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.

2. Board to Consider Requests for Madison Apartments, Graceland Master Plan - Friday, September 7, 2018

A new apartment building for Madison Avenue and a master plan for the Graceland campus are among the latest proposals submitted to the Land Use Control Board.

The planning board will consider the requests at 10 a.m. on Oct. 11 at City Hall.

3. Radioactive Treatment Cures Hyperthyroidism in Aging Cats - Wednesday, September 5, 2018

A treatment that cures feline hyperthyroidism is being offered at a local veterinary hospital, but not all pet owners are on board. Radioactive iodine, or I-131, is given as a one-time injection and is an alternative to oral or topical medications, which only treat the symptoms of an overactive thyroid.

4. Wisconsin Boy Swept in Sewer Sticks Finger Out of Manhole, Saved - Thursday, August 30, 2018

Boy swept in sewer sticks finger out of manhole and is saved

By TODD RICHMOND, Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — An 11-year-old boy sucked into a flooded Wisconsin storm sewer was saved when an eagle-eyed firefighter saw the boy's fingers pop through an opening in a manhole cover.

5. Transition House Opens in Medical District - Saturday, August 25, 2018

A counseling service for recently released federal prisoners dealing with substance abuse and behavioral health issues has opened on Madison Avenue in the Medical District.

Transition House of Tennessee Inc. recently purchased the 3,616-square-foot building at 661 Madison Ave. for $437,500, public records show.

6. BOGARD Restaurant Drops Plans for Overton Square Site - Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Plans to open an “upscale’’ but charitable restaurant called BOGARD in Overton Square have been suspended, with two of the partners citing their involvement with the transition team of incoming County Mayor Lee Harris as the reason.

7. Transition House Opens in Medical District - Wednesday, August 22, 2018

A counseling service for recently released federal prisoners dealing with substance abuse and behavioral health issues has opened on Madison Avenue in the Medical District.

Transition House of Tennessee Inc. recently purchased the 3,616-square-foot building at 661 Madison Ave. for $437,500, public records show.

8. Analysis: It's Prosecutor vs. 'Big Country' in US House Race - Monday, August 20, 2018

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The major-party nominees in Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District present sharp contrasts in style, even if their ideological differences are fuzzier.

Republican Michael Guest and Democrat Michael Ted Evans both say they oppose abortion and support gun rights and border security. Neither sounds likely to hang out with the House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi.

9. Events - Saturday, August 11, 2018

Ballet Memphis hosts its free Ballet Memphis School Sampler Saturday, Aug. 11, from 9 a.m. to noon in its Imagine Studio, 2144 Madison Ave. Parents can learn about Ballet Memphis programs and children ages 3-18 can try a class for free. Schedule: Discover Dance (ages 3-5), 9:15 to 9:45 a.m.; beginner ballet (ages 6-10), 9:45 to 10:30 a.m.; beginner ballet (11 and older), 10:30 to 11:15 a.m.; and tap (any age), 11:15 to noon. No special clothes required. Visit balletmemphis.org/events for details.

10. Perfect Vision - Saturday, August 11, 2018

As owner of Tharp’s Optical Boutique in Midtown, Dr. Linda Tharp has run her private optometry practice from the same 1720 Madison Ave. location the past 27 years. Despite the fact that she has no street frontage, her business has grown over the years strictly through word-of-mouth and referrals.

11. Events - Friday, August 10, 2018

Playhouse on the Square presents the regional premiere of “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” Friday, Aug. 10, through Sept. 2 at 66 S. Cooper St. Visit playhouseonthesquare.org for showtimes and tickets.

12. Last Word: Election Day, Inland Bails Early and Cannons Out - Thursday, August 2, 2018

The TV breaks are wall to wall with political ads. The campaign robo-calls have crowded out the hang-up clone calls to your landline phone. Your mailbox has no fewer than three mailers a day. And all of the parties set for Thursday night are “victory” parties at least until the polls close. Here comes election day.

13. Artists vs. Madison Hotel Developers Settlement Hangs on Text Message - Wednesday, August 1, 2018

The ongoing eviction case between two local artists and a Chicago-based hotel group took a turn for the plaintiff Wednesday in Circuit Court.

The counsel for Aparium Hotel Group and G4 Partners, which are planning a multimillion-dollar renovation of the Madison Hotel and the adjacent 1 S. Main, learned Wednesday local artist Sarah Fleming, one of the evicted artists, is not part of the settlement agreement pending between the parties.

14. Hopdoddy Sets Open Date for East Memphis Location - Thursday, August 2, 2018

Hopdoddy Burger Bar has set an official opening date for its second Memphis location.

The new location in the Poplar Commons shopping center will open to the public Monday, Aug. 13.

Earlier this year, the Austin, Texas-based burger chain opened its first location in Memphis at the corner or Madison Avenue and Cooper Street in Overton Square.

15. Former Madison County Employees Indicted - Thursday, August 2, 2018

Madison County’s former facilities maintenance supervisor and a former accounts payable clerk have been indicted for stealing county funds.

Details of the investigation have been released by the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury following the indictments of Donna Williams, a former accounts payable clerk in the Madison County Finance Department, and Eric Skinner, Madison County’s former facilities maintenance supervisor.

16. Choose901 Back To School Shop Pops Up Fri. & Sat. - Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Choose901 will host its annual Back 2 School Pop-Up Shop Aug. 3 and 4 at Ballet Memphis, located at 2144 Madison Ave. in Overton Square.

17. Council Chairman Pushes Back Against Criticism - Monday, July 30, 2018

The end of Memphis City Council sessions has long been the place for issues and complaints not on the council agenda. The time reserved for citizens to speak their mind is where some of the broadest criticism is leveled at city leaders. There is also no level of detail that is considered too great for some of the speakers.

18. Man Chooses To Live His Last Days On The Mississippi River - Tuesday, July 24, 2018

NATCHEZ, Miss. (AP) – After learning he had only three months to live, Wisconsin native Kelly Phillips took a leap of faith into the Mississippi River, literally.

19. Events - Saturday, July 21, 2018

FEMMEmphis Collective presents “Pretty” July 20 to July 29 at the University of Memphis Lab Theatre, 3745 Central Ave. Find out what happens when women of all shapes, sizes, ages and backgrounds come together to explore the concept of beauty through stories, laughs, epiphanies, dances and perhaps a sock puppet or two. Optional talk-backs after each performance allow audience members to share their own experiences. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10. Visit femmemphis.com.

20. July 20-26, 2018: This week in Memphis history - Saturday, July 21, 2018

2012: Loeb Properties Inc. of Memphis closed on its $7 million acquisition of eight acres of the Overton Square entertainment district from Denver-based Overton Square Investors LLC.

21. Events - Friday, July 20, 2018

The Orpheum Summer Movie Series continues with “Selena” Friday, July 20, at 7 p.m. at The Orpheum, 203 S. Main St. Doors open at 6 p.m. for activities in the lobby, including a drink special and photo booth with movie-themed props and quotes. Costumes are encouraged but never required. Adult tickets are $8; children 12 and younger are $6. Visit orpheum-memphis.com.

22. Amazon, Container Store Eye New Locations in Memphis - Monday, July 16, 2018

5155 Citation Dr.

Memphis, TN 38118

Permit Amount: $10 million

Application Date: July 10 

Owner: Exeter Property Group

Tenant: Amazon

23. Memphis Chamber Fills New SVP of Growth Role - Saturday, July 14, 2018

The Greater Memphis Chamber has created and filled a new position to help grow membership and create more benefits for those members.

The new senior vice president of growth role has been filled by Robert Recker, former vice president of investor relations for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Alabama.

24. Events - Saturday, July 14, 2018

POTS@TheWorks presents the world premiere of “CRIB” Friday, July 13, through July 29 at TheatreWorks, 2085 Monroe Ave. Visit playhouseonthesquare.org for times and tickets.

Omega Ministries/Omega Healthy Practices and the Healthcare Organizations of Greater Memphis Coalition host the Back to School Family Affair Saturday, July 14, from 8 a.m. to noon at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center’s Student-Alumni Center, 800 Madison Ave. Free and open to the public; free backpacks with supplies will be given to the first 500 people with a parent or guardian present.

25. Events - Friday, July 13, 2018

POTS@TheWorks presents the world premiere of “CRIB” Friday, July 13, through July 29 at TheatreWorks, 2085 Monroe Ave. Visit playhouseonthesquare.org for times and tickets.

26. DMC Steering Committee Recommends Consultant for Downtown Master Plan - Thursday, July 12, 2018

In an effort to create a master plan for all of Downtown Memphis that will complement the administration’s Memphis 3.0 plan, the Downtown Memphis Commission staff has issued its recommended consultant for the project. 

27. Memphis Chamber Fills New SVP of Growth Role - Thursday, July 12, 2018

The Greater Memphis Chamber has created and filled a new position to help grow membership and create more benefits for those members.

The new senior vice president of growth role has been filled by Robert Recker, former vice president of investor relations for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Alabama.

28. Lawsuit: Mississippi Legislative District Dilutes Black Vote - Wednesday, July 11, 2018

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A state Senate district in Mississippi dilutes black voting power and should be redrawn, three African-American plaintiffs say in a federal lawsuit filed Monday.

The suit asks a judge to order legislators to reconfigure the district before the 2019 state elections.

29. Grocery Veteran Bringing Cash Saver Store to Former Kroger Southgate Site - Friday, June 29, 2018

Rick James got his start in the grocery store industry at 15 when he, like a lot of teenagers, got his first job bagging groceries at a small independent retailer outside Union, Missouri.

30. U.S. Stocks Inch Higher; Amazon Deal Shakes Health Care Firms - Friday, June 29, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are slightly higher Thursday as gains for technology companies and banks help the market recover some of its recent losses. Amazon said it's buying an online pharmacy and launching its own delivery van business, and drugstores and medication distributors as well as delivery companies are sinking. U.S. crude oil is at its highest price since late 2014. A day ago, stocks closed at their lowest level in about a month.

31. Strong support at home powers Guest's congressional campaign - Thursday, June 28, 2018

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Republican nominee Michael Guest moves toward the general election in Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District with a big advantage: the electoral dynamo of his home county.

32. Bike Share, Greenway and Bike Lane Efforts Point Toward Common Goal - Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Four years after it made its tentative debut with the opening of the Overton Park Bike Gate, the Hampline, across East Parkway from the eastern end of Overton Park, is about to become permanent.

“The Hampline that exists today is about to be changed,” city bikeway and pedestrian program manager Nicholas Oyler said on WKNO-TV’s “Behind The Headlines.”

33. Governor tabs prosecutor in Mississippi congressional runoff - Friday, June 22, 2018

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant is endorsing a prosecutor in a Republican congressional runoff.

Michael Guest of Brandon, who won 45 percent of the vote in a six-person field on June 6, announced Bryant's endorsement Wednesday. The 48-year-old district attorney for Rankin and Madison counties faces Madison Republican Whit Hughes in a runoff Tuesday. Hughes won 22 percent of the vote. The 43-year-old former state development official later worked as fundraiser for a Baptist hospital system.

34. 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.

35. 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.

36. 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.

37. Medical District Apts. Getting $9M Makeover - Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Millennia Housing Development is planning a $9.4 million upgrade of the Madison Tower building in the Memphis Medical District, according to a building permit application filed Friday, June 15.

The Cleveland, Ohio-based company listed “moderate rehab” on the permit application for the senior living community located at 383 Madison Ave. near the corner of Madison and Danny Thomas Boulevard.

38. The Week Ahead: June 18-24 - Monday, June 18, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! Summer officially arrives Thursday with the solstice (aka the longest day of the year). Celebrate by taking in an evening Redbirds game or outdoor movie – or head indoors for one of nearly a dozen chamber music concerts. Here’s what else you need to know about in The Week Ahead...

39. Hamilton Eye Institute Hosting ‘Cataract-A-Thon’ - Saturday, June 16, 2018

The Hamilton Eye Institute at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is hosting the second annual Ivan Marais Cataract-A-Thon Friday and Saturday, June 15-16.

More than 50 patients from Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and surrounding areas who are uninsured or otherwise unable to access proper ophthalmic care will receive cataract surgery at no cost during the two-day community service outreach. Patients were identified through the HEI clinics, the Mid-South Lions Sight and Hearing Service, and Church Health. The value of the services is more than $150,000.

40. Events - Friday, June 15, 2018

The Memphis Juneteenth Urban Music Festival returns Friday through Sunday, June 15-17, in Robert R. Church Park, 345 Beale St. The annual event features live music, vendors, senior activities, kids zone and more. Admission is free. Visit memphisjuneteenth.com.

41. Hamilton Eye Institute Hosting ‘Cataract-A-Thon’ - Thursday, June 14, 2018

The Hamilton Eye Institute at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is hosting the second annual Ivan Marais Cataract-A-Thon Friday and Saturday, June 15-16.

More than 50 patients from Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and surrounding areas who are uninsured or otherwise unable to access proper ophthalmic care will receive cataract surgery at no cost during the two-day community service outreach. Patients were identified through the HEI clinics, the Mid-South Lions Sight and Hearing Service, and Church Health. The value of the services is more than $150,000.

42. Events - Thursday, June 14, 2018

Memphis Botanic Garden hosts 30 Thursdays: Cocktails and Canvases June 14, at 6 p.m. at 750 Cherry Road. The plein air (outdoor) painting class takes place the second Thursday of each month during 30 Thursdays and uses one of MBG’s 31 gardens as a background. Bring your own beverage and painting supplies. Free with garden admission. Visit memphisbotanicgarden.com/30thursdays for details.

43. Events - Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Allegiant Airlines is hosting a customer celebration Wednesday, June 13, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Central BBQ, 147 E. Butler Ave. The event includes $100 travel vouchers for the first 50 people, free lunch for everyone, chances to win 10 pairs of round-trip tickets, and a presentation of a $5,000 gift to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Cost is free.

44. Laurenzi Joins Baker Donelson After Long Career as Prosecutor - Monday, June 11, 2018

Larry Laurenzi describes himself as a “litigator” – meaning much of his 35-year career in the Memphis U.S. Attorney’s office was about the courtroom – going to trial or preparing to go to trial.

45. Louisville Transfer Coming To Tigers Basketball Team - Tuesday, June 5, 2018

The University of Memphis men’s basketball team is adding a transfer from the University of Louisville: forward Lance Thomas.

46. Last Word: Storm Damage, Overton Square Parking and Corker's Tariff Plan - Monday, June 4, 2018

The week begins with recovery across the river in Arkansas where high winds, possibly tornadoes, did quite a bit of damage Saturday evening – the Delta Regional Airport just outside Colt in St. Francis County destroyed, by the National Weather Service preliminary damage estimate Sunday.

47. June 1-7: This week in Memphis history - Saturday, June 2, 2018

2011: Bike lanes are planned for two miles of Madison Avenue from just east of Cleveland to North Cooper Street. But some business owners on the stretch of Madison are opposed to them and have organized, prompting Mayor A C Wharton to put off a final decision on the bike lanes. “It’s not that we are against bicycles or bicycle lanes,” business owner Mike Cooper says in The Memphis News cover story. “We need the traffic. We don’t need any impediments.”

48. 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.

49. Merging Past, Present - Wednesday, May 30, 2018

The Medical Arts Building at the corner of Madison Avenue and Fourth Street in Downtown Memphis, much like its hometown, has seen its share of ups and downs for nearly a century.

But as the city continues to reinvent itself, Walk-Off Properties, the building’s current owner, is also in the process of reimaging the iconic property.

50. Major Memphis Providers To Discuss Patient Safety - Friday, May 25, 2018

Leaders from Baptist Memorial Health Care, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Saint Francis Health Care and Regional One Health will gather for a screening of “To Err is Human: A Patient Safety Documentary” and related discussion on Friday, May 25.

51. Events - Friday, May 25, 2018

Southern College of Optometry, the Memphis Medical District Collaborative and the Memphis Business Group on Health will host a preview screening of “To Err is Human” and panel discussion on reducing medical errors Friday, May 25, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in SCO’s East/West classroom, 1245 Madison Ave. The film, set to be released in November, explores the United States’ third-leading cause of death, medical mistakes. Afterward, representatives from Baptist Memorial Health Care, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Saint Francis Health Care and Regional One Health will discuss preventable medical mistakes and how their systems can work together to reduce errors. Cost is free; registration is required. Visit eventbrite.com for tickets.

52. Events - Thursday, May 24, 2018

Memphis Botanic Garden hosts 30 Thursdays: Taste of the Garden May 24 at 6 p.m. at 750 Cherry Road. Join MBG’s Blair Combest for a tasting of treats that use ingredients from the garden. Bring your favorite beverage to enjoy during the demonstration. Free with garden admission. Visit memphisbotanicgarden.com/30thursdays for details.

53. Two Shots Didn’t Phase Lawmakers in Jack Daniel’s Case - Thursday, May 17, 2018

When Van Halen front man David Lee Roth opened a bottle of Jack Daniel’s on stage back in the ’80s, the last thing he thought about was taxes and court appeals when he took a big swig of whiskey.

54. Opening the Book - Tuesday, May 15, 2018

A new Learning and Innovation Fund for Educators grant from Lausanne Learning Institutes (LLI) is now available to a team of teachers looking for funding to do creative things in their classrooms.

And the upcoming annual LLI Memphis teacher conference in July will give them the chance to share those ideas with their peers.

55. Council Gives Final Approval to Speedway Terrace Historic District Status - Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Memphis City Council members approved historic overlay district status Tuesday, May 8, for the Speedway Terrace neighborhood north of Crosstown Concourse. The approval on third and final reading of the ordinance is the second approval in a month of a district whose standards are governed by the Memphis Landmarks Commission.

56. Events - Tuesday, May 8, 2018

The Blues Foundation hosts Blues Music Week Tuesday through Thursday, May 8-10. Highlights include:

• Tuesday, May 8: Little Steven and The Disciples of Soul concert benefiting TeachRock, 8 p.m. (doors 7 p.m.), Minglewood Hall, 1555 Madison; tickets $25.
• Wednesday, May 9: Blues Hall of Fame induction ceremony, 6:30 p.m (cocktail reception 5:30 p.m.), Halloran Centre, 225 S. Main; tickets $75. Big LLou’s Blues Hall of Fame Tribute Jam benefiting the Blues Foundation and Generation Blues, 9 p.m., The Warehouse, tickets start at $20.
• Thursday, May 10: New memorabilia unveiling (10 a.m.) and meet-and-greet with painter Michael P. Maness (11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.), Blues Hall of Fame Museum, 421 S. Main. Blues Music Awards hosted by Little Steven Van Zandt, 7 p.m. (reception 5:30 p.m.), Cook Convention Center, 255 N. Main; tickets $150.

For a complete list of events, visit blues.org.

57. Council Sets Stage for Tax-Rate Votes in June - Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Memphis City Council members take the first of three votes on two ordinances essential to setting the city government budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The ordinances to set the city property tax rate and then allocate how much of the rate goes to debt and other areas are on the Tuesday, May 8, agenda as the council budget committee continues its deliberations.

58. 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.

59. 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.

60. UTHSC Program to Help Students, Faculty Pursue Global Mission Work - Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Janyn Quiz, a first-year medical student at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, wants to pursue surgical mission work outside the United States.

A native of the Philippines who moved to the United States two years ago with her family, she’s part of a group of students and faculty that have built and launched a formal program around that same interest they share. It’s UTHSC’s newly formed Global Surgery Institute in the College of Medicine’s Department of Surgery. The institute’s mission is to help surgical residents and students interested in mission work take the next step in pursuit of that interest.

61. Trolleys Return to Main Street - Monday, April 30, 2018

Almost four years after the trolley system was shut down and 25 years and a day since the service began, the Memphis Area Transit Authority resumed running the trolleys on the Main Street line.

The Monday, April 30, ceremonial first ride from the MATA trolley barn on North Main Street ended a multi-year process of restoring vintage cars and rebuilding the maintenance and record-keeping system for trolley service. MATA CEO Gary Rosenfeld said the effort’s priority was making the trolleys a “safe and reliable mode of transportation.”

62. Restaurants Calm Customers, Say Their Romaine is Safe - Monday, April 30, 2018

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) – Restaurants' advice to their customers? Romaine calm.

The government is still investigating how romaine lettuce from Yuma, Arizona, apparently became contaminated with E. coli bacteria. As of Friday, at least 98 people in 22 states have gotten sick, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

63. Council Starts Process Of Crosstown Overlay - Saturday, April 28, 2018

Memphis City Council members approved on the second of three readings Tuesday, April 24, a Crosstown historic overlay district similar to the Cooper-Young district it approved two weeks ago.

Councilman Kemp Conrad moved for and the council approved pulling the approval of the Cooper-Young district off the minutes of the body’s most recent meeting until June at the earliest.

64. U of M to Award Record 2,576 Degrees May 5 - Saturday, April 28, 2018

The University of Memphis will award 2,576 degrees at its spring commencement Saturday, May 5, at FedExForum – the largest graduating class in the university’s history. The degrees, conferred in three ceremonies, include 1,811 bachelor’s, 511 master’s, 93 law, 63 doctoral and 98 graduate certificates.

65. U of M to Award Record 2,576 Degrees May 5 - Friday, April 27, 2018

The University of Memphis will award 2,576 degrees at its spring commencement Saturday, May 5, at FedExForum – the largest graduating class in the university’s history. The degrees, conferred in three ceremonies, include 1,811 bachelor’s, 511 master’s, 93 law, 63 doctoral and 98 graduate certificates.

66. Council Starts Process Of Crosstown Overlay - Thursday, April 26, 2018

Memphis City Council members approved on the second of three readings Tuesday, April 24, a Crosstown historic overlay district similar to the Cooper-Young district it approved two weeks ago.

Councilman Kemp Conrad moved for and the council approved pulling the approval of the Cooper-Young district off the minutes of the body’s most recent meeting until June at the earliest.

67. Strickland Proposes City Property Tax Rate Change After Windfall - Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland is proposing a change in the city property tax rate from the current $3.27 to a $3.19 rate as part of his third budget proposal.

68. 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.

69. Events - Friday, April 20, 2018

Circuit Playhouse will present the regional premiere of “Stupid F#!&ing Bird” Friday, April 20, through May 13 at 51 S. Cooper St. Visit playhouseonthesquare.org for times and tickets.

70. Events - Thursday, April 19, 2018

Memphis Botanic Garden hosts 30 Thursdays: Nature at Night Thursday, April 19, at 6 p.m. at 750 Cherry Road. Join an MBG staff member on an evening guided tour of the gardens. Free with garden admission. Visit memphisbotanicgarden.com/30thursdays for details.

71. Trolley Restoration Meant Rebuilding the System - Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Nearly four years after two trolleys caught fire in the span of six months in late 2013, Memphis Area Transit Authority officials announced that three restored trolley cars would go into service on April 30.

72. Last Word: The Wheels on the Bus, HelloHome and Cooper-Young's Debate - Tuesday, April 17, 2018

It’s been so long that when someone talks about trolleys in this town of ours, you might think of the ones with rubber tires that have been running for the last four years. You might be part of the discussion about larger changes to the city public transportation system and some wondering about where trolleys should be in the way of priorities. Or you may have been someone caught by surprise during the recent trolley tests by how quiet the new ones are.

73. Trolleys Return to Main Street at End of April - Tuesday, April 17, 2018

The Main Street trolley returns to service April 30, the Memphis Area Transit Authority announced Monday, April 16.

Three restored trolley cars will go into service at the end of April almost four years after MATA stopped all trolley service on all three lines – Main, Riverfront and Madison following a pair of fires on two trolleys while they were carrying passengers.

74. UTHSC Addiction Center To Host Opioid Forums - Saturday, April 14, 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.

75. Former Bar Louie Space Lands New Tenant - Saturday, April 14, 2018

The team behind Flight restaurant Downtown and Southern Social in Germantown – Tom Powers and Russ Graham – are the new tenants for the cornerstone space in Overton Square occupied until recently by Bar Louie.

76. New Restaurant Concept Coming to Overton Square - Saturday, April 14, 2018

A new upscale restaurant called Bogard that will serve contemporary Southern-inspired dishes has signed a 3,790-square-foot lease in Overton Square, Loeb Properties Inc. has announced.

77. 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.

78. ‘Southern-Inspired’ Restaurant Coming to Overton Square - Friday, April 13, 2018

A new upscale restaurant called Bogard that will serve contemporary Southern-inspired dishes has signed a 3,790-square-foot lease in Overton Square, Loeb Properties Inc. has announced.

79. Upscale “Southern-Inspired” Restaurant Coming to Overton Square - Thursday, April 12, 2018

Loeb Properties has announced a new upscale restaurant that will serve contempory southern-inspired dishes known BOGARD has signed a 3,790-square-foot lease in Overton Square.

Though the restaurant partially takes its name from co-owner Edward Bogard, it also an acronym for “Buying One Gives Another Rare Dish” as each meal purchased at the restaurant will provide another meal for a person in need thanks to a partnership with the Mid-South Food Bank

80. Last Word: Bakery Rising, Legislative Notes From Nashville and Jazz Messiah - Thursday, April 12, 2018

Some call it the Bakery Project – others Wonder Bread. Whatever you call it the redevelopment project that is centered on the old Wonder Bread bakery on Monroe between Downtown and the Medical District is moving with a building permit this week for what developer Gary Prosterman and his team call the Cadillac Building … because it was once a Cadillac dealership. That’s part of the code being used for places that have been out of action or barely functioning for decades and are now under development.... very post-apocalyptic. 

81. Ryan Bowing Out, Sending Ripples of Uncertainty Through GOP - Thursday, April 12, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – House Speaker Paul Ryan announced Wednesday he will retire rather than seek another term in Congress as the steady if reluctant wingman for President Donald Trump, sending ripples through a Washington already on edge and spreading new uncertainty through a party bracing for a rough election year.

82. Prosterman Talks Trends for Wonder Bread Project and Phase Two ‘Jewel’ - Thursday, April 12, 2018

As a fourth-generation Memphian, Gary Prosterman is familiar with the drive to and from work on Union, Monroe or Madison avenues.

He called for an informal show of hands at the Memphis Rotary Club luncheon Tuesday, April 10, of how many also drive the streets daily and a lot of hands went up.

83. Last Word: Play Ball, Porch & Parlor and A New Bus System - Wednesday, April 11, 2018

If you go to enough political gatherings you start to see parallels. Sometimes you see things that aren’t there but that’s another story. Many political gatherings begin with the pledge of allegiance and a prayer as well. Sometimes the pledge isn’t enough and there is someone there to sing the National Anthem.

84. Bar Louie Space to Become Porch & Parlor - Tuesday, April 10, 2018

The team behind Flight restaurant Downtown and Southern Social in Germantown – Tom Powers and Russ Graham – are the new tenants for the cornerstone space in Overton Square occupied until recently by Bar Louie.

85. 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.

86. Perry Leading Fire Museum Forward as Executive Director - Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Shannon Perry became executive director of the Fire Museum of Memphis earlier this year, a role that brings her back to the institution she helped launch in the 1990s, when she served as its first curator. As executive director, Perry is the Fire Museum’s only full-time employee, and she handles a range of functions – including its collection, exhibits and facilities, budgets, fundraising, public relations, special events, staff and volunteers – while also working directly with the museum’s board.

87. New Apartments Coming to Broad, Clark Tower Inks Another Tenant - Monday, April 2, 2018

A multifamily project planned for Broad Avenue could provide the housing element that takes the arts district to the next level.

2542 Broad Ave.
Memphis, TN 38112

88. Businesses to Add Retail Presence in Binghampton - Saturday, March 31, 2018

Two local businesses with family ties, Green Goddess Gourmet Vegan Foods and Angels and Tomboys, will be establishing a joint retail presence in Binghampton.

Located at 3078 Summer Ave., the new retail space will combine Green Goddess’ selection of vegan foods, and Angels and Tomboys’ vegan-friendly handmade body lotions and sprays for tweens, with a communal lounge that will offer community classes and workshops focused on healthy living.

89. 30 Years of Shangri-La - Friday, March 30, 2018

The sign propped up on the porch beside the door announces a “huge sale” and “free show” this Saturday, March 31, at Shangri-La Records – the music shop at 1916 Madison Ave. you might mistake for a house if you were driving by too fast and not paying attention. Inside, the shop is packed with boxes of vinyl and arranged so that you actually have to slow down and thumb through all those sleeves and all that plastic if you want to get any kind of sense of the musical treasure herein.

90. Frontier Gun Maker Remington Seeks Bankruptcy Protection - Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Remington, the storied gun maker that began turning out flintlock rifles when there were only 19 states in the Union, has filed for bankruptcy reorganization amid years of slumping sales and legal and financial pressure over the Sandy Hook school massacre.

91. Lawmakers Seek to Ease Jack Daniel’s Tax Burden - Tuesday, March 27, 2018

NASHVILLE – Jack Daniel’s is over a barrel – literally – regarding a tax assessment, an attorney general’s opinion and the potential impact of President Donald Trump’s trade tariff.

92. Two Local Businesses to Open Retail Presence in Binghampton - Monday, March 26, 2018

Two local businesses with family ties, Green Goddess Gourmet Vegan Foods and Angels and Tomboys, will be establishing a joint retail presence in Binghampton.

Located at 3078 Summer Ave., the new retail space will combine Green Goddess’ selection of vegan foods, and Angels and Tomboys’ vegan-friendly handmade body lotions and sprays for tweens, with a communal lounge that will offer community classes and workshops focused on healthy living.

93. Events - Saturday, March 24, 2018

The Overton Park Conservancy will host a Park Fun Day and Science Fair Sunday, March 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Overton Park’s East Parkway Pavilion. Events include a science fair with research partners from the University of Memphis, Rhodes College and Christian Brothers University; an 11:30 a.m. mini-BioBlitz, a tour of the Old Forest with conservancy staff to record as many species as possible; the finals of the International Society of Arboriculture Southern Chapter's tree-climbing contest; and games and food trucks. Cost is free. Visit overtonpark.org.

94. 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.

95. Events - Friday, March 23, 2018

David Lusk Gallery-Memphis will hold an opening reception for Libby Johnson’s “Tempest” and Rob Matthews’ “Peace Like a Fever” Friday, March 23, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at DLG, 97 Tillman St. Johnson and Matthews will also give an artist talk Saturday, March 24, at 11 a.m. Visit davidluskgallery.com.

96. The Week Ahead: March 19-25, 2018 - Monday, March 19, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! Spring fever’s in the air as the equinox officially arrives Tuesday morning. Tell winter to take a hike at the new Heels 4 Healing 5K for St. Jude this weekend, then let the kids dance the blues away at a pair of family ballet events. Here’s what else you should know about in The Week Ahead…

97. Why So Few Female Fund Managers? It's Not Their Performance - Monday, March 19, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – Why is just one of every 10 managers at the helm of U.S. mutual funds a woman?

Many reasons may be behind the disparity, but researchers at Morningstar say they have disqualified one as a possibility: performance. After measuring how 11,272 funds have fared since 2003, the researchers found no big, statistically significant difference in performance between those led by men, women or teams of mixed genders.

98. Last Word: Moot Points in Orlando, EDGE Responds and A Mayoral Forum - Friday, March 9, 2018

The Tigers basketball post season continues to a Friday game with Tulsa the day after the Tigers beat South Florida 79-77 in the AAC tournament in Orlando. But all of this seems to have been rendered a moot point by the all-but-official exit of coach Tubby Smith with Penny Hardaway, and probably much if not all of his staff, waiting in the wings.

99. Coming Full Square - Saturday, March 10, 2018

For the first time in a while, Overton Square isn’t 100 percent leased. And while no one really expects that to be the case for very long, these rare vacancies provide a good chance to stop and examine what the popular entertainment destination has going on.

100. This Week In Memphis History: March 9-15, 2018 - Saturday, March 10, 2018

1981: Grand opening of The Antenna Club, 1588 Madison Ave., in what had been a nightclub called The Well. The Panther Burns are the featured entertainment at the Antenna opening, with The Crime playing the following night and Barking Dog the night after that.