ROOTS AND MONKEY GRASS. So I’m waiting in line at Booksellers to get my high school classmate, Cary Fowler, to sign my copy of his new book when a moment of quintessential Memphis broke out.

2. Former Banker Pleads Guilty to Felony Theft - Saturday, May 13, 2017

A former lead bank teller pleaded guilty Thursday, May 4, to systematically walking out of the bank with concealed cash that eventually totaled some $266,000 over a three-month period in 2009, according to Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich.

3. Former Banker Pleads Guilty to Felony Theft - Monday, May 08, 2017

A former lead bank teller pleaded guilty Thursday, May 4, to systematically walking out of the bank with concealed cash that eventually totaled some $266,000 over a three-month period in 2009, according to Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich.

4. Fowler Named Chairman Of Rhodes’ Board of Trustees - Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Scientist Cary Fowler is the new chairman of Rhodes College’s board of trustees, the liberal arts college announced Tuesday, April 11. He will succeed William J. Michaelcheck, who is completing his eight-year tenure as chairman.

5. Fitzhugh Talks About Race for Governor Without Formally Committing - Thursday, March 02, 2017

NASHVILLE – House Minority Leader Craig Fitzhugh hasn’t officially entered the 2018 race for governor, but he has a “gut feeling” it’s a step he should take.

6. View From the Hill: Legislators Feel Free to Work Against Haslam - Thursday, February 09, 2017

Democrats appear delighted about division within Republican ranks concerning Gov. Bill Haslam’s proposed fuel-tax increase, detecting a possible chink in the armor.

“How many times does the supermajority have to stab the governor in the back and undermine his core proposals before the people of the state of Tennessee wonder whether they need a different group up here?” asks Mike Stewart, House Minority Caucus chairman.

7. Looking Forward - Friday, December 30, 2016

SEEDS OF SURVIVAL. I know Cary Fowler, a quiet, unassuming high school classmate and Rhodes graduate whose forward-thinking worldview might very well save the planet. At the very least, what he’s doing gives the world something to look forward to in the new year and beyond.

8. The Week Ahead: December 12-18 - Monday, December 12, 2016

Good morning, Memphis! The colder, wetter weather is upon us now, but that won’t stop the American Queen. LeBron James and his gang come to town Wednesday. That’s the same day that the long-awaited Ikea store in Memphis opens. Expected to be a regional draw, some may camp out in the weather to be one of the first inside. And we offer congratulations to all of the University of Memphis graduates who will convene at FedExForum Sunday for Fall 2016 commencement ceremonies. 

9. Events - Friday, December 09, 2016

Ballet Memphis and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra will perform “Nutcracker” Friday through Sunday, Dec. 9-11, at The Orpheum Theatre, 203 S. Main St. Performances start at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. each day. This annual holiday production features a cast of nearly 100 professional dancers, local children, musicians and vocalists. Buy tickets at balletmemphis.org.

10. Events - Thursday, December 08, 2016

Ballet Memphis and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra will perform “The Nutcracker” Friday through Sunday, Dec. 9-11, at The Orpheum Theatre, 203 S. Main St. Performances start at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. each day. This annual production features a cast of nearly 100 professional dancers, local children, musicians and vocalists. Buy tickets at balletmemphis.org.

11. HopeWorks Busy Helping People While Staying Grounded in Faith - Thursday, December 08, 2016

As executive director of nonprofit HopeWorks, Ron Wade has to be practical. And helping people get their education and find employment is about as practical as it gets.

12. Harwell Learning How to Dodge Challengers - Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Beth Harwell has been called a lot of things over the last few years, “trailblazer” chief among them as Tennessee’s first female House speaker. 

Now she’s a “survivor” after eking out a Republican Caucus victory as speaker nominee to continue leading the lower chamber in the 110th General Assembly.

13. Morgan Promoted to CFO At Pyro’s Fire Fresh Pizza - Wednesday, October 05, 2016

Marty Morgan has been promoted to chief financial officer at Pyro’s Fire Fresh Pizza amid the Memphis-based company’s expansion into other regional markets. In his new role, Morgan will oversee corporate functions at the Memphis headquarters and continue to build out the personnel and technology infrastructure needed to support regional growth while making sure financial performance stays on track.

14. Big 12 a Nice Dream but a Remote Reality - Friday, May 06, 2016

Wading in on Big 12 expansion, steroids in baseball and a few basketball questions ….

I applaud University of Memphis president David Rudd’s efforts to get the Tigers into the Big 12, should the league expand. In a short time, Rudd has been a strong influence on U of M athletics and he understands the bigger picture – that what is good for the athletics department will, in many cases, be good for the university and the city.

15. Last Word: A Trip to Committee, Minority Business Moves and the Issue With Reissues - Tuesday, March 22, 2016

So those who support the general concept of de-annexation in the Tennessee state Senate were the most vocal Monday in sending the proposal back to committee for a more intense examination.

There were plenty of Memphians in the Senate chambers Monday despite the rumors that this was on its way back to committee.
Staying put until the deal is done has been a lesson won through bitter experience for some Memphis leaders.
Despite hearing from legislators in other parts of the state who are uneasy about this, the opposition remains a Memphis thing in Nashville.
But the Senate sponsor, Bo Watson, stumped his toe badly on this when he shut down an amendment Senate Republican Leader Mark Norris of Collierville wanted to allow the voluntarily de-annexation of an area Millington recently took into its city limits.
So when the state and local government committee meets at noon Wednesday, it will be round – frankly, I forget which round it is. Just ring the bell and let’s see what happens.

16. Northwestern Defense Tough, But Give Edge to UT - Saturday, December 26, 2015

There’s nothing like spending the Christmas holidays in Florida, and Tennessee’s football team will savor every minute of it for the second consecutive year.

The Vols (8-4) board a flight Saturday morning to Tampa, Fla., where they will spend almost a week before the Jan. 1 Outback Bowl against Northwestern (10-2).

17. Tiger Bookstore Adapts To Changing Landscape - Thursday, December 24, 2015

Business at Tiger Bookstore can’t always be like the 2008 run to the Final Four.

That magical basketball season saw University of Memphis fans gather at the store on Walker Avenue adjacent to the campus to buy memorabilia marking the occasion.

18. Q&A: Driven by Protests, US Minimum Wage Vaults Onto Agenda - Monday, November 16, 2015

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first question in Tuesday's GOP presidential debate — whether the minimum wage should go to $15 an hour — was the starkest evidence yet that U.S. workers have managed to thrust the issue of pay onto the presidential campaign agenda.

19. Tennessee Aquarium to Build Freshwater Institute - Saturday, October 24, 2015

The Tennessee Aquarium has announced plans for a $4.5 million structure near the campus of Baylor School that will house the Tennessee Aquarium Freshwater Conservation Institute.

The aquarium announced Wednesday that the 14,000-square-foot riverfront facility will be a permanent base for conservation science. Officials say they hope it will vault their work to the national stage and reinforce their assertion that Chattanooga is the conservation capital of the South.

20. Tennessee Aquarium to Build $4.5M Freshwater Institute - Thursday, October 22, 2015

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Aquarium has announced plans for a $4.5 million structure near the campus of Baylor School that will house the Tennessee Aquarium Freshwater Conservation Institute.

21. Mathes Takes Helm at Community Legal Center - Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Longtime attorney Anne Mathes has been named executive director of the nonprofit Community Legal Center, which has been providing civil legal services to lower-income Memphians for more than 20 years. In addition to civil cases and divorces, the CLC collaborates with other agencies to serve victims of domestic violence and elder abuse. They also take some immigration cases.

22. Patrick Accounting Owner Launches Payroll Vault Franchise - Thursday, June 25, 2015

Matthew Patrick, owner and managing member of Patrick Accounting and Tax Services, has launched a new payroll services firm.

23. Memphis Tigers Pole Vault Athlete Kimi Jennings Seeks Sports Career - Monday, June 15, 2015

When moderators at the NCAA Basketball Tournament refer to the legions of one-and-done players that come into the interview room as “student-athletes,” it always elicits some eye-rolling and maybe an under-the-breath chuckle or two.

24. Purple Heart Found Among Arkansas' Unclaimed Property - Monday, April 27, 2015

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A Memphis woman has been given her late father's Purple Heart and other medals from his Army service in Vietnam after they sat forgotten in vaults in Arkansas for more than a decade.

25. Events - Friday, January 30, 2015

Memphis Botanic Garden will host the Incognito Art Gala and Silent Auction Friday, Jan. 30, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the museum, 750 Cherry Road. Enjoy drinks, hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment while bidding on 100 original, anonymous works of art by Mid-South artists. Art and ticket sales benefit MBG’s outreach and education programs. Tickets are $25 for members and $35 for nonmembers. Visit memphisbotanicgarden.com or call 901-636-4131.

26. Events - Thursday, January 29, 2015

The Association for Women Attorneys will host its 35th annual banquet and silent auction Thursday, Jan. 29, at 5:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn University of Memphis, 3700 Central Ave. Cost is $60 for AWA members, $70 for nonmembers and $40 for law students. RSVP to Keating Lowery at keatingl@lawrencerussell.com or 901-844-4438.

27. Visible College Basement Opens New Opportunities - Friday, August 01, 2014

There was a time, in the years surrounding the bankruptcy of the Stax Records label decades ago, when the vault of the old C&I Bank Building Downtown housed masters from the label.

28. LeBron’s Contract: Best Bargain in Sports - Friday, July 11, 2014

The money can drive you crazy, if you let it. Each day in Memphis we’re reading about “blue flu” and the city’s ongoing financial crisis.

With that as our local backdrop, it’s easy to become disgusted with the LeBron James sweepstakes that sort of looks like a steel cage (no, make that bank vault) death match between glitzy Miami/slick Pat Riley and hardscrabble Cleveland/thin-skinned Dan Gilbert.

29. Bayer to Buy Merck Consumer Business for $14.2 Billion - Wednesday, May 07, 2014

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) – Germany's Bayer plans to buy U.S.-based Merck & Co.'s consumer health business, creating a combined medicine cabinet of household names from Bayer's aspirin to Merck's Claritin allergy pills.

30. US Home Prices Vault Nearly 12 Percent in June - Wednesday, August 07, 2013

U.S. home prices surged 11.9 percent in June from a year earlier, reflecting stronger demand amid a tight supply of homes for sale.

CoreLogic, a real estate data provider, said Tuesday that home prices climbed on annual basis in 48 states. They fell only in Mississippi and Delaware. And all but one of the 100 largest cities reported price gains.

31. Baker Donelson One of 'Top Law Firms to Work For' - Saturday, August 03, 2013

Baker Donelson has been ranked among the top 10 law firms in the nation by Vault Inc.’s 2014 edition of “Best Law Firms to Work For.”

32. Schledwitz Finds Parallels in Business, Politics - Saturday, August 03, 2013

Eight years ago, Karl Schledwitz crossed the line between politics and business that he had crossed many times before.

But the food sales and marketing company he cofounded has grown so rapidly that Schledwitz talks these days of missing the business of running campaigns and political organizations.

33. Baker Donelson Listed Among 'Top Law Firms to Work For' - Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Baker Donelson has been ranked among the top 10 law firms in the nation by Vault Inc.’s 2014 edition of “Best Law Firms to Work For.”

34. Legal Community Seeks Access, Diversity - Monday, November 05, 2012

Diversity and access to justice are some of the watchwords often heard around Memphis legal circles these days.

Diversity, because of the continued concern that both men and women get equal shots at advancing up the ranks from law school all the way to the corner office. Access to justice, because of everything from the recession’s grinding toll to the ever-present scars of poverty in Memphis that all combine to make legal problems harder than ever to pay for.

35. Baker Donelson Chief Wins Law360 Honor - Monday, October 15, 2012

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC chairman and CEO Ben Adams has been named one of the 10 “Most Innovative Managing Partners in the Country” by Law360, a national newswire for business lawyers.

36. It’s All Tied Up - Thursday, September 27, 2012

The markets today must reconcile two primary opposing factors. On the one hand, global economic statistics and earnings pre-announcements describe a listless global economy – not recessionary per se – but not healthy enough to really drive revenues and confidence. On the other hand, the globe’s major central banks have all committed to indefinite and unlimited monetary stimulus.

37. Baker Donelson Earns Top 10 Diversity Ranking - Thursday, August 23, 2012

The Memphis-based law firm of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC has been ranked among the top ten law firms in the nation in Vault Inc.’s 2013 “Best Law Firms for Diversity.”

38. Baker Donelson Earns Prominent Honors - Tuesday, August 07, 2012

The Memphis-based law firm of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC has been ranked among the top five in the 2013 edition of Vault Inc.’s “Best Law Firms to Work For.”

39. Report: Facebook IPO Filing Could Come Next Week - Monday, January 30, 2012

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Facebook could file regulatory papers as early as Wednesday for its highly anticipated initial public offering of stock, according to a newspaper report.

The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter, said Friday that the social-networking company could raise as much as $10 billion in an offering that would value the company at $75 billion to $100 billion.

40. FCC Chairman Opposes AT&T Takeover of T-Mobile - Thursday, November 24, 2011

LOS ANGELES (AP) – The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission has come out against the merger of cellphone giant AT&T and T-Mobile USA.

Julius Genachowski made his position known in a document he circulated to fellow commissioners Tuesday.

41. 10 Steps to a Fail-Proof Business - Tuesday, November 08, 2011

As we know, business failures are very high. Some 56 percent fail before four years and 69 percent before seven years. Nothing much sadder except maybe a serious illness. Wealth is lost, jobs, vendor relationships, credit rating and maybe health and marital statuses. A lot of it does not have to be. Here are ways to help you fail-proof.

42. Baker Donelson Named Among Top Law Employers - Monday, October 10, 2011

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC has been ranked athe Top 10 in the 2012 edition of Vault Inc.’s “Best Law Firms to Work For.”

43. Obama Tax Proposal Worries Social Security Allies - Tuesday, September 13, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Some Social Security advocates fear that President Barack Obama's desire to cut taxes supporting the program will undermine its vaunted stature as a self-financing pension system that provides checks to retirees based on contributions they made while working.

44. Kanda Joins Electronic Vaulting Services as VP - Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Amit Kanda has been hired by Electronic Vaulting Services LLC as the new vice president of IT and business development.

45. Electronic Vaulting Service Awarded for Mobile Backup - Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Electronic Vaulting Service (EVS) was awarded for the best business implementation of cloud backup in a mobile computing environment. The award recognized EVS for outstanding customer satisfaction through innovative deployment and application of the Asigra Cloud Backup platform.

46. Baker Donelson Earns High Rankings in Vault Survey - Friday, June 10, 2011

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC has been ranked highly in the 2011 edition of Vault Inc.’s national ranking of the best law firms to work for.

47. Fowler to Receive Rhodes Honorary Degree - Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Dr. Cary Fowler, executive director of the Global Crop Diversity Trust, will receive the Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree at the 162nd Commencement of Rhodes College Saturday.

48. Gold: Supply vs. Demand - Tuesday, September 28, 2010

GOLD! Gold hit $1,300 an ounce last week. What is gold? Why is it valuable? What determines its value? What makes prices rise and fall? Good questions. Unfortunately, each answer is quite complicated. Unlike stocks or bonds, where the inputs into price and valuation remain pretty consistent (interest rates, earnings, sentiment, inflation), the inputs for gold seem to fluctuate. Ask five people why gold is climbing and you will likely get ten different answers. Let’s start with the fundamentals:

49. Funeral Org Pushes for ‘Green’ Burials - Tuesday, March 09, 2010

The idea of a funeral and burial with no embalming, no metal casket vault and nothing else to stop the decomposition of the body and container is an enduring idea that is getting the “green” tag.

The uncomplicated funeral and burial, however, is complicated in the here and now for consumers, according to the leader of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of the Mid-South.

50. Marijuana Expert Regales Rotarians With Lesser-Known Facts - Thursday, February 04, 2010

Marijuana researcher Mehmoud ElSohly sees the humor in his work, especially when he’s talking about a THC suppository.

He concluded a speech to the Memphis Rotary Club by acting as though he was smoking a joint then suddenly hiding it down below after getting caught. He lifted the bit of physical humor from Jay Leno. ElSohly can get away with stealing from the comedian because he was the brunt of that joke.

51. Gorman’s Architectural Imprint Extends Beyond Memphis - Friday, August 21, 2009

Marty Gorman has created a multitude of freestanding structures during his more than 40 years as an architect, but he’s most proud of what he’s done to complement the work of others.

As a committed preservationist, he understands the value of an adaptive reuse, such as transforming a Downtown bank building into a school. He advocates similar preservation efforts as president of Memphis Heritage Inc. This year, the Memphis chapter of the American Institute of Architects recognized Gorman’s creativity and community service by bestowing him with its highest honor, the Francis Gassner Award.

52. Hot Flavor: Plain Vanilla - Friday, July 17, 2009

The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco in April reached an agreement with a bank holding company there limiting its activities in several areas, including the payment of dividends.

53. Memphis Drum Shop Named ‘Independent Retailer of the Year’ - Monday, December 15, 2008

The students mix with the masters at Memphis Drum Shop.

One recent day saw Tony Coleman, who tours with B.B. King and Bobby Blue Bland, shake hands with some of the aspiring drummers as they trotted past cymbals, congas, djembes, timpanis and toms toward the back of the store.

54. SunTrust To Cut 2,400 Jobs Nationally To Trim Costs - Tuesday, August 21, 2007

ATLANTA (AP) - SunTrust Banks said Monday it will cut roughly 2,400 jobs, more than 7 percent of its total work force, by the end of next year.

The company, which said it doesn't expect its sales to be affected by the move, will incur a pretax, one-time charge of $45 million in the third quarter of this year to cover costs associated with the job cuts.

55. Madison Avenue Building Turns Inside Out - Friday, March 03, 2006

The developers of the Goodwyn Condominiums at 127 Madison Ave. are looking to blend a historic building with high-tech amenities.

The 18-story, 68,000-square-foot building is being redeveloped by Henry Grosvenor and J. Hollingsworth of Capital Development LLC for $9 million.

56. Ivy at South End Sidesteps Condominium Craze - Tuesday, January 17, 2006

While much of the Downtown real estate market has been concentrating its efforts on condominiums, one group is working on something different - single family homes.

Robert Durbin of Durbin Diversified Builders and his son-in-law, Reid Hedgepeth of Hedgepeth Construction, are building 17 upscale zero-lot homes at The Ivy at South End near the intersection of South Front and Georgia streets.

57. Highland Strip Area Starts to Sizzle - Friday, January 06, 2006

After years of inactivity, the area around the Highland Stip is starting to pick up as property renovations and other new developments continue.

Probably the most visible new addition has been RP Billiards at 525 S. Highland St. The building housed the Highland Cue for about 25 years.

58. Archived Article: Trends Focus - Monday, December 29, 2003
Holiday parties on the rise, but keeping it simple

Companies Celebrating, but Keeping it Simple

ANDREW BELL

The Daily News

Its not caviar, but its not peanut butter and crackers either.

The past couple of years have seen companies sla...

59. Archived Article: Tech Focus - Wednesday, July 31, 2002
By RICK RUSSELL

Tennessee biotechnology gets boost with alliance

By RICK RUSSELL

The Daily News

While the more traditional industrial staples continue to support the states sluggish economic infrastructure, a sweeping statewide initiativ...

60. Archived Article: Prime - Tuesday, April 06, 1999
149 Monroe Ave 149 Monroe Ave. for sale A 36,000-square-foot building at Monroe Avenue and Second Street is for sale. Full of amenities such as milled columns, partitioned hardwood panel offices, a small theater, meeting rooms and a vault in the bas...

61. Archived Article: Benchmark - Thursday, June 20, 1996
Patricia Fowler vs Patricia Fowler vs. Pinecrest Pet Cemetery and Travis Wright II. A Memphis woman filed suit in Chancery Court on Monday for a restraining order and injunction against the pet cemetery where her pet dog is buried. According to the ...

62. Archived Article: Vault - Monday, June 17, 1996
By NATALIE VANTREASE STRODE Local security company offers customized hidden safes By NATALIE VANTREASE STRODE The Daily News One womans love for horror movies gave birth to a unique and profitable business for one Memphis company. With a doctor husb...

63. Archived Article: Prime Properties - Tuesday, May 28, 1996
Federal Reserve Bank building Federal Reserve Bank building 170 Jefferson Ave. For sale or lease A virtual fortress of a building, occupying a full quarter block on the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Third Street, is for sale or lease. The asking pr...