Entering his eighth professional season, Blaine Gabbert has had many labels attached to his NFL career.

First-round pick. Franchise savior. Bust. Backup. Journeyman. But maybe what fits him best is survivor.

2. McKinney Assumes New Role Joining Greater Memphis Chamber - Thursday, August 2, 2018

David McKinney later this month starts his new job as senior vice president for public policy at the Greater Memphis Chamber.

The 36-year-old attorney succeeds Kelly Rayne, who left earlier this summer to become senior counsel for St. Jude ALSAC.

3. Memphis Surgeon Kelly Honored By Pediatric Orthopaedic Society - Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Dr. Derek M. Kelly, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Campbell Clinic Orthopaedics and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, has been awarded the Special Effort and Excellence Award from the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America.

4. Commission Races Feature Basar Upset, Lowery is Newest Commissioner - Thursday, May 3, 2018

The 13-member Shelby County Commission will have eight new faces when all of the votes are counted in the Aug. 2 county general election.

Five of the current incumbent commissioners are term-limited from seeking re-election this year and two other incumbents chose not to seek a second term.

5. Commission Races Feature Basar Upset - Wednesday, May 2, 2018

The Shelby County Commission will have eight new faces when all of the votes are counted in the Aug. 2 county general election.

Five of the current incumbent county commissioners are term-limited from seeking re-election this year and two other incumbents chose not to seek a second term on the 13-member body.

6. SEC and Alabama Again Dominate NFL Draft - Tuesday, May 1, 2018

The dominance of SEC football might come into question on a particular Saturday or during a specific postseason. But not during the NFL Draft as general managers time and again treat the league as the next-closest thing to pro football.

7. Pruitt Pumped Up for ‘Exciting’ Spring Game - Friday, April 20, 2018

Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt loosened up a bit as the Vols went through spring practices last week, talking at length about individual players for the first time.

Big deal? Yeah, probably for media and fans starved for information about Pruitt’s first team of Vols.

8. 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.

9. Football Can’t Arrive Soon Enough for Vols Fans - Friday, March 30, 2018

Thank goodness Tennessee spring football is here. Vol Nation needs a diversion with all that’s happened the past couple of weeks, like the men’s basketball team losing to Loyola-Chicago in the NCAA Tournament’s second round, and Loyola advancing to the Final Four.

10. A Look Back At UT’s History In NCAA Tourney - Friday, March 16, 2018

Basketball coach Rick Barnes was fired by Texas in late March of 2015 when he refused to fire members of his coaching staff.

11. Mediocre Memphis No Match for UC; Grizzlies’ Mike Conley Out for Season - Tuesday, January 30, 2018

After a second double-digit loss to Cincinnati this season, the Memphis Tigers are in the mushy, mediocre middle of the American Athletic Conference.

The Bearcats were No. 9 in the AP poll at the time of their 62-48 victory over the Tigers Saturday at FedExForum. It was their 12th victory in a row and raised their overall record to 19-2, their league-leading conference mark to 8-0.

12. Mediocre Memphis No Match for UC; Grizzlies' Conley Out for Season - Monday, January 29, 2018

After a second double-digit loss to Cincinnati this season, the Memphis Tigers are in the mushy, mediocre middle of the American Athletic Conference.

The Bearcats were No. 9 in the A.P. poll at the time of their 62-48 victory over the Tigers Saturday at FedExForum. It was their 12th victory in a row and raised their overall record to 19-2, their league-leading conference mark to 8-0.

13. After Disaster of 2017, New Year Looking Good for Vols - Friday, January 12, 2018

Vol Nation should celebrate. It’s a new year. It’s got to be better than 2017. Tennessee athletics had a bad year, one of the worst ever. It was rough for fans, alumni and boosters.

14. 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.

15. Jones’ Teams Have Never Regressed, Until Now - Friday, November 3, 2017

Looks like Butch Jones has survived another week to coach Tennessee’s football team.

What happens if UT loses to Southern Miss at homecoming Saturday night (7:30 ET, SEC Network) at Neyland Stadium? Good question.

16. UT Motivation? Bowl Game, Saving Jones’ Job - Friday, October 27, 2017

Butch Jones will be Tennessee’s football coach Saturday night against Kentucky in Lexington.

It could be his last as the Vols’ coach.

Jones is on a sizzling hot seat after the Vols (3-4, 0-4 SEC) were dominated by No. 1-ranked Alabama 45-7 last Saturday. Speculation is rampant Jones will be fired or already is on his way out.

17. Reeling Vols Are 0-5 Against Carolina’s Muschamp - Friday, October 13, 2017

Fans are fuming. Players are fighting. Butch Jones is coaching for his job.

The Tennessee football coach is in dire need of a good showing when the Vols (3-2, 0-2 SEC) play host to South Carolina (4-2, 2-2) on Saturday at Neyland Stadium (noon, ESPN).

18. UT QBs, Receivers, Coaches Struggling So Far - Friday, October 6, 2017

Tennessee’s football players are on fall break this weekend during the open date. You’ve got to wonder how many players fifth-year UT coach Butch Jones will get back after the break.

Fallout from last Saturday’s 41-0 loss to No. 5 Georgia is massive. Fans were leaving Neyland Stadium by halftime with the Vols trailing 24-0. Jones took a beating from fans on social media and sports talk radio all week.

19. 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.

20. All Eyes on Shoop’s Defense Against Gators - Friday, September 15, 2017

Butch Jones will coach one of the biggest games of his Tennessee career against Florida on Saturday.

It’s an even bigger game for UT defensive coordinator Bob Shoop.

Shoop was hired Jan. 9, 2016, from Penn State to fortify Tennessee’s defense, arriving with much hoopla and great expectations. So far, he has not delivered like he did at Penn State (2014-15) and Vanderbilt (2011-13).

21. Memphis Has Earned its ‘Foodie Town’ Reputation in Past Decade - Saturday, September 9, 2017

When Sabine Bachmann arrived in Memphis more than 30 years ago, she was a little stunned at the city’s meager restaurant scene. The city wasn't barren, of course, with longtime mainstays such as Justine's and the Four Flames. But beyond that and some Italian family-owned places, the restaurant scene simply wasn't very diverse or widespread.

22. Breather for Vols Before Traveling to Florida - Friday, September 8, 2017

Get ready for another thrill ride, Tennessee fans. Your football team is at it again, just like last year.

Tennessee needed a comeback and overtime to beat Appalachian State in its 2016 season opener. The Vols needed comebacks to beat Virginia Tech and Florida and got a Hail Mary touchdown pass as time ran out to beat Georgia.

23. Vols, Jackets Each Eager to Make Statement - Friday, September 1, 2017

Enough of the talk. Enough of the speculation. Let’s play some football.

Tennessee starts its fifth season of the Butch Jones coaching era on Monday night against Georgia Tech at the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Kickoff is 8 p.m. (TV: ESPN).

24. Wolf, Offense Look To Prove Predictions Wrong - Friday, August 18, 2017

It’s championship or bust for Tennessee senior tight end Ethan Wolf.

Bowl victories are nice. So are nine-win seasons. But Wolf wants a lot more in his final season with the Vols.

“Our goal here at Tennessee every single year is to win a championship, and that’s going to remain the goal,” Wolf says. “Yeah, there may have been a little bit of excitement the first year, maybe the second year winning the bowl game. It’s always exciting, but that’s the bare minimum right now.”

25. Kelly, Legacy Teammates Ready for Final Season With Vols - Friday, August 11, 2017

Todd Kelly Jr. can’t believe it’s his last hoorah. The senior safety from Webb School of Knoxville enters his final season at Tennessee with thoughts of how it all started in fall of 2014.

26. Vols Roster Gets Little Respect from SEC Media - Friday, July 21, 2017

It was no surprise last week when Tennessee’s football team was picked to finish third by the media in the East Division at 2017 SEC Media Days.

Almost every national publication is picking the Vols third in the East behind Georgia and Florida, although not necessarily in that order.

27. ‘Cheeseburger Buddies’ Make Nice for TV - Friday, July 14, 2017

Tennessee coach Butch Jones passed his first test of the 2017 football season Monday. He made it through SEC Media Days.

There were no new catch phrases, although Jones did allude to the team’s “D.A.T.” (Details, Accountability, Toughness) motto. But nothing close to “champions of life” or “five-star hearts.”

28. Dream a Baseball Dream - Saturday, May 20, 2017

Memphis is Hoops City, a hotbed of premier basketball talent. That’s why University of Memphis basketball coach Tubby Smith is under pressure. The best of those hometown players on his team, Dedric Lawson, has transferred to the University of Kansas and everyone’s worried Smith won’t get the elite local talent going forward.

29. Spring Lessons: Here’s Who Vols Will Start - Friday, April 28, 2017

Tennessee football coach Butch Jones isn’t big on naming starters and divulging depth charts. Not until he has to. So it comes as no surprise the Vols enter summer workouts and fall camp with junior Quinten Dormady and redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano still competing for the starting quarterback’s job.

30. Earnhardt Retiring; FESJC Lands Three Stars - Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Fourteen times NASCAR fans made Dale Earnhardt Jr. the sport’s most popular driver. Next season, they will have to find a new favorite. On Tuesday, April 25, Hendrick Motorsports issued a press release saying Earnhardt Jr. will retire as a driver at the end of the season. Junior, now 42, won 26 races since starting his career in 1999. Twice, he won the Daytona 500.

31. Who Will Grab the Spotlight in Vols' Spring Game? - Friday, April 21, 2017

Tennessee completes its fifth spring practice under head coach Butch Jones on Saturday, April 22, at 4 p.m. with the DISH Orange & White Game at Neyland Stadium.

It’s merely the beginning as the Vols prepare for the 2017 season.

32. View From the Hill: Tearful End for Non-Citizen Tuition Relief Bill - Thursday, April 20, 2017

State Rep. Raumesh Akbari grew so emotional she couldn’t speak. On the verge of tears, the Memphis Democrat started to talk about a high school from her Shelby County district with a large number of undocumented immigrant students.

33. Last Word: Spring Votes, Those Tax Bills and Tim McCarver on Baseball Changes - Friday, April 7, 2017

Look for more details on the specifics of the “Gateway” project to start to emerge now that a crucial if overlooked piece of the geographic puzzle in the north Downtown area has come into public view. The city’s largest hotel, also the city’s original convention center hotel, is about to change hands and go back to flying the Marriott flag.

34. Reflecting on 2017 Class, Looking Ahead to 2018 - Friday, March 24, 2017

Recruiting is the lifeblood of a college football program, and the cycle never ends.

As UT’s recruiting grind continues and spring practices opened this week, I caught up with Ryan Callahan of 247Sports to talk about the 2017 class. Callahan covers UT recruiting, and here’s what he has to say about the 2017 class, which consists of 22 three-star recruits, four four-stars and one five-star (offensive lineman Trey Smith of University School of Jackson), according to 247Sports’ composite rankings.

35. Vols Need a Good Spring With So Many No. 1 Players Gone - Friday, March 17, 2017

Butch Jones is about to embark on his most crucial of five seasons as Tennessee’s football coach, and it begins with spring practices starting Tuesday, March 21.

Jones is coming off back-to-back 9-4 seasons capped by bowl wins, but has fallen short of the SEC East Division title both years. He was the preseason favorite to win the East in 2016, and the previous year had a team with potential to win the division.

36. The Week Ahead: February 28-March 6 - Monday, February 27, 2017

It's Monday, Memphis – time to peek at this week's (very busy) dance card, from the opening of Graceland's $45 million entertainment complex to a showcase of the latest high-tech ag innovations to a celebration of some local "hidden figures." Check out what else you need to know about in The Week Ahead...  

37. You Gotta Have Heart: UT’s 2017 Recruiting Class - Friday, February 10, 2017

Butch Jones did it again. The Tennessee football coach gave opponents press conference fodder with another one-liner while putting his spin on the Vols’ 2017 signing class.

It happened a day after the Feb. 1 National Signing Day when UT’s class was rated No. 17 nationally in the 247Sports composite rankings.

38. Arkansas Breaks From Other Red States on Sanctuary Campuses - Wednesday, February 8, 2017

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Arkansas lawmakers rejected a proposal Tuesday to block funding to colleges and universities that don't cooperate with federal immigration authorities, a stance that differs with other Republican states targeting campuses and cities offering sanctuary to immigrants in the country illegally.

39. The Week Ahead: January 10-16 - Monday, January 9, 2017

Good morning, Memphis! Just as the weather here can go from frigid to balmy in a matter of days, the mulching of Christmas trees clashes with the Boys of Summer this week. Plus, the Tennessee General Assembly kicks off its new session, and Paradiso is “Singin’ in the Rain.” Here’s what else you need to know in The Week Ahead…   

40. What Lies Ahead for UT Athletics in 2017 - Friday, December 30, 2016

Hey Vols fans, Happy New Year. May your 2017 year in Tennessee sports be better than your 2016 year in Tennessee sports. Perhaps, a fresh start is what we all need. Let’s face it. The Music City Bowl wasn’t where Tennessee wanted the 2016 football season to end. The Vols were picked to win the SEC East Division in preseason and floundered to an 8-4 record in the regular season, 4-4 in the SEC. Their football season was about the norm for most UT sports in 2016: average. Here are some dates to mark in hope of better things ahead in 2017...

41. School Bus Driver Charged in Deadly Chattanooga Crash - Wednesday, November 23, 2016

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) – A school bus driver who authorities say was speeding along a narrow, winding road when he wrapped his vehicle around a tree was arrested and charged with vehicular homicide in the deaths of five children.

42. Tigers Fall to No. 16 Ole Miss 48-28 - Saturday, October 1, 2016

Although No. 16 Ole Miss was able to pull away late and put up a convincing 48-28 score in its victory over the University of Memphis Saturday night at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Rebels coach Hugh Freeze issued what amounted to a warning for the rest of the American Athletic Conference.

43. Vols Offensive Line Rushing Into Much-Anticipated Season - Friday, August 19, 2016

Jalen Hurd knows right where he stands among Tennessee’s running backs of the past and wants to be No. 1 in career rushing yards at the end of the 2016 season.

The junior from Hendersonville Beech High School needs 892 yards to surpass Travis Henry as UT’s career rushing leader.

44. Grimes Joins Barge Waggoner As Transportation Project Manager - Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Keafur Grimes has joined Barge, Waggoner, Sumner and Cannon Inc. as transportation project manager, bringing with him more than 35 years of experience. In his new role, Grimes manages transportation planning and construction projects to meet federal, state and local regulations; ensures that projects meet quality compliance and assurance standards as well as customer needs; and are delivered on time and within budget.

45. 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).

46. College Football Notebook: Vols Get Bowl Upgrade, All-SEC Teams Named - Thursday, December 10, 2015

Last season, coach Butch Jones got Tennessee back to a bowl game. This season, they’ve moved up from the TaxSlayer Bowl to the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day.

It’s a tangible step for a program that finished 8-4, 5-3 in the SEC. And looking back over the schedule at what might have been, the Vols easily could have played for the SEC title or at least already have 10 wins.

47. Here’s How Vols Grade Going Into Second Half - Saturday, October 17, 2015

Order has been restored in Vol Nation, at least for now.

Tennessee’s football team restored it with a 38-31 victory over then-No. 19 Georgia last Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

UT’s rally from a 24-3 deficit has much of the fan base back on board with Vols coach Butch Jones and his staff after a precarious week leading up to the game.

48. Despite Personnel Losses, UT’s Defense Should Be Much-Improved - Saturday, August 29, 2015

John Jancek begins his third season as Tennessee’s defensive coordinator under head coach Butch Jones, and thanks to two solid recruiting classes should have his best defense with the Vols.

UT is bigger and faster on the defensive side than the previous two seasons, when the Vols showed improvement from the 2012 season by shaving more than 100 yards and 11 points per game allowed.

49. Simmons Joins Cushman & Wakefield/Commercial Advisors - Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Mary Leesa Simmons has joined Cushman & Wakefield/Commercial Advisors as vice president – senior asset manager. In her new role, Simmons provides all aspects of property management duties for the firm’s clients.
This includes financial administration, budgeting, reporting, lease administration, contract administration, tenant, client and vendor administration, capital improvements and property inspections.

50. Kelly, Berry Battle for Safety Spot in Legacy Showdown - Saturday, April 25, 2015

Todd Kelly Jr. concludes his first spring practice with Tennessee’s football team this week in a heated competition for a safety job.

51. Vols’ Dobbs Embraces the Role of ‘CEO Quarterback’ - Saturday, April 4, 2015

Joshua Dobbs enters his junior season as Tennessee’s undisputed No. 1 quarterback and team leader, the player most responsible for the Vols’ relevance again in SEC football.

52. Jones, Vols Make Honor Roll With Recruiting Class - Saturday, February 14, 2015

KNOXVILLE – Butch Jones has done it again.

Tennessee’s football coach has created a national buzz with his 2015 recruiting class.

UT finished with the No. 4 class in the nation as rated by 247Sports and ended up ranked No. 5 by Rivals when the Feb. 4 national signing day was over.

53. Nashville’s Most Romantic Restaurants - Saturday, February 7, 2015

Romance means something different for everyone, but most people can agree that if there is low lighting, soft music, a charming companion and something delicious to eat, you’ve already got the makings of one outstanding evening.

54. Vols Take Plenty of Momentum Into Offseason - Saturday, January 10, 2015

KNOXVILLE – There’s nothing like going into the offseason on a high note. The Vols will be riding the momentum from the resounding 45-28 victory against Iowa in the Jan. 2 TaxSlayer Bowl through the end of recruiting season, winter workouts, spring practices and into the summer months.

55. Meritan’s Branch Named Among Top Nurses - Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Cindy Branch, Meritan’s associate vice president for health services, has been selected to represent Tennessee as one of the nation’s top 50 home care and hospice nurses by the National Association for Home Care & Hospice and the Home Healthcare Nurses Association. Branch, a registered nurse, has oversight of Meritan’s nursing programs, including home health, private duty nursing and medical residential homes. She will be recognized at NACH’s annual meeting in October.

56. Ag Tourism Touted as Way to Boost Rural Economies - Tuesday, August 5, 2014

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. (AP) – With its sweet fruit-flavored liqueurs, a working farm and eccentric cast of characters – including a dancing lemon – Bloomery Plantation Distillery has attracted tourists from every U.S. state and countries as far away as Laos and Iceland.

57. Health Advocacy Groups File Lawsuit Against State - Thursday, July 24, 2014

NASHVILLE (AP) – Three advocacy groups filed a class action lawsuit on Wednesday accusing the state of Tennessee of failing to provide certain services required by the federal health care law.

58. Van Vliet Takes on Roles at UT Medical, The MED - Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Dr. Michael M. Van Vliet has joined the department of plastic surgery at UT Medical Group, has been named assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and has been appointed director of burn critical care for the Firefighters Regional Burn Center at The Regional Medical Center at Memphis.

59. Cutting Edge - Saturday, September 7, 2013

Methodist Olive Branch Hospital opened its doors late last month, and hospital officials can expect to see dramatically reduced energy costs thanks to innovative, environmentally friendly design features like photoelectric glass and a geothermal heat pump system – one of the first of its type in a hospital in the U.S.

60. Commission Tries Again to Set County Tax Rate - Monday, July 22, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners try again Monday, July 22, to set a county property tax rate for the fiscal year that began July 1.

And they will start consideration of the issue with a proposed $4.38 tax rate backed by Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell on the second of three readings.

61. Lawmakers' Offices Lit Up 24 Hours a Day at $500,000 - Wednesday, May 8, 2013

NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee taxpayers are spending more than $500,000 a year to keep the lights on 24 hours a day at Legislative Plaza and the War Memorial Building, where lawmakers have their offices.

62. County Commission Weighs School Merger Changes - Monday, March 18, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners might discuss Monday, March 18, the idea of restructuring the countywide school board for a third time in the last year and a half.

But they are likely to delay action on a resolution that would create a 13-member school board effective Sept. 1 by appointing six new members to go with the seven existing members.

63. Slam Dunk - Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Historically, December isn’t the kindest month to Downtown Memphis’ economy. That’s compared to the summer months, when Beale Street and its surrounding areas are bustling with people visiting attractions, dining at restaurants and spending money on retail items.

64. Endocrinologist Detti Joins UT Medical Group - Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Laura Detti has joined the Germantown office of UT Medical Group Inc., where she specializes in male and female infertility. Detti provides genetic diagnosis and counseling; management of conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, recurrent miscarriages and premature menopause; and pre- and post-cancer care for fertility issues.

65. Commercial Advisors Hires Ewen as Controller - Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Erika Ewen has joined Cushman & Wakefield/Commercial Advisors Asset Services LLC as controller. Ewen will direct the accounting department in all accounting functions and financial reporting of Commercial Advisors Asset Services as well as all property management clients.

66. Art City - Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Artists Colleen Couch-Smith and Kelly Lindsey of Memphis are the creative minds behind Rock Paper Scissors (indielamps.com), offering lamps distinctive enough to double as illuminated art.

67. Business Focus - Monday, August 13, 2012

Memphis’ small-business community got a shot in the arm earlier this month.

Tennessee’s three-day sales tax holiday ran from Aug. 3 through Aug. 5, and it drew shoppers to retailers that carry certain clothing items, school supplies and computers.

68. County Redistricting Battle Continues - Monday, March 26, 2012

Shelby County Commissioners will meet privately with their attorneys Monday, March 26, to see whether they have any options left in a redistricting scrap that is now firmly in the courts.

The commission meets in formal open session Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the Vasco Smith County Administration Building, 160 N. Main St.

69. Oxford Labs Opens New Facility - Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Oxford Diagnostic Laboratories Monday, Feb. 27, unveiled its new, state-of-the-art, 35,000-square-foot facility at 5846 Distribution Drive, which is expected to bring as many as 40 new high-paying, highly skilled jobs to Memphis within the next year, and as many as 65 new jobs total in the future.

70. SBA Honors Graduates of e200 Program - Monday, January 2, 2012

The U.S. Small Business Administration recently honored new graduates of its Emerging 200 Initiative, or e200, at a ceremony at Southwest Tennessee Community College.

SBA identified 14 inner-city businesses from Memphis that demonstrated a high potential for growth. The agency then provided the small businesses with a free, six-month course of in-depth business education focused on organization management, growth strategies and management, market development and strategic planning.

71. Touch and Go - Monday, December 19, 2011

In the aviation industry, Memphis International Airport is considered a fortress hub, an airport where a single airline – in Memphis’ case, Delta Air Lines Inc. – handles 70 percent or more of the passenger flights.

72. City Council Looks to Fill Ware’s Seat - Tuesday, June 28, 2011

The Memphis City Council is taking applications to fill the District 7 council seat of Barbara Swearengen Ware, and council chairman Myron Lowery has set a target date of filling the seat no later than July 22.

73. Rooftop Revelry - Thursday, June 16, 2011

With half of this year’s season of The Peabody hotel rooftop parties now in the rearview mirror, the storied Memphis hotel is satisfied that what’s been an incremental retooling of its series of weekly after-work parties was the right move – and that it’s paying dividends.

74. Rise of Vegetarianism Means More Choices - Monday, May 30, 2011

According to a study commissioned in 2008 by Vegetarian Times, 3.2 percent of Americans – about 7.3 million people – follow a vegetarian-based diet. About 1 million of those people are vegan, meaning that they avoid eating not only animals but animal products. Another 10 percent, about 22.8 million, said that they “largely follow a vegetarian-inclined diet.”

75. Humphreys Joins Keller Williams Realty - Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Herbo Humphreys has joined the Crump Realty Group of Keller Williams Realty. Humphreys previously worked as a project supervisor for Bryan-Turley Properties.

76. Lighting the Fuse - Monday, February 21, 2011

Memphis voters have 22 words to weigh as they decide what is to become of Shelby County’s two public school systems.
“Shall the administration of the Memphis City School System, a special school district, be transferred to the Shelby County Board of Education?”
The words seem inadequate to cover what a “yes” or a “no” vote means after a state law and other factors changed the terms of a vote already scheduled for March 8.
Voters for schools consolidation may be against special schools district status but for letting some of the six suburban towns and cities try to go with their own municipal school system.
Voters may be against school consolidation and against special school district status if it includes taxing authority for the county school board, albeit with tax approval required by the Tennessee Legislature.
Some voters may see it as a way of ending reforms driven by MCS superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash. Others may see it as a way of ending Shelby County Schools board chairman David Pickler’s dominance of that school system.
School consolidation advocates are still urging citizens to vote “yes” and school consolidation opponents are still urging citizens to vote “no.”
“The lay of the land has changed, so will people consider the lay of the land or what? That statement stands. It’s on the ballot and everyone knows what it’s designed to do,” said Memphis City Council chairman Myron Lowery. “This occurred after the question was put on the ballot. If someone wants to make that stretch, they’re jumping over a lot of hurdles. This was not in place when this was put on the ballot.”
Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr., along with Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell, sought a transition period even as political positions began to harden. He doesn’t see what’s in the law as a transition period.
“The way it’s structured, there’s every incentive not to reach an agreement. It looks to me like it falls off the face of the earth,” Wharton said. “There was nothing in there that states where do you go if at the end of this (the planning process) there is nothing resolved.”
State Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, disagrees.
“The state has a compelling interest in assuring that the administration of schools is properly discharged,” Norris wrote in an op-ed piece for The Memphis News last week. “To do otherwise defies common sense and common decency.”
Pickler said if voters approve the question, he will quickly move to assemble a team to work on the transition. It’s a transition that Pickler has always emphasized will be controlled by the county school system. That is one point on which the attorneys seem to agree.
“Clearly we understand that this issue is not about educational outcomes,” he said during a WKNO forum last week. “We still do not believe that creating a mega district … doesn’t do anything to improve education.”
MCS board member Tomeka Hart, at the same forum, countered “We do here as an economic issue,” a reference to the University of Memphis study showing special schools district status could cost MCS half of the county property tax base it relies on for funding. “It’s time to rewrite all of this,” Hart concluded.
Here is the timeline – to date – of the ongoing schools showdown:

77. County Commission Set to Weigh in on Schools Issue - Monday, February 14, 2011

Shelby County commissioners are certain to mirror some of last week’s debate in the Tennessee Legislature Monday when they take up an ordinance and a bundle of resolutions all dealing with the schools consolidation issue.

78. Medical Impact - Monday, January 24, 2011

The Medical Education & Research Institute has evolved into one of the elite medical training facilities in the country. The center’s list of faculty and students reads like a “Who’s Who” of medicine from all over the world.

79. County Commission Meets Wednesday - Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Shelby County commissioners will make up Wednesday for their Monday snow day.

What was to be Monday’s session of the full commission gets under way at 1:30 p.m. at the Vasco Smith County Administration Building.

80. Tsunami Ushers in Holiday Artists Market - Friday, November 26, 2010

In the past two years eating local food has been promoted heavily in Memphis.

Now with the holiday-shopping season approaching, local artists are hoping that buying local gifts will take on the same kind of fervor.

81. Wright Latest Orthopedic Firm Hit by Probe - Monday, October 4, 2010

The agreement between Wright Medical Group Inc. and the U.S. Justice Department that allowed the company to avoid prosecution for allegedly violating the federal kickback statute is the latest run in a series of scandals that has touched all three of the city’s big orthopedic firms.

82. Added Protection - Monday, September 27, 2010

Shelby County Commissioners wade into the continuing controversy over the Aug. 5 election results Monday with a resolution to change the standards for protection of whistle-blowers.

The County Commission meeting at the Vasco Smith County Administration Building, 160 N. Main St., begins at 1:30 p.m. An agenda is on page 10.

83. County Awards New Design Contract For Admin Building - Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Shelby County government is drawing up a new contract for renovation of the Vasco Smith Administration Building, 160 N. Main St., after deciding not to work with the first vendor chosen for the project.

84. County Awards New Design Contract for Admin Building - Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Shelby County government is drawing up a new contract for renovation of the Vasco Smith Administration Building, 160 N. Main St., after deciding not to work with the first vendor chosen for the project.

85. Paintball Park Sells For $3.5M After Foreclosure - Wednesday, June 16, 2010

The property that houses the Paintball Park at 9640 Davies Plantation in Lakeland has sold for $3.5 million in a substitute trustee’s deed following a foreclosure.

The sale closed June 10 with Trustmark National Bank reclaiming the 101.95-acre property on the Shelby County Courthouse steps from substitute trustee Kelly E. McCarthy of Morton & Germany LLC.

86. Bartlett Retail Center Sold After Foreclosure - Tuesday, March 30, 2010

The 20,000-square-foot retail center at 6496 U.S. 70 (Summer Avenue) in Bartlett has sold for $739,000 to IBERIABANK following foreclosure.

The bank bought the center March 24 from Kelly E. McCarthy of Morton & Germany PLLC. She served as substitute trustee in the matter along with Jeffrey D. Germany, both of whom were appointed to that position in June 2009.

87. Life or Death for The MED - Monday, March 1, 2010

A hand as tiny as a budding leaf punched at the air inside a baby incubator.

Kelley Smith, the head nurse of the neonatal intensive care unit at The Regional Medical Center at Memphis, checked on the little fighter.

88. Memphis Bar Association Names New Board Members - Tuesday, December 8, 2009

The Memphis Bar Association has appointed new officers and new members to the board of directors for 2010.

Ricky E. Wilkins of the Law Offices of Ricky E. Wilkins will serve as president. John Cannon of Shuttleworth Williams PLLC will serve as vice president and Gary K. Smith of Apperson Crump Maxwell PLC will serve as treasurer. Linda Warren Seely of Memphis Area Legal Services Inc. will serve as secretary.

89. Fire Protection Latest Issue For Charter Commission - Monday, December 7, 2009

The Metro Charter Commission has a “project manager” to help meet its tight deadline for a consolidation charter proposal.

The concept is a new one to government undertakings. But at its Thursday meeting, the group agreed to make Lou Etta Burkins, a project manager at FedEx Express, its project manager. The move was suggested by commission Chair Julie Ellis and adopted by the group with no objections.

90. Memphis Bar Assn. Elects New Officers, Board Members - Monday, December 7, 2009

At the Memphis Bar Association’s Annual Meeting Thursday at The Peabody hotel, the MBA announced its 2010 officers and new members of its board of directors.

Immediate past president Art Quinn passed the gavel to incoming president Ricky E. Wilkins of the Law Offices of Ricky E. Wilkins. John Cannon of Shuttleworth Williams PLLC and Gary K. Smith of Apperson Crump & Maxwell PLC automatically move to the positions of vice president/president-elect and treasurer, respectively. Linda Warren Seely, director of pro bono projects at Memphis Area Legal Services Inc., was chosen as secretary.

91. Insulated Industry - Monday, September 17, 2007

In a sluggish economy replete with residential housing woes, it's easy to see how real estate and its peripheral industries can suffer.

If consumers have fears about buying a home, they merely wait it out and stay in their rental for another six months while builders, Realtors and mortgage bankers - among others - feel the ripple effects of the delay.

92. Sexually Oriented Business Ordinance Delayed by County Commission - Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Shelby County Commissioners delayed action Monday on an ordinance putting new requirements on sexually oriented businesses to see if they can turn it into a joint ordinance that would also apply to the city of Memphis.

93. Hampton Hotels Names Smith Senior Director of Product Service - Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Kurt Smith has been named senior director of product service and development at Hampton Hotels. Previously, Smith served Hampton as director of global brand integration. Prior to that position, he was the director of hotel performance support.

94. C-USA to Boost Local Economy, But by How Much? Enough, Observers Say - Thursday, March 8, 2007
     With 12 universities spread across nine states, Conference USA's footprint is as widespread as any in the country, extending from West Texas to West Virginia, from New Orleans to North Carolina.
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95. Medtronic Expansion Heralds 600 New Jobs - Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Construction recently began on the expansion of Medtronic Sofamor Danek Inc.'s Memphis headquarters, a project that will add 600 new jobs over the next four years.

The annual median wage for the project will be $55,700, making it one of the highest median wage projects the Memphis Regional Chamber has seen, said Mark Herbison, senior vice president of economic development at the chamber.

96. Former FBI Agent, Attorney, Lobbyist, Security Expert to Appear on WKNO Program Monday - Thursday, June 8, 2006

William "Bill" Carter says he's never planned anything; things just seem to happen in his life. Carter's career, so far, spans some 50 years, from serving as a Secret Service agent during President John F. Kennedy's administration to waging a legal battle with the U.S. government on behalf of the Rolling Stones, to acting as executive producer for a recent documentary on religious icon Billy Graham that was endorsed by the Graham family.

97. Office Market Holds Steady in Third Quarter - Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Shelby County's office market remained steady through the second and third quarters, but the fourth quarter isn't expected to finish as strong, local real estate experts said.

"There was no significant change from the second quarter to the third," said Kelly Truitt, president of the Memphis office of CB Richard Ellis.

98. UTHSC Names Neonatology Division Chief - Wednesday, July 27, 2005

Dr. Ramasubbareddy Dhanireddy was named neonatology division chief and Sheldon B. Korones Professor in Neonatology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Dhanireddy also will serve as medical director of the Sheldon B. Korones Newborn Center at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis. He previously served as neonatology division chief at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center.

99. Archived Article: Lead - Friday, June 10, 2005
Waste Burning Issue Moves to City Council

Waste Burning Issue Moves to Council

RACE, citizens embroiled over radioactive waste incinerator

ANDY MEEK

The Daily News

A dispute over whether to allow a company on Presidents Island to burn...

100. Archived Article: Newsmakers - Wednesday, March 9, 2005
Smith & Nephew Announces New Division and Promotions

Smith & Nephew Announces New Division, Promotions

Steve Hirsch was named president of Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics, a new division of the company opening in Europe. The following ...