Armed Off-Duty Officers for Schools - Friday, March 2, 2018

Saying “this is Tennessee, not Florida” and school officers here will face trouble head-on, state Rep. Antonio Parkinson is co-sponsoring legislation to arm off-duty police to patrol public schools.

97. Driving the Dream - Thursday, March 1, 2018

The aim of United Way of the Mid-South’s “Driving the Dream” project is still the same: Provide the means for more people to lift themselves out of poverty and, over time, achieve self-sufficiency.

98. 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.

99. 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.”

100. Last Word: Corker & Blackburn, More Frost and Dale Watson's Move to The Haven - Friday, February 23, 2018

It's possible around City Hall these days to get your RFQs mixed up with your RFPs. And there is a difference in requests for qualifications and requests for proposals. Usually RFQs come before RFPs – but there are exceptions – loopholes. The latest RFQ out of City Hall – album title or t-shirt slogan? – is for the adaptive reuse of the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.