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. Bredesen Defends Wait-And-See Stand on Kavanaugh Nomination - Friday, September 14, 2018

Democratic U.S. Senate contender Phil Bredesen met a crowd of 500 at Rhodes College Thursday, Sept. 13, that consisted mostly of supporters on what was originally planned as a debate with Republican rival Marsha Blackburn. Blackburn bowed out of the debate.

3. Bredesen Defends Wait-And-See Stand on Kavanaugh Nomination - Friday, September 14, 2018

Democratic U.S. Senate contender Phil Bredesen met a crowd of 500 at Rhodes College Thursday, Sept. 13, that consisted mostly of supporters on what was originally planned as a debate with Republican rival Marsha Blackburn. Blackburn bowed out of the debate.

4. A New Benchmark - Saturday, September 15, 2018

Shelby Farms Park is gearing up for the second annual Mempho Music Festival and another chance to showcase the country’s largest urban park to a diverse and wide-reaching audience.
Memphis’ newest music festival is expecting a crowd of 20,000 on Oct. 6 and 7, which is impressive for a park two years out from a $70 million renovation embarked upon in 2010 with a distant vision for such an event.
The master plan for the park was designed not only for people to recreate and relax, but as a place to build community, and a music festival can be a big part of that, said Jen Andrews, executive director of Shelby Farms Park. Andrews has always had a larger vision for the park as a place where the community could come together and take ownership and pride in the best that Memphis has to offer.
Enter another visionary, native Memphian Diego Winegardner, founder of Mempho Fest and CEO of Big River Presents, which is putting on the festival. Winegardner grew up in Memphis and now lives outside of New York City where his day job is in finance and investment management. A couple of years ago on a trip home to Memphis he met some old friends for a bike ride at Shelby Farms Park.
“I was completely blown away,” Winegardner said. “The sun was setting on Hyde Lake, and I had this lightning-bolt moment of how special it would be to bring a world-class music festival to this site.
I thought about Memphis’ place in the annals of American music as the birthplace of blues, soul and R&B and the hip hop scene that we have here.
“If you think about the labels … Sun, Stax, Royal…I was exposed to all of that growing up, and seeing B.B. King on Beale Street was just normal,” he said. “I didn’t appreciate it until I was gone. I started to get really nostalgic about my hometown.”
Winegardner is a music enthusiast who has been to most of the notable music festivals in the U.S. and many around the world. He had the resources and connections to realize his dream. Last year, the first Mempho Fest kicked off with great success with 10,000 in attendance for two days of concerts featuring a variety of bands from different music genres.
“I’ve always been a big fan of (Memphis) and its people and a big defender of the city and its history,” Winegardner said. “This music festival was born out of my passion for music and my passion for the city of Memphis.”
When Winegardner first met with Andrews two years ago to pitch his idea, she caught his vision right away.
He approached it cautiously and wanted to understand how to protect the park and still give people a good experience, she said. “We like working with Diego,” she said. “They care about the park, and like us, have a big, bold vision, and they hired a professional team who knew how to put on a safe and fun event.”
This year’s festival will feature two days of multi-genre music headlined by Grammy Award-winning artist and hip-hop superstar Post Malone as well as Beck, Phoenix, NAS and Janelle Monae. Local talent like Lucero and alternative Mac deMarco also will perform, and there will be a special tribute to Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studios featuring the label’s past and present stars.
Sunday will feature performances by crowd favorites like George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic and Stones Throw, Chuck Laevell’s Rolling Stones’ backer band.
The festival will not only expand in attendance, but will add a larger culinary and craft beer presence in addition to on-site camping and VIP and super-VIP experiences.
“We’re trying to create more than just music on a stage,” said Winegardner, who also created a nonprofit arm called Mempho Matters that will partner with organizations that line-up with the vision of the festival, such as Oceanic Global Foundation, #BringYourSoul, Learn to Rock and the Memphis Area Women’s Council’s “Memphis Says NO MORE” campaign.
As part of Mempho’s partnership with the Oceanic Global Foundation, the festival has a 100 percent waste-free goal, which will start with its no straw policy.
“A best practice environmental policy is important to help make sure the park is as pristine when we leave as when we showed up,” said Winegardner.
The partnership promoting the Memphis Area Women’s Council’s “NO MORE” campaign is to make sure that Mempho Fest’s female attendees feel safe. Winegardner, who has a teenage daughter, knows stories about the lack of safety for females at other events, prompting him to take up the cause.
“In this day and age, you really have to take a stand and make it an institutional part of our way of doing things,” he said.
Money raised through Mempho Matters will also benefit the Memphis community through contributions to musical education in the form of free tickets for students and teachers to attend the festival as well as instruments and money for music education in local schools.
Last year, Mempho Matters gave away 2,000 tickets to students and teachers.
“We want to build bridges into the community and be as inclusive as possible,” Winegardner said. “We want to educate the children and the youth of tomorrow about the history of Memphis musically and create a sense of pride for its citizens while also attracting new people and adding another chapter to Memphis’ long, rich history.”
Andrews is optimistic about the growth of Mempho Fest this year, projecting double the attendance in its second year as well as adding 400 weekend camping permits. Those include primitive camping, RV hookups and glamping.
“The camping option is an important part of festival culture, and one of the great benefits of the park is its tremendous scale, which can accommodate that,” Andrews said.
But the plan is to grow Mempho Fest slowly, she said.
“We learned a lot the first year, and we’re applying the learning to this year’s festival,” she said. “We have a strong plan for safely managing the crowd. We want this to be a world-class festival.”
Big River Productions and Winegardner have an undisclosed agreement with Shelby Farms Park, and both entities hope to continue the relationship.
“I’m hoping that Mempho Fest will become a long-term asset for the city of Memphis,” Winegardner said.
Music remains a big driver of visitors to Memphis — 56 percent of leisure visitors come to the city for something related to music, said Kevin Kane, president and CEO of Memphis Tourism, formerly called the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We’re supporters of (Mempho Fest),” he said. “We believe in it and want to see it grow. Music festivals have a big impact on the economy. The more events we have based in music the better, and we think it’s great to utilize Shelby Farms in this way.”

5. Amazon's Jeff Bezos to Start $2 billion Charitable Fund - Friday, September 14, 2018

SEATTLE (AP) — Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos said Thursday that he is giving $2 billion to start a fund that will open preschools in low-income neighborhoods and give money to nonprofits that helps homeless families.

6. Puerto Rican Evacuees Hunt for Housing as Vouchers Expire - Friday, September 14, 2018

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Like many Puerto Ricans who fled to the mainland after Hurricane Maria, Jose Santiago has been scrambling to find a place to live. The federal vouchers that pay for his hotel room near the Orlando airport expire at checkout time Friday.

7. Pope OKs Probe into U.S. Bishop As He Meets with U.S. Delegation - Friday, September 14, 2018

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis accepted the resignation of a U.S. bishop Thursday and authorized an investigation into allegations he sexually harassed adults, adding awkward drama to an audience with U.S. church leaders over the abuse and cover-up scandal roiling the Catholic Church.

8. Karen Pence Wants to Help Ease Burden for Military Spouses - Friday, September 14, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Being married to the vice president has its privileges.

"Now people take my phone calls," Karen Pence told The Associated Press in an interview.

These days, Vice President Mike Pence's wife is using her new cachet to call around on behalf of military spouses, looking to help them overcome the challenges that come with being wed to active-duty service members.

9. Apple Unveils Bigger, Pricier iPhone - Thursday, September 13, 2018

CUPERTINO, California (AP) — Apple unveiled three new iPhones on Wednesday, including its biggest and most expensive model yet, as the company seeks to widen the product's appeal amid slowing sales.

10. UN Cancer Agency: 18 Million New Cancer Cases This Year - Thursday, September 13, 2018

GENEVA (AP) — The World Health Organization's cancer research arm estimated in a report released Wednesday that there will be about 18 million new cases of cancer globally this year and more than 9 million deaths.

11. Addressing Babies' Needs, One Diaper at a Time - Thursday, September 13, 2018

For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a rider the message was lost. For want of a message the battle was lost. For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

12. City Balks at Forrest Descendants’ Proposed $30M Settlement - Wednesday, September 12, 2018

The city of Memphis is balking at a $30 million settlement demand by descendants of Nathan Bedford Forrest and Sons of Confederate Veterans in connection with the removal of the Confederate general’s statue from Health Sciences Park.

13. FedEx Ramps Up Ground Operations with Plans for More Employees, Longer Workweek - Wednesday, September 12, 2018

E-commerce growth is driving FedEx’s plans to add 55,000 employees this holiday season, increase workers’ hours and permanently run its U.S. ground parcel operation six days a week.

The Memphis-based company announced the moves Wednesday, Sept. 12, as it ramps up for what’s expected to be another record package volume during the peak season from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

14. Pope to Meet U.S. Bishops Thursday Over Sex-Abuse Scandal - Wednesday, September 12, 2018

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis will meet Thursday with a delegation of U.S. cardinals and bishops over the sex abuse and cover-up scandal roiling the Catholic Church and his own papacy, the Vatican said Tuesday.

15. U.S. Marks 9/11 with Somber Tributes; Trump Speaks at Pa. Site - Wednesday, September 12, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans looked back on 9/11 Tuesday with solemn ceremonies, volunteer service and a presidential tribute to "the moment when America fought back" on one of the hijacked planes used as weapons in the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil.

16. Labrador Dog Named Lucy Saves Oregon Man from Sex-Abuse Conviction - Wednesday, September 12, 2018

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The discovery of a black Labrador named Lucy led to the unraveling of a criminal case Monday against an Oregon man who had begun serving a 50-year prison sentence.

Joshua Horner, a plumber from the central Oregon town of Redmond, was convicted on April 12, 2017, of sexual abuse of a minor.

17. Can We See Into the Future? - Tuesday, September 11, 2018

“The future isn’t something that happens to you, it is something that you create with the decisions that you make today.” – Trista Harris

How many times have you dreamed of seeing into the future? Did you know you could make this dream come true? By the time you finish reading this article, you will move beyond dreaming.

18. Embrace Fully Innovations Underway in K-12 Education - Tuesday, September 11, 2018

There are many changes taking place in education. As an outward sign of this change, schools are striving to make their environments more like the “real world,” which is to say like adult workplaces.

19. Immigrant Families Struggling with Trauma of Separation - Monday, September 10, 2018

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A 6-year-old immigrant boy sobs at the school bus stop in suburban Maryland and begs his mother to promise she will not disappear again.

A toddler in Honduras wakes up screaming and searches for the government social worker who cared for him for several months. Other children duck or hide their faces when they see a uniformed officer.

20. Companies Weighing Options to Continue Recycling - Saturday, September 8, 2018

Recycling capabilities for many Memphis businesses and institutions were stopped or substantially reduced in recent weeks, even as global warming continues to escalate.

Republic Services confirmed that its Memphis recycling facility, ReCommunity, recently stopped accepting recycling items from commercial and institutional sources.

21. Berry Brooks’ Films Posted By Tom Leatherwood - Saturday, September 8, 2018

Back in a time when the wilds of Africa were not a click away on our televisions or the internet, local resident Berry Brooks thrilled Memphians with his African safari stories and films.

Born in 1902, he attended Washington and Lee University, and entered the cotton business in 1922 working as a $25-a-month clerk. Brooks started his own company in 1929, where he made his fortune in the cotton business.

22. Nike's Kaepernick Campaign Signals Change in Shoe Politics - Monday, September 10, 2018

A pair of shoes are set aflame with a cigarette lighter, captured on video and shared widely online to protest a political statement made by the manufacturer.

The New Balance shoes were burned by their owners two years ago after a spokeswoman indicated the company's support for President Donald Trump's trade policies.

23. The Seam Eyes Growth With New Personnel, Technologies - Saturday, September 8, 2018

With nearly 20 years of software development for commodities industries like cotton and peanuts, local fintech company The Seam is looking to the future, developing new technologies supporting sustainable agriculture initiatives.

24. Berry Brooks’ Expedition Films Posted by Tom Leatherwood - Thursday, September 6, 2018

Back in a time when the wilds of Africa were not a click away on our televisions or the internet, local resident Berry Brooks thrilled Memphians with his African safari stories and films.

Born in 1902, he attended Washington and Lee University, and entered the cotton business in 1922 working as a $25-a-month clerk. Brooks started his own company in 1929, where he made his fortune in the cotton business.

25. Burt Reynolds, Star of Film and TV, Dead at 82 - Friday, September 7, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) — Burt Reynolds, the handsome film and television star known for his acclaimed performances in "Deliverance" and "Boogie Nights," commercial hits such as "Smokey and the Bandit" and for an active off-screen love life which included relationships with Loni Anderson and Sally Field, has died at age 82.

26. Good Teachers Light a Fire, Leave a Mark on Our Lives - Friday, September 7, 2018

Teachers, not schools, teach.

If you’re wondering how many pieces of notebook paper it takes to produce a truly impressive spitball, it’s 10, give or take.

Terry was occupying most of the rear corner, busily inserting one piece of notebook paper after another into his mouth. Known for both gross weight and behavior, Terry was larger and older than us; the former the result of being so fond of everything in the cafeteria that he went back again and again, and the latter the result of being so fond of several grades that he went back for those, too.

27. Solid Foundation - Thursday, September 6, 2018

While sitting at his desk, Fred Jones needs only to take a quick look up and to his right to see the strides made by him and his Southern Heritage Classic. But what does the 70-year-old Jones see when he looks up at the hopeful guy in his early 40s staring back from a newspaper photo accompanying a story prior to the inaugural game in 1990?

28. Tell-All Book by Watergate Reporter Roils Trump White House - Wednesday, September 5, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — An incendiary tell-all book by a reporter who helped bring down President Richard Nixon is roiling the White House as current and former aides of President Donald Trump are quoted as calling him an "idiot" and admitting they snatched sensitive documents off his desk to keep him from taking rash actions.

29. Amazon is 2nd U.S. Company to Reach $1 trillion Market Value - Wednesday, September 5, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon on Tuesday became the second publicly traded company to be worth $1 trillion, hot on the heels of iPhone maker Apple.

Launched as an online bookstore in 1995, Amazon.com has changed the way people shop for toilet paper, TVs and just about anything else. In its two decades, the company has expanded far beyond those bookseller beginnings, combining its world-spanning retail operations with less flashy but very profitable advertising and cloud computing businesses. It's now expanding into the health care industry and increasing its brick-and-mortar presence.

30. Colin Kaepernick's Nike Deal Prompts Debate Online - Wednesday, September 5, 2018

An endorsement deal between Nike and Colin Kaepernick is prompting a flood of debate online as sports fans react to the apparel giant backing an athlete known mainly for starting a wave of protests among NFL players of police brutality, racial inequality and other social issues.

31. Family, Friends Say Final Goodbye To McCain - Tuesday, September 4, 2018

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Sen. John McCain's final journey ended on a grassy hill at the U.S. Naval Academy within view of the Severn River and earshot of midshipmen present and future, and alongside a lifelong friend.

32. From Penny Press To Snapchat: Parents Fret Through The Ages - Tuesday, September 4, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) — When Stephen Dennis was raising his two sons in the 1980s, he never heard the phrase "screen time," nor did he worry much about the hours his kids spent with technology. When he bought an Apple II Plus computer, he considered it an investment in their future and encouraged them to use it as much as possible.

33. Local Soccer Team Christened Memphis FC 901 - Saturday, September 1, 2018

The Memphis entry in the United Soccer League shall be known as Memphis 901 FC. The logo and team name were unveiled on Saturday, Sept. 1. at 9:01 a.m., a nod to the city’s area code. An accompanying video talks about the city’s legacy in the sport with shots of the Memphis Americans indoor team and the outside squad – Memphis Rogues.

34. The Week Ahead: Sept. 3-9 - Monday, September 3, 2018

Good morning, Memphis. It’s going to be hot today, so take it easy while you are grilling out. Here’s a list of some events going on for this holiday-shortened week. Happy Labor Day!

35. Immigration Documentary Series Coming to Central Library - Monday, September 3, 2018

Every other Thursday night, beginning Sept. 20, the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library will host documentary film screenings and scholar-led discussions aimed at encouraging informed discourse on immigration issues within the context of America’s immigration history.

36. FedEx President/COO To Speak at Aviation Conference in Memphis - Tuesday, September 4, 2018

A worldwide organization for women who hold leadership positions in aviation and aerospace will host its 30th annual conference in Memphis next month.

The International Aviation Women’s Association will host the conference, “Making Connections in Memphis,” Oct. 24-26 at The Peabody.

37. 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.

38. Connecting to American Values - Tuesday, September 4, 2018

As U.S. Sen. John McCain prepared for his death, he wrote a message to America and the world. We share a few of his words as a call to our higher selves, a reminder of our humanity – and fragility – and as beacon of hope.

39. Memphis Japan Festival To Honor Culture, Traditions - Saturday, September 1, 2018

The Memphis Japan Festival, celebrating the country’s people, traditions and contemporary culture, is coming to the Memphis Botanic Garden Sept. 30.

The festival, held rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., will include traditional and contemporary Japanese music and dance performances, tours of the Japanese Garden, Japanese “candyman”, taiko drummers, a family circus, sumo-suit wrestling, “Hello Kitty” and “Ninja Turtle” Bounce Houses and Japanese martial arts on the lawn, among other attractions.

40. Immigration Documentary, Discussion Series Coming to Central Library in September - Saturday, September 1, 2018

Every other Thursday night, beginning Sept. 20, the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library will host documentary film screenings and scholar-led discussions aimed at encouraging informed discourse on immigration issues with the context of America’s immigration history.

41. MIM Barbecue Contest To Host Judging Seminar - Saturday, September 1, 2018

Memphis in May International Festival will host its annual World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest Judging Seminar from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Holiday Inn Select Downtown.

42. White House Faces Brain Drain at Perilous Moment - Monday, September 3, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Increasingly convinced that the West Wing is wholly unprepared to handle the expected assault from Democrats if they win the House in November, President Donald Trump's aides and allies are privately raising alarm as his circle of legal and communications advisers continues to shrink.

43. Kick in the Grass - Saturday, September 1, 2018

Mentally, the ownership group bringing a United Soccer League team to share AutoZone Park with the Memphis Redbirds has been flipping the switch for the better part of two years. After the last out of the Redbirds regular-season home finale was recorded Monday, the act got physical. The concept became real.

44. We Stand at the Crossroads - Friday, August 31, 2018

Depending on who you ask, blues legend Robert Johnson is buried in three places in the Delta, died at 27 in 1938 of poisoning or of syphilis, or sometime later since people claim to have seen him in Memphis in 1941.

45. 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.

46. Passenger Facility Charge Begins Sept. 1 at Memphis Airport - Friday, August 31, 2018

Memphis International Airport will add $4.50 to the cost of each outbound flight starting Saturday (Sept. 1).

It’s a passenger facility charge, the airport’s first in more than 20 years.

47. Passenger Facility Charge Begins Sept. 1 at Memphis Airport - Friday, August 31, 2018

Memphis International Airport will add $4.50 to the cost of each outbound flight starting Saturday (Sept. 1).

It’s a passenger facility charge, the airport’s first in more than 20 years.

The Federal Aviation Administration approved it July 16 to help pay for modernization of Concourse B between now and 2021.

48. Justice Department Accuses Harvard of 'Racial Balancing' - Friday, August 31, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — In its latest push to end the use of race in college admissions, the Trump administration on Thursday accused Harvard University of "engaging in outright racial balancing" and sided with Asian-American students who allege the Ivy League school discriminated against them.

49. MIM Barbecue Cooking Contest to Host Judging Seminar - Friday, August 31, 2018

Memphis in May International Festival will host its annual World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest Judging Seminar from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Holiday Inn Select Downtown in Memphis.

50. Gus's Fried Chicken Enters New Orleans Festival - Friday, August 31, 2018

Local favorite Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken will participate in the third annual National Fried Chicken Festival in New Orleans next month.

The free festival is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23, at Woldenberg Riverfront Park in New Orleans.

51. John McCain Remembered as Hero, Fighter, Friend - Friday, August 31, 2018

PHOENIX (AP) — Sen. John McCain was eulogized Thursday as a "true American hero" — and a terrible driver with a wicked sense of humor and love of a good fight — as 3,500 mourners crowded into an Arizona church to pay their final respects to the maverick politician.

52. Trump Stands By Warning of 'Violence' if Dems Win Midterms - Friday, August 31, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump urged evangelical leaders this week to get out the vote ahead of the upcoming midterm elections and warned of "violence" by opponents if they fail.

53. Racism Quickly Becomes an Issue in Florida Governor's Race - Thursday, August 30, 2018

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Racism immediately became an issue in the Florida governor's race on Wednesday as both nominees made predictions: The Democrat said voters aren't looking for a misogynist, racist or bigot, while the Republican said voters shouldn't "monkey this up" by choosing his African-American opponent.

54. Final Farewells to Sen. John McCain Begin at Arizona Capitol - Thursday, August 30, 2018

PHOENIX (AP) — Cindy McCain pressed her face against the flag-draped casket of her husband, U.S. Sen. John McCain, on Wednesday and several of his children sobbed during the first of two services for the statesman and former prisoner of war before he is taken for the last time from the state he has represented since the 1980s.

55. Outcry Over Retirement-Age Plan Brings Rare Putin Concession - Thursday, August 30, 2018

MOSCOW (AP) — Facing protests and a noticeable dip in his approval ratings, President Vladimir Putin made rare concessions Wednesday to an unpopular pension reform package that increased the retirement age for Russians.

56. Last Word: New Council Smell, Harris's First Pick and Detroit's Comeback - Wednesday, August 29, 2018

After months of renovation work, the new Memphis City Council committee room was ready for the council Tuesday on the fifth floor of City Hall. The council had been meeting in its chambers on the ground floor for the seven hours of committee meetings that precede the council’s main voting meeting at 3:30 p.m. two Tuesdays a month. The council room has that new council smell -- kind of ironic for a body that is about to get three new members by the end of the year.

57. New Post Office Coming to Southwind - Wednesday, August 29, 2018

A new Post Office will open Wednesday, Aug. 29, in Winchester Commons shopping center at Hacks Cross and Winchester roads.

The Hacks Cross Finance Unit is located at 7948 Winchester, Suite 12, near Southwind and the FedEx Express World Headquarters. Retail hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.

58. How Memphis Can Learn from Detroit: Creating an Inclusive Comeback Story - Tuesday, August 28, 2018

The City of Detroit intends to create the most inclusive comeback story America has ever told.

Detroit is the largest African-American majority city in the country with a population over 400,000. Memphis is the second largest.

59. Accounting for Music - Wednesday, August 29, 2018

For veteran accountant and accomplished musician Steve Dunavant, balancing his two passions – music and accounting – is easy. For more than 20 years, he has maintained music as a side gig, playing multiple instruments around town, recording albums, and creating a music label and recording studio to help showcase Memphis musicians. During his weekdays, he crunches numbers as CBIZ senior managing director.

60. Iran Asks UN's Highest Court to Suspend U.S. Sanctions - Tuesday, August 28, 2018

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Iran warned Monday that re-imposed U.S. sanctions would cripple its economy and plunge the volatile Middle East deeper into crisis as it urged the United Nations' highest court to suspend the Trump administration's economic pressure on Tehran.

61. War Hero and Presidential Candidate John McCain Dies at 81 - Monday, August 27, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. John McCain, who faced down his captors in a Vietnam prisoner of war camp with jut-jawed defiance and later turned his rebellious streak into a 35-year political career that took him to Congress and the Republican presidential nomination, died Saturday after battling brain cancer for more than a year. He was 81.

62. Trump Asks Pompeo To Delay Visit To North Korea - Monday, August 27, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday he has directed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to delay a planned trip to North Korea, citing insufficient progress on denuclearization.

63. Hurricane Lane Floods Parts Of Hawaii After Torrential Rains - Monday, August 27, 2018

HONOLULU (AP) — Hurricane Lane dumped torrential rains that inundated the main town on Hawaii's Big Island as people elsewhere stocked up on supplies and piled sandbags to shield oceanfront businesses against the increasingly violent surf.

64. Japanese Culture, Traditions Celebrated at Upcoming Festival - Monday, August 27, 2018

The Memphis Japan Festival, celebrating the country’s people, traditions and contemporary culture, is coming to the Memphis Botanic Garden Sept. 30.

The festival, held rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., will include traditional and contemporary Japanese music and dance performances, tours of the Japanese Garden, Japanese “candyman,” taiko drummers, a family circus, sumo-suit wrestling, “Hello Kitty” and “Ninja Turtle” bounce houses and Japanese martial arts on the lawn, among other attractions.

65. Renovation Permit Filed For Huey’s Cordova - Saturday, August 25, 2018

A building permit application worth more than $360,000 was filed Wednesday, Aug. 22, for the Huey’s in Cordova.

Traditional Construction Co. Inc. applied for a $363,531 building permit for “alterations, renovations to existing restaurant” at 1771 N. Germantown Parkway.

66. Renovation Permit Filed For Huey’s Cordova - Friday, August 24, 2018

A building permit application worth more than $360,000 was filed Wednesday, Aug. 22, for the Huey’s in Cordova.

Traditional Construction Co. Inc. applied for a $363,531 building permit for “alterations, renovations to existing restaurant” at 1771 N. Germantown Parkway.

67. Align Physical, Digital Self to Broaden Horizons - Friday, August 24, 2018

When you hear the term “personal branding,” you probably think of celebrities, business leaders or politicians. While each of those people have carefully crafted a personal brand, if you participate in social media in any way, you too have a digital personal brand.

68. 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.”

69. Economic Development Experts Set Sights On Memphis - Thursday, August 23, 2018

Site selectors from across the country spent time in Memphis this week as local economic development teams touted the area’s available land, industrial and office space for potential companies.

70. San Francisco's $2.2 Billion 'Grand Central' Terminal Open - Thursday, August 23, 2018

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Spanning three city blocks, San Francisco's $2 billion transit terminal is open after nearly a decade under construction.

Coined the "Grand Central of the West," the new Salesforce Transit Center near the heart of downtown is expected to accommodate 100,000 passengers each weekday, and up to 45 million people a year. It welcomed its first passengers and visitors this month.

71. Ex-Trump Lawyer Cohen Pleads Guilty in Hush-Money Scheme - Thursday, August 23, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) — The unveiling of federal criminal charges against President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer came with drama as attorney Michael Cohen went farther than prosecutors were willing to go in pointing fingers. Not only did Cohen plead guilty to all eight charges, but he directly implicated the president in the payment of hush money to two women who claim they had affairs with him.

72. Politicians Target Immigration Law After Arrest in Iowa Case - Thursday, August 23, 2018

MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) — The disappearance of a well-liked college student from America's heartland had touched many people since she vanished one month ago while out for a run. But the stunning news that a Mexican man living in the U.S. illegally has allegedly confessed to kidnapping and murdering her thrust the case into the middle of the contentious immigration debate and midterm elections.

73. Mid-South Fair Returning To Landers Center - Wednesday, August 22, 2018

The 11-day Mid-South Fair begins at the Landers Center in Southaven on Thursday, Sept. 20.

Admission is $10 for those age 13 to 59 and $5 for children age 5 to 12. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased via Ticketmaster. Parking is free daily.

74. 5 Tips to Drive ROI with Influencer Marketing - Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Old-school word-of-mouth marketing has a new face in today’s world. It’s called influencer marketing, and it has some serious horsepower behind it. Engage the right influencers to talk about your brand through their social channels, and your message has the potential to reach brand new audiences, generally with a higher level of credibility behind the message than sheer self-promotion.

75. With Push From Peta, Animal Crackers Bust Out of Their Cages - Wednesday, August 22, 2018

After more than a century behind bars, the beasts on boxes of animal crackers are roaming free.

Mondelez International, the parent company of Nabisco, has redesigned the packaging of its Barnum's Animals crackers in response to pressure from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

76. EPA Moves to Dramatically Cut Regulation of Coal Power - Wednesday, August 22, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration moved to dismantle another major piece of President Barack Obama's environmental legacy on Tuesday, proposing to dramatically scale back restrictions on climate-changing emissions from coal-fired power plants even as it acknowledged that could lead to more premature deaths and serious illnesses.

77. US Deports Ex-Nazi Guard, 95, to Germany After Long Wait - Wednesday, August 22, 2018

BERLIN (AP) — The last Nazi war crimes suspect facing deportation from the U.S. was taken from his New York City home on a stretcher and spirited to Germany early Tuesday, following years of efforts to remove him from the United States.

78. Last Word: Bob Smith Talks, Crosstown Anniversary and Grant's Parking Lot - Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Bob Smith’s testimony was a good part of the first day of the nonjury trial that began Monday before Memphis Federal Court Judge Jon McCalla on police surveillance of protesters. Smith was the alias used by Police Sgt. Tim Reynolds – Reynolds acknowledged during his testimony Monday Downtown. The identity was also used by several other officers.

79. New Program Provides Hub Workers LiFE Opportunity - Tuesday, August 21, 2018

FedEx hub workers in Memphis can get a University of Memphis degree tuition free through a new online program called Learning inspired by FedEx (LiFE).

Tuition assistance has long been a hallmark of FedEx benefits and a much-touted incentive for working in the hub, but the LiFE program takes it up a notch.

80. 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.

81. R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Made in Memphis - Tuesday, August 21, 2018

With the passing of Aretha Franklin, the airwaves are awash in her music, and news reports are filled with testimony to her voice and spirit. Presidents, ministers, entertainers, and civil rights advocates publicly sing her praises. She is recognized globally as an American treasure, and locally as “born in Memphis.”

82. 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.

83. Brief Korean Reunions Bring Tears for Separated Families - Tuesday, August 21, 2018

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The 92-year-old South Korean woman wept and stroked the wrinkled cheeks of her 71-year-old North Korean son on Monday, their first meeting since they were driven apart during the turmoil of the 1950-53 Korean War.

84. Pope on Sex Abuse: 'We Showed No Care for the Little Ones' - Tuesday, August 21, 2018

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis issued a letter to Catholics around the world Monday condemning the crime of priestly sexual abuse and its cover-up and demanding accountability, seeking to respond to new revelations in the United States of decades of misconduct by the Catholic Church.

85. Last Word: Police Surveillance on Trial, Elvis Alternatives and Firestone's Dilemma - Monday, August 20, 2018

In Memphis Federal Court Monday morning, Memphis Police surveillance of protesters over the last two years is on the docket of U.S. District Judge Jon P. McCalla. McCalla ruled earlier this month in advance of the nonjury trial that police conducted “political surveillance” of protesters in violation of a 1978 federal court consent decree.

86. 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.

87. ServiceMaster Lends Helping Hand with Annual We Care Day - Saturday, August 18, 2018

For ServiceMaster employee Betsy Vincent, there’s a special emotion associated with giving back to her local community. Vincent and nearly 700 other local ServiceMaster employees spent Friday assisting 22 local organizations with projects like neighborhood beautification efforts, delivering/preparing school supplies and food along with working with patients and disadvantaged children.

88. Trump Nixes $92M Military Parade, Blames D.C. For High Cost - Monday, August 20, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday he had canceled plans for a Veterans Day military parade, citing the "ridiculously high" price tag — a day after U.S. officials said the November event could cost $92 million, more than three times the price first suggested by the White House.

89. A Tiger in the 2019 Memphis WCG Field? The Odds Keep Getting Better - Monday, August 20, 2018

Tiger Woods matters again and so do Sunday afternoons on the PGA Tour (witness the 69 percent spike in TV ratings). Tiger gave us 18 holes of long-anticipated theater at the PGA Championship in St. Louis. The Tiger fist-pump returned and so did the huge galleries and the moving roar that are all part of Tigermania.

90. 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.

91. Events - Saturday, August 18, 2018

The National Civil Rights Museum’s 2018 Drop the Mic Poetry Slam takes place Saturday, Aug. 18, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Paradise Entertainment Center, 645 Georgia Ave. Qualifying poets and spoken word artists in three age categories will compete for cash prizes in the slam, which is themed “Freedom Forward.” Free and open to the public. Visit civilrightsmuseum.org/drop-the-mic to RSVP.

92. Firestone Fallout - Saturday, August 18, 2018

The red letters grow fainter as the years pass in North Memphis. The Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. plant’s smokestack, once a symbol of the industrial base that defined North Memphis, has become a different kind of symbol in the 35 years since the tire plant closed.

93. Lining Up for Elvis - Friday, August 17, 2018

Fans gathered Wednesday night, Aug. 15, to pay homage to Elvis Presley during the annual candlelight vigil at Graceland. Thousands of people from around the world travel to Memphis every year to celebrate the King of Rock 'n' Roll and to commemorate his death in 1977. 

94. Events - Friday, August 17, 2018

The National Civil Rights Museum hosts the Drop the Mic Symposium Friday, Aug. 17, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the museum, 450 Mulberry St. The symposium features a master class with four-time Individual World Poetry Slam champion Ed Mabrey; a keynote by Grammy Award-winning spoken-word artist and author J. Ivy; four workshop tracks – activism, youth voice, technique and business; and an open mic session for participants and facilitators. Free and open to the public. Visit civilrightsmuseum.org/drop-the-mic-symposium for details and registration.

95. Memphis-Born Aretha Franklin Dies; Queen of Soul was 76 - Thursday, August 16, 2018

Aretha Franklin, who cast the first sounds from her wonderful voice in a South Memphis house, died Thursday, Aug. 16, at her home in Detroit, her publicist confirmed. She was 76. Her longtime publicist, Gwendolyn Quinn, said the legendary singer died from advanced pancreatic cancer. Earlier this week, word emerged that Ms. Franklin was in hospice care. 

96. USL Memphis Coach Tim Mulqueen Embraces Expansion Challenge - Thursday, August 16, 2018

Let’s get the hard part out of the way first, the thing that might make you resistant to welcoming your first USL Memphis head coach. Tim Mulqueen is a rabid New York Knicks fan. Yes, the same team that now employs former Grizzlies coach David Fizdale.

97. Events - Thursday, August 16, 2018

The Metal Museum holds its reception for new apprentices Thursday, Aug. 16, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at 374 Metal Museum Drive. Welcome the museum’s new blacksmithing and foundry apprentices and browse a pop-up exhibition featuring works by each Metal Museum apprentice. Visit metalmuseum.org.

98. Labor Day Getaways From Memphis - Thursday, August 16, 2018

In all of the Labor Days I’ve experienced – I’m 41 so it’s more than a few – I’ve only traveled overnight once. It was in 2015 for a friend’s wedding in Cincinnati.

99. Death Toll Hits 39 in Italy Bridge Collapse - Thursday, August 16, 2018

GENOA, Italy (AP) — Italian prosecutors on Wednesday focused their investigation into the Genoa highway bridge collapse on possible design flaws or inadequate maintenance, as the death toll rose to 39 and Italian politicians looked for someone to blame.

100. Kirby Smart, Georgia Pledge Past Won’t Hurt Immediate Future - Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Georgia’s Kirby Smart will never forget second-and-26. How can he? But a lot of great things happened before that 26-23 loss in overtime to Alabama and mentor Nick Saban in the National Championship Game, including the overtime win against Oklahoma in the national semifinals and beating Auburn in the SEC title game.