Communication Skills Serve Caraway Well in Law

“I went to law school so I could hear myself talk,” jokes Kirk Caraway, a partner with Allen, Summers, Simpson, Lillie & Gresham PLLC.

Paragon’s Cullum Pursues New Civic Involvement

Ashley Cullum, the vice president of business development for Paragon National Bank, has added some new institutions to what’s become a long list of civic groups she works with outside the bank.

Grizzlies Ramp Up Charitable Efforts as Holidays Begin

On the court, the Grizzlies have given away next to nothing. They reeled off an eight-game winning streak. Night after night, 48 minutes at a time, they have been stingy – selfish, even.

Chaos Reigns as Bowl Championship Series Picture Unfolds

Chaos. That’s the word, apparently the only word, to describe the current state of the Bowl Championship Series. I know this because last Sunday, after a bloody Saturday in which No. 1 Kansas State and No. 2 Oregon both lost, I performed the ultimate modern-day “scientific” test: I Googled “BCS” and “chaos” and got 3,620,000 results.

Is Your Pension Plan Safe?

Ray’s Take While most companies have abandoned pension plans for 401(k) programs, there are still countless employees counting on their pension plan to fund their retirement years. The question is: Will that pension plan still be around when the time comes?

Ginkgos and Band-Aids

LOOK FOR THE WONDER. REPEAT. Right outside my window is a female ginkgo tree, her boyfriend is on the other side of the house, and every fall they engage in an ancient mating dance, a spectacular competition for attention. So exhausting is the effort, it doesn’t last long. So intense is the result, it’s explosive. And then it’s gone, leaving only a memory.

Granny Felt Like a Kid Again

For whatever reason, the other day I found myself reviewing some missives that are Pretty Old. And, as usually happens, one really jumped out at me.

Getting Set Up With Mobile Giving

Part three of a three-part series on mobile giving. Mobile giving and mobile donating are two ways technology is changing nonprofit fundraising and communication. Communicating and giving are now happening via text and mobile devices.

Mississippi Jobless Rate Drops to 8.9 Percent

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Mississippi's unemployment rate dropped slightly to 8.9 percent in October, down 0.3 percent from September.

Arkansas Unemployment Rate Rises to 7.2 Percent

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services says the state's unemployment rate crept up to 7.2 percent in October from 7.1 percent a month earlier.

Consumer Advocacy Group Warns of Toy Dangers But Finds Fewer of Them

WASHINGTON (AP) – Toys are safer than ever before, consumer advocates say, but parents should remain vigilant in keeping their little ones away from powerful magnets and small items that can easily cause choking.

Bernanke Warns Congress to Avoid ‘Fiscal Cliff’

WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Tuesday urged Congress and the Obama administration to strike a budget deal to avert tax increases and spending cuts that could trigger a recession next year.