What a difference a decade can make. Successful local entrepreneurs like Muddy’s Bake Shop founder Kat Gordon, Hollywood Feed president Shawn McGhee, and executive chefs and owners Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman at Enjoy A|M Restaurant Group spent that time growing their small businesses into thriving enterprises over that time.

2. Last Word: Graceland Opens Vigil, Hunt-Phelan For Sale and Southern Heritage - Thursday, September 6, 2018

After two years of making the Elvis candlelight vigil more about who paid and getting people in line, Graceland said Wednesday the vigil will return to being a free event next August – no admission, no buying packages that include the vigil. The timing on this is interesting coming about two weeks after the 2018 edition of the vigil.

3. Court Dismisses Club 152’s Suit Against Purple Haze - Saturday, September 1, 2018

Last call at Purple Haze nightclub near FedExForum won’t get any earlier thanks to a judicial ruling.

Club 152, whose ownership team includes spokesperson and co-owner Wilber Hensley, filed a lawsuit April 28, 2016, immediately prior to Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival to stop Purple Haze Nightclub from serving alcohol between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., claiming it was not physically located in the Beale Street Historic District.

4. Court Dismisses Club 152 Lawsuit - Monday, August 27, 2018

Last call at Purple Haze nightclub near FedExForum won’t get any earlier thanks to a judicial ruling.

Club 152, whose ownership team includes co-owner Wilber Hensley, filed a lawsuit April 28, 2016, immediately prior to the Memphis in May Beale Street Music Festival to stop Purple Haze Nightclub from serving alcohol between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., claiming it was not physically located in the Beale Street Historic District.

5. Big Attraction Not Key to Remaking Mud Island River Park, N.Y. Expert Tells Memphis Group - Thursday, July 19, 2018

Mud Island River Park doesn’t need a master plan or a new big attraction, the former director of Governors Island in New York City told a Memphis group this week.

Leslie Koch said she had neither during her tenure as president and chief executive of the Trust for Governors Island, the organization created to manage the former military base that was turned over to the city of New York as park land.

6. Former MPD Director Melvin Burgess Dies - Saturday, June 30, 2018

Former Memphis Police Director Melvin Burgess Sr. died Thursday, June 28.

Burgess, the father of Shelby County commissioner Melvin Burgess Jr., served as police director from January 1992 to May 1994. He was appointed by then-Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton in one of his first actions as mayor.

7. Former MPD Director Melvin Burgess Dies - Friday, June 29, 2018

Former Memphis Police Director Melvin Burgess Sr. died Thursday, June 28.

Burgess, the father of Shelby County commissioner Melvin Burgess Jr., served as police director from January 1992 to May 1994. He was appointed by then-Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton in one of his first actions as mayor.

8. Testing a New Line - Friday, June 22, 2018

Beale Street will be trying out new security measures this month as a task force reviewing the entertainment district continues to work on a better plan for the spring and summer weekend peak nights.

9. The Week Ahead: June 11-17 - Monday, June 11, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! Father’s Day is this weekend – and no matter whether yours is a rocker, a runner or a reader, there’s something to do with dear ol’ dad. Plus, check out where to see Gov. Bill Haslam, former VP Joe Biden and the “winningest woman in racing” in The Week Ahead.

10. One Beale Developers Present New Plan to DMC - Thursday, May 24, 2018

The developer of the ambitious One Beale project has again reworked its plans and is seeking a deadline extension from the Downtown Memphis Commission to close on the nine-figure deal.

Carlisle Corp.’s latest proposal to the Center City Revenue Finance Corp. comes more than a decade after its founder, the late Gene Carlisle, first proposed the massive mixed-use project.

11. Beale Street Bucks Comeback Recommended as Lawsuit Dismissed - Thursday, May 24, 2018

Almost a year after all cover charges to get in the Beale Street Entertainment District were dropped, the cover charge program known as Beale Street Bucks could be making a comeback.

The suggestion is sure to renew a vocal debate about whether charging a cover after 10 p.m. on Saturdays during the summer is an effective security measure or selective crowd control on the street that gave birth to the blues, where Saturday night crowds are a part of its history. 

12. Building Heritage - Saturday, April 28, 2018

The basement of the Universal Life Insurance building, a Memphis landmark at Danny Thomas Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, is still defined by the intersection of overhead ventilation shafts and pipes.

13. MLK50 Observances Come With Appeals, Memories - Friday, April 6, 2018

The way National Civil Rights Museum president Terri Lee Freeman described it as the MLK50 commemorations began this week, the church bells would cascade when they rang Wednesday, April 4, starting at 6:01 p.m. – the moment Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot 50 years ago.

14. Last Word: MLK50s Big Day, Hotel Changes and Murica on Capitol Hill - Thursday, April 5, 2018

The peak of the MLK50 events came Wednesday with a chill but some sunshine and lots to consider. Understand -- this isn’t over. There are still a few more events to go through the weekend and even into next week. If nothing else, a lot more Memphians and visitors got a good look at most of South Main in the best way possible – on foot. And if the Beale Street District ever expands east to Danny Thomas, the intersection there makes a really good place for a party.

15. Anniversary of King's Assassination Marked With Marches, Rallies - Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Several thousand people marching under the banners of unions and civil rights organizations marched peacefully Wednesday, April 4, from the headquarters of the American Federal of State County and Municipal Employees at Beale Street and Danny Thomas Boulevard to Mason Temple Church of God in Christ.

16. 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.

17. Visiting Memphis 50 Years After King's Assassination - Thursday, March 29, 2018

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Fifty years ago, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed while standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. The civil rights leader's shocking murder on April 4, 1968, marked one of the most significant moments in U.S. history.

18. The Week Ahead: March 19-25, 2018 - Monday, March 19, 2018

Good morning, Memphis! Spring fever’s in the air as the equinox officially arrives Tuesday morning. Tell winter to take a hike at the new Heels 4 Healing 5K for St. Jude this weekend, then let the kids dance the blues away at a pair of family ballet events. Here’s what else you should know about in The Week Ahead…

19. 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.

20. Last Word: Rising River, Driving The Dream and Harwell Advances Medical Pot - Thursday, March 1, 2018

The Mississippi River at Memphis should reach flood stage at any moment. As Last Word was going up online Wednesday evening the National Weather Service at Memphis put the river level here at 33.52 feet. Flood stage at Memphis is 34 feet. The river is forecast to crest some time next week at 38 feet, four feet over flood stage. Keep in mind that in April 2011, the river at Memphis crested 10 feet higher, at 48 feet on the Memphis river gauge – which turned to be the one on the support beams of the bridge over Beale Street at Riverside Drive. That was the second highest river level at Memphis ever recorded.

21. BSMF Lineup Features Diverse Mix of New and Familiar - Wednesday, February 21, 2018

The Beale Street Music Festival's 2018 lineup is out, and it features a mix of BSMF first-timers and familiar faces for longtime attendees of the three-day music fest in Tom Lee Park.

Headliners for the May 4-6 event include Tyler, the Creator, Jack White, R&B singer-songwriter Erykah Badu, rapper Post Malone, the EDM duo Odesza and Queens of the Stone Age, along with Alanis Morissette and Incubus.

22. Events - Monday, February 12, 2018

The Orpheum Theatre presents “The Color Purple” Tuesday through Sunday, Feb. 13-18, at the theater, 203 S. Main St. The 2016 Tony Award winner for Best Musical Revival brings new spirit to the Pulitzer Prize-winning story. Buy tickets at orpheum-memphis.com.

23. Events - Saturday, February 10, 2018

The Home Show of the Mid-South takes place Friday through Sunday, Feb. 9-11, at Agricenter International, 7777 Walnut Grove Road. Exhibitors will showcase home decor, lighting, pools, patios, services and more. Matt Blashaw, host of DIY Network’s “Yard Crashers,” will hold seminars/meet-and-greets Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Visit memphishomeshow.com for show hours, tickets and other details.

24. 3 Tennessee Hotels Join AAA Diamond List - Monday, February 5, 2018

Tennessee boasts three new AAA Diamond-rated properties – the highest-rated hotels in North America, according to the latest round of AAA Diamond Ratings.

The properties range from restored historic mansions to ultra-chic modern hotels and all offer a high degree of hospitality, service and attention to detail. AAA touts its ratings as the most respected in the hospitality industry.

25. Council Talks With Head of TVA, Votes on Two More Ballot Questions - Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Memphis City Council members talk with Tennessee Valley Authority president Bill Johnson Tuesday, Jan. 23, meet Mayor Jim Strickland’s nominee to replace retiring Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division president Jerry Collins and may renew discussions of electric and gas rate hikes proposed by MLGW that it voted down two weeks ago.

26. Beale’s Question Mark - Friday, December 29, 2017

For all of the change in the Memphis landscape announced in 2017 – including the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art’s decision to move to the riverfront and plans for several “gateway” developments around the city – Beale Street was in a holding pattern for most of the year.

27. Food Fancy - Saturday, December 9, 2017

Say what you want about the kind of city Memphis is or isn’t for foodies who prefer originality to the chains and knockoffs that are so familiar a sight in suburbia. But let it be known that 2017 was another year of ascendancy for Memphis’ singular, distinctive food scene, with the constant arrival of new concepts and experiences that in turn also says something about the city that patronizes those establishments.

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. Last Word: The Year of Tyreke Evans, Opioid Ruling and Installing a Jumper - Wednesday, November 15, 2017

The Tigers basketball home opener is a come from behind win Tuesday at the Forum over Little Rock 70-62. Still not enough to determine where this new team in so many ways is bound. But that won’t stop the early speculation … or the later speculation starting with the New Orleans game at the Forum in another week. The Grizz take their turn Wednesday with the Pacers kicking off a Grizz home stand followed by the Rockets Saturday for the third time in this young season, Trail Blazers Monday and Mavericks Wednesday. But let’s not get too far ahead here.

30. Last Word: Fairgrounds Early Reveal, Campbell Clinic Expands and Medical Pot - Thursday, November 2, 2017

The season settles in for the Grizz and opponents adjust to the team’s post Grit n Grind strategy. So it was the Magic over the Grizz Wednesday at the Forum 101 – 99. As that was happening, the Houston Astros were winning the seventh and final game of the World Series, once known as the October classic that has once again ended on November 1. Compounding this heresy, did you think I wouldn’t notice that the Astros are no longer a National League team. TRADITION.

31. Gibson Plans to Sell Downtown Factory, Build a New One - Monday, October 30, 2017

145 Lt. George W. Lee Ave., Memphis, TN 38103: Nashville-based guitar maker Gibson Brands Inc. confirmed Friday, Oct. 20, it is putting its Downtown Memphis factory on the market and plans to build and lease a new facility nearby.

32. Lendermon Retires As Riverfront Plans Evolve - Friday, October 20, 2017

Benny Lendermon was familiar with the controversy that comes with plans for the city’s riverfront before the Riverfront Development Corp. started in 2000 and he became its founding president.

33. Lendermon To Retire From Riverfront Development Corp. - Thursday, October 19, 2017

Benny Lendermon is retiring as the founding president of the Riverfront Development Corp. effective in April.

34. Events - Thursday, October 19, 2017

The Pinta and the Nina, replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships, will be docked in Memphis Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 19-22, at Beale Street Landing, 251 Riverside Drive. Together, the ships serve as a “sailing museum” dedicated to the caravel, a Portuguese ship used by early explorers. They will be open for self-guided tours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Visit ninapinta.org for ticket information.

35. Events - Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Tennessee Shakespeare Company continues its Shakespeare Shout-Out Series with a “free, fun and fast” performance of “Romeo and Juliet” Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 2:15 p.m. near the University of Memphis Theatre Building, 3475 Central Ave. Shakespeare’s classic tale of young love and mortal violence unfolds during a 90-minute performance that’s fast, physical and daring. Cost is free; no tickets needed. Shout-Out Series shows continue through Nov. 10. Visit tnshakespeare.org for a schedule.

36. Beale Street Task Force Outlines Two Cover Charge Options - Wednesday, October 4, 2017

A Beale Street Task Force assembled this summer to consider the future of a spring and summer cover charge Saturday nights after 10 p.m. in the district is recommending the cover charge stay.

The task force, in its last meeting Monday, Oct. 2, also recommended the return of Beale Street Bucks in some form – coupons given to those paying the cover charge that can be redeemed in most Beale businesses Saturdays and Sundays.

37. Power of Art - Thursday, September 14, 2017

From the nationwide study “Arts and Economic Prosperity V” came overwhelming evidence that the arts make a financial impact. But of all the data accumulated in a yearlong collection effort launched by Americans for the Arts, one number leaped out at Elizabeth Rouse, who is president and CEO of ArtsMemphis: in 2015 in Shelby County, the arts supported 6,138 jobs (full-time equivalent).

38. Events - Wednesday, September 6, 2017

The 2017 Delta Fair & Music Festival continues through Sept. 10 at Agricenter International, 7777 Walnut Grove Road. Enjoy live music, festival food, carnival rides, a petting zoo and special events like lawnmower races and the “redneck yacht pull.” Visit deltafest.com for hours and tickets.

39. Events - Monday, September 4, 2017

The 2017 Delta Fair & Music Festival continues through Sept. 10 at Agricenter International, 7777 Walnut Grove Road. Enjoy live music, festival food, carnival rides, a petting zoo and special events like lawnmower races and the “redneck yacht pull.” Visit deltafest.com for hours and tickets.

40. Events - Tuesday, September 5, 2017

The Mid-South Coalition for Comfort Care and Bioethics will hold a community meeting presentation titled “Everyday Ways to Practice Integrative Medicine” Tuesday, Sept. 5, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Trezevant Terrace, 3437 Waynoka Ave. Joanna Lyman, palliative care coordinator at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, will discuss how integrative medicine combines conventional medicine and complementary therapies to help children with chronic illnesses and other conditions. For more information, contact Emily Fox-Hill at efoxhill@aol.com or 901-626-4233.

41. Events - Saturday, September 2, 2017

The 28th Southern Heritage Classic takes place Thursday, Sept. 7, through Saturday, Sept. 9. The three-day cultural festival features 10 events – including concerts, a college and career fair, the Classic Parade and more – all culminating in the annual football game between Tennessee State and Jackson State Saturday at 6 p.m. at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, 335 S. Hollywood St. Visit southernheritageclassic.com for a schedule.

42. MIM Posts Surplus in ‘Electrifying’ 2017 Festival - Monday, August 14, 2017

At the end of her year-long tenure as chairwoman of the board of the Memphis In May International Festival, Bobbi Gillis summed up the 2017 festival as “a fast moving roller coaster ride.” Rain wasn’t a problem for the month-long set of events. But lightning and straight-line winds were. MIM president and CEO Jim Holt could joke Thursday, Aug. 10, at the organization’s annual meeting that the festival was “electrifying.”

43. MIM Posts Surplus, Will Honor Czech Republic in 2018 - Friday, August 11, 2017

The Czech Republic will be the honored country for the 2018 Memphis In May International Festival, organizers of the 41-year-old event announced Thursday, Aug. 10.

The 2017 month-long set of events honoring Colombia posted a $278,000 surplus, according to financial statements released by MIM during its annual meeting Thursday at the Memphis Botanic Garden.

44. Redbirds Revitalization: Fun at the Old Ballpark and the Winning is Easy - Thursday, July 27, 2017

Bottom of the seventh inning and another night at AutoZone Park is unfolding the way so many have this season. The Memphis Redbirds have a nice lead. Their starting pitcher has been putting up zeros and the team has been banging out timely hits and playing crisp defense.

45. Last Word: The Old Auto Inspection Station, Beale Field Trip and Re-Democrating - Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton has a different version of his 2016 plan to build two youth development centers for juvenile offenders to go to instead of detention at the Wilder Youth Development Center in Somerville. About a year ago, Herenton had tentative plans for two of the New Path centers in Shelby County that would be centers where the offenders could live.

46. Wood Helps Memphis National Keep Business in the Fairway - Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Brian Wood is head golf professional at Memphis National Golf Club, a role in which he oversees a variety of functions related to the club's operations. Wood, a PGA professional and member of the Tennessee Section of the PGA of America, previously served as assistant golf professional at Windyke Country Club.

47. Last Word: The TNT Virus, Tax Compromise and The Race for Governor Gets Active - Tuesday, July 18, 2017

FedEx filed a notice with the SEC Monday that indicates its TNT Express subsidiary is still feeling the effects of a cyber attack late last month. And FedEx has traced the Petya virus to its operation in the Ukraine and spreading from there to the whole system.

48. Summer in the City - Saturday, July 15, 2017

Saturday night on Beale Street is more than a catch phrase for businesses there.

It is chapters in old, out-of-print books like Lt. George W. Lee’s “Where The Blues Began” that you can only see in the Memphis-Shelby County Room of the Central Library. You can’t check the book out because of its rarity and age. But you can also find references to the lore of Saturday nights on Beale Street on plaques in the entertainment district that current patrons walk past without even noticing.

49. Bridge Protest Anniversary Draws More Action, Reflection - Tuesday, July 11, 2017

A year after the spontaneous protest march that ended with more than 1,000 people shutting down the Hernando DeSoto Bridge for several hours, the leader of that effort was again moving north along B.B. King Boulevard on Sunday, July 9.

50. Patterson Resignation Comes as Council Examines DMC’s Role - Monday, July 10, 2017

Terence Patterson exited the Downtown Memphis Commission last week as the Memphis City Council is about to discuss replacing or restructuring not only the DMC, but the Riverfront Development Corp.

51. Patterson Out as Downtown Memphis Commission Head - Friday, July 7, 2017

Terence Patterson is leaving as president and CEO of the Downtown Memphis Commission effective immediately.

52. Patterson Out as DMC Head, Oswalt Is Interim Leader - Thursday, July 6, 2017

Terence Patterson is leaving as president and CEO of the Downtown Memphis Commission effective immediately.

53. Last Word: Corporate Musical Chairs, Another Dollar General and Ronnie Grisanti - Monday, July 3, 2017

The three-way deal by which Memphis-based Fred’s was to buy hundreds of Rite-Aid stores from Walgreens just keeps getting worse for Fred’s even though the deal happened last week without Fred’s. An analyst says Fred’s got cut out because of questions about the corporation’s viability to enter into what is an ambitious change of course for the company on a large scale.

54. Last Word: No Deal, Ivan Rabb and Intermodals in Overton Park - Friday, June 30, 2017

And the winner is … not Fred’s. After months of speculation about the Memphis-based discount retail store’s transformation into a pharmacy-based enterprise with the purchase of hundreds of Rite Aid stores in a third-party divestment move, Fred’s was nowhere to be found when Walgreens announced a deal Thursday to buy the Rite Aid stores. The corporation told investors it will still pursue its strategy but acknowledged its trajectory is “stunted” – that as Fred’s got hammered on Wall Street.

55. June 2-8, 2017: This week in Memphis history - Saturday, June 3, 2017

2016: Memphis Police officer Verdell Smith is killed in the line of duty when the suspect in three Downtown shootings runs over him at Beale Street and B.B. King Boulevard. The incident begins when Justin Welch allegedly shoots two people sitting at a picnic table outside Westy’s near The Pyramid, then walks across the street and shoots a Bass Pro Shops employee in the Pyramid parking lot.
Police scramble to apprehend Welch and find him driving a stolen car the wrong way on B.B. King toward Beale. As Smith and other officers try to clear pedestrians from the intersection, Welch hits the 18-year Memphis Police veteran with the car. Two of the three people shot are critically injured; Welch is treated for minor injuries.

56. Last Word: Sessions Visit, Election Day and Beale Street's Journey - Thursday, May 25, 2017

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions in Memphis Thursday to talk about crime in a city whose record homicide count in 2016 Sessions has recently mentioned. Sessions is in town to talk with local, state and federal prosecutors and law enforcement. When the Attorney General comes to town, he or she is usually coming with policy talking points from the White House.

57. Last Word: Minority Business Mic Drop, Truckers & Taxes and Confederate Statues - Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Quite the buzz around the minority business discussion on “Behind The Headlines” – notably the progress report from Greater Memphis Chamber board chair Carolyn Hardy about what’s working and, more to the point, what is not working. In Hardy’s view that would be general minority business goals that she said amount to black-owned businesses being left out some three years into the renewed push for minority business growth – in government contracts and private business-to-business contracts.

58. Airbnb, City of Memphis Reach Tax Agreement - Saturday, May 13, 2017

Airbnb has announced it has entered into a tax agreement with the city of Memphis to collect and remit taxes on behalf of its Memphis hosts.

The agreement, which will take effect June 1, will automatically collect and remit local taxes for all Airbnb bookings in Memphis, including a 3.5 percent Memphis Short Term Room Occupancy Tax as well as a Tourism Improvement District Assessment of $2 per bedroom per night.

59. Last Word: Weekend Sonic Boom, CLERB's Response and Irvin Salky - Friday, May 12, 2017

Yes, those were the United States Navy Blue Angels buzzing Downtown Thursday afternoon in advance of their appearance at the Memphis Airshow Saturday and Sunday in Millington. That sound you heard after the flyover wasn’t a sonic boom. I don’t think they have those anymore. It was the sound of a really busy weekend following close behind.

60. Airbnb, City of Memphis Reach Tax Agreement - Friday, May 12, 2017

Airbnb has announced it has entered into a tax agreement with the city of Memphis to collect and remit taxes on behalf of its Memphis hosts.

The agreement, which will take effect June 1, will automatically collect and remit local taxes for all Airbnb bookings in Memphis, including a 3.5 percent Memphis Short Term Room Occupancy Tax as well as a Tourism Improvement District Assessment of $2 per bedroom per night.

61. Airbnb, City of Memphis Reach Tax Agreement - Thursday, May 11, 2017

Airbnb has announced it has entered into a tax agreement with the city of Memphis to collect and remit taxes on behalf of its Memphis hosts.

The agreement, which will take effect June 1, will automatically collect and remit local taxes for all Airbnb bookings in Memphis, including a 3.5 percent Memphis Short Term Room Occupancy Tax as well as a Tourism Improvement District Assessment of $2 per bedroom per night.

62. Last Word: Railgarten Redux, Raleigh Springs Mall and Forrest Author Speaks - Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Railgarten II, Son of Railgarten, Railgarten, Beyond the Board of Adjustment, Railgarten, Enter The City Council … Take your pick of sequel titles. Railgarten goes back to the City Council Tuesday for at least a committee discussion in which the council considers whether it should take back the special use permit it granted the bar-restaurant. This is a follow up to the Board of Adjustment decision last month to delay any action on approving the other annexes of the business for 30 days.

63. Airbnb Sees $1M Economic Impact During Music Fest - Saturday, May 6, 2017

An estimated $1 million of economic activity in Memphis will come from Airbnb guests staying in the city during the Beale Street Music Festival this weekend, according to the accommodations marketplace Airbnb.

64. Airbnb Sees $1M Economic Impact During Music Festival - Friday, May 5, 2017

An estimated $1 million of economic activity in Memphis will come from Airbnb guests staying in the city during the Beale Street Music Festival this weekend, according to the accommodations marketplace Airbnb.

65. Last Word: Rain, Rain... Cooper-Young Holding Pattern and Haslam on IMPROVE - Monday, May 1, 2017

Trees down, power out, Redbirds' Saturday game called early with no fireworks, flooding in some parts of the Mid-South region. So this means Beale Street Music Festival weekend will be clear as a bell, right? Ponchos and boots ready just in case, as well as light sabres.

66. Last Word: Popovich's Tip, Strickland's Budget and Haslam's Jump Start on Roads - Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Game 5 goes to the Spurs in San Antonio 116-103 over the Grizz who are back here Thursday. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is not effusive in his comments to the media, which is fun to watch, but it does make tracking down and veryifying this next story a bit difficult. A credit card receipt showed up on Redditt that appears to show Popovich left a $5,000 tip on an $815.73 bill at McEwen’s Friday night between the two Memphis-based playoff games.

67. Defunct Beale Authority Seeks Exit From Beale Street Bucks Lawsuit - Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Two weeks after the Memphis City Council voted to abolish the Beale Street Tourism Development Authority, the organization’s attorney has filed a motion to dismiss it from the complex federal lawsuit over the use of a cover charge with rebate coupons on summer weekend nights in the entertainment district.

68. Plans for Beale Street Boutique Hotel Emerge - Saturday, April 15, 2017

A new boutique-style hotel may be coming to Beale Street in the near future.

Amit Patel and Kamlesh Patel with KNM Development want to turn three vacant parcels of land between Fourth Street and Danny Thomas Boulevard into a Vib by Best Western, according to a special permit application recently filed with the Shelby County Land Use Control Board.

69. Last Word: Season's End, 100 N. Main Delays and Voting With Popsicle Sticks - Thursday, April 13, 2017

The last Grizz game of the regular season is a loss to the Mavericks Wednesday evening at the Forum 100 – 93. Look for further word Thursday on Tony Allen's right leg injury. Here comes the “second season” starting with the Spurs. Inbetween is a trip down memory lane as the two-hour "30 for 30" documentary on John Calipari debuts Thursday on ESPN. There was a screening Monday in Kentucky that Calipari attended. The Lexington Herald-Leader has more.

70. Council Brokers New Zoo Parking Compromise, Abolishes Beale Authority - Wednesday, April 12, 2017

The Memphis City Council went back into the terms for an expanded Memphis Zoo parking lot Tuesday, April 11, just nine months after brokering and approving a compromise on the project between the zoo and the Overton Park Conservancy.

71. Last Word: Busy Council Day, County Property Tax Cut Call and Gas Tax Vote Nears - Tuesday, April 11, 2017

The Lawsons – K.J. and Dedric – are on their way to Kansas after leaving University of Memphis basketball they announced Monday. And Markell Crawford confirmed Monday that he will be transferring too. Crawford is the sixth Tiger player to head for the door since the season’s end. What will Tigers basketball look like by the next season?

72. Council Faces Beale Street, Parking Decisions - Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Memphis City Council members have an agenda full of hot spots Tuesday, April 11. They vote on a move to abolish the Beale Street Tourism Development Authority, check to see if both sides paying for a Memphis Zoo parking solution in Overton Park are on the same page and take a final vote to change on-street parking around FedExForum and The Orpheum Theatre to a flat fee of $10 for “special events.”

73. Plans for Beale Street Boutique Hotel Emerge - Monday, April 10, 2017

A new boutique-style hotel may be coming to Beale Street in the near future.

Amit Patel and Kamlesh Patel with KNM Development want to turn three vacant parcels of land between Fourth Street and Danny Thomas Boulevard into a Vib by Best Western, according to a special permit application recently filed with the Shelby County Land Use Control Board.

74. Plans Emerge for New Beale Street Hotel - Friday, April 7, 2017

A new boutique-style hotel may be coming to Beale Street in the near future.

Amit Patel and Kamlesh Patel with KNM Development want to turn three vacant parcels of land between Fourth Street and Danny Thomas Boulevard into a Vib by Best Western, according to a special permit application recently filed with the Shelby County Land Use Control Board.

75. Penn National Gaming to Buy 2 Tunica Casinos for $44M - Thursday, March 30, 2017

1450 Bally Blvd.
Robinsonville, MS 38664 

Sale Amount: $44 million

Sale Date: March 28, 2017

76. Knoxville Hotel Group Buys Land Across From AutoZone Park - Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Vision Hospitality Group, a Knoxville-based hotel company, just purchased a vacant parcel of land across from AutoZone Park – possibly paving the way for a new Downtown hotel just blocks from Beale Street.

77. RDC President Gives Riverfront Update - Monday, March 27, 2017

Pop-up parks, cruise lines and plans to enhance existing attractions were all topics Riverfront Development Corp. president Benny Lendermon touched on during a state of the riverfront he delivered Friday, March 24, to the Downtown Memphis Commission.

78. Last Word: 'Ono Poke and the Ghost of The Luau, Council Day and $3 Concerts - Tuesday, March 21, 2017

The ghost of the Luau lives on. Loeb has a new tenant for the Shops of Chickasaw Gardens called ‘Ono Poke that features Hawaiian cuisine. And the restaurant will be just about on the other side of Poplar Avenue from where the Luau used to stand with its large concrete Easter Island head, Polynesian dishes and Hawaii Five-O era architecture – not the remake, the real Five-O and the real McGarrett.

79. Council Agenda Includes Final Impasse Vote And Beale Street Management Discussion - Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Memphis City Council members take up third and final reading Tuesday, March 21, of changes to the city’s impasse process and talk more specifically about a move to do away with the Beale Street Tourism Development Authority.

80. Council to Discuss Police Retention Bonus Grant As Union Objects - Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Memphis City Council members review a $6.1 million four-year grant for police retention bonuses Tuesday, March 7, during council committee sessions.

The grant from the Memphis-Shelby Crime Commission was announced last week by Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland and Crime Commission president Bill Gibbons.

81. $12 Million Permit Filed For Hickman Building - Thursday, March 2, 2017

240 Madison Ave.
Memphis, TN 38103

Permit Amount: $12 million

Project Cost: $16 million

Application Date: February 2016

82. Last Word: Building a Bigger Police Force, Old Desk Calendars and Summer School - Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Since the Memphis Mayor’s race of 2015 became about how best to build a larger Memphis Police Department, the discussion has always had an element of controversy to it on a larger scale than a head count of who has a badge.

83. Building Permit Application Filed for Tri-State Bank Headquarters - Wednesday, March 1, 2017

A $140,000 building permit application that lists “Tri-State Bank headquarters” as the tenant has been filed with the city-county Office of Construction Code Enforcement.

84. Last Word: 'Sun Records,' Ole Miss's Lack of Control and Haslam in 2018 - Friday, February 24, 2017

I am not going to be one of those people who at this late date in the history of television dramas based on real people points out every departure from reality. The first episode of the CMT television series “Sun Records” Thursday was a scene-setter and introduction of sorts to an ensemble cast with plenty of opportunities to name that place in Memphis. That usually means a pretty complex story line to come and there are more than enough memorable characters in the story of Sun.

85. View From the Hill: ‘Moral Mondays’ Draw Crowds, But Are Lawmakers Listening? - Thursday, February 23, 2017

Johnny and Julie Erwin don’t look like typical protesters, but the senior couple joined the “moral Mondays” ruckus recently at the State Capitol, Johnny wearing his Air Force cap and Julie holding a list of social legislation they oppose.

86. Events - Tuesday, February 21, 2017

The city of Memphis Office of Business Diversity & Compliance Outreach will host “Diversity Programs 201: Certification Round Up: First Steps to Certify with the City of Memphis” Tuesday, Feb. 21, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Renaissance Business Center, 555 Beale St. Discover the importance of certification, learn about the city’s diversity programs, meet certifying agency representatives and start the application process on site. Cost is free. Register at eventbrite.com.

87. City Council to Take First Vote on Impasse Changes - Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Memphis City Council members take their first vote Tuesday, Feb. 21, on changes to the city’s impasse ordinance.

The ordinance is a set of rules governing how the council settles deadlocked contract talks between the city administration and municipal labor unions without the council venturing into negotiations between the two sides.

88. The Week Ahead: February 20-26 - Monday, February 20, 2017

Enjoying that spring-like weather, Memphis? It’s another week of politics and music in the Bluff City, highlighted by the anticipated announcement Wednesday of acts that will be playing the Beale Street Music Festival in May. Here are some other highlights:

89. DMC Explores Long-Term Planning for Beale - Thursday, February 9, 2017

The leader of the Downtown Memphis Commission wants to start working toward a long-term approach to day-to-day management of the Beale Street entertainment district.

That’s what DMC president Terence Patterson told Memphis City Council members Tuesday, Feb. 7, at the council’s second discussion in three weeks about Beale Street.

90. Sports Bind City - Saturday, January 21, 2017

Maybe it is your spouse’s Christmas party. Or a local business conference and no one else from your company is attending. When you give the room the once-over, it’s full of unfamiliar faces.

91. Council Discusses Disbanding Beale Street Authority - Thursday, January 19, 2017

Several Memphis City Council members talked Tuesday, Jan. 17, about undoing the Beale Street Tourism Development Authority and acting directly to hire a day-to-day manager for the entertainment district.

92. 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.

93. New Details of St. Jude Expansion Look to Medical Corridors To The East - Wednesday, January 18, 2017

The city’s plans for the Pinch District between the Pyramid and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital are only half of the plan the city will seek expanded uses of the Tourism Development Zone and an expansion of a Tax Increment Financing district for.

94. New Details of St. Jude Expansion Look to Medical Corridors To The East - Wednesday, January 18, 2017

The city’s plans for the Pinch District between the Pyramid and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital are only half of the plan the city will seek expanded uses of the Tourism Development Zone and an expansion of a Tax Increment Financing district for.

95. Council Discusses Abolishing Beale Street Authority - Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Several Memphis City Council members talked Tuesday, Jan. 17, about undoing the Beale Street Tourism Development Authority and acting directly to hire a day-to-day manager for the entertainment district.

96. Luxury Home Sales Up 13 Percent in 2016 - Monday, January 16, 2017

Memphis and Shelby County set several real estate records in 2016, including the highest average home sales price ever recorded. One of the contributing factors, in addition to a 15-year low in the foreclosure rate, was the sale of luxury homes, residential properties valued over $500,000.

97. Council Could Delay Turner Dairy Vote Again - Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Memphis City Council members are likely to delay a vote Tuesday, Jan. 17, on a parking lot for Turner Dairy Holdings LLC in Overton Square that is part of the dairy’s expansion.

98. Lynching Centennial Observance Nears in May - Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Leaders of an effort to mark the sites of 32 lynchings in Shelby County have hired a project director for the upcoming centennial of the 1917 lynching of Ell Persons.

John Ashworth recently led efforts in Brownsville, Tennessee, to remember Elbert Williams, the organizer of an NAACP chapter in Haywood County. Williams was murdered in 1940 and his body found in the Hatchie River. He was ordered buried the same day his body was found.

99. Last Word: The Bridge Revisited, The Election Year and Lamar Remains Lamar - Friday, December 30, 2016

One of the biggest stories of 2016 wasn’t planned and the spontaneous nature of the July 10 demonstration that closed the Hernando DeSoto Bridge made it a very unusual story. It was spontaneous and it tapped long held feelings and frustrations. For that reason and others, it is its own story in our continuing review of the year’s biggest stories in Memphis.

100. Events - Saturday, December 31, 2016

Beale Street will host a free concert by blues legend Bobby Rush and his Girls and newly signed Stax recording artists Southern Avenue at its annual New Year’s Eve party Saturday, Dec. 31. The concert starts at 8 p.m. at Beale and Fourth Street; the annual Hard Rock Guitar Drop and fireworks start at midnight. Visit bealestreet.com.