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. Renasant Bank Opens Branch In Bartlett, Completes Acquisition - Saturday, September 15, 2018

Tupelo, Mississippi-based Renasant Bank (NASDAQ: RNST) officially opened its newest branch in Bartlett on Thursday, Sept. 12, as a strategic entry into one of Memphis’ oldest neighborhood communities.

3. Five Below Store Coming to Bartlett Towne Center - Thursday, September 13, 2018

A store that’s hot in the market for selling “hot,’’ trendy products for $5 or less to teens and tweens is coming to Bartlett.

Five Below has signed a lease for 8,680 square feet in Bartlett Towne Center at the southeast corner of Stage and Bartlett Boulevard, according to the Memphis office of The Shopping Center Group.

4. Last Word: Gun Group Endorsements, Kirby Complexities and Purple Haze Closes - Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Two races on the Nov. 6 ballot within the Shelby County legislative delegation to Nashville getting some attention as our Nashville correspondent Sam Stockard takes a look at “gun sense” ratings from the group Moms Demand Action, which has called for stricter gun laws.

5. Suburban Superintendents Mark Fifth School Year in Changing Times for Education - Tuesday, September 11, 2018

When he began creating the Bartlett City Schools system five years ago, superintendent David Stephens had more middle schools than he had middle school students in the suburban city. And the high school-aged population was split between Bartlett and Bolton high schools.

6. Last Word: Keeping Kirby Together, Out of State Tuition and Memphis at Navy - Friday, September 7, 2018

I’ve seen school officials have some pretty interesting conversations with parents and students over the last few decades – explaining the school merger comes to mind immediately, of course the demerger too, along with the always charged conversations surrounding busing and even the kidnapping of a child from a school building. But when SCS superintendent Dorsey Hopson met parents and students from Kirby High School Thursday evening in Hickory Hill, it was new ground. The subject was rats – lots of rats.

7. Tennessee Homes Ranked Easy to Sell - Wednesday, September 5, 2018

SmartAsset, a New York-based financial technology company, has ranked cities in the U.S. by the number of days their homes for sale spend on the market.

And for some cities in Tennessee, the news is pretty good for home sellers.

8. Last Word: Selling Local Soccer, Football's Arrival and Luttrell's Vetoes - Tuesday, September 4, 2018

So the United Soccer League Memphis franchise is to be called Memphis FC 901. The branding was launched as the Labor Day weekend began with a video that is part Rogues nostalgia, soccer at school memories and a liberal dose of Grit ‘n’ Grind rhetoric from another sports franchise just down the street from AutoZone Park. The combination is another example of sports carrying the banner for the promotion of Memphis in general.

9. Trial in Lawsuit Alleging Mishandled Burials Set to Begin - Tuesday, September 4, 2018

MEMPHIS (AP) — Galilee Memorial Gardens, the Tennessee cemetery where caskets were crushed and stacked, remains were mishandled and bodies were lost, remains closed.

But the dispute about who should pay for the problems at the burial ground in the Memphis suburb of Bartlett is alive and active.

10. Gov. Haslam Hears Concerns for TNReady Credibility at Collierville Forum - Monday, September 3, 2018

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam heard from a group of Memphis and Shelby County educators that the state’s TNReady test has credibility issues with parents and doesn’t provide reliable data quickly enough for teachers to make better use of it in improving student achievement.

11. Memphis Millennials in Search of American Dream Amid Competitive Market - Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Crystal Carpenter and her husband, Curtis, have been trying to buy a house since July of last year. The millennials currently are living with Curtis’ father and have been searching for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom home in several Memphis neighborhoods. After seven unsuccessful bids, three of which were above asking price, they now are considering renting a condo or apartment as a short-term solution while they continue their search.

12. Last Word: Tiger Fortunes, Union Mission Expansion and Beale Cause and Effect - Friday, August 31, 2018

The Tigers open the football season Saturday at the Liberty Bowl against Mercer and many of you are ready for football season – college or NFL but rarely both – to begin. Never mind that the World Series still awaits in October or that every time I look up at an NFL pre season game someone is running a kickoff back from one end zone to another because no one wants anyone to hit too hard out there until it counts.

13. MATA’s Lack of Funding Could Result in Route Cuts - Thursday, August 30, 2018

The Memphis Area Transit Authority is proposing several adjustments to its bus network, including the elimination of seven routes. Tuesday night, MATA held a public hearing at the Benjamin Hooks Central Library for the proposed changes, which can be found here. 

14. Last Word: Rallings Talks Bridge, Bird at U of M and Spec Industrial - Thursday, August 23, 2018

Part of the unofficial job description of an activist can be to be as provocative as possible. And provocative is what the attorneys and the judge in the Memphis Police surveillance lawsuit trial in federal court got Wednesday from Keedran Franklin. Franklin is one of the activists/protesters in the recent wave of protests locally in the last two to three years who was being watched closely by Memphis Police.

15. Heros Receives Top Honor from TDA - Thursday, August 23, 2018

Giving back to the local community that has given him so much just comes naturally for dentist Dr. Fernando “Fred” Heros, who was recently honored with the Jack Wells Memorial Dedication to Dentistry Award, the highest recognition from the Tennessee Dental Association. “It’s an incredible award, and receiving it is one of the highlights of my life,” Heros said. “I’m so proud.”

16. The Week Ahead: Aug. 20-26 - Monday, August 20, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! Fall is just around the corner and the weather later this week may give a you a more convincing notion of that. Here is a list of events and meetings that may be of interest as you get the week started.

17. 11 of 30 Suburban Races in November Decided at Filing Deadline - Monday, August 20, 2018

Of the 30 elected positions on the Nov. 6 ballot in five suburban towns and cities in Shelby County, 11 were decided at the Thursday, Aug. 16, deadline for candidates to file their qualifying petitions.

18. Last Word: Suburban Elections, Charter Changes and Aretha Franklin - Friday, August 17, 2018

Almost there for the November ballot with Thursday’s qualifying deadline for the contenders in the five sets of elections in five of the six suburban towns and cities. Three mayor’s races – all contested -- in Germantown, Lakeland and Bartlett. 11 races decided at the deadline with candidates running unopposed. Something of a surprise in one of the Millington alderman races.

19. 11 of 30 Suburban Races in November Decided at Filing Deadline - Friday, August 17, 2018

Of the 30 elected positions on the Nov. 6 ballot in five of the six suburban towns and cities in Shelby County, 11 were decided at the noon, Thursday, Aug. 16, deadline for candidates to file their qualifying petitions.

20. $161M in Contracts Awarded for Makeover of Memphis International Airport’s Concourse B - Friday, August 17, 2018

Memphis International Airport’s $245 million makeover of B Concourse marched toward a September construction launch Thursday with approval of $161 million in related contracts that will create thousands of jobs.

21. ServiceMaster to Hold Annual Day of Service - Friday, August 17, 2018

More than 3,000 ServiceMaster employees, including nearly 700 from Memphis home offices, will fan out to schools, charities and neighborhoods Friday for a fifth annual day of service.

We Care Day at ServiceMaster will focus on cleanup and beautification, delivery and preparation of school supplies and meals, and helping hospital patients and disadvantaged children.

22. Last Word: Southgate Signs, Suburban Deadline and Kingsbury Allegations - Thursday, August 16, 2018

Seven months after it closed, the Kroger supermarket at the Southgate shopping center reopened Wednesday as a CashSaver grocery store in what has to be a blueprint for future efforts but is also nonetheless something that is not easily replicated. Showing the way on this has been The Works Inc. at its store at the South Memphis Farmers Market. We wrote about this earlier this year just as the Southgate solution began to take shape.

23. Saint Francis-Bartlett Extends Teen Program - Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett is expanding its summer “Volunteen” program, which provides opportunities for rising juniors and seniors to gain exposure to the field of health care while also giving back through volunteerism at the hospital.

24. Day One - Monday, August 6, 2018

Five school years into the historic merger and demerger of public education in Shelby County, the start of the sixth school year classes this month shows the change is establishing very real roots.

25. 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.

26. 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.

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

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

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

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

29. Legacy Of High School Golf Star Continues At ‘The Bubba’ - Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Thirty-eight years ago, Larry Conlee started a golf tournament to remember a son he had just lost.

30. Germantown Retail Center Sells for $13M, Orion Files Permit for New HQ - Monday, July 23, 2018

1245 N. Germantown Parkway,
Cordova, TN 38016

Sale Amount: $12.6 million

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. With Memphis Heritage’s New Store, New Life Breathed into Pieces of Old Memphis - Saturday, July 21, 2018

A train station’s bathroom door. The terra cotta trim of a medical building. An oblong sink that preservationist plucked from a now-demolished building on South Front Street.

Pieces of old Memphis get new opportunities for use at an Edge neighborhood store that once housed a body shop. Heritage Building Supply opened in November.

33. City Auto to Cut Ribbon On Car-Buying Center - Thursday, July 19, 2018

On Friday, July 20, City Auto will host a ribbon cutting with the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce to unveil its new car-buying center.

City Auto spent $100,000 to renovate its existing facility at 4956 Elmore Road, near Covington Pike Boulevard. The new center will house a new staff focused solely on buying pre-owned cars from people. The four full-time employees will be salaried, instead of working on commission.

34. Midtown Property Switches Hands for $2.2M - Tuesday, July 17, 2018

The vacant lot on Union Avenue where Sean’s Cafe & Smooth Moves juice bar once stood, will soon be home to the latest Pinnacle Financial Partners bank branch.

Property owner 1615 Union Development LLC sold the parcel for $2.2 million,according a July 13 warranty deed Monday for the former cafe lot. In conjunction with the purchase, new owners Balvinder Kumar and Jatinder Sharma took out a $1.5 million loan from Bank of Bartlett for the former drug store property.

35. Frayser Bauhaus Draws Preview Crowd of 300 - Monday, July 16, 2018

The investor developer of a Bauhaus-style home from the late 1940s in Frayser says the area is the “next frontier” in Memphis real estate.

“I’m super passionate about Frayser. When I came out here and saw the beautiful rolling hills, I’m like, ‘This is the next frontier,’” Dana Gabrion told a group of 300 people outside the house at 3590 Thomas St. at Floyd Avenue Thursday, July 12.

36. Early Opening - Friday, July 13, 2018

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

37. Last Word: Another Twist in Court, Harris-Lenoir at NCRM and Fairgrounds Specifics - Wednesday, July 11, 2018

One more twist in the early voting schedule that kicks off Friday. It came in the second day of hearings Tuesday in Chancery Court as Chancellor JoeDae Jenkins was preparing to sign the court order from Monday night’s hearing. The election commission said it couldn’t meet the order’s deadline of opening all 27 sites on Monday. Jenkins made it a Tuesday opening but this nearly went off the rails.

38. Former Redbird Jacob Wilson Makes Appearance in Triple-A All-Star Game - Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Jacob Wilson could be forgiven for doing something a bit out of the ordinary this past weekend. Like stepping to the plate encased in bubble wrap, or every piece of body armor in his dugout, or maybe a suit of medieval armor.

39. Bank of Bartlett Eyes An Expanded Footprint to Meet Consumer Demand - Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Bank of Bartlett will soon consolidate its two Germantown branches into one enhanced location at Poplar and Kirby, and is eyeing Midtown and Arlington as areas for additional brick-and-mortar branches.

40. Last Word: Kyle Anderson's Apartment Search, Tate vs. Robinson and Finding Capital - Monday, July 9, 2018

Keedran Franklin, an activist who has been a visible part of the rise in local protests and other actions over the last two years or so is free on bond pending a first court appearance Monday morning after being arrested by Memphis Police on a variety of misdemeanor and felony charges Friday night.

41. Senior Living Facility Sells for $16M - Monday, July 9, 2018

Culpepper Place Assisted Living, located at 7480 U.S. 70, has switched hands for $16.6 million.

In the deal, Bartlett Assisted Living LLC sold the 60,000-square-foot facility to Bartlett TN Senior Property LLC, a holding company that lists the same address as Bridge Investment Group’s Orlando, Florida, office.

42. Bartlett Victim Shot Multiple Times as He Lay on the Ground in Slaying During Fireworks Show - Saturday, July 7, 2018

A 17-year-old fatally wounded on a restaurant parking lot during Bartlett’s fireworks display fell to the ground after the first shot, then the assailant “stood directly over him and unloaded multiple shots,” a witness told Bartlett police.

43. Pathways to Growth - Saturday, July 7, 2018

A group of nonprofits and banks have created a program to increase lending to Memphis-area minority- and women-owned businesses. Last month, entrepreneurial hub Epicenter and Pathway Lending launched the $15 million Memphis Small Business Opportunity Loan Fund, which is aimed at helping small businesses improve their access to capital.

44. District 99 State Rep. Ron Lollar Dead at 69 - Friday, July 6, 2018

State Rep. Ron Lollar, R-Bartlett, who had served Northeast Shelby County in the state Legislature since 2006, died Friday morning in his sleep. He was 69 years old.

Bartlett Mayor Keith McDonald, who was at Lollar’s house, was among several people who confirmed the representative’s death in the early morning hours.

45. Events - Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Collierville’s Independence Day Celebration is Tuesday, July 3, starting at 6 p.m. at Cox Park, 440 W. Powell Road. Food vendors open at 6 p.m. and live entertainment begins at 6:30 p.m., all leading up to fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Admission is free. Visit facebook.com/townofcollierville for details.

46. The Week Ahead: July 2-8, 2018 - Monday, July 2, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! The Fourth of July hits on Wednesday this year, delivering plenty of fireworks and fun in the middle of the week. Check out our roundup of Independence Day events and more you need to know about in The Week Ahead...

47. Hollywood Feed Extending Store Hours - Saturday, June 30, 2018

Memphis-based Hollywood Feed will extend its Sunday store hours from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., effective July 1.

The extended Sunday hours will affect all 12 Hollywood Feed stores in the Memphis area, including those in Germantown, Cordova, Collierville, Bartlett, Oakland, Atoka, Southaven and Olive Branch. Currently the stores are open Sundays, noon to 6 p.m.

48. Hollywood Feed Extending Store Hours - Thursday, June 28, 2018

Memphis-based Hollywood Feed will extend its Sunday store hours from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., effective July 1.

The extended Sunday hours will affect all 12 Hollywood Feed stores in the Memphis area, including those in Germantown, Cordova, Collierville, Bartlett, Oakland, Atoka, Southaven and Olive Branch. Currently the stores are open Sundays, noon to 6 p.m.

49. 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.

50. Midtown Getting Denser, North Main Getting New Coffee Shop - Monday, June 25, 2018

2542 Broad Ave.
Memphis, TN 38112

PILOT Length: 15 years

Project Cost: $51 million

51. Bank of Bartlett Merging Germantown Branches - Saturday, June 23, 2018

Bank of Bartlett has announced it will consolidate its two neighboring Germantown operations in a singular “enhanced” location at the corner of Poplar Avenue and Kirby Parkway.

Effective Oct. 31, the Village Square shopping center branch will merge into the existing Poplar and Kirby branch less than two miles to the west.

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

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

53. Bank of Bartlett Consolidating Germantown Branches - Monday, June 18, 2018

Bank of Bartlett has announced it will consolidate its two neighboring Germantown operations in a singular “enhanced” location at the corner of Poplar Avenue and Kirby Parkway.

Effective Oct. 31, the Village Square shopping center branch will merge into the existing Poplar and Kirby branch less than two miles to the west.

54. Last Word: Riverfront Change, Skeleton to Canopy and Summer Camp - Wednesday, June 13, 2018

The two contenders for Shelby County Mayor in the Aug. 2 county general election – Democratic nominee Lee Harris and Republican nominee David Lenoir – meet for the first time in the general election campaign Wednesday at the Memphis Kiwanis Club weekly luncheon. It is the first of several debates between the two. And judging from what Harris and Lenoir have said separately and what we’ve reported from those appearances, this is a highly anticipated debate/discussion about the future of Shelby County on several fronts.

55. August Council Race, November Suburban Races Remain In Flux - Wednesday, June 13, 2018

With just about a week to the filing deadline, four candidates have filed for the Memphis City Council Super District seat on the Aug. 2 ballot.

They include interim council member Joseph Ford Canale, appointed to fill Philip Spinosa’s vacant seat last month by the council until the results of the special August election are certified.

56. Summer Camp Fun Comes With Lots of Literacy Planning - Wednesday, June 13, 2018

The lunchroom tables at Bartlett Elementary School are stacked in the hallway, and from the outside it looks like the school is awaiting students’ return in August.

But inside, a small group of first- through third-graders are dancing, pasting strips of colored paper on plastic bottles, and most importantly, reading and writing.

57. Last Word: Firestone's Legacy, Malco In Lakeland and Alexander on Cell Phones - Friday, June 8, 2018

What about Firestone? That’s the quick way of getting into the latest turn in our ongoing civic discussion about whether there should be changes to how Memphis approaches economic development and the growth it brings. Eric Robertson, the president of Community LIFT, which works with community development corporations across the city, says the definition of economic development should be broader and the approach to it should go beyond answering the questions of site consultants to keep them from walking away to the next city on their list.

58. 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.

59. Events - Wednesday, June 6, 2018

The next Teach901 Educator Job Fair is Wednesday, June 6, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the central atrium of Crosstown Concourse, 1350 Concourse Ave. New and experienced teachers are invited to connect with recruiters from local public, charter and parochial schools. Recent college graduates are also invited to network. Visit teach901.com to register.

60. Events - Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Saint Francis Health is hosting its Healthy Over Hungry Cereal Drive through Friday, June 8, at Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis, 5959 Park Ave., and Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett, 2986 Kate Bond Road. The hospitals will collect cereal and monetary donations for Mid-South Food Bank. Visit tenethealth.com.yy

61. The Week Ahead: June 4-10 - Monday, June 4, 2018

Good morning, Memphis. Or should we say, “Hush, y’all.” It’s time again for the annual FedEx St. Jude Classic golf tournament, a Memphis tradition that spans 60 years and has been funneling millions of dollars into the doors at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 

62. One Beale, St. Jude, Sedgwick Projects Move Forward - Monday, June 4, 2018

263 Wagner Place, Memphis, TN 38103: Carlisle Corp.’s expanded plans for One Beale received unanimous approval from the Center City Revenue Finance Corp. on Tuesday, May 29.

63. Gregory Realty Grows Industrial Portfolio - Saturday, June 2, 2018

Memphis-based Gregory Realty has acquired more than 53,000 square feet of industrial/flex space at 3920 S. Perkins Road and 3900 Perkins Cut Off Road for $1.6 million.

64. Last Word: Big River Summer, AuthenticAfrican Revealed and 100 North Main - Friday, June 1, 2018

It’s the month that doesn’t have a festival with its name in the title, the month after the month that does have a festival bearing its name. It’s the month of heat and sun and heat lightning, lightning bugs and tourists and no school. Baseball before the All-Star break, politics past one set of primaries but before the other midterm primaries, budget seasons and the difference between the unrestricted fund balance and the restricted fund balance and patio society underneath the ferns. Welcome to June.

65. Events - Saturday, June 2, 2018

Circuit Playhouse will present the regional premiere of “Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf: A Parody” Friday, June 1, through June 24 at 51 S. Cooper St. Visit playhouseonthesquare.org for times and tickets.

66. Pinnacle Bank Maps More Growth, Additional Hires in Memphis Market - Saturday, June 2, 2018

With new bank branches and loan production offices planned locally, new hires and increased production numbers, Nashville-based Pinnacle Financial Partners is making an impact on the Memphis banking market following its acquisition of Magna Bank in 2015.

67. Events - Friday, June 1, 2018

Circuit Playhouse will present the regional premiere of “Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf: A Parody” Friday, June 1, through June 24 at 51 S. Cooper St. Visit playhouseonthesquare.org for times and tickets.

68. EMS Ready To Double Footprint In Bartlett - Friday, June 1, 2018

After holding on to an adjacent parcel of land for more than a decade next to its facility in Bartlett, medical device manufacturer Engineered Medical Systems LLC is gearing up for a major expansion of its facility. The company is investing $10.5 million in a move that will create 40 new jobs.

69. Gregory Realty Grows Industrial Portfolio - Thursday, May 31, 2018

Memphis-based Gregory Realty has acquired more than 53,000 square feet of industrial/flex space at 3920 S. Perkins Road and 3900 Perkins Cut Off Road for $1.6 million.

70. Gregory Realty Grows Industrial Portfolio - Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Gregory Realty has acquired more than 53,000 square feet of industrial/flex space at 3920 S. Perkins Rd. and 3900 Perkins Cut Off Rd. for just over $1.6 million.

71. Last Word: SCS Budget Travels, Carlisle on One Beale and Hickman's Comeback - Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Shelby County Schools officials are Downtown Wednesday to formally present the school system’s budget proposal to the Shelby County Commission. The budget committee hearing Wednesday morning won’t see any decision just yet. But the school system’s ask of county government is a big part of the commission getting to a more complete view of county government’s budget since north of $400 million of the county’s $1.3 billion consolidated budget is funding for public education across seven school districts in the county.

72. Candidates Stake Claims For November Elections - Wednesday, May 30, 2018

At the Memorial Day holiday, the incumbent mayors of Bartlett, Germantown and Lakeland had pulled petitions to seek re-election in municipal elections on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Bartlett Mayor Keith McDonald and Lakeland Mayor Wyatt Bunker pulled their qualifying petitions from the Shelby County Election Commission on May 18, the opening day of the filing period. Germantown Mayor Mike Palazzolo, who has already kicked off his re-election campaign, pulled his petition four days later.

73. Chiozza, Players With Local Connection Workout for Grizzlies - Friday, May 25, 2018

There was a time four years ago when Chris Chiozza’s dream was to stay home and play his college ball at FedExForum.

74. Memphis Surgeon Kelly Honored By Pediatric Orthopaedic Society - Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Dr. Derek M. Kelly, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, has been awarded the Special Effort and Excellence Award from the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America.

75. The Week Ahead: May 21-27 - Monday, May 21, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! School ends this week and the long-awaited Explore Bike Share bicycle stations open across the city. The 600 bikes for rent will enable residents and visitors to explore the city, ride to work, visit local landmarks and get some exercise without polluting the air.

76. Faropoint, Belz Sell of Part of Retail Portfolio - Monday, May 21, 2018

7501 Goodman Road, Olive Branch, MS 38654 and 7685 Hacks Cross Road, Olive Branch, MS 38654:  Faropoint Ventures continues to remain active in the Greater Memphis Area with the sale of two Olive Branch retail centers for a combined $9.24 million.

77. Bartlett Office Building Switches Hands - Saturday, May 19, 2018

The Stage Center Building, located at 2838 Stage Center Cove in Bartlett, has sold for $155,000.

Jim and Charlotte Shephard purchased the 3,566-square-foot standalone office building near the intersection of Stage Road and Stage Center Drive from RREF BB-TN MVI LLC.

78. Medical Device Maker Investing $10.5M in Bartlett Expansion - Friday, May 18, 2018

A Bartlett-based medical device manufacturer is expanding with a $10.5 million investment that will create 40 jobs.

Engineered Medical Systems LLC plans to add 57,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space to its existing 47,500-square-foot facility at 3325 Appling Road, where it makes surgical instruments, implants and other specialty medical devices.

79. Last Word: Bar-B-Foo, Grizz Draft Prospects and The Hampline - Friday, May 18, 2018

Alleged sightings of Dave Grohl at the barbecue contest Thursday in Tom Lee Park and a photograph from a distance that might or might not be the head Foo Fighter. This does happen at the barbecue contest – celebrities quietly coming in with a team. Sometimes not so quietly as when Vice President Al Gore returned in the 1990s to a contest he had a booth at during his time as a U.S. Senator.

80. Bartlett Office Building Switches Hands - Tuesday, May 15, 2018

The Stage Center Building, located at 2838 Stage Center Cove in Bartlett, has sold for $155,000.

81. Week Ahead: May 14-20 - Monday, May 14, 2018

Go hog wild, Memphis! One of the most anticipated community events of the year kicks off this week when Tom Lee Park again becomes ground zero for the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest. Teams from around the world will try to win over judges with their savory renditions of all things pig. It will be a lip-smackin’ good time win or lose, though. 

82. Events - Monday, May 7, 2018

Luna Nova Music will perform its Belvedere Festival Preview Concert on Monday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m. at the Beethoven Club, 263 S. McLean Blvd. The program includes works to be performed at the 12th annual festival, scheduled for June 20-23. Admission is free; reception to follow. Visit belvederefestival.org.

83. Events - Saturday, May 5, 2018

The 2018 Beale Street Music Festival takes place Friday through Sunday, May 4-6, in Tom Lee Park on Riverside Drive. The kickoff to the Memphis in May International Festival includes four stages with more than 60 acts spanning every genre. Tickets are $55 each day; three-day passes are $125 if purchased before May 1 and $165 if purchased after. Visit memphisinmay.org for details and a lineup.

84. Harris, Lenoir to Battle for County Mayor - Thursday, May 3, 2018

Republican David Lenoir and Democrat Lee Harris will meet in the Aug. 2 county general election to decide who will be the next Shelby County mayor. Lenoir and Harris won their respective primaries easily Tuesday, May 1, 2018.

85. Lenoir and Harris Advance in County Mayor's Race - Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Republican David Lenoir and Democrat Lee Harris will meet in the Aug. 2 county general election to decide who will be the next Shelby County Mayor. Lenoir and Harris won their respective primaries easily Tuesday, May 1, 2018.

86. NFL Considering Altering Kickoffs, Not Eliminating Them - Wednesday, May 2, 2018

While the NFL remains concerned about safety on kickoffs, the league is not planning to eliminate them, league vice president Troy Vincent said.

87. Schools’ Success Too Dependent on Weak Vendor - Thursday, April 26, 2018

The “debacle” called TNReady, a standardized test ruling the lives of students, teachers and administrators, is the predictable result of brain drain – not by students but by Tennessee’s leaders.

88. Early Vote in Shelby County Primaries Tops 20,000 So Far - Tuesday, April 24, 2018

More than 20,000 voters cast ballots early through Saturday, April 21, in advance of the May 1 election, more than half in the Democratic county primaries.

According to the Shelby County Election Commission numbers, 12,001 of the 20,717 early voters cast their ballots in the Democratic primaries and 8,716 voted early in the Republican primaries through the last weekend of the period.

89. Local, State and Federal Election Cycles Blend On Last Weekend of Early Voting - Monday, April 23, 2018

Candidates in the August and November elections were out on the last weekend of early voting in Shelby County in advance of the May 1 election day for county primaries.

The events were a mix of candidates from all three elections on the calendar in 2018.

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

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

91. Amanda Dunham Talks Changes At East Memphis’ Grove Grill - Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Twenty years after The Grove Grill opened in Laurelwood Shopping Center, the restaurant is reinventing itself with modernized decor and the recently launched Third Thursday monthly tasting series. Helping drive the changes are chef Chip Dunham – the son of Grove Grill owners Jeff and Tracey Dunham – and his wife, beverage director Amanda Dunham, who both joined the restaurant after moving to Memphis last July.

92. First Weekend of Early Voting Logs More Than 7,000 Votes in County Primaries - Tuesday, April 17, 2018

More than 7,000 early votes were cast in the 2018 Shelby County government primaries through the first weekend of the early voting period.

The primary-only elections will be held May 1. Of the 7,255 early voters through Saturday, April 14, 3,983 voted in the Democratic primaries and 3,2727 voted in the Republican primaries.

93. Early Voting Tops 7,000 in County Primaries Through Saturday - Monday, April 16, 2018

More than 7,000 citizens voted early in Shelby County through the first weekend of the early voting period in the 2018 county government primaries.

The 7,255 early voters in advance of the May 1 election day through Saturday, April 14, are voting in a primary only election with 3,983 voting in the Democratic primaries and 3,272 voting in the Republican primaries.

94. Memphis Site of One of Golf’s Greatest Events - Friday, April 13, 2018

The hugs, the handshakes, the slaps on the back, the big smiles and loud, lengthy applause. All things normally saved in the golf world for that moment when a 75-foot eagle putt settles in the bottom of the hole.

95. Luttrell Says County Pre-K Funding Source Likely to Differ From City’s - Friday, April 13, 2018

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell probably won’t follow the city’s blueprint for funding universal prekindergarten in Shelby County.

96. Events - Thursday, April 12, 2018

The 2018 Bartlett Business Expo is Thursday, April 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bartlett Recreation Center, 7700 Flaherty Place. A variety of local businesses will showcase their goods and services. Admission is free. Visit bartlettchamber.org.

97. Events - Wednesday, April 11, 2018

The 2018 Bartlett Business Expo is Thursday, April 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Bartlett Recreation Center, 7700 Flaherty Place. A variety of local businesses will showcase their goods and services. Admission is free. Visit bartlettchamber.org.

98. Events - Tuesday, April 10, 2018

The Orpheum Theatre presents “Something Rotten!” Tuesday through Sunday, April 10-15, at the theater, 203 S. Main St. This Broadway musical tells the story of two brothers who are desperate to write their own hit play while the “rock star” Shakespeare keeps getting all the hits. Buy tickets at orpheum-memphis.com.

99. 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.

100. Events - Monday, April 9, 2018

Opera Memphis’ sixth annual Midtown Opera Festival takes place Friday, April 6, through April 14 at Playhouse on the Square, 66 S. Cooper St. The festival is anchored by two operas, “The Triumph of Honor” and “The Opera 901 Showcase,” plus other musical performances, family events, panel discussions and more. Visit operamemphis.org/mof18 for a schedule.