NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. banks set a record by making more than $60 billion in profits in the second quarter, federal regulators said Thursday, up more than 25 percent from a year earlier.

2. Innovation Requires Patience in Building a Strategy - Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Failure is real and should be feared. Ironically, fear of failure is the most potent saboteur. This is a fact proven time and time again in the world of innovation.

Many expensive and time-consuming efforts to build innovation capability and capacity inside of organizations fail for a few simple reasons. Either they import a framework completely from the outside without attuning it to their practices and the culture and internal systems reject it or an anxiety to “get it right” leads to years of benchmarking, planning, and the formation of the governance of innovation without actually doing the work—and the work is simple: create net new value.

3. Ben Carson's Politics Complicate His Legacy - Tuesday, August 21, 2018

BALTIMORE (AP) — The portrait used to hang in the hallway, welcoming children and parents to the Archbishop Borders School in Baltimore: A smiling Dr. Ben Carson in surgical scrubs, rubbing together the careful, steady hands that helped him become the nation's most famous black doctor.

4. Events - Thursday, August 2, 2018

Employment Seeker will host a veterans career fair and diversity job expo Thursday, Aug. 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at DoubleTree by Hilton, 5069 Sanderlin Ave. Veterans and civilians can network with employers and apply for more than 600 positions. Bring plenty of resumes; business attire required. Admission and parking are free. Pre-register at employmentseeker.net.

5. Events - Wednesday, August 1, 2018

The new Youth Academy of Dreams will host its open house and fun day Wednesday, Aug. 1, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 3350 N. Trezevant St. Local dignitaries and entertainer iHeartMemphis will make a special appearance. The facility houses a new after-school program designed to help youth ages 5 to 18 reach their full potential through comprehensive programming that includes education, mentoring, discovery and sports. Visit youthacademyofdreams.org.

6. Bad Week in Social Media Gets Worse; Twitter Hammered - Monday, July 30, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) — Cracking down on hate, abuse and online trolls is also hurting Twitter's standing with investors.

The company's stock plunged Friday morning after it reported a decline in its monthly users and warned that the number could fall further in the coming months. The more than 17 percent drop in share value at the opening bell comes one day after Facebook lost 19 percent of its value — its worst trading day since Facebook went public in 2012.

7. 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. 

8. Apollo to Spend $5.6B on Rural Hospital Chain LifePoint - Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Private equity firm Apollo Global Management will spend about $5.6 billion to buy the rural hospital chain LifePoint and combine it with health system operator RCCH HealthCare Partners.

LifePoint shareholders will receive $65 in cash for each share in a deal that's worth about $2.7 billion not counting net debt and minority interest, the companies said. That's a premium of nearly 36 percent to Brentwood, Tennessee-based LifePoint Health Inc.'s closing price July 20. That was the last trading day before the deal announcement.

9. JPMorgan's Profits Rise 18 Percent, Helped By Lower Taxes - Monday, July 16, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – JPMorgan Chase's second-quarter profits rose by 18 percent from a year ago, as the nation's largest bank by assets and revenue continues to benefit from higher interest rates and a lower tax bill following last year's passage of President Donald Trump's tax law.

10. Lifeline for Debt - Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Student loans are a big topic these days with an even bigger and growing price tag for most families in America. Thanks to a young engineer with a financial mind, there may be a place for students and their families to go before they find themselves drowning in debt.

11. Trustees Report Warns Medicare Finances Worsening - Thursday, June 7, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – Medicare will run out of money sooner than expected, and Social Secu-rity's financial problems can't be ignored either, the government said Tuesday in a sobering checkup on programs vital to the middle class.

12. Postal Service: More Financial Loss as Mail Delivery Slumps - Monday, May 14, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. Postal Service reported another quarterly loss on Friday after an unrelenting drop in mail volume and costs of its health care and pension obligations outweighed strong gains in package deliveries.

13. No Easy Path Forward for Fred’s - Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Memphis-based discount retailer Fred’s Inc. operates 584 company-owned stores that each stock more than 14,000 items and saw average sales of more than $3 million in 2017.

That’s one picture of the company, laid out in Fred’s just-released annual report. Another picture, though, can be found in Fred’s dismal financial performance of late – and in the fact that Wall Street has basically lost faith in the company’s prospects, which led to the price of Fred’s shares sinking 60 percent since January.

14. Fred’s Reports Another Quarter’s Bleak Results - Monday, May 7, 2018

Joseph Anto’s first presentation of the quarterly numbers for discount retailer Fred’s Inc. lasted about 13 minutes from start to finish.

Anto, appointed last week as interim CEO of the troubled Memphis-based company, is personally approving every invoice over $5,000. The company, he said, is “maniacally” focused on cutting expenses and in the process of pursuing yet another strategy shift after a failed transition of the company’s emphasis to personal health care.

15. 2nd-Longest US Expansion on Record Keeps Churning Out Jobs - Monday, May 7, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. economy has delivered steady if only modest gains for most Americans since the Great Recession ended in 2009. It's been a frustration for many.

Yet the very sluggishness of the economic expansion helps explain why it's now the second-longest on record and why more of the country might soon benefit from higher pay.

16. Fred’s Fiscal Year Loss Doubles From 2016 - Friday, May 4, 2018

Joseph Anto’s first presentation of the quarterly numbers for discount retailer Fred’s Inc. lasted about 13 minutes from start to finish.

Anto, appointed last week as interim CEO of the troubled Memphis-based company, is personally approving every invoice over $5,000. The company, he said, is “maniacally” focused on cutting expenses and in the process of pursuing yet another strategy shift after a failed transition of the company’s emphasis to personal health care.

17. Pfizer's Q1 Profit Up 14 Pct., Sales Just Miss Expectations - Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Pfizer posted slightly higher sales and a 14 percent jump in profit in the first quarter, thanks to lower restructuring costs and a much-lower tax rate, but its revenue still missed Wall Street expectations.

18. 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.

19. Opioid Crisis: Top Doctor Urges Access to Overdose Antidote - Friday, April 6, 2018

ATLANTA (AP) – The nation's chief doctor wants more Americans to start carrying the overdose antidote naloxone to help combat the nation's opioid crisis and save lives.

Speaking at the National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit in Atlanta on Thursday morning, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams issued his office's first national public health advisory in 13 years.

20. Midlife 'Wealth Shock' May Lead to Death, Study Suggests - Wednesday, April 4, 2018

A big financial loss may shorten your life, a new study suggests.

Middle-aged Americans who experienced a sudden, large economic blow were more likely to die during the following years than those who didn't. The heightened danger of death after a devastating loss, which researchers called a "wealth shock," crossed socio-economic lines, affecting people no matter how much money they had to start.

21. 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.

22. Questions for Feds Delay TennCare Work Requirement Bill - Tuesday, March 27, 2018

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee lawmakers have temporarily hit pause on their push to make many able-bodied adults either work, volunteer, or take classes if they don't have children younger than 6, in order to keep their TennCare health coverage.

23. University Clinical Health Launching Telemedicine Network - Thursday, March 8, 2018

Going to the doctor is going high-tech at two rural West Tennessee clinics in a few weeks, thanks to a project University Clinical Health plans to launch within the next 30 days.

UCH is a physician group and affiliated faculty practice plan of the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis. It encompasses about 130 physicians, covering 18 specialties, and all of its physicians are also faculty members with the College of Medicine.

24. Last Word: Rising River, Driving The Dream and Harwell Advances Medical Pot - Thursday, March 1, 2018

The Mississippi River at Memphis should reach flood stage at any moment. As Last Word was going up online Wednesday evening the National Weather Service at Memphis put the river level here at 33.52 feet. Flood stage at Memphis is 34 feet. The river is forecast to crest some time next week at 38 feet, four feet over flood stage. Keep in mind that in April 2011, the river at Memphis crested 10 feet higher, at 48 feet on the Memphis river gauge – which turned to be the one on the support beams of the bridge over Beale Street at Riverside Drive. That was the second highest river level at Memphis ever recorded.

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

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

26. Avoid These Gaffes in Your Advertising - Wednesday, February 28, 2018

The National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus monitors national advertising in all media, examining claims made by companies in diverse industries. It accepts complaints from consumers, competitors and local BBBs.

27. Events - Saturday, February 24, 2018

Hattiloo Theatre will perform “Selma: A Musical Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” Friday, Feb. 23, through March 18 at Hattiloo, 37 S. Cooper St. The dramatic musical captures prominent moments such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. Visit hattiloo.org for showtimes and tickets.

28. CRE Owners Look To Reap Rewards Of New Tax Cuts - Saturday, February 24, 2018

The start of the year enjoyed a flurry of commercial real estate sales and building permits, on the heels of federal tax cuts passed late last year that are expected to benefit CRE owners and possibly impact the number of new projects and sales announced this year.

29. Events - Friday, February 23, 2018

Hattiloo Theatre will perform “Selma: A Musical Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” Friday, Feb. 23, through March 18 at Hattiloo, 37 S. Cooper St. The dramatic musical captures prominent moments such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. Visit hattiloo.org for showtimes and tickets.

30. Events - Thursday, February 22, 2018

Celtic Crossing will host An Evening of Irish Whiskey Tasting Thursday, Feb. 22, from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at 903 S. Cooper St. The fourth edition in a series of private tasting events includes a selection of four Irish whiskeys and light hors d’oeuvres. Attendees must be 21 or older. Tickets are $44 and must be purchased through Eventbrite. Visit facebook.com/celticcrossingirishpub for details.

31. Diane Black, Husband Lobbying Against Medical Marijuana - Friday, February 16, 2018

Medical marijuana legislation sponsored by state Rep. Jeremy Faison is hitting a hurdle with gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Diane Black opposing it and her husband trying to kill the measure.

32. Last Word: The Mural Takedown, Corker's Calculation and Beale Crowd Control - Monday, February 12, 2018

Cue the organ music from the old-fashioned television soap operas: As the weekend began, city public works crews had painted over – either completely or partially – a lot of the Paint Memphis program murals on the west side of Willett near Lamar. That would be the ones city council members complained about and others that no one complained about.

33. Digest - Monday, January 29, 2018

Memphis Toys R Us

To Remain Open

A representative with Toys R Us has confirmed to The Daily News that the retailer’s Memphis location, at 7676 Polo Ground Blvd., won’t close after all.

34. Tax Bill Beginning to Deliver Bigger Paychecks to Workers - Friday, February 2, 2018

The contentious tax overhaul is beginning to deliver a change that many will welcome – bigger paychecks.

Workers are starting to see more take-home pay as employers implement the new withholding guidelines from the IRS, which dictate how much employers withhold from pay for federal taxes. Those whose checks have remained the same shouldn't fret – employers have until Feb. 15 to make the changes.

35. Pfizer, Riding Tax Changes, Puts Up Huge Q4 Profit - Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Pfizer's fourth-quarter profit soared to $12.27 billion thanks to a huge tax benefit related to the U.S. tax system overhaul.

The biggest U.S. drugmaker on Tuesday reported an $11.34 billion benefit, mainly from recalculating deferred tax liabilities. Pfizer also said it will take a charge of approximately $15 billion, payable to the Treasury over eight years, to cover taxes on up to $24.2 billion in cash and investments held overseas that it plans to bring back to the U.S.

36. Primary Care Specialists Joins Regional One Health Network - Friday, January 26, 2018

Primary Care Specialists has joined the Regional One Health family and its two physicians and six nurse practitioners are now part of UT Regional One Physicians.

“The acquisition of Primary Care Specialists is another indicator of our progress at Regional One Health and a positive for patients as we increase access to care,” said Reginald Coopwood, M.D., president and CEO of Regional One Health. “Adding a primary care practice in the Midtown area gives more health care options as we cover from Downtown to East Memphis.”

37. Last Word: Megasite Changes, Jubilee Schools to End and The Day at City Hall - Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Back to the drawing board for the megasite in Haywood County. State officials have decided the wastewater flow they had planned from the site along Interstate 40 won’t empty into the Mississippi River near Randolph in Tipton County after all. It’s the latest attempt by the state to make the decade-old site set aside for industrial or manufacturing development shovel ready.

38. Johnson & Johnson Loses $10.7B After Sweeping US Tax Changes - Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Johnson & Johnson posted a rare quarterly loss, a whopping $10.71 billion, due to a $13.6 billion charge related to last month's U.S. tax overhaul.

While the loss was expected and the company's adjusted results beat Wall Street expectations, shares fell more than 4.1 percent, an unusually big swing for the health care giant.

39. Last Word: Snow Week, Liberal Arts and Their Critics and Tunica Casinos - Thursday, January 18, 2018

Snow Day 3 as this becomes a snow week for many of us. Granted one of those days was a federal holiday in which the temperature was above freezing and the sun was out. During the second consecutive snow day Wednesday for Shelby County Schools students, Candous Brown, a teacher at Raleigh Egypt High School held class anyway via Facebook.

40. Last Word: Liberty Bowl Post Mortem, Confederate Protest Plans and Absorption - Wednesday, January 3, 2018

As soon as it was confirmed the Tigers would play in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, there was some concern locally about the impact that would have on tourism at the holidays with only one of the bowl teams – Iowa State – being from out of town. The exact dollar figures aren’t in just yet. But the game was enough of a success out of the box that the executive director of the game is talking about a more constant presence in the bowl game for the Tigers now that they’ve made their first appearance in the 59-year history of the game which began in Philadelphia. And there is some precedent in college football for what Steve Ehrhart is talking about.

41. Off to a Great Start - Wednesday, January 3, 2018

When Megan Smith, the former U.S. chief technology officer under the Obama administration, praised Memphis’ startup community during an interview last summer on Bloomberg TV, it was a high-profile example of the ongoing coming-of-age of the ecosystem here.

42. Democrats Look to Cooperate on Key Issues - Thursday, December 28, 2017

With the state’s budget projected to be tight and lawmakers lining up to run for re-election in 2018, the coming legislative session isn’t expected to yield many surprises.

But the 110th General Assembly still has a long row to hoe as the session starts Jan. 9 with new legislative offices and committee rooms in the renovated Cordell Hull Building in downtown Nashville.

43. Dollar General Tops Street Q3 Forecasts - Friday, December 8, 2017

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – After a slow start to the year, Dollar General bounced back in the third quarter thanks to stronger sales that pushed revenue and earnings ahead of projections.

44. Fred’s Reports $51.8M Loss, Cancels Dividend - Thursday, December 7, 2017

Memphis-based discount retailer Fred’s Inc. accompanied the release of its fiscal third quarter earnings performance Wednesday, Dec. 6 – which included reporting a loss of $51.8 million for the quarter – with separate, related news that shows the company’s turnaround remains a difficult work in progress.

45. Trump Names Former Drug Exec as New Health Secretary - Tuesday, November 14, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – Turning to an industry he's rebuked, President Donald Trump on Monday picked a former top pharmaceutical and government executive to be his health and human services secretary, overseeing a $1 trillion department responsible for major health insurance programs, medical research, food and drug safety, and public health.

46. Last Word: Bougie Strippers, Tigers Basketball First Looks and County Pay Raises - Monday, November 13, 2017

The topics get your attention: “Mental Illness in Tech” – a “Guide to Being a Bougie Stripper” – “Why I Quit TV News” – “Dyslexic and Proud.” These are just a few of the dozen talks -- strictly timed at five minutes each -- scheduled for Thursday’s Ignite Memphis event at Ballet Memphis in Overton Square. This is built loosely on the principle of a Ted talk although we also have a local version of TEDx coming up in January.

47. Sears Posts Decline in Q3 Revenue Due to Store Closures - Thursday, November 9, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) – Sears says it has a deal with the federal pension insurance agency to release 140 properties from certain restrictions in exchange for $407 million in pension contributions, some relief for once-storied department store chain.

48. Minority Owners Can Bid To Buy Grizzlies From Pera - Saturday, October 28, 2017

Beginning Thursday, Oct. 26, according to an espn.com report, the Memphis Grizzlies’ two primary minority owners can make bids to purchase the team from controlling owner Robert Pera.

49. Minority Owners Can Bid To Buy Grizz from Robert Pera - Friday, October 27, 2017

Beginning Thursday, Oct. 26, according to an espn.com report, the Memphis Grizzlies’ two primary minority owners can make bids to purchase the team from controlling owner Robert Pera.

50. NFIB: Tennessee Business Optimism Dips Down - Saturday, October 14, 2017

Anxiousness about congressional action on health care and tax reform were factors contributing to a decline in the NFIB Index of Small Business Optimism in Tennessee last month.

“It's too soon to know what's going to happen with these issues, so that's creating a lot of uncertainty,” said Jim Brown, Tennessee director of the National Federation of Independent Business.

51. NFIB: Tennessee Business Optimism Down in September - Friday, October 13, 2017

Anxiousness about congressional action on health care and tax reform were factors contributing to a decline in the NFIB Index of Small Business Optimism in Tennessee last month.

“It’s too soon to know what’s going to happen with these issues, so that’s creating a lot of uncertainty,” said Jim Brown, Tennessee director of the National Federation of Independent Business.

52. Events - Friday, October 13, 2017

The 45th annual Pink Palace Crafts Fair will be held Friday through Sunday, Oct. 13-15, in Audubon Park, at the corner of Perkins Road Extended and Southern Avenue. The largest juried arts and crafts show in the Mid-South features shopping, demonstrations, entertainment, children’s activities and more. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $9 for adults, $7 for seniors 60 and older, and $3 for children younger than 12. Advance discount tickets are available at the Pink Palace box office. Visit memphismuseums.org. 

53. Trump, GOP Tax Plan Would Cut Rates for Many Americans - Thursday, September 28, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans are proposing a far-reaching, $5 trillion plan Wednesday that would cut taxes for corporations and potentially for individuals, simplify the tax system and nearly double the standard deduction used by most Americans.

54. Fred’s Reports $29M Loss, Names New Board Chair - Thursday, September 7, 2017

Heath Freeman, president of New York-based investment firm Alden Global Capital, once blasted what he saw as “abysmal business decision-making” and a “country club environment in the executive suite and boardroom” at Memphis-based discount retailer Fred’s Inc.

55. Stronger Penalties Alone Won’t Solve State’s Opioid Crisis - Thursday, August 17, 2017

Rep. Bryan Terry deals with patients from every demographic caught up in the web of opiates.

Patients have an array of tolerance to opioids, as well, from those currently addicted to those who are recovering addicts. As a result, each patient requires an “individualized” anesthetic based on their background and the procedure or surgery they’re to have, says Terry, a Murfreesboro anesthesiologist.

56. New Life for Medicaid After GOP's Health Care Debacle - Tuesday, August 15, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – It may not equal Social Security and Medicare as a "third rail" program that politicians touch at their own risk, yet Medicaid seems to have gotten stronger after the Republican failure to pass health care legislation.

57. A Million Reasons Not to Jump Into the Tennessee Governor’s Race - Thursday, August 10, 2017

Republican gubernatorial candidate Mae Beavers is banking on the idea wealthy candidates won’t be able to buy voters in 2018.

58. Last Word: School Days, MLGW Moves Off Beale and Room For Peter Pan To Fly - Monday, August 7, 2017

The K-12 school year begins Monday for most of Shelby County including the state’s largest public school system right here. Some schools have started earlier and some start later. So remember that in your daily travels going forward even if you don’t have school age children.

59. Last Word: Primary Care, Weirich On Twitter and Tigers Offense - Friday, August 4, 2017

Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich has been responding by Twitter for the last two days to the New York Times Magazine article about the Noura Jackson case that went up online earlier this week. Using the hashtag “ProCrimeNYTimes,” Weirich @ShelbyCountyDA -- tweeted Wednesday that the long read is “a blatant effort to create sympathy for the defendant while demonizing prosecutors.”

60. Aetna Teams Up With Mississippi Health Network - Saturday, July 22, 2017

The Mississippi Affiliated Health Network, an alliance of hospitals and more than 1,000 clinicians, has entered into an agreement with the insurance giant Aetna that will serve about 9,000 patients across Mississippi.

61. Last Word: Rachel Heck, Beale Street's Cover and The Old Peabody - Monday, July 17, 2017

The “fifth wave” of judicial appointments by President Donald Trump, as The White House termed them, are already causing some political ripples here primarily from state Senator Mark Norris’s appointment to the federal bench.

62. Aetna Teams Up With Mississippi Affiliated Health Network - Monday, July 17, 2017

The Mississippi Affiliated Health Network, an alliance of hospitals and more than 1,000 clinicians, has entered into an agreement with the insurance giant Aetna that will serve about 9,000 patients across Mississippi.

63. The Week Ahead: July 17-23 - Monday, July 17, 2017

Hello, Memphis! Young, local artists are in the spotlight this week with a couple of art shows where you can meet these talented youths and someday say, “I knew them before they were famous.” Check out details on those, plus more cool events and hot happenings in The Week Ahead…

64. County Budget Talks Reveal Political Divide - Friday, July 14, 2017

When Shelby County Commissioners convene Monday, July 17, it will be their third meeting in a week – following committee sessions Wednesday and the special meeting to approve a county operating budget two days before that.

65. Analyst: Fred’s Not Seen as Viable Buyer of Rite Aid Stores - Monday, July 3, 2017

Nick Mitchell, managing director and research analyst with Northcoast Research, didn’t have to do much work or analysis in the wake of news that Memphis-based Fred’s Inc. has been cut out of a deal between Walgreens and Rite Aid.

66. Poplar Healthcare Acquires Genetics of Memphis - Saturday, June 10, 2017

Memphis-based laboratory services company Poplar Healthcare has acquired Genetics of Memphis, a cytogenetics reference laboratory led by Drs. Sugandhi Tharapel and Avirachan T. Tharapel.

Cytogenetics, the study of chromosome structure and function in a cell during cell division, is a diagnostic tool for physicians monitoring high-risk pregnancies and reproductive concerns, delineating congenital abnormalities and defining hematological disorders.

67. Forum Shines Light on Rural Hospital Woes - Friday, June 9, 2017

President Donald Trump’s proposal to cut billions from Medicaid’s budget would have “serious implications” on rural Tennessee hospitals.

That was the assessment of researchers from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s Department of Family Medicine, Healthcare Management Partners and local stakeholders who gathered in Jackson, Tenn., Wednesday for a public forum on the impact of federal health policy on the health of rural Tennessee.

68. Poplar Healthcare Acquires Genetics of Memphis - Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Memphis-based laboratory services company Poplar Healthcare has acquired Genetics of Memphis, a cytogenetics reference laboratory led by Drs. Sugandhi Tharapel and Avirachan T. Tharapel.

Cytogenetics, the study of chromosome structure and function in a cell during cell division, is a diagnostic tool for physicians monitoring high-risk pregnancies and reproductive concerns, delineating congenital abnormalities and defining hematological disorders.

69. US Employers Add Modest 138K Jobs; Rate Dips to 4.3 Percent - Monday, June 5, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. employers pulled back on hiring in May by adding only 138,000 jobs, though the gains were enough to help nudge the unemployment rate down to a 16 year-low.

The Labor Department said Friday that the jobless rate fell to 4.3 percent the lowest level since 2001, from 4.4 percent. Still, the rate declined mainly for a less-than-encouraging reason: People stopped looking for work in May and so were no longer counted as unemployed.

70. US Job Market Looks Solid 8 Years After Recession Ended - Friday, June 2, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – Exactly eight years after the Great Recession ended, the U.S. job market has settled into a sweet spot of steadily solid growth.

The 4.4 percent unemployment rate matches a decade low. Many people who had stopped looking for jobs are coming off the sidelines to find them. More part-timers are finding full-time work. About all that's still missing is a broad acceleration in pay.

71. Poll: GOP Health Bill a Far Cry From Trump Promises - Thursday, June 1, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump has called the House-passed health care bill a "great plan," but a new poll finds that 3 out of 4 people in the United States do not believe it fulfills most of his promises.

72. Last Word: Your Neighbor Has Power, City Budget Wrap Take One and BBQ - Wednesday, May 31, 2017

We are at the point in our storm recovery where the novelty and sense of adventure have reached the end of their very short lives in areas where the power is still out. And the restoration of that service is at a point where you now have people on one side of a street with power and those on the other side may still be in the dark and the heat.

73. Poor and Disabled Big Losers in Trump Budget; Military Wins - Wednesday, May 24, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) — The poor and the disabled are big losers in President Donald Trump's $4.1 trillion budget proposal while the Pentagon is a big winner.

Trump's plan for the budget year beginning Oct. 1 makes deep cuts in safety net programs, including Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program. The proposal also includes big cuts in Social Security's disability program.

74. Huge Cuts to Food Stamps Part of Trump's Budget Proposal - Tuesday, May 23, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump's budget would drive millions of people off of food stamps, part of a new wave of spending cut proposals that already are getting panned by lawmakers in both parties on Capitol Hill.

75. EDGE Approves Trio of Tax Incentives - Friday, May 19, 2017

The Economic Development Growth Engine board has granted tax incentives for a pair of Presidents Island manufacturing operations and a South Memphis health care company that together will result in the creation of 126 jobs and capital investments topping $140 million.

76. Inner City Health Care Company Earns PILOT for Expansion - Thursday, May 18, 2017

A health care company serving lower-income areas of South Memphis with a limited range of services has been granted a 15-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) incentive by the Economic Development Growth Engine board to provide more expansive service.

77. Dorothy Day House Embraces Families in Need - Wednesday, May 17, 2017

About 30 percent of Memphians live below the poverty line and 50 percent of them are children under age 18. It's a problem that Tracey Burgess, director of development and communication at the Dorothy Day House in Memphis, calls an "epidemic."

78. Cai to Lead Memphis Chamber’s International Business Efforts - Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Jinliang (Jin) Cai has joined the Greater Memphis Chamber as vice president of international business development. In that role, Cai will be directing efforts both to grow foreign direct investment in Memphis and Shelby County and to increase the volume of local exports to foreign markets. 

79. Luttrell Shuns Tax Cut In Proposed $1.2B Budget - Thursday, May 4, 2017

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell has taken a $1.2 billion consolidated county government budget proposal to the Shelby County Commission that would maintain a stable property tax rate but shift a part of the tax rate to establish a capital projects pay-as-you-go fund.

80. Luttrell Proposes $1.2 Billion County Budget with Stable Tax Rate - Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell has taken a $1.2 billion consolidated county government budget proposal to the Shelby County Commission that would maintain a stable property tax rate but shift a part of the tax rate to establish a capital projects pay-as-you go fund.

81. The Week Ahead: May 1-7 - Monday, May 1, 2017

Happy Monday, Memphis! May has arrived, which means it’s time to kick off the Memphis in May International Festival with the always-popular Beale Street Music Festival – and that’s just one of the events music lovers will enjoy this week. Plus, check out where to celebrate Star Wars fans’ favorite holiday and other happenings you need to know about in The Week Ahead... 

82. Events - Thursday, April 27, 2017

Art by Design, a designer showcase benefiting ArtsMemphis and featuring Memphis’ top interior designers, will be held Thursday through Saturday, April 27-29, at Propcellar, 2585 Summer Ave. Events include a VIP reception Thursday at 6 p.m.; the Cambria Kick-Off Party on Friday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and General Admission Day on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with demonstrations and presentations scheduled throughout the day. Visit artsmemphis.org/artbydesign for details and tickets.

83. Last Word: Game Day In San Antonio, Gas Tax Compromise and Democrats Talk - Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Shelby County Commissioner Justin Ford is out on bond after being charged Monday with domestic violence assault and false imprisonment. And the Shelby County Commission does not appear to have a precedent for taking any kind of action until the charges are resolved one way or another although commission chairman Melvin Burgess is exploring that with attorneys.

84. At Least Global Warming May Get Americans Off the Couch More - Tuesday, April 25, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – Global warming's milder winters will likely nudge Americans off the couch more in the future, a rare, small benefit of climate change, a new study finds.

With less chilly winters, Americans will be more likely to get outdoors, increasing their physical activity by as much as 2.5 percent by the end of the century, according to a new study in Monday's edition of the journal Nature Human Behaviour . Places like North Dakota, Minnesota and Maine are likely to see the most dramatic increases, usually the result of more walking.

85. Newspaper Decline Continues to Weigh on AP Earnings - Thursday, April 20, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) – Earnings at The Associated Press shrank substantially last year compared with 2015, when the news organization enjoyed a large tax benefit that skewed its results. Reve-nue also edged downward, reflecting continued contraction in the newspaper industry and a stronger U.S. dollar that reduced the value of overseas sales.

86. Telecom Lobbying Muscle Kills Privacy Rules - Tuesday, April 18, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) – The telecom industry's lobbying muscle pushed a consumer privacy measure to a swift death in Congress.

Republicans struck down Obama-era rules that would have imposed tight restrictions on what broadband companies such as Verizon, AT&T and Comcast could do with their customers' personal data. Digital-rights and consumer-advocacy groups such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation supported keeping the rules. But they were outmatched by telecom trade groups and lobbyists.

87. The Week Ahead: April 17-23 - Monday, April 17, 2017

Happy Monday, Memphis! You’ve got plenty of reasons to celebrate this week: The Grizzlies are in the NBA Playoffs, the Africa in April festival is back, and the area is getting greener with both a park and a greenway opening. Check out the rest of our top picks in The Week Ahead…

88. First Horizon Reports Busy, Profitable First Quarter - Friday, April 14, 2017

First Tennessee Bank’s parent company kicked off 2017 with a busy first quarter, a period in which the company saw net income growth of 13 percent, an improvement in deposits and loans, a 29 percent boost to its dividend and the closing of a key acquisition.

89. Pace of US Hiring Tumbles, Yet Jobless Rate Hits 10-year Low - Monday, April 10, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. jobs report for March report delivered a mixed message Friday as hiring fell to its slowest pace in nearly a year. Yet at the same time, the unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in nearly a decade.

90. Fred’s May Buy Up to 1,200 Rite Aid Stores - Friday, April 7, 2017

Memphis-based Fred’s Inc. is “the right buyer” of hundreds of Rite Aid stores that need to be divested so Rite Aid and Walgreens Boots Alliance can win Federal Trade Commission approval for their pending merger.

91. Fowlkes: Startups Create Most Net New Jobs - Thursday, March 23, 2017

Start Co. president Andre Fowlkes thinks most people in Memphis and communities like Memphis either ignore or misunderstand where most net new jobs are coming from these days.

92. Last Word: Lakeland Date Set, Silos in South Main and Trespassing in Apartments - Thursday, March 16, 2017

Here comes the Governor’s race with Randy Boyd doing the honors here in Memphis Wednesday at the top of the second day of his fly-around. Boyd’s opening sounds very much like he is running as the heir apparent to Gov. Bill Haslam – although there are no heirs in politics, at least not without an election. He talked a lot about hitting workforce development and job goals of the Haslam administration if he is elected Governor in 2018.

93. Warren, Tulane Complexes Find Buyer - Tuesday, March 14, 2017

The court-appointed receiver in the Memphis federal court case involving Global Ministries Foundation has an offer to buy the Tulane and Warren apartment complexes owned by GMF.

Cleveland, Ohio-based Millenia Housing Development Ltd. has offered the receiver $3 million for both properties, according to court documents and a legal notice in the Tuesday, March 14, edition of The Daily News.

94. Humana, Methodist Healthcare Reach Network Agreement - Monday, March 6, 2017

Humana Medicare Advantage members in Memphis now have access to Methodist Healthcare doctors and facilities thanks to a new agreement between Humana and the Memphis-based health system.

The new network agreement took effect in January, and the coverage includes all Methodist Healthcare adult hospitals.

95. Drugmakers Pledge Restraint, But Prices Will Still Soar - Tuesday, February 28, 2017

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) – Several big drugmakers are trying to quell the ongoing furor over high drug prices by revealing more information about their pricing and even pledging to keep a lid on increases.

96. Events - Thursday, February 23, 2017

The University of Memphis will host 2016 National Book Award winner Ibram Kendi for a discussion of his book “Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America” Thursday, Feb. 23, at 6 p.m. in the University Center Theatre, 499 University St. A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m. Cost is free. Visit memphis.edu.

97. Strickland and Luttrell Mark Different Points in Mayoral Tenures - Monday, February 13, 2017

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland was 13 months and nine days in office when he delivered his second State of the City address last week at a Frayser church.

98. US Job Openings, Quits Rise, Pointing to Modest Hiring Ahead - Wednesday, January 11, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. employers posted more jobs in November and quitting also increased – signs that job gains and wages may increase in the months ahead.

The number of available jobs rose 1.3 percent in November from the previous month to 5.5 million, the Labor Department said Tuesday. That's below a post-recession peak of 5.8 million in April. Hiring rose 1.1 percent to 5.2 million.

99. Last Word: Liberty Bowl Memories, Talk About Violence and The Year In Ed & Med - Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Grizz fall to the Celtics in Boston Tuesday 113-103. With Mike Conley and five other starters out. Away from triple digits, it is SMU over the Tigers at the Forum Tuesday 58-54.

100. Analyst: Rite Aid Buy ‘Good Deal’ for Fred’s - Thursday, December 22, 2016

Memphis-based Fred’s Inc. got a “really good deal” on the 865 Rite Aid stores it’s agreed to buy for $950 million in a deal that takes the company beyond its core market and marks a significant new chapter in its story.