VOL. 132 | NO. 96 | Monday, May 15, 2017
Happy Monday, Memphis! This week, Downtown welcomes barbecue teams from around the world coming to compete in the Super Bowl of Swine. Plus, we’ve got details on the remembrance of a somber moment in Memphis history; a reading festival for kids of all ages; and more you need to know about in The Week Ahead…
Despite some notable big-box bankruptcies, positive growth is still in the forecast for the rest of 2017, according to Cushman & Wakefield/Commercial Advisors’ first quarter Retail Marketbeat Report.
Dr. Alan Hammond, chief of general surgery in the department of surgery at Saint Francis Hospital-Memphis, is sometimes met with puzzled reactions when he tells a patient he’s going to operate on them with the help of a robot.
The Mount Arlington neighborhood located in the eastern section of Cooper-Young in Midtown Memphis has been expanding with new growth. Investors, rehabbers and builders have been cultivating the area, causing average sales prices to jump significantly.
Senses, the nightclub on the eastern side of the Poplar viaduct, is back. Apparently it’s been back for a little while but the top code enforcement official involved says it is news to him and may be a violation that puts this matter in Environmental Court.
Senses, the controversial nightclub located at 2866 Poplar Ave., mysteriously reopened Saturday, May 6, after sitting empty for several years. And it has plans to continue operations, which may be in direct violation of the local zoning laws.
After a winning season in his first year at the University of Memphis, head football coach Mike Norvell has had his contract extended through 2021.
Members of the city Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board said Thursday, May 11, Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings’ dismissal of their three recommendations to reprimand or discipline police officers accused of misconduct will not be the last word on the cases. Even if Rallings’ decisions stand.
FedEx Corp. confirmed Friday, May 12, that it suffered a malware attack.
TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE
With a gas-tax increase approved as part of the governor’s IMPROVE Act, Shelby County will see several projects take off over the next three years, including the much-anticipated Lamar Avenue widening.
With the legislative session finished, Gov. Bill Haslam is touting budget accomplishments and a strong economy as the result of Republican leadership.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee's new plan to allow older adults without a college degree or certificate to attend community college free of charge will serve as a model as more states con-sider similar policies, experts and school administrators said Friday.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee's governor signed into law Friday a 20-week abortion ban that exposes doctors to felonies and explicitly forbids exceptions when a woman's mental health is in danger.
THE MEMPHIS NEWS
Infrastructure, maintenance needs push nation’s aging airports
With more than 800 million passengers zipping through U.S. airports in 2016 and air cargo accounting for more than one-third of the world’s trade by value, the nation has become increasingly dependent on air travel to stay competitive. But what sometimes get lost is the amount of upkeep needed to maintain the infrastructure of these self-contained cities.
At about the 40-year mark, the Memphis in May International Festival has seen some changes. And there should be more to come.
2016: On the front page of The Daily News, a receiver is appointed by U.S. District Judge Jon P. McCalla for the Tulane and Warren apartments. The two apartment complexes owned by Global Ministries Foundation of Memphis are to be sold by the receiver, with proceeds going to bond holders represented by the Bank of New York, which has filed suit against GMF.
LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR
A representative with Centennial American Properties, the developers of a planned Trader Joe's location on Exeter Road, told The Daily News Friday, May 12, the company no longer has any property in Germantown, leaving the future of the oft-delayed project in question.
Shelby County Schools board members want more information about the offer this month from Germantown leaders to buy Germantown Elementary, Middle and High Schools from SCS for $25 million.
The owners of The Majestic Grille will take over operations of the restaurant at Beale Street Landing starting in June, the Riverfront Development Corp. announced Monday, May 8.
A bookstore is set to return to Laurelwood Shopping Center. An investor group that's picking up where the February closure of The Booksellers at Laurelwood left off has signed a five-year lease for their bookstore, which will be called Novel and is planned to open around Aug. 1.
Before we get into Arthur Maulet’s sports fandom growing up in New Orleans, remember this: He gave the University of Memphis football team two good years.
STATEWIDE
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The National Labor Relations Board has filed another unfair labor practices complaint against Volkswagen for hiking health insurance premiums and changing working hours of employees who voted for union representation at the German automaker's only U.S. plant.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
PLANO, Texas (AP) – Losses at J.C Penney doubled in the first quarter and sales at established stores fell again, capping a terrible week for retailers.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Lawyers representing aggrieved customers suing Wells Fargo have said the bank may have opened about 3.5 million unauthorized accounts, far more than bank and regulators disclosed last year.
EDUCATION
WASHINGTON (AP) – Even as fierce political battles rage in Washington over school choice, most Americans know little about charter schools or private school voucher programs. Still, more Americans feel positively than negatively about expanding those programs, according to a new poll released Friday.
TECHNOLOGY
NEW YORK (AP) – Dozens of countries were hit with a huge cyberextortion attack Friday that locked up computers and held users' files for ransom at a multitude of hospitals, companies and government agencies.