VOL. 132 | NO. 70 | Friday, April 7, 2017
The headline at memphisopen.com is now ominous: “2017 Memphis Open Concludes” originally meant that this year’s tournament was done, that Ryan Harrison had won the title in February at The Racquet Club. But on Friday, April 7, news broke that the tournament was leaving for Long Island, N.Y.
The largest hotel in the city by room count is changing hands in what is a key part of the city’s effort to remake the Memphis Cook Convention Center as a part of a larger “Gateway project” in the general convention center area.
A task force on de-annexation is recommending de-annexation of three recently annexed areas of Memphis, an automatic de-annexation of three other sparsely populated areas on the city’s borders and keep a part of Raleigh proposed by Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland for de-annexation in the city of Memphis.
A new boutique-style hotel may be coming to Beale Street in the near future.
Ted Davis was happy to be able to stay in Memphis when he took over his newest leadership role as president and chief executive officer of medical device company Active Implants Corp.
A full weekend of racing, vintage Chevy car shows, a swap meet and other festivities await car enthusiasts as the Super Chevy Show revs up at Memphis International Raceway, 5500 Victory Lane in Millington. The event begins Friday, April 7, and continues Saturday and Sunday, April 8-9. Gates open at 8 a.m. all three days. Go to www.superchevy.com/show for admission prices and a complete list of events.
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.
Memphis-based Fred’s Inc. is “the right buyer” of hundreds of Rite Aid stores that need to be divested so Rite Aid and Walgreens Boots Alliance can win Federal Trade Commission approval for their pending merger.
Early voting opens Friday, April 7, in the special primary elections for state House District 95 as other elections – including some 2018 races – already show plenty of signs of political life.
Plans to breathe new life into a vacant 77-year-old warehouse two blocks from the FedExForum have been submitted by Oden & Associates Inc., a locally owned marketing firm looking to relocate its headquarters.
The Germantown school board has approved a contract to buy 38 acres of land at Forest Hill-Irene Road and Poplar Pike for a new elementary school for 750 children.
Downtown Memphis is going through a renaissance, and Allworld Project Management has made it very clear it wants to be front and center for it.
MARTHA KELLY'S MEMPHIS
Artist Martha Kelly, who illustrates Memphis life and culture each month for The Daily News, sketches a selection of wildflowers currently blossoming in Overton Park’s Old Forest, Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park, the woodland gardens at Dixon Gallery & Gardens and Memphis Botanic Garden, and in wooded areas around the region.
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE
Legislation containing a gas-tax increase moved out of a key committee Wednesday, April 5, with proponents saying it could be called the IMPROVE Act or the 2017 Tax Cut Act because of several tax reductions designed to make it easier for Tennesseans to swallow.
A House committee amended legislation setting up a pilot voucher program for low-income students in Shelby County, enabling private schools who take students from struggling public schools to opt out of state-required tests.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Tennessee Senate has passed a bill eliminating background check requirements when gun dealers occasionally sell from their personal firearm collections.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A Tennessee bill that would outlaw and block funding for immigrant-protecting sanctuary cities is dead for the year.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee's attorney general is questioning the constitutionality of a bill banning most abortions after 20 weeks.
SPORTS
On Sept. 10, 1959, at the tender age of 17, Tim McCarver pinch-hit in the ninth inning for the St. Louis Cardinals against the Milwaukee Braves at old County Stadium before a gathering of 1,695 people (he flied out to right field).
Derek Barnett knows he will hear his name called in the April 27-29 NFL Draft. He’s just not sure when.
The NFL Draft is fast approaching, which raises an interesting question: Is this the year the Titans finally shop locally and target Southeastern Conference talent?
THE PRESS BOX
A few weeks ago, Tubby Smith stood in front of assembled media and admitted that the University of Memphis basketball job was a bit more than he had calculated.
LOCAL COLUMNISTS
Ray’s Take When it comes to real return, it’s not what you make, but what you keep after taxes and inflation that counts.
LET THEM EAT CAKE. AND DIE. I’m paraphrasing Marie Antoinette. She didn’t say “and die” – but then she probably didn’t say “let them eat cake” either when told that the poor had no bread. History suggests that some other arrogant French aristocrat did. The reason the quote lives – and the point – is that the rich have always pretty much ignored the plight of the poor and done so at their own risk.
STATEWIDE
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee is preparing to replace most of the roughly 1,700 guardrails tied to deaths both there and in other states.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Tennessee Historical Commission has come out against a plan to exhume the body of former President James K. Polk from the grounds of the state Capitol and move it 50 miles away.
US ECONOMY
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) – A top U.S. Federal Reserve official says the central bank would likely move in a measured way after it decides to reduce its large bond holdings.
WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal Reserve officials last month discussed the possibility of reducing their enormous portfolio of bond holdings later this year, sooner than many investors have been expecting.
TECHNOLOGY
NEW YORK (AP) – The cable giant Comcast will start selling cellphone plans called Xfinity Mobile in the coming months, using a network it's leasing from Verizon.
NEW YORK (AP) – Facebook is launching a resource to help you spot false news and mislead-ing information that spreads on its service.