“What can we do to help?” That was the question asked by a corporate representative at a conference we attended last week.

We were in Winston-Salem, participating in the State of Black North Carolina conference. We fell in love with the people, energy and positive, forward thinking. We were surrounded by people – including high school students and senior citizens – all of whom were asking questions, offering solutions, sharing history and strategizing.

2. Last Word: Eureka Education, Confederate Monuments in Court and Dillon Brooks - Friday, January 26, 2018

Supermarkets are hard. That is the tag line in every discussion about getting a supermarket or grocery store for a given part of town that doesn’t have one. And once a new supermarket goes up somewhere else, there is inevitably word that a competitor or two is going to build nearby. The discussion always includes the mandatory recitation of the 3 to 4 percent profit margin stores operate on, which even knowledgeable critics of the decisions about where to locate and not to locate stores acknowledge is accurate.

3. Final Goodbye: Roll Call of Some Who Died in 2017 - Monday, January 1, 2018

They made music that inspired legions of fans. Rock 'n' roll founding fathers Chuck Berry and Fats Domino, rockers Tom Petty and Gregg Allman, grunge icon Chris Cornell, country superstar Glen Campbell and jazz great Al Jarreau were among the notable figures who died in 2017, leaving a void in virtually every genre of music.

4. Haslam Considering Changes to UT Board of Trustees - Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Gov. Bill Haslam is considering reducing the number University of Tennessee Board of Trustees members and trimming the number of finalists presented for top leadership positions in the UT system, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally has confirmed.

5. Pay for No Play: Paying Millions to Former Coaches - Friday, December 8, 2017

Tennessee’s bungled search for a football coach will come at a cost for the university. A big cost.

There are buyouts everywhere. A potential lawsuit looms. And a rift between boosters caused by the botched search may be the costliest item of all for the university long term.

6. Game of Thrones? UT’s Cast Not That Smart - Friday, December 8, 2017

When he was president of the University of Tennessee in 1959-70, Andy Holt often referred to the Vols athletics program, and particularly its football program, as “the front porch of the university.”

7. New AD Fixing Hart’s Errors – Is Jones Next? - Friday, September 29, 2017

What does John Currie’s decision to reinstitute the name “Lady Vols” for all women’s sports at the University of Tennessee have to do with Butch Jones?

8. Paying Fulmer $100K A Deal for UT Athletics - Friday, June 30, 2017

What does Phillip Fulmer’s hiring as special adviser to University of Tennessee president Joe DiPietro have to do with Vols football coach Butch Jones?

9. What a Strange Twist of Events in Hiring of Currie - Friday, March 10, 2017

John Currie is the new athletics director at the University of Tennessee. Has it sunk in yet? Currie, previously the athletic director at Kansas State, was introduced last week by new UT chancellor Beverly Davenport during a ceremony featuring fans, boosters, coaches and, of course, former Tennessee and NFL quarterback Peyton Manning.

10. New AD Bad News for Struggling Vol Coaches - Friday, March 10, 2017

The hiring of John Currie as the University of Tennessee’s athletics director conveys a number of messages. One of them: Butch Jones is officially on the clock.

Based on Currie’s history at UT, as well as his eight-year track record as Kansas State’s athletics director, it’s safe to say he isn’t afraid to pull the trigger when it comes to coaches – for better or worse.

11. New Tennessee Chancellor Vows to Move 'Quickly' in AD Search - Thursday, February 16, 2017

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – New Tennessee chancellor Beverly Davenport says the school plans to move "very quickly" in hiring an athletic director but isn't specifying a target date on making the selection.

12. Slow Pace of AD Hire Typical of How UT Works - Friday, January 27, 2017

About the University of Tennessee’s athletics director search: What’s your hurry? It only took a little over five months after Dave Hart’s retirement announcement to start the process of hiring a search firm and finalizing a committee that will oversee the selection process. The last thing you want to do is rush things, right?

13. What are the Odds? Blackburn is Still the Favorite - Friday, January 27, 2017

Tennessee has its search firm and its search committee is in place to find the replacement for Dave Hart as the university’s athletic director.

Hart announced last August he would retire June 30, and with Tennessee undergoing a transition in its chancellor’s position, the search for Hart’s replacement was put on the back burner.

14. UT Board of Trustees Approve New Chancellor Davenport - Friday, December 16, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The University of Tennessee's Board of Trustees has unanimously approved the appointment of Beverly Davenport as the first female chancellor of the public university system's flagship campus in Knoxville.

15. UT Paying $75,000 in Knoxville Chancellor Search - Friday, October 28, 2016

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The University of Tennessee is paying $75,000 plus expenses to a search firm to help in its hunt for a new Knoxville campus chancellor.

Besides the search fee being paid the Parker Executive Search firm, the university agreed to pay expenses up to $7,500 – in addition to the cost of advertising the job and travel expenses for candidates and search committee members.

16. UT Board of Trustees Approves Neyland Renovation Proposal - Monday, October 17, 2016

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee's Board of Trustees has approved a proposal for a $106 million renovation to Neyland Stadium that the school is aiming to have completed by August 2019.

17. Tennessee Opted Against Hart Extension Before His Retirement - Wednesday, September 28, 2016

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee had opted against giving athletic director Dave Hart a contract extension with a raise before he announced he was stepping down, according to documents obtained in a public records request by The Associated Press.

18. Tennessee Athletic Director Dave Hart to Retire in June 2017 - Friday, August 19, 2016

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart will retire next summer after a tumultuous tenure that included consolidation of the men's and women's athletic departments, improvements in fundraising and facilities and the settlement of a Title IX lawsuit.

19. UT Knoxville Sees Largest Freshmen Class in 30 Years - Thursday, August 11, 2016

The University of Tennessee in Knoxville says it is welcoming its largest freshman class in at least 30 years.

The university says the class has 4,825 incoming students, marking the sixth consecutive year of freshman growth.

20. Hart Wants Univ. of Tennessee to Lead in Addressing Sexual Assault - Wednesday, August 3, 2016

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart wants the school to play a leading role in addressing sexual assault after the recent settlement of a Title IX lawsuit filed against the university.

21. Chancellor Resigning at University of Tennessee in Knoxville - Wednesday, June 22, 2016

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Jimmy Cheek, the chancellor of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, is resigning to rejoin the faculty.

22. Legislature Votes to Strip Funding From UT Diversity Office - Monday, April 25, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — State lawmakers voted to send a message that they don't agree with the sexually open and progressive views of the Office for Diversity and Inclusion on the University of Tennessee campus. So the Legislature on Thursday passed a bill stripping it of state funds — a total of nearly $337,000. The money will be used to fund minority scholarships instead.

23. Settle? No. UT Needs to Defend Itself in Title IX Suit - Saturday, April 2, 2016

Lots of smoke. But is there a fire? That is the issue at the University of Tennessee, where a Title IX lawsuit alleges the university has a “hostile sexual environment” and violates federal laws dealing with student discipline hearings for sexual assault cases, especially those involving student-athletes.

24. Tennessee AD Dave Hart: Sexual Assault Unacceptable Act - Friday, February 26, 2016

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart stood by his embattled football coach during a news conference Thursday at the university, two weeks after a federal lawsuit was filed Feb. 9 in Nashville alleging that Tennessee mishandles assault complaints against athletes.

25. University of Tennessee Revises Memo About Holiday Parties - Wednesday, December 9, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The chancellor for the University of Tennessee says an online memo advising employees to make sure holiday celebrations aren't Christmas parties "in disguise" was "poorly worded."

26. Record-Setting Freshman Class Settles in at UT Knoxville - Saturday, August 29, 2015

Murfreesboro’s Madison Underwood, 18, admits the University of Tennessee-Knoxville was not her first choice after graduating Siegel High School this spring.

But it soon became a serious contender – and ultimate winner – thanks to a combination of value, community and programming.

27. Keeping Promises - Saturday, November 15, 2014

With more than 50,000 high school seniors applying for free community college tuition and fees through Gov. Bill Haslam’s Tennessee Promise, it’s reasonable to wonder if Tennessee’s community colleges have the infrastructure – including classroom space and instructors – to handle such an influx of new students.

28. UT Names Business School for Haslam, Gets $50 Million - Monday, October 6, 2014

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The University of Tennessee has named its College of Business Administration after Jim Haslam in recognition of a $50 million gift from the Haslam family.

The name change also recognizes Haslam's "lifetime of exemplary leadership, consistent adherence to strong core values, selfless service and passion for excellence," the UT Board of Trustees declared in the motion they approved Friday.

29. UT Welcomes Largest Freshman Class in 3 Decades - Saturday, August 16, 2014

Nearly 4,700 freshmen – the largest first-year class in at least 30 years – will begin classes on Aug. 20 at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Overall, about 7,400 students will live on campus this fall, about 300 more than last year. While some students have already moved to campus, the big move-in day begins at 8 a.m. on Saturday.

30. Memphis Bar Judicial Poll Released - Tuesday, July 1, 2014

The Memphis Bar Association poll of attorneys on the judicial races on the Aug. 7 ballot shows 16 percent to as high as 38 percent of the attorneys participating have no opinion in many of the judicial races.

31. UT President Says School Can't Ban Sex Week Event - Thursday, March 13, 2014

NASHVILLE (AP) – University of Tennessee President Joe DiPietro is urging lawmakers not to pursue legislation that would penalize the school over its student-run Sex Week.

In a letter this week to Senate Education Chairwoman Dolores Gresham and Senate Government Operations Chairman Mike Bell, DiPietro argued that First Amendment protections prevent the school from ending the event that has raised the hackles of GOP leaders in the Legislature.

32. Circuit, Chancery Make Move to Paperless - Thursday, March 29, 2012

The day-to-day business of Shelby County’s Circuit and Chancery courts is on the way to going paperless after more than 150 years of ink on paper.

The Circuit and Chancery courts clerks’ offices will go to electronic, or e-filing, of all court records in June.

33. University of Tennessee Gets New Slogan - Thursday, February 2, 2012

KNOXVILLE (AP) – The University of Tennessee has a new branding campaign: "Big Orange. Big Ideas."

According to The Knoxville News Sentinel, the slogan will be used in UT's local and national advertisements and on its new redesigned website (http://bit.ly/w8xPlP).

34. THEC Discusses Speed-Up in Capital Projects - Wednesday, December 21, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – The Tennessee Higher Education Commission agreed Tuesday to support a plan that would have colleges and universities pay part of the cost for campus construction projects and also requested approval of a five-year capital program that totals $1.8 billion.

35. UT, Board of Regents Looking to Cash in on Bond Prices - Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Leaders at Tennessee's two higher education systems are looking to take advantage of historically low interest rates as a means of funding as much as $1.5 billion in new construction projects on college campuses across the state.

36. Exchange Club Announces New Board Members - Thursday, August 25, 2011

The Exchange Club Family Center has announced new board members as well as officers for 2011-2012.

Officers are Dan O’Brien, president; George Goldhoff, vice president; Grant Adams, treasurer; Adrienne Dailey-Evans, secretary; and Lucia Heros, immediate past president.

37. UT Gets Major Grant to Improve Nation's Power Grid - Thursday, August 18, 2011

KNOXVILLE (AP) – The University of Tennessee has received a National Science Foundation grant to research the overhaul of the nation's electric power transmission system.

The $18 million grant is intended to help find ways to develop smart-grid technologies.

38. Exchange Club Announces Board - Monday, August 2, 2010

The Exchange Club Family Center has announced new board members and officers for 2010-2011.

The new board members are Grant Adams, Holly Walters Craft, Adrienne Daily-Evans, Dr. Sheryl Davis, Handel Durham, Joe Fracchia, Dr. Patrick Randolph, Mike Fay, Dr. John Holmes, Shelly Rice and Rick Holland.

39. Tenn. House Panel Rejects Local Gun Bans for Bars - Thursday, April 8, 2010

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A House panel on Wednesday rejected an effort to allow local governments in Tennessee to decide whether they want to ban guns from being carried in bars.

Democratic Rep. Jimmy Naifeh of Covington tried to attach the local option provision to a bill that would allow people with handgun carry permits to bring their guns into any establishment that serves alcohol.

40. Bredesen Proposes 200 UT Faculty-Researcher Jobs - Monday, January 11, 2010

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Gov. Phil Bredesen said Friday that he has committed spending $6 million on an economic initiative that involves getting about 200 University of Tennessee faculty members appointed to be researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

41. Dishmon Joins UT Medical Group - Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Dr. Dwight “Dan” Dishmon has joined the Department of Medicine at UT Medical Group.
Dishmon is an interventional cardiologist and cares for adults with ischemic heart disease and peripheral arterial disease.
He earned his medical degree and completed his internal medicine residency and general cardiology fellowship training at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He later completed additional fellowship training at Michigan State University’s Borgess Medical Center. 

42. Research Funding Doubles At UT-Knoxville - Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Research funding to the University of Tennessee’s main campus in Knoxville has more than doubled in the past year to more than $175 million.

Knoxville Chancellor Jimmy Cheek said Friday the size of the increase is “extremely rare and reflects the hard work of our faculty.” The increase was up from $87 million in 2008.

43. Butler Honored for Legal Service With Sam A. Myar Jr. Award - Thursday, December 20, 2007

Her mother is an assistant district attorney. Her father is a chancellor.

But the law wasn't an automatic career choice for Lara E. Butler.

The daughter of Linda Butler, an assistant district attorney for the judicial district that includes Jackson, Tenn., and Madison County Chancellor Jimmy Butler was prepared to follow what she called a tradition among Rhodes College graduates of "going to Colorado to find myself" after graduation.

44. First Quarter Court Activity a Mixed Bag - Monday, April 10, 2006

When Margie McMillan took a recent visitor out for a boat ride on the picturesque lake behind her home, her two dogs stood motionless behind her gate and watched.

That's what they always do when they're left behind, she explained. She always laughs when they turn into a prickly pair of angry pups on her return. She doesn't blame them; who wouldn't want to take a ride in her boat, she seems to suggest, drifting soundlessly across a 45-acre lake that's teeming with ducks, geese, mallards, the occasional blue heron and surrounded by rows of trees?

45. Archived Article: Newsmakers - Wednesday, December 10, 2003
Chancellor Arnold Goldin and General Sessions Judges Phyllis Gardner and Gwen Rooks completed a Judicial Academy conducted by

Local Judges Complete State Judicial Academy Chancellor Arnold Goldin and General Sessions Judges Phyllis Gardner and Gw...

46. Archived Article: Market Cty Bread Lj - Monday, July 15, 1996
lj 10/5 cates Recipe for success Listening to customers, creativity in baking recipe for success at City Bread Co. Profits, customer satisfaction on the rise at City Bread Co. By LAURIE JOHNSON The Daily News Sourdough isnt the only kind of dough on...

47. Archived Article: Econ Brd Lj - Wednesday, November 8, 1995
lj 10/5 cates Economic board holds inaugural meeting By LAURIE JOHNSON The Daily News A new board that is responsible for developing strategies for improving economic development into the next century is now in place. The newly-formed Tennessee Boar...