Lawsuits filed in local and federal court accuse Department of Labor and Workforce Development leaders of forcing out white employees and replacing them with black employees.

The Tennessean has reported the complaints stem from the two years that Commissioner Karla Davis ran the state agency.

2. Tennessee Finance Chief to Retire From Haslam Cabinet - Tuesday, April 16, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – State finance chief Mark Emkes is retiring after presiding over three annual spending plans, Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's administration announced Monday.

Emkes, a former CEO of Nashville-based tiremaker Bridgestone Americas, was one of Haslam's highest-profile Cabinet choices following the 2010 election.

3. Audit Shows State Paid Dead People Unemployment - Monday, April 8, 2013

An audit shows the state was sending unemployment checks to seven dead people and two dozen current state employees.

The Tennessean reported details of the state audit that triggered the resignations of former Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Karla Davis and two other top department officials.

4. Tennessee February Unemployment Increases Slightly - Friday, March 22, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee's unemployment rate for February was 7.8 percent, a slight increase from the previous month.

Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Karla Davis said Thursday that's the lowest February rate since 2008.

5. Davis Resigns as State Labor Commissioner - Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Karla Davis announced her resignation Monday, March 18, as state commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development.

6. Tennessee Unemployment Increases Slightly in January - Monday, March 11, 2013

Tennessee’s unemployment rate for January was 7.7 percent, a slight increase from the previous month.

Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Karla Davis said Thursday that there are more than 2.8 million people employed in Tennessee.

7. Unemployment Benefits Extended in Tennessee - Saturday, January 12, 2013

Tennessee residents will continue to get federal extended unemployment benefits for at least another year.

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development had warned late last month that the benefits were about to expire.

8. Unemployment Benefits Extended in Tennessee - Monday, January 7, 2013

Tennessee residents will continue to get federal extended unemployment benefits for at least another year.

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development had warned late last month that the benefits were about to expire.

9. State Jobless Rate in June Rises by 0.2 Percent - Friday, July 20, 2012

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's unemployment rate rose 0.2 percent in June to 8.1 percent.

Karla Davis, commissioner of Labor & Workforce Development, said Thursday the June figure was the highest since January. But it was substantially below the 9.4 percent in June a year ago.

10. Tenn. Jobless Rate Increases Slightly in May - Friday, June 15, 2012

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee's unemployment increased slightly in May, the first increase in two years.

The 7.9 percent unemployment rate is up from 7.7 percent in April.

Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner Karla Davis said in a release on Thursday that the increase in the jobless rate is mainly due to people "re-entering the workforce to look for work."

11. Tenn. Jobless Rate Drops for 9th Straight Month - Monday, May 21, 2012

Tennessee’s unemployment dropped slightly in April, marking the ninth straight month of decreases in the state’s unemployment rate.

The 7.8 percent unemployment rate is down from 7.9 percent in March and the lowest it’s been since November 2008.

12. Cost of GED Diploma Going Up - Tuesday, March 20, 2012

The good news is the General Educational Development test to earn the equivalent of a high school diploma is moving online. The bad news is the cost of taking the test is expected to go up to $125 starting in 2014.

13. Events - Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Remington College Memphis will hold a blood drive Tuesday, March 13, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on its campus, 2710 Nonconnah Blvd. The blood drive is part of Remington College’s 3 Lives campaign, an effort to increase the number of minority blood donors. For more information, call 800-448-6405.

14. Events - Monday, March 12, 2012

The Memphis chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals will meet Monday, March 12, at 6 p.m. at the Hilton Memphis, 939 Ridge Lake Blvd. Lenny Johnson, an independent consultant, will discuss public speaking. Cost is $22. For reservations, contact Sharon Gardner at sharon.gardner@asentinel.com or 752-6213.

15. Housing Conference Slated for Jan. 7 - Monday, January 2, 2012

The “Home For The Holidays: Housing and Economic Development Conference” will be held on Saturday, Jan. 7, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Southwest Tennessee Community College Union Campus Building E/Gym, 737 Union Ave.

16. 3 State Agencies Offer Budget Proposals - Friday, November 4, 2011

MEMPHIS (AP) – The heads of three state agencies on Wednesday began giving Gov. Bill Haslam their proposals for how they would cut 5 percent from their spending plans in next year's budget.

17. Urban League Report Paints Bleak Picture For Blacks - Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Tennessee nonprofit and government leaders are looking at ways to increase employment rates in the state’s most underserved communities.

The economic downturn has proven especially devastating for the African-American community, which makes up the majority of Memphis’ citizenry.

18. Tenn. August Unemployment Rate Drops to 9.7 Percent - Friday, September 16, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee's August unemployment rate of 9.7 percent decreased slightly from the previous month.

July's rate was 9.8 percent. The national unemployment rate for August was 9.1 percent, unchanged from July.

19. Agape Launches GED Pilot Program - Tuesday, August 23, 2011

The Bluff City has been an active player in the Talent Dividend, an initiative to increase the number of college graduates in the Memphis Metropolitan area by 1 percent over the next five years, which could generate a $1 billion annual increase in personal income.

20. July Unemployment Holds at 9.8 Percent - Friday, August 19, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee's July unemployment rate of 9.8 percent remained unchanged from the previous month.

State Labor Commissioner Karla Davis says "statistics behind the unchanged unemployment rate show a slight drop in employment numbers along with an overall decline in the labor force."

21. Tenn. Unemployment Rises to 9.8 Percent in June - Monday, July 25, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee's unemployment rate in June increased to 9.8 percent, up 0.1 percent from the May figure.

State Labor Commissioner Karla Davis said Thursday that the higher rate is a result of a "decline in employment combined with a slight expansion in the labor force."

22. State’s Green Economy Small, But Ready to Grow - Wednesday, June 29, 2011

A pair of recent studies on environmentally friendly green jobs in Tennessee shows the state’s green economy is small, but poised for rapid expansion.

A Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce survey of more than 6,000 businesses found more than 43,000 green jobs statewide last year. That accounts for roughly 1.5 percent of the total public/private employment of 2.7 million people in Tennessee.

23. Tenn. Unemployment Increases in May to 9.7 Percent - Friday, June 17, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee's unemployment rate in May increased to 9.7 percent, up 0.1 percent from the April rate.

Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development Karla Davis said in a news release on Thursday that the slight increase is a result of "significant growth in the labor force" because of optimism in the improving economy.

24. State Unemployment Rate Climbs to 9.6 pct. in April - Monday, May 23, 2011

Tennessee’s unemployment rate in April increased to 9.6 percent, up 0.1 percent from the March rate.

Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development Karla Davis said in a news release that the rate increased because “of a substantial increase in the number of people looking for a job.”

25. Special Coverage: Mid-South Flooding - Friday, May 13, 2011

Coverage of the rising waters in the Memphis area

MIM Triathlon Still Planned

Despite rising floodwaters, next weekend’s Memphis in May Triathlon event is still on, the Tunica Convention & Visitors Bureau has announced.

26. Events - Thursday, March 24, 2011

The Alliance for Nonprofit Excellence will hold a workshop Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to noon at its office, 5100 Poplar Ave., suite 502. Participants will learn how their nonprofit organizations can put social networks to work to accomplish goals and objectives. Cost is $60 for members, $110 for nonmembers and $55 for those in the Program for Nonprofit Excellence.

27. Tenn. January Unemployment Rate was 9.5 Percent - Friday, March 4, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee Labor Commissioner Karla Davis says the state's unemployment rate for January was 9.5 percent, up 0.1 percent from the previous month.

28. State Notes Employment Growth Over Past Year - Friday, January 21, 2011

NASHVILLE (AP) – New state Labor Commissioner Karla Davis says employment growth is keeping Tennessee's jobless rate down from a year ago.

29. Conference Helps Create Sustainable Communities - Tuesday, September 7, 2010

An upcoming conference will highlight the partnerships among the local, state and federal stakeholders working to make communities more sustainable.

The Sustainable Community Initiative and Choice Neighborhoods Initiatives have joined forces to host the West Tennessee Sustainable Neighborhoods Conference in hopes of making government run more efficiently, using new and alternative methods to unite the various federal agencies.

30. Shoemaker Financial's Allen Earns Circle of Excellence - Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Frank Allen, a certified financial planner and financial adviser with Shoemaker Financial, has achieved the Circle of Excellence award from Securian Financial Services for his performance in 2007.