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. Memphis in May Adds Four to Festival Board - Saturday, September 8, 2018

Memphis in May International Festival is adding four members to its board of directors for the 2019 festival.

They are Dow McVean, principal of McVean Trading and Investments; Al Gossett, president and CEO of Gossett Motor Cars; Ron Cohen, territory account manager for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Pat Kerr Tigrett, chairwoman, president and CEO of Pat Kerr Inc. and a past Memphis in May board member.

3. Don't Ask About Trump at Reunion of Presidential Descendants - Monday, September 10, 2018

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's first families are knit together in a small co-ed fraternity filled with fun, inoffensive facts and a reverence for the White House.

Fun fact about John Tyler, 10th president of the United States: He was born in 1790, married twice and was 63 years old when the last of his 15 children was born.

4. Memphis in May Adds Four to Festival Board - Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Memphis in May International Festival is adding four members to its board of directors for the 2019 festival.

They are Dow McVean, principal of McVean Trading and Investments; Al Gossett, president and CEO of Gossett Motor Cars; Ron Cohen, territory account manager for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Pat Kerr Tigrett, chairwoman, president and CEO of Pat Kerr Inc. and a past Memphis in May board member.

5. 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.

6. Harris Claims County Mayor, Democrats Sweep Other Countywide Offices - Monday, August 6, 2018

State Sen. Lee Harris easily beat County Trustee David Lenoir to become the next Shelby County mayor in the Thursday, Aug. 2, county general election, leading a Democratic resurgence in county politics.

7. Harris Elected County Mayor, Bonner as Sheriff - Friday, August 3, 2018

State Sen. Lee Harris easily beat County Trustee David Lenoir to become the next Shelby County mayor in the Thursday, Aug. 2, county general election, leading a Democratic resurgence in county politics.

8. August 3-9, 2018: This week in Memphis history - Saturday, August 4, 2018

1973: On the front page of The Daily News, State Representative Harold Ford touts a legal opinion from the Tennessee Attorney General’s office on the redrawing of U.S. House district lines by the legislature. Shelby County election commissioners contend they control the use of precinct boundaries in setting those lines not the legislature. The legal opinion says the legislature has the power to set the boundaries and a local body cannot overrule or change that. Ford would run in the 8th Congressional district election the next year, taking the Democratic primary and claiming the seat in the general election in an upset of Republican incumbent Dan Kuykendall.

9. De-Annexation Plan Encounters Council Resistance - Wednesday, July 25, 2018

The Strickland administration’s proposal to de-annex two more parts of the city – Southwind-Windyke and Rocky Point – got bad reviews Tuesday, July 24, in city council committee sessions on their way to the first of three council votes in August.

10. Democratic State Sen. Reginald Tate Faces First Challenge in August Primary - Monday, July 9, 2018

Democratic state Sen. Reginald Tate opened his campaign headquarters in the Mendenhall Square shopping center in a storm.

11. Dye, Longtime Mississippi Lieutenant Governor, Dies at 84 - Tuesday, July 3, 2018

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Brad Dye, who was lieutenant governor longer than anyone else in Mississippi history, died Sunday at age 84 from respiratory failure.

His son, Dr. Ford Dye, says his father died at a hospice in Ridgeland.

12. Tiger Hoops Sees Boost In Season Ticket Sales - Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Mark Cockerell saw his fill of University of Memphis basketball last season – and admitted it wasn’t on his nickel. “Went to almost all the games with tickets I got at work,” said Cockerell, who works for FedEx. “There were always lots of unused tickets floating around.”

13. Last Word: Bike Second Line Protest, Loeb's Portrait and SCS Budget Notes - Wednesday, May 23, 2018

“Get on your bikes and ride.” The local bike share program begins Wednesday at 60 different Explore Bike Share stations at different points around town. The bike rental program is considered a milestone in the city’s bicycle culture. And like all milestones there has to be a ceremony. This effort to make it easier to mix bikes into your daily journeys will kick off Wednesday morning in Court Square at 9:30 a.m.

14. Canale is Newest City Council Member - Wednesday, May 23, 2018

The newest Memphis City Council member is Joseph Ford Canale. The Christian Brothers High School golf coach and funeral director got the seven votes required to fill the vacant Super District 9 seat on the first and only ballot by the 12 council members.

15. Parts Shortage That Hit Ford Spreads to More Companies - Friday, May 11, 2018

DETROIT (AP) – A fire that damaged a Michigan auto parts supply factory is causing production problems at Ford, Fiat Chrysler, BMW and General Motors, but it's too soon to tell yet whether dealers will run short of vehicles.

16. Harris, Lenoir to Battle for County Mayor - Thursday, May 3, 2018

Republican David Lenoir and Democrat Lee Harris will meet in the Aug. 2 county general election to decide who will be the next Shelby County mayor. Lenoir and Harris won their respective primaries easily Tuesday, May 1, 2018.

17. Lenoir and Harris Advance in County Mayor's Race - Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Republican David Lenoir and Democrat Lee Harris will meet in the Aug. 2 county general election to decide who will be the next Shelby County Mayor. Lenoir and Harris won their respective primaries easily Tuesday, May 1, 2018.

18. Last Word: The Graceland Campaign, NFL Draft Run Down and Heritage Trail's Story - Monday, April 30, 2018

Riverside Drive is partially closed through Tuesday and then completely closed starting Wednesday marking the official start of Memphis In May and much of what is spring and summer in Memphis. Following close behind is registration for the Dragon Boat Races in mid-May. But it’s not all fun and games and detouring as you draw close to the river.

19. April 27-May 3, 2018: This week in Memphis history - Saturday, April 28, 2018

2011: The second storm in a week drops another 4 inches of rain on the city in addition to the 7.8 inches in late April as the Mississippi River crests upstream at Cape Girardeau, Mo.

20. Early Vote in Shelby County Primaries Tops 20,000 So Far - Tuesday, April 24, 2018

More than 20,000 voters cast ballots early through Saturday, April 21, in advance of the May 1 election, more than half in the Democratic county primaries.

According to the Shelby County Election Commission numbers, 12,001 of the 20,717 early voters cast their ballots in the Democratic primaries and 8,716 voted early in the Republican primaries through the last weekend of the period.

21. Local, State and Federal Election Cycles Blend On Last Weekend of Early Voting - Monday, April 23, 2018

Candidates in the August and November elections were out on the last weekend of early voting in Shelby County in advance of the May 1 election day for county primaries.

The events were a mix of candidates from all three elections on the calendar in 2018.

22. The Aftermath: Memphis' Political Journey Since 1968 - Saturday, March 31, 2018

For 50 years and counting, April 4 has been an important day in the life of Memphis.

To some Memphians, it is a holy day; to others, it’s a day of reflection, or perhaps one of action and service.

23. Dixon Loses Appeal Seeking to Restore Right to Vote - Monday, March 12, 2018

The Tennessee Criminal Appeals Court calls it a “harsh” result, but ruled last week that former Democratic state Sen. Roscoe Dixon of Memphis cannot have his right to vote restored almost 12 years after he was convicted of corruption charges in the state’s most recent political corruption probe.

24. Digest - Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Memphis Grizzlies Suffer 15th Consecutive Loss

The Grizzlies lost their 15th straight game, 119-110 at Chicago, on Wednesday, March 7.

The team has not won since defeating the Phoenix Suns at FedExForum on Jan. 29.

25. ‘Gym Rat’ Building Another Winning Program - Friday, March 2, 2018

Tennessee’s basketball team is rolling into March Madness.

Amazing.

The 16th-ranked Vols (22-7, 12-5 SEC) entered this week second in the SEC standings and having clinched a double-bye in the March 7-11 SEC tournament with one regular-season games remaining, Saturday against Georgia at Thompson-Boling Arena (6 p.m. ET, SEC Network).

26. Outlook Bright for Memphis' Gig Economy in ’18 - Thursday, January 4, 2018

Whether by choice or necessity, the number of people working freelance and contract jobs in Memphis and nationwide is increasing as the “gig economy” booms. Employers are saving money by not keeping as many employees on full-time or with benefits, while gig workers have added freedom and flexibility.

27. Nashville, Sacramento Head MLS Expansion Finalists - Thursday, November 30, 2017

NEW YORK (AP) – Nashville, Tennessee, is among four finalists for a pair of Major League Soccer expansion teams after government financing for a new stadium was approved this month.

Sacramento, California, is considered a front-runner along with Nashville for the teams, which the league intends to award next month. Each winner will pay a $150 million expansion fee.

28. County Primary Filing Opens With Paperwork Flurry - Monday, November 20, 2017

A total of 37 prospective candidates in the May 2018 county primaries pulled qualifying petitions last week on the first day of the filing period Friday, Nov. 17.

And the first contenders through the doors at the Shelby County Election Commission in a period that extends to a February deadline confirms a few trends.

29. The Next Four Years - Saturday, November 18, 2017

A week before candidates for the 2018 Shelby County elections could pull qualifying petitions to run, Shelby County Commissioner David Reaves was thinking out loud on Facebook.

“Next four years,” was how it began.

30. State Elections Coordinator Says Ranked-Choice Voting Not Permissible - Wednesday, November 15, 2017

The Tennessee elections coordinator has told Shelby County election officials that it is illegal to use ranked-choice voting in an election because there are no state guidelines and procedures in place for counting second- and third-preference votes.

31. Tennessee Elections Coordinator Says Ranked-Choice Voting Not Permissible - Tuesday, November 14, 2017

The Tennessee elections coordinator told Shelby County’s administrator of elections in September that it is illegal to use ranked-choice voting anywhere in the state because there are no state guidelines and procedures for counting the second and third preferences of voters to avoid a runoff election.

32. Folk’s Folly’s Kauker Named Tenn. Restaurant Manager of Year - Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Folk’s Folly Prime Steak House general manager Diane Kauker has won the Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association’s 2017 Restaurant Manager of the Year Award, which honors a manager who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, service, and community and civic involvement. The judges noted Kauker’s outstanding performance beyond her normal job duties, including providing excellent service to Folk’s Folly guests and the greater community.

33. October 6-12, 2017: This week in Memphis history - Saturday, October 7, 2017

2016: On the cover of The Memphis News, the opening of the $52 million “Heart of the Park” project at Shelby Farms Park turns a lot of heads and prompts a lot of new traffic on land that was once a prison farm and had been slated in the 1970s for residential construction. “I feel like it’s a city that’s reinvented itself,” Shelby Farms Park Conservancy director Jen Andrews says in the cover story. “It didn’t change who it was, but it reinvented itself – a sprawling city that chose to reconnect itself. … Memphis has become a city that believes in making things better for the public realm.”

34. Paying Beale Street Security Costs Raises Lease Questions - Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Memphis City Council members vote Tuesday, Oct. 2, on whether the city should start using some of the $378,000 in Beale Street cover charge funds the Downtown Memphis Commission has been holding in two bank accounts since June.

35. Shaky Start Exposes Raw Nerves as Dawgs Roll In - Friday, September 29, 2017

Tennessee football coach Butch Jones had more than Georgia on his mind this week. Rumors on message boards and reports on sports talk radio flamed the fires around Jones and the Vols after last Saturday’s 17-13 victory over Massachusetts at Neyland Stadium.

36. Ford Opens Commission Bid as Lenoir Prepares To Launch Mayoral Bid - Friday, September 29, 2017

Campaign season for local, state and federal offices on the 2018 ballot has started.

On Wednesday, Sept. 27, Memphis City Council member Edmund Ford Jr. kicked off his bid for the Shelby County Commission at the offices of an East Memphis law firm. Meanwhile, Shelby County Trustee David Lenoir rallied supporters in advance of formally kicking off his bid for Shelby County Mayor at a Thursday, Sept. 28, announcement.

37. Ford Opens Commission Bid as Lenoir Prepares Formal Start of Mayoral Bid - Thursday, September 28, 2017

Memphis City Council member Edmund Ford Jr. kicked off his bid Wednesday, Sept. 27, for the Shelby County Commission on the 2018 ballot at the offices of an East Memphis law firm as Shelby County Trustee David Lenoir rallied supporters in advance of formally kicking off his bid for Shelby County Mayor at a Thursday announcement.

38. Win vs. Georgia Now Needed to Save Season - Friday, September 22, 2017

It’s been a long week for Tennessee football. UT’s Sept. 30 game against Georgia at Neyland Stadium can’t get here soon enough. Not after the Vols’ 26-20 loss to Florida last Saturday in Gainesville.

39. A Different Body of Work Emerges For The Hereafter - Tuesday, August 29, 2017

With the cost of traditional casket funerals rising to an average of $9,000 or more, many people are choosing less expensive options like cremation and donating their bodies to science. Numerous “green” options for cremated remains such as biodegradable urns or even using ashes for tree planting, use in rebuilding coral reefs, for stones for jewelry or for tattoos and portraits are gaining popularity.

40. Looks Like Another 8-4 Season for Tennessee - Friday, August 25, 2017

Oops. I goofed last year. So did lots of other people who thought Tennessee’s football team would win the SEC East Division and go to the league championship game for the first time since 2007.

41. A Million Reasons Not to Jump Into the Tennessee Governor’s Race - Thursday, August 10, 2017

Republican gubernatorial candidate Mae Beavers is banking on the idea wealthy candidates won’t be able to buy voters in 2018.

42. Last Word: Closing the Door, Midtown Rents and Red West's Many Roles - Thursday, July 20, 2017

It didn’t take the Shelby County Commission very long Wednesday to close the door on its budget season – about 20 minutes in the day’s special meeting to approve a county property tax rate of $4.11 on third and final reading. That’s not a quick up or down vote. And it took just a bit longer because there is still some discussion about whether this was a reduction in the tax rate or a tax cut in the sense that a homeowner in Shelby County would understand the term.

43. Last Word: Don McMinn, Frayser's Recovery and The Clean Line - Monday, June 5, 2017

Back in the late 1970s when Beale Street was still rotting and behind chain link fences and Downtown Memphis was in recovery in every sense of the word, there was a poster of Don McMinn standing in front of the statue of W.C. Handy on Beale with his back to the camera spreading open the raincoat he was wearing in Handy’s direction. The caption was something about exposing the world to the blues. That’s not the only image that comes to mind of those times with word Sunday that McMinn has died.

44. Last Word: Restless Off Season, Memphis Open Closes and Single-Family Rentals - Monday, April 10, 2017

This is proving to be a restless off-season for Tigers basketball and it is not even summer yet. Add freshman guard Keon Clergeot to the Tigers players exiting the program with word still to come from Markel Crawford. Meanwhile, the Tigers have signed their second junior college recruit – Kyvon Davenport -- at forward.

45. Poll: Most Young People Say Gov't Should Pay for Health Care - Wednesday, April 5, 2017

WASHINGTON (AP) – Most young Americans want any health care overhaul under President Donald Trump to look a lot like the Affordable Care Act signed into law by his predecessor, President Barack Obama.

46. Whether Toting Gloves or iPads, Women Have Role to Play in Baseball - Friday, March 24, 2017

First-year Memphis Redbirds manager Stubby Clapp has played and coached for Canada’s National Team. He understands, perhaps better than most do, that baseball’s stage extends beyond the major leagues and its minor league feeder system.

47. Another Country - Saturday, March 4, 2017

On the road into the C.H. Nash Museum at Chucalissa in southwest Memphis, there is a sign you might not notice on your way to the museum and archaeological site.

An arrow pointing east is the way to Memphis. The western arrow reads Chucalissa.

48. DeBerry, Tate Defend School Voucher Pilot Program - Wednesday, February 8, 2017

NASHVILLE – Two Memphis legislators co-sponsoring a Shelby County pilot voucher bill say the measure is one more attempt to give students more options for education.

Rep. John DeBerry and Sen. Reginald Tate, both Democrats, defended their support of the measure sponsored by Germantown Republican Sen. Brian Kelsey the same day the U.S. Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s selection of Betsy DeVos for Secretary of Education. DeVos has been under fire from Democrats for her support of charter schools and vouchers and a perceived lack of knowledge about public education.

49. Last Word: The Borders of Violence, Guilty Verdict and Blue Suede Security - Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Whenever there is a shooting of or near school children, one of the first things that happens once the police have investigated is detailing exactly where the incident happened – specifically whether it was actually on school property or near school property.

50. Last Word: Haslam To Talk Gas Tax, Rallings Talks Protesters and Beale Street - Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam talks gas tax Wednesday in Nashville. Actually, he will be rolling out his full list of legislative priorities in the capitol. But much of the attention will be on what he proposes in the way of the state’s gas tax – something he’s talked about but not committed a specific position to for the last two years.

51. Final Goodbye: Roll Call of Some of Those Who Died in 2016 - Monday, January 2, 2017

Death claimed transcendent political figures in 2016, including Cuba's revolutionary leader and Thailand's longtime king, but also took away royals of a different sort: kings of pop music, from Prince and David Bowie to George Michael.

52. Why is It So Difficult for Tennessee To Oust Indicted Politicians? - Thursday, November 10, 2016

Tennessee is lagging much of the nation when it comes to the ability to remove scoundrels from public office.

And, make no mistake, the Volunteer State has had its fair share of ne’er-do-well politicians who would likely have been thrown out of office if the proper procedures had been in place. 

53. October US Sales Fall as Auto Boom Slows - Wednesday, November 2, 2016

DETROIT (AP) – It's a chilly autumn for U.S. auto sales. Sales of new cars and trucks were expected to fall in October as consumer demand wanes. J.D. Power and LMC Automotive expect total October sales to fall by just over 7 percent, with retail sales to individual customers dropping 8 percent.

54. Pursuing Corruption Cases Near Elections - Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Presidential elections aren’t the only political contests federal prosecutors weigh in making decisions about investigations and possible criminal charges against candidates or elected officials.

55. For the First Time This Season, Vols Set to Play as Underdog - Friday, October 7, 2016

You almost can feel Tennessee is a football team of destiny as the most difficult games of the schedule loom Saturday at Texas A&M and Oct. 15 against Alabama at Neyland Stadium.

There aren’t many successful Hail Mary passes, but the Vols got one last Saturday and beat Georgia 34-31 in Athens. Tennessee trailed Georgia 17-0 in the first half.

56. All Monuments Are Grand in Arizona - Thursday, September 15, 2016

By rule it doesn’t rain in the desert. It can’t rain in the desert, right?

Wrong, and when it rains it pours, especially when driving through Arizona’s Painted Desert on our way to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

57. Looks Like 10-2, SEC Title Game, Orange Bowl for UT - Monday, September 5, 2016

Editor’s note: Nashville sports correspondent Dave Link has been accurate in predicting season outcomes for the Tennessee Vols in recent years. His 2016 season predictions, released just before press time, culminates with an SEC Championship appearance. Here’s his take on the season…

58. Can Alan Zucker Do for Titans’ Marcus Mariota What He’s Done for Mannings & Taylor Swift? - Friday, August 19, 2016

As an NFL quarterback, Sunday is show time for Marcus Mariota. That’s when he suits up and does everything in his power to help the Tennessee Titans win football games.

But a recent Sunday morning was a different kind of show time. Mariota spent four hours on the opposite side of the Cumberland River from Nissan Stadium on a commercial shoot. A camera crew captured footage of him jogging in downtown Nashville and posing in front of various landmarks.

59. Collierville, Millington Mayoral Races Top Suburban Ballots in November - Thursday, August 18, 2016

The mayors of Collierville and Millington are running for re-election on the November ballot and as the noon Thursday, Aug. 18, filing deadline approaches for the Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville and Millington municipal ballots the two mayors have challengers.

60. Poll: Young Americans Overwhelmingly Favor LGBT Rights - Wednesday, August 10, 2016

WASHINGTON (AP) — Young people in America overwhelmingly support LGBT rights when it comes to policies on employment, health care and adoption, according to a new survey.

The GenForward survey of Americans ages 18-30 found that support for those policies has increased over the past two years, especially among young whites. But relatively few of these young adults consider rights for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender to be among the top issues facing the United States.

61. Kustoff Victory Caps TV, Outsider Heavy Congressional Campaign - Monday, August 8, 2016

Former U.S. Attorney David Kustoff claimed the Republican nomination for Tennessee’s 8th Congressional district Thursday, Aug. 4, in a 15-county contest in which the eastern parts of Shelby County played a decisive role.

62. Kustoff Claims 8th GOP Primary, Todd Upset by Lovell, Jenkins Over Newsom - Friday, August 5, 2016

Former U.S. Attorney David Kustoff claimed the Republican nomination for Tennessee’s 8th Congressional district Thursday, Aug. 4, in a 15-county contest in which the eastern parts of Shelby County played a decisive role.

63. Dark Money Ads Surface in 8th District Primary - Monday, July 25, 2016

As Republicans were either at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland or watching it on TV last week, “dark money” entered the crowded Republican primary for Tennessee’s 8th Congressional district.

64. The Rest of the August Ballot - Saturday, July 9, 2016

If all goes according to plan on the Aug. 4 election day, Linda Phillips hopes the result is that you don’t see her in any of the reporting on election night.

65. Geater Claims Dunavant Honor for Job Without a Description - Friday, May 6, 2016

Lisa Geater likens the job of the Memphis City Council’s staff to being wallpaper. After 27 years working in the council office at City Hall, including 20 as the administrator running the office, Geater said her advice for new staff members was simple.

66. Roland Starts 2018 Bid for County Mayor - Tuesday, April 12, 2016

The 2018 Shelby County general elections are more than two years away. The 2016 county elections that decide races for General Sessions Court Clerk, five of the nine seats on the Shelby County Schools board and two judicial positions are still to come in August.

67. August Primaries Feature Intra-Party Challenges - Monday, April 11, 2016

Two years after a disastrous slate of races for countywide offices, there is a move among younger Democratic partisans in Memphis to shake up the Democrats who represent the city in the Tennessee Legislature.

68. 8th Congressional District Primaries Draw 22 Contenders, 13 Republican - Friday, April 8, 2016

The Republican primary race to fill the 8th District Congressional seat Republican incumbent Stephen Fincher is giving up drew a field of 13 contenders – seven from Shelby County and four from Jackson, Tennessee – at the Thursday, April 7, noon filing deadline for the Aug. 4 ballot.

69. Last Word: Pro Day, Hardwood Patios in C-Y and Memphis' Contested Convention - Thursday, April 7, 2016

It was a windy Pro Day Wednesday at the University of Memphis for Tigers quarterback Paxton Lynch. And if the wind wasn’t for you, you could watch Lynch work out for NFL teams and their representatives on the NFL network.
Don Wade was there to watch in person.

70. Last Word: The Moving Election Comes to Town and Missing Early Voters Are Found - Monday, February 29, 2016

We probably haven’t had this much action with so many presidential candidates in the Memphis area since the 1984 Democratic presidential primary campaign.

Four of the contenders – three Republicans and one Democrat – in Memphis over the weekend looking for votes in advance of Tuesday’s Tennessee primary elections.

71. Second Annual Starlite Revue Coming to the Halloran Centre April 8 - Monday, February 29, 2016

Beale Street Caravan is set to present the second annual Starlite Revue – a one-night-only gospel, blues and soul extravaganza – April 8 at The Orpheum’s Halloran Centre.

Returning headliner Rev. John Wilkins will be joined by touring gospel acts that include The Southern Sons, The Masonic Travelers and The Bell Singers. Bringing contemporary Memphis roots and blues to the lineup will be co-headliner Jimbo Mathus, along with Sons of Mudboy and The Holy Ghost Town Band.

72. Minority Leader Harris Confident Even on Wrong Side of Supermajority - Thursday, February 4, 2016

Lee Harris says he ran for state Senate because he felt Memphis could do better on Capitol Hill, defeating Ophelia Ford in 2014.

73. Last Word: The Big Fizzle, John Jay Hooker's Exit And "A Great Sports Town" - Monday, January 25, 2016

Everybody talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it – isn’t that how the saying goes?
In our case, it might be better to say everybody talks about the television weather coverage but nobody does anything about it.
As we all know now, Memphis dodged the “blizzard” warning artfully and passive-aggressively teased by several television stations who shall go un-named here because they know who they are and you do too.
That’s because they spent much of the day of "the blizzard that wasn’t" whining about the reaction from viewers who complained about the hype and then the promos the stations ran the day of the big fizzle.
We didn’t get much in the way of snow in Memphis, but we got a couple of feet of hype.

74. Harris Weighs Cohen Challenge - Monday, January 4, 2016

Tennessee state Senate Democratic leader Lee Harris is considering a challenge of U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen in the August Democratic Congressional primary.

75. Five City Council Races Destined for Runoffs - Friday, October 9, 2015

The identity of the Memphis City Council that will take office in January with six new members was still in flux at the end of a very long and frustrating Oct. 8 election night.

The races for four of those six open seats and the seat now held by an appointee to the council are going to a Nov. 19 runoff election – one week before Thanksgiving.

76. Is State’s Role to Provide a Service or Turn a Profit? - Thursday, September 3, 2015

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam appears to be on the brink of privatizing state government. But he won’t be able to do it without a battle, especially from university unions and Democratic lawmakers.

77. Council Candidates Offer Advice, With Verbal Jabs, at NAACP Forum - Tuesday, August 25, 2015

There have been fewer forums this year for Memphis City Council contenders on the Oct. 8 ballot as the 2015 campaign season has focused on mayoral events.

So when the Memphis branch NAACP held its regular forum for council candidates Sunday, Aug. 23, at First Baptist Church on Broad Avenue, 27 candidates in 11 of the 13 council races turned out – about a quarter of the crowd of 100 in the church sanctuary.

78. Beale Board Looks at 3-Month Window to Set Up Shop - Monday, August 17, 2015

The Beale Street Tourism Development Authority is looking at a narrow three-month window to get its lease agreement with City Hall signed and, in effect, begin its work for the city and hire some kind of day-to-day manager for the entertainment district.

79. Beale Authority Sets Timetable for Taking Lease To City Hall - Friday, August 14, 2015

The Beale Street Tourism Development Authority is looking at a narrow three-month window to get its lease agreement with City Hall signed and in effect, begin its work for the city and hire some kind of day-to-day manager for the entertainment district.

80. Memphis Mayoral Field Set at 10 - Friday, July 24, 2015

Shelby County Election Commissioners have certified the Memphis election ballot for Oct. 8.

These are the names to appear on that ballot for the 15 elected offices.

The commission met hours after the noon Thursday, July 23, deadline for candidates to withdraw from the ballot if they wished.

81. Grizzlies Rookies Jarell Martin, Andrew Harrison Have Much to Prove - Thursday, July 2, 2015

The bottom-line question about Memphis Grizzlies rookies Jarell Martin and Andrew Harrison is the same as after every other NBA Draft: What does the team really have in these guys?

82. Not Your Ma's Bell: AT&T Evolves Beyond Phones - Wednesday, May 20, 2015

NEW YORK (AP) – The company whose name has long been synonymous with telephones is looking for new ways to reach out and touch someone.

AT&T, which had a popular "Reach Out and Touch Someone" slogan in the 1980s, now wants to be on your TV, car and even trashcan.

83. Harold Ford Sr. Returns to Memphis Funeral Business With New Concept - Wednesday, May 13, 2015

In his years as a political force in Memphis, Harold Ford Sr. was known for his attention to detail.

The former Congressman would brush past campaign workers and climb a ladder to level a campaign banner or change the layout of “the Ford ballot,” sought by everyone from presidential candidates to court clerks.

84. Wharton, Strickland Top $250,000 in Campaign Accounts - Wednesday, April 15, 2015

As they prepare to pull qualifying petitions for the October ballot, Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. and challenger Jim Strickland each have more than $250,000 in their campaign accounts.

85. Well-Known Names Host Strickland Fundraiser - Thursday, March 26, 2015

At $1,500 per person or couple, a fundraiser Tuesday, March 24, for the mayoral campaign of Memphis City Council member Jim Strickland is an indication the campaign to the October city ballot is picking up in intensity.

86. Wharton Eyes City Hall Shake-Up - Monday, March 2, 2015

Facing specific criticism from political challengers that his administration is disorganized and hasn’t focused on priorities much past initial press conferences, Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. acted this week to shake up his office starting at the top.

87. Brooks Plea Coda to Political Whirlwind - Friday, February 27, 2015

It could have gone either way for Henri Brooks at just about this time a year ago. The Shelby County Commissioner had plans to continue a nearly 20-year political arc beyond a political track record that included seven terms in the state House and the two-term limit on the Shelby County Commission.

88. Building From a New Blueprint - Saturday, February 21, 2015

When recruiting new businesses, East Tennessee economic development officials have long touted the benefits of partnering with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee.

The lab and the university both have a history of working closely with private business to develop cutting-edge manufacturing techniques, technologies and new products. That research effort recently received a major boost with President Obama’s announcement of a new manufacturing innovation hub based in the Knoxville area.

89. Justin Ford: ‘We’re On The Cusp Of Change’ - Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Shelby County commission chairman Justin Ford is running for Memphis Mayor in 2015.

Ford announced his intention to challenge Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. Monday, Feb. 9, joining former county commissioner James Harvey, city council member Jim Strickland, and former University of Memphis basketball player Detric Golden in the growing field.

90. Local Elections Ramp Up With Gumbo Fest - Tuesday, February 10, 2015

There were so many contenders for the District 5 seat on the Memphis City Council at the Sunday, Feb. 8, Tennessee Equality Project Gumbo Contest that they occasionally went for the same voter’s hand in the crowd of several hundred.

91. Size of Mayoral Field Shadows Race - Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Nobody running for election on the Oct. 8 ballot can even pull a qualifying petition to get on the ballot until April, yet February is shaping up as the month when it is determined what kind of challenge and how many challengers incumbent Mayor A C Wharton Jr. will face.

92. Walter Awarded AAF Silver Medal - Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Ronald A. Walter, president and general manager of WREG-TV, has been chosen to receive AAF Memphis’ 2015 Silver Medal, the highest form of individual recognition given by local chapters of the American Advertising Federation. The annual award, which honors an exceptional leader for a career of outstanding accomplishment and contribution in the industry, will be presented at AAF Memphis’ luncheon Jan. 29 at 11:30 a.m. at Memphis Botanic Garden.

93. Election Year Marks Passing of Generations - Monday, December 22, 2014

There were more than a few indications of the passing of political generations in Memphis this past year.

Political leaders left the scene to return to life out of office, got elected to other offices and, in some cases, passed away.

94. Former State Rep. Emmitt Ford Dies - Saturday, November 15, 2014

Former state Rep. Emmitt Ford has died in Memphis at age 70, a relative said Tuesday.

Memphis City Council member Edmund Ford Jr. said his uncle passed away Monday night at Methodist Hospital after battling an illness.

95. Former State Rep. Emmitt Ford Dies - Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Former state Rep. Emmitt Ford has died in Memphis at age 70, a relative said Tuesday.

Memphis City Council member Edmund Ford Jr. said his uncle passed away Monday night at Methodist Hospital after battling an illness.

96. Voters Approve Wine, Amendments - Thursday, November 6, 2014

Shelby County citizens voted 2-to-1 Tuesday, Nov. 4, against a proposed amendment to the Tennessee Constitution that gives the Tennessee Legislature the power to regulate abortion, including in cases of rape or incest.

97. Voters Approve Wine, Constitutional Amendments - Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Shelby County citizens voted 2-to-1 Tuesday, Nov. 4, against a proposed amendment to the Tennessee Constitution that gives the Tennessee Legislature the power to regulate abortion, including in cases of rape or incest.

98. US Agency Warns Car Owners to Get Air Bags Fixed - Tuesday, October 21, 2014

DETROIT (AP) — A potential safety crisis over defective air bags widened Monday as the U.S. government issued an urgent plea to more than 4.7 million people to get their cars fixed.

The inflator mechanisms in the air bags can rupture, causing metal fragments to fly out when the bags are deployed in crashes.

99. Ford Is New County Commission Chairman In Latest Crossover Trend - Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Shelby County Commissioners elected a Democratic chairman Monday, Sept. 8, but for a second consecutive year, that chairman was elected with the support of a majority of the Republicans on the body.

100. County Leaders Make Transition to Governing - Friday, August 29, 2014

For government officials, the oath of office marks the boundary between the ability to get elected and the ability to govern.

But it’s not always apparent to those taking the oath what they have gotten themselves into.