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

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

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

3. City Panel Debates Whether to Tweak or Toss EDGE - Tuesday, September 11, 2018

A seven-member city group looking at the effectiveness of EDGE – the city-county Economic Development Growth Engine – has a decision to make.

Do they recommend tweaking the body that grants tax abatement incentives or do they take the city out of the EDGE and create a city Industrial Development Board?

4. Arkansas Town's Mayor Hopes Mural Will Attract Visitors - Tuesday, September 4, 2018

BLACK OAK, Ark. (AP) — A new mural is giving drivers pause in Black Oak. And most are pulling over for an extended look. Three large panels — one displaying a portrait of famed author John Grisham, who set his novel "A Painted House" in the city, one displaying a field of lily-white cotton and one, a re-creation of 1973's "High on the Hog" album by hometown Southern rock supergroup Black Oak Arkansas — are the latest additions to the small town.

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

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

6. 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.

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

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

8. 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.

9. Kroger to Phase Out Plastic Bags at All Stores - Friday, August 24, 2018

CINCINNATI (AP) — The nation's largest grocery chain has begun to phase out the use of plastic bags as more Americans grow uncomfortable with their impact on the environment.

Kroger Co. will start Thursday at its QFC stores in and around Seattle, with the goal of using no plastic bags at those stores at some point next year. The company said it will be plastic-bag free at all of its nearly 2,800 stores by 2025.

10. Sen. Collins, Potential Swing Vote, Meets With Kavanaugh - Wednesday, August 22, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh met Tuesday with Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a centrist who's seen as a potential swing vote on his confirmation, while Democrats push him to release more documents from his years in the George W. Bush White House.

11. 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.

12. TNReady Testing Patience of All Concerned - Thursday, August 16, 2018

If Clint Eastwood were to make to a sequel of “The Outlaw Josey Wales,” state Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver could play Granny Hawkins because of her penchant for blunt language.

13. 3 Ways to Create a Tiny Masterpiece - Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Video ad spend will grow 49 percent—to roughly $18 billion—in 2018, reports Vox Media. It seems everyone is on the video bandwagon. Reams of video ads jam the internet like five o’clock traffic on the expressway. Billions vie for brand leadership and the coveted click conversion, but only the best and the brightest make it to the top.

14. Florida Schools Struggle to Meet Security Rule - Wednesday, August 8, 2018

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Florida reacted to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre by becoming the first state to require police or armed guards at all public schools. It's a mandate many districts are struggling to meet, financially and logistically.

15. Experts Question Benefits of Fluoride-Free Toothpaste - Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Dental health experts worry that more people are using toothpaste that skips the most important ingredient — fluoride — and leaves them at a greater risk of cavities.

Most toothpastes already contain fluoride. While health authorities recognize fluoride as a cavity blocker, the internet is dotted with claims, often from "natural" toothpaste marketers and alternative medicine advocates, that fluoride-free toothpaste also prevents cavities.

16. East High Sportsplex Has Broader Goal - Monday, August 6, 2018

The first day of the school year usually finds those who run the seven public school districts within Shelby County thinking much further ahead. The start of the school year is something that may have consumed their thoughts about the time they were taking down the Christmas tree last December and preparing for the start of the calendar year.

17. Survivor says Mexico Plane Hit Burst of Hail Before Crash - Thursday, August 2, 2018

DURANGO, Mexico (AP) — A U.S. passenger aboard a flight that crashed on takeoff in northern Mexico said Wednesday that a strong burst of wind and hail hit the Aeromexico jetliner, apparently knocking it back to ground, where there were only moments to evacuate before it burned.

18. Inflation, Gas Prices, Tariffs Squeeze Consumers - Thursday, August 2, 2018

The price of a can of Coca-Cola? Likely going up. A package of Pampers? That too. Plane tickets? They also may be more expensive. These items and more may cost more in the coming months as people start feeling the effects of higher fuel prices and raw-material costs as well as a range of tariffs.

19. Jury picked for trial of ex-Trump campaign chairman Manafort - Wednesday, August 1, 2018

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A jury set to decide the fate of President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was selected Tuesday, and opening statements in his tax evasion and bank fraud trial were expected in the afternoon.

20. In His Final Months as Tennessee Governor, Haslam Reflects on His Education Legacy - Monday, July 30, 2018

While Gov. Bill Haslam entered office as an education-minded leader intent on reforms, much of his administration’s K–12 public school work has focused on holding the line on sweeping policies launched under his predecessor.

21. Tesla Model 3 Buyers Lose Patience and Maybe Tax Credits - Thursday, July 19, 2018

DETROIT (AP) – In March of 2016, Keith Reynolds flew from California to Atlanta so he could claim his spot in line at 4 a.m., and get a three-hour head start on his West Coast competitors.

22. Fashion Firms Upend Design Routine to Focus on Speed, Trends - Wednesday, July 18, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – Prototypes? Passe. Fashion company Betabrand saw that knitwear was a hot style in sneakers and wanted to quickly jump on the trend for dressier shoes. It put a poll up on its website asking shoppers what style they liked, and based on that had a shoe for sale online in just one week.

23. Efforts To Grow Black Business Face Wealth Gap - Tuesday, July 17, 2018

The story of a business founded by maxing out personal credit cards or using home equity or both is usually told when that big financial risk works. You don’t hear a lot about when it doesn’t work.

24. Papa John's Starts Pulling Founder's Image From Marketing - Monday, July 16, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – Papa John's, which has featured founder John Schnatter as a spokesman in logos and TV ads, has begun pulling his image from its marketing and pledged to assess its diversity practices in response to his use of a racial slur.

25. Unpopular Bill? Just Rebrand It With TRUMP - Thursday, July 12, 2018

Using what could be the political acronym of the year, two Republican state lawmakers with expertise in pain treatment are playing on the popularity of President Donald Trump to pass medical pot legislation.

26. City Looks Broader for Shared Mobility Services - Tuesday, July 10, 2018

In its first 19 days of operation, the Bird system of electric scooters has averaged 1,200 rides a day for a total of 24,000 total rides an average distance of 1.9 miles and 8,600 individual riders.

27. 22-Year-Old Going After Piece of $29B Mattress Industry - Friday, July 6, 2018

Starting a mattress company isn’t on the to-do list of most teenagers, but Kayla Duerstock did just that. Duerstock, 22, in May relaunched Revived 365, the company that she started in her teens in hopes of grabbing a piece of the $29 billion mattress industry that has been disrupted by online mattress sales in recent years.

28. Fed Officials Discuss Rate Hikes That Could Slow Growth - Friday, July 6, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve officials last month said they expect to keep raising interest rates and suggested that by the next year, they could be high enough that they could start slowing growth, according to minutes of their discussion released Thursday.

29. Collecting Online Sales Taxes No Cure-All For State - Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Tennessee’s political officials are lauding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision enabling states to effectively collect sales taxes from out-of-state online retailers.

But don’t expect the result of South Dakota v. Wayfair to be a watershed moment for the state budget. If you’re looking for a windfall to bolster education or house the homeless, close your eyes and dream on, because this likely isn’t about mo’ money, mo’ money.

30. I Never Said That! High-tech Deception of 'Deepfake' Videos - Tuesday, July 3, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hey, did my congressman really say that? Is that really President Donald Trump on that video, or am I being duped?

New technology on the internet lets anyone make videos of real people appearing to say things they've never said. Republicans and Democrats predict this high-tech way of putting words in someone's mouth will become the latest weapon in disinformation wars against the United States and other Western democracies.

31. Trump softens trade stance toward China and raises optimism - Thursday, June 28, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration de-escalated a confrontation with China on Wednesday, dropping plans to impose strict limits on Chinese investment in U.S. technology companies and instead urging Congress to strengthen existing laws that apply to all foreign countries.

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. Testing a New Line - Friday, June 22, 2018

Beale Street will be trying out new security measures this month as a task force reviewing the entertainment district continues to work on a better plan for the spring and summer weekend peak nights.

34. Verizon, AT&T to End Location Data Sales to Brokers - Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Verizon and AT&T have pledged to stop providing information on phone owners' locations to data brokers, stepping back from a business practice that has drawn criticism for endangering privacy.

The data has apparently allowed outside companies to pinpoint the location of wireless devices without their owners' knowledge or consent. Verizon said that about 75 companies have been obtaining its customer data from two little-known California-based brokers that Verizon supplies directly – LocationSmart and Zumigo

35. Last Word: Scooter or Bike, Clapp's Flip and Found Memphis Belle Footage - Monday, June 18, 2018

If this past weekend is any indication, Bird scooters are a thing in Memphis and they have also had a spillover effect in increasing the use of Explore Bike Share which has about a three-week head start. In many Downtown locations the scooters and bikes are in close proximity to one another. And that was offering some choices to those looking for a quicker way around in the heat. Well dressed wedding parties just a bit early for the ceremony in Court Square -- scooter. Intrepid explorers in t-shirts, cargo shorts and floppy hats regarding the sites to be seen in Memphis as Lewis and Clark -- bike.

36. Events - Monday, June 18, 2018

AAF Memphis, the local chapter of the American Advertising Federation, meets Tuesday, June 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid, 1 Bass Pro Drive. Stan Lippelman, head of marketing for Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s, shares his journey of tackling marketing challenges using data-driven insights. Tickets are $15 for members and $25 for nonmembers. Visit aafmemphis.org.

37. Carpenter Talks Strikeouts, Coaching and the State of Baseball - Friday, June 15, 2018

Of all the starting pitchers that followed Bob Gibson to the mound in a St. Louis Cardinals uniform, perhaps none came as close to matching Gibson’s fierceness as Chris Carpenter did. In nine seasons with the Cardinals, he won a Cy Young Award, a franchise-high 10 playoff games, and was part of two World series-winning teams (2006 and 2011) and four National League pennant-winning clubs.

38. Are You Reaching Generation Z? - Wednesday, June 13, 2018

There is a large group of prospective customers your marketing efforts are probably missing. They are age 22 and younger and have never known a world without the internet or smartphones. They are Generation Z, and if you are not speaking their language, it’s time to start. This unique cohort is expected to make up about 40-percent of all consumers by the year 2020.

39. Young Entrepreneurs Overcome Inexperience and Skeptics - Monday, June 11, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – The age-old issue came up again recently: A potential client asked Nate Hartmann, "Hey, how old are you?"

Since Hartmann founded Yellow Box in 2010 at age 18, he's encountered skeptics who doubted his company could design websites and create online marketing strategies. Some clients even set out to teach them.

40. Blackburn’s Scattershot Hits Surprise Targets - Thursday, June 7, 2018

Republican U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn is doubling down against Democratic opponent Phil Bredesen in the race for an open U.S. Senate seat, hammering him as a liberal in the vein of Obama, Clinton, Schumer and Pelosi.

41. Hollywood Feed Promotes Ross To Director of Marketing - Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Anne Ross has been promoted to director of marketing at Hollywood Feed. Having been with the Memphis-based natural pet food chain for more than five years, she now oversees all of the company’s marketing and communication efforts throughout the region in its 70 stores.

42. Boyd Says He Favors State Funding for Shelby County Pre-K Push - Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Republican contender for Tennessee Governor Randy Boyd says he supports the move to expand prekindergarten in Shelby County including the possibility of state funding.

43. Editorial: 100 North Main’s Better Days Come With Lessons - Saturday, June 2, 2018

No matter what spot is chosen for Memphis’ second convention center hotel, what comes with it is certain to change the gap between Civic Center Plaza and a thriving residential and retail area on the Main Street Mall.

44. Skyping the Doctor? Poll Shows It's Not Just for the Young - Friday, June 1, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – Every morning, 92-year-old Sidney Kramer wraps a blood pressure cuff around his arm and steps on a scale, and readings of his heart health beam to a team of nurses – and to his daughter's smartphone – miles from his Maryland home.

45. New 529 Plans Buy Education Options - Friday, June 1, 2018

Ray’s Take: Did you know that back in 1870 you could attend Harvard for a mere $150 per year, and for half that amount, you could attend Brown University? According to Best Colleges, college costs began to rise in the 1970s at a rate much higher than inflation, and this hasn’t slowed down.

46. Last Word: After The Tom Lee Storm, Tiger Lane Changes and Crosstown Growth - Tuesday, May 29, 2018

A year ago many of you were without power in the wake of a sudden and violent storm that has come to be known as the Tom Lee Storm. It is the third most powerful storm, according to Memphis Light Gas and Water Division, in terms of those without power and the damage done. It’s called the Tom Lee storm because the 1950s-era Tom Lee memorial in Tom Lee Park – the obelisk – was toppled and shattered as the obelisk fell from the base. A year later, the base that proclaims Tom Lee “a worthy Negro” remains and the obelisk is in storage.

47. Blockchain Tech ‘is the Shiny New Penny’ - Monday, May 28, 2018

During the General Assembly session that just ended legislators debated a number of hot-button issues: guns, abortion, Confederate statues and medical marijuana.

But tucked among the headline-grabbers was a brief bill, less than 300 words long, that attracted no controversy whatsoever.

48. Twitter to Add Special Labels to Political Candidates in US - Thursday, May 24, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – Twitter says it's adding special labels to tweets from some U.S. political candidates ahead of this year's midterm elections.

Twitter says the move is to provide users with "authentic information" and prevent spoofed and fake accounts from fooling users. The labels will include what office a person is running for and where.

49. Hopson’s Schools Budget Features $12.7M Gap for County to Consider - Thursday, May 24, 2018

The school year that ends Thursday, May 24, marks five years since the historic change in public education kicked off in August 2013.

First was the one-year merger of city and county schools, followed by the demerger into seven public school systems within Shelby County.

50. Hopson's Schools Budget Features $12.9 Million Gap For County To Consider - Wednesday, May 23, 2018

The school year that ends Thursday, May 24, marks five school years since the historic change in public education kicked off in August 2013 with the one-year merger of city and county schools followed by the demerger into seven public school systems within the county.

51. Uber Shifts Policy for Alleged Sexual Misconduct on Service - Wednesday, May 16, 2018

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Uber's ride-hailing service will give its U.S. passengers and drivers more leeway to pursue claims of sexual misconduct, its latest attempt to shed its reputation for brushing aside bad behavior.

52. Last Word: New Football League, Drone Testing and New Chandler Numbers - Thursday, May 10, 2018

The Alliance of American Football announces its presence in Memphis Thursday afternoon at the Liberty Bowl. And so begins another chapter in the city’s colorful history of start-up leagues. It is a long history dominated by football with a good stretch of the timeline taking in the city’s pursuit of an NFL franchise. Sometimes the rules are a bit different and the leagues have a history of not lasting very long. But they are fondly remembered.

53. Google Showcases AI Advances at its Big Conference - Wednesday, May 9, 2018

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) – Google put the spotlight on its artificial intelligence smarts at its annual developers conference Tuesday, where it announced new features and services imbued with machine learning.

54. Fed's Powell: Rate Hikes Should Not Upend the Global Economy - Wednesday, May 9, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – Moves by the Fed and other major central banks to raise interest rates after a long period of keeping them low should not be disruptive to the global economy, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Tuesday.

55. Last Word: Making Memphis Easier, Strickland on Graceland and Construction Jobs - Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Some of the BSMF reviews in from this past weekend are thumbs up for the way Memphis In May has ramped up what you might call its infrastructure around Uber, Lyft and little items like muddy boots for the increasing number of Memphians and visitors who are ready to go no matter what the weather is doing. And they may opt for some other way into Downtown beyond driving a car and finding a parking place and walking, especially when there’s a drop off at the northern end of the music festival. Even a fire hydrant water flow to take the mud off your boots. We can make Memphis easier with less effort than we think at the outset.

56. Editorial: TNReady Problem Reopens Debate on Testing Culture - Saturday, May 5, 2018

If there’s a better way to measure academic achievement and growth than testing, we wish someone would name it. Until then, we need a reliable way to objectively determine where students are and what they need to go further. And we can’t change that test so drastically on a regular basis that teachers and school leaders must start over from square one.

57. Should You Fix Up or Break Up With Your Car? - Monday, April 30, 2018

You're looking at a $1,200 repair estimate for your ailing car when an ad catches your eye: a brand new set of wheels for a mere $450 a month.

At first, dumping your old car might seem like a no-brainer – and you can't help picturing how good you would look in that new car. But automotive experts say you'll almost always come out ahead – at least financially – by fixing old faithful. There are, however, other important considerations when deciding whether it's time to say farewell.

58. Last Word: TNReady Blinks Again, Gov. Debate Thoughts and Mud Island's Museum - Friday, April 20, 2018

There was a point Thursday morning during the troubled TNReady testing at some Tennessee school districts when there was a “brief” slow down in the online testing, according to the Tennessee Education commissioner’s office. By noon that had been resolved and more than 250,000 completed tests had been submitted since testing began Monday. One can only imagine what some of the thoughts were in the office during the slow down and the gap between how long the slow down seemed and how long it actually was.

59. What Statewide Candidates Say About Opioid Crisis, Public Safety - Saturday, April 14, 2018

The spread of opioid abuse claimed over 1,600 lives in Tennessee in 2016, and it is getting worse. Methamphetamine abuse, while not getting the headlines, has increased. Gun violence and murder is increasing. What proposals do our candidates have to help Tennesseans address these public safety issues?

60. City Makes Changes in Approving Final Zoo Parking Plan In Overton Park - Friday, April 13, 2018

The final design for the expansion of Memphis Zoo parking will move the entrance to zoo parking further north of where the tentative design earlier this year put it. And the final plan announced Thursday, April 12, by Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland will move 37 parking spaces on the north side of the Prentiss Drive entrance off McLean and create a 3-foot-high berm that eliminates any pedestrian walkway entrances between the zoo parking and the Overton Park Greensward.

61. Pruitt Brings Fresh, Quieter Approach To Football Practice - Friday, April 13, 2018

I find the culture shift of Tennessee football under new head coach Jeremy Pruitt this spring to be refreshing.

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

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

63. ‘Food as Medicine’: Church Health grows robust nutrition services at Crosstown - Friday, April 13, 2018

Health care patients often need as much care and coaching on their nutrition, fitness, or mental health as they may need in dealing with a chronic disease or injury.

Church Health integrates all of those things into its model of care and now trains medical students, residents and practitioners in culinary medicine.

64. SXSW 2018: My First-Year Experience - Wednesday, April 11, 2018

I recently had the opportunity to attend South by Southwest (sxsw.com) in Austin, Texas, for the first time. If you’ve never been, SXSW is a giant festival in downtown Austin that draws in thousands of people. Founded in 1987, SXSW has boasted an economic impact to Austin of over $300 million in past years.

65. EDGE Advances Both of EPE’s Graceland Expansion Requests - Monday, April 9, 2018

After multiple delays, lawsuits and revamped plans, the next phase of Elvis Presley Enterprises’ Graceland expansion have been approved by the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County.

66. EDGE Advances Both of EPE’s Graceland Expansion Requests - Friday, April 6, 2018

After multiple delays, lawsuits, and revamped plans, the next phase Elvis Presley Enterprises’ expansion plans have been approved by the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County.

67. Who Starts on Defense? You’ll Have to Wait - Friday, April 6, 2018

Jeremy Pruitt hasn’t been afraid to change things around during his first spring practice as Tennessee’s head football coach.

68. Last Word: MLK50s Big Day, Hotel Changes and Murica on Capitol Hill - Thursday, April 5, 2018

The peak of the MLK50 events came Wednesday with a chill but some sunshine and lots to consider. Understand -- this isn’t over. There are still a few more events to go through the weekend and even into next week. If nothing else, a lot more Memphians and visitors got a good look at most of South Main in the best way possible – on foot. And if the Beale Street District ever expands east to Danny Thomas, the intersection there makes a really good place for a party.

69. China Raises Tariffs on US Pork, Fruit in Trade Dispute - Tuesday, April 3, 2018

BEIJING (AP) – China raised import duties on a $3 billion list of U.S. pork, apples and other products Monday in an escalating dispute with Washington over trade and industrial policy.

70. City Tells Developers to Be Flexible On Sewer Flow in Fletcher Creek Area - Friday, March 30, 2018

Developers in the Fletcher Creek basin area should consider temporary storage of wastewater from their developments as they plan for construction, the city public works director told a group of 50 developers Thursday, March 29.

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

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

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

72. What Facebook's Privacy Policy Allows May Surprise You - Tuesday, March 27, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – To get an idea of the data Facebook collects about you, just ask for it. You'll get a file with every photo and comment you've posted, all the ads you've clicked on, stuff you've liked and searched for and everyone you've friended – and unfriended – over the years.

73. Innovating Human Resources - Tuesday, March 27, 2018

If you boil down the function of human relations to logical extremes, you end up with polar opposites.

On one hand you have the traditional view of HR: a place to fill out all of your essential employee paperwork, ask questions about benefits, send out messages about birthdays, and a place to be heard if you have an issue with a manager or boss.

74. 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.

75. Facebook Data Whistleblower: 'Fake News to the Next Level' - Tuesday, March 20, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – A Trump-affiliated firm under scrutiny for inappropriately obtaining data on tens of millions of Facebook users created profiling algorithms that "took fake news to the next level," a former employee said.

76. Holmes Surrenders Theranos, Pays $500K After ‘Massive Fraud’ - Thursday, March 15, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – Elizabeth Holmes, a Stanford University dropout once billed as the "next Steve Jobs" has forfeited control Theranos, the blood testing startup she founded, and will pay $500,000 to settle charges that she oversaw a "massive fraud."

77. Memphis Tile and Marble A Family Affair for 50 Years - Saturday, March 10, 2018

Back in the 1960s, Hugo Kumitz had a tile and marble company in Memphis. His top employee was a man named Thomas Cox.

After several years, Kumitz had a suggestion for Cox that bordered on an order: Go out on your own, Kumitz told him, you’re too good at this to not start your own company.

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

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

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

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

80. Last Word: Forrest and Slavery, The Tariff Blitz and Angus McEachran - Tuesday, March 6, 2018

The report on poverty in Memphis over the last 50 years is on its way to a Greater Memphis Chamber breakfast meeting Thursday. And Terri Lee Freeman, the president of the National Civil Rights Museum and Elena Delavega, the University of Memphis lead researcher of the report, say their message is that as goes Memphis in this regard so goes the nation. And if employers start with lower pay at hiring with percentage raises across the board they feed the racial income gap and bonuses do as well.

81. Medical Marijuana Legislation Moves Ahead - Thursday, March 1, 2018

NASHVILLE – Bolstered by House Speaker Beth Harwell’s tie-breaking vote, Rep. Jeremy Faison’s medical marijuana legislation took an important step Tuesday, Feb. 27, in the General Assembly.

82. 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.

83. Sweet Spot - Friday, February 23, 2018

They nearly gave up, almost put away their pastry bags, their icing pens, their cake molds and shut down operations at home. Short of funds, the family’s prospects looked grim. “It started out really slow,” said Bill Kloos, who was a chef at the time, helping his parents rustle up clients. “There was no capital. No money. They came close to giving up a lot of times.”

84. US Panel Says It's OK to Use Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine Again - Thursday, February 22, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) – A federal panel says it's OK for doctors to start using a kid-friendly nasal spray flu vaccine again.

Two years ago, the advisory group pulled its recommendation for FluMist vaccine after research found it wasn't working against the flu bug making most people sick.

85. Trump Says 'Up To' Congress to Act on Plan to Rebuild Roads - Tuesday, February 13, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump sent Congress a sweeping plan Monday to rebuild the nation's depleted roads and bridges – then immediately raised doubts about how committed he was to delivering on that campaign promise.

86. Uber to Pay $245 Million to Settle Waymo's Theft Allegations - Monday, February 12, 2018

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Uber is paying $245 million to Google's self-driving car spinoff to end a legal brawl that aired out allegations of a sinister scheme that tore apart the once-friendly companies.

87. The Aging Process - Wednesday, February 7, 2018

The team behind Old Dominick Distillery, which started filling its first barrels of Tennessee whiskey around this time last year, remains full steam ahead and is barely stopping to take note of their one-year anniversary.

88. Rotating Forrest Bust Out of Capitol Gains Momentum - Thursday, February 1, 2018

Confederate Lt. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest’s days in the State Capitol could be numbered. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, an Oak Ridge Republican, says he could support a move to rotate Forrest’s bust out of the Capitol and make sure Capitol displays are “more reflective of the entire history of Tennessee.”

89. Towns Sponsoring Gun Security Bills in a ‘Dangerous World’ - Thursday, February 1, 2018

NASHVILLE – State Rep. Joe Towns was like a lot of other legislators when he arrived at the renovated Cordell Hull Building for the start of the 2018 legislative session.

90. Tigers’ Parks and Brewton Works in Progress - Thursday, January 25, 2018

At Eastern Florida State, guard Kareem Brewton Jr. had a lot of freedom last season. He used it to average 19.9 points per game and hand out 159 assists on his way to being named a First-Team All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association.

91. Tigers’ Parks and Brewton Works in Progress - Thursday, January 25, 2018

At Eastern Florida State, guard Kareem Brewton Jr. had a lot of freedom last season. He used it to average 19.9 points per game and hand out 159 assists on his way to being named a First-Team All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association.

92. Tigers’ Parks and Brewton Works in Progress - Wednesday, January 24, 2018

At Eastern Florida State, guard Kareem Brewton Jr. had a lot of freedom last season. He used it to average 19.9 points per game and hand out 159 assists on his way to being named a First-Team All-American by the National Junior College Athletic Association.

93. State Voters Have More to Fear Than Russian Meddling - Thursday, January 25, 2018

About 30 years ago, my wife and I were hanging out with another couple and decided to make a big night of it. We’d go out for Mexican food and then rent a movie.

After we had some Mexican grub, we went to Kroger to find a flick. As we perused the selections, my friend said, “What about a Russian spy movie?” To which his girlfriend (future wife, now ex-wife) whined, “John, you know I don’t speak Russian.” (His name is changed to protect the innocent.)

94. Social Media Valuable Tool For FESJC, Sports Teams - Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Earlier this week FedEx St. Jude Classic tournament director Darrell Smith put an offer out on Twitter to a noted entertainer with local ties: “Hey @jtimberlake, I know you have a couple shows in PA after Memphis, but feel free to come on back the next Wednesday, June 6, for our pro-am. Got a spot if you want it. #HushYall.”

95. Memphis Out of Running for Amazon's Second Headquarters - Thursday, January 18, 2018

Memphis is out of the running for Amazon’s massive second headquarters. The Seattle-based ecommerce giant released a list of 20 finalists Thursday, Jan. 18, out of the 238 proposals submitted by cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

96. Memphis Sports Landscape Getting More Crowded - Thursday, January 18, 2018

As president of business operations for the Memphis Grizzlies and FedExForum, Jason Wexler is more than busy. Grizzlies’ home games. And this season, home games at the Landers Center in Southaven for G League affiliate the Memphis Hustle.

97. Old Dominick Launching New Music Series This Month - Monday, January 15, 2018

Memphis’ newest music venue is opening later this month, in something of an unlikely place. Old Dominick Distillery, at 305 S. Front St., on Jan. 25 is using its upstairs event space to launch the Old Dominick Pure Memphis Music series. A twice-monthly set of concerts featuring acts, as the name of the series suggests, with a tie of some kind to the city.

98. 'F' is for Fraud - Saturday, January 13, 2018

Just before the winter break, Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen had a lot of questions for the Shelby County Schools system. She had just read a 258-page report from an independent investigation of the school system’s grade-changing scandal at Trezevant High School.

99. Stash More Cash - Friday, January 12, 2018

Ray’s Take: On the surface it seems simple. Most of us know we need to save more cash – especially to bolster an emergency fund. And yet savings are at historic lows and many are a couple of paychecks away from serious financial problems.

100. Health Care Reps Urge State Lawmakers to Take Action - Thursday, January 11, 2018

Seats in the Tennessee General Assembly were barely warm before representatives from several Tennessee health care organizations called on state lawmakers Tuesday, Jan. 9, to allow the use of federal health care money to aid issues such as the closings of rural hospitals, rising insurance premiums, family medical debt, and the opioid epidemic.