Apple Opens Redesigned Saddle Creek Store

Apple has opened its redesigned store in Saddle Creek – and it looks markedly different from the iPhone- and iPad-maker’s previous incarnation.

For starters, there’s no Apple logo on the outside. Upon entering, the eye is immediately drawn to new features like a 37-foot-tall TV display showing videos of Apple products along the back wall.

All-new wood tables throughout the store showcase Apple hardware like the company’s tablets and iPhones. There are also plenty of benches where customers can sit and relax.

Along walls on opposite sides of the store, wooden shelves carry products like watch bands and headphones.

When he presented plans for the renovated store to Germantown’s design commission last fall, Apple representative Rick Millitello called the store a “next generation” design and said the Germantown location is one of the first to get the new look.

– Andy Meek

Billingsley Calls for Release of County Disparity Study

Shelby County Commissioner Mark Billingsley says county government leaders should release to the public a disparity study the commission reviewed privately Monday, March 28.

The study by Mason Tillman Associates is an overview of county government contracts and specifically how much of the county’s business is with minority-owned businesses.

The study is a first step toward a county percentage goal for contracting with minority-owned businesses.

Commissioners closed the Monday review of the study at the advice of County Attorney Ross Dyer because of the likelihood a lawsuit will be filed over the attempt to set a percentage goal for county contracts.

Billingsley said during the closed session with Dyer, “It was noted … that ‘this document will serve as our legal defense once these things are implemented going forward.’”

But Billingsley and commissioner Walter Bailey argued for the release and public discussion of the study.

In the March 30 letter, Billingsley said the initial findings need “to be fully vetted by a multitude of individuals and professionals beyond our 13-member body.”

“Without the input of those most affected by our disparities and community partners, we will not be able to comprehensively address the root causes of our deficits that occurred from 2012 to 2014 and build a case for improvement,” he added in the letter to other commissioners.

Billingsley also said after commissioning the study in 2014, the county commission promised to release the results.

– Bill Dries

Grizz Sign Jordan Farmar for Rest of Season

The Memphis Grizzlies have signed guard Jordan Farmar for the remainder of the 2015-16 season.

Farmar has played five games (three starts) for the Grizzlies since signing a 10-day contract on March 21 and has averaged 10.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 25.6 minutes. The 29-year-old has appeared in 495 games (33 starts) across nine NBA seasons and averaged 7.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 19.5 minutes for the Los Angeles Lakers, New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies. He was part of two NBA title teams with the Lakers.

Farmar was selected by the Lakers in the first round (26th overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft following a standout collegiate career at UCLA, where he averaged 13.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.2 assists.

– Don Wade

Methodist University Hospital Gets New Linear Accelerator

West Cancer Center has added a new linear accelerator at Methodist University Hospital

According to Methodist University Hospital CEO Jeff Liebman, the addition of the new Elekta linear accelerator is reflective of Methodist Healthcare’s commitment to not only cutting-edge patient care but to Methodist’s partnership with West Cancer Center.

Considered one of the most advanced and precise mechanisms for the delivery of radiotherapy, the Elekta LINAC system uses high-energy X-rays to conform to a tumor’s shape and destroy cancer cells while sparing normal tissue surrounding the tumor. West Cancer Center’s Department of Radiation Oncology is also now equipped with four linear accelerators – two at the Methodist University Hospital location and two at its new West Cancer Center location at 7945 Wolf River Blvd. in Germantown.

– Andy Meek

Haslam Taps Templeton for Agriculture Post

Jai Templeton, the former McNairy County mayor and a sixth-generation West Tennessee farmer, is the state’s new commissioner of agriculture.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam announced Templeton’s appointment Thursday, March 31. Templeton is currently serving as deputy commissioner of agriculture to current commissioner Julius Johnson, who last week announced his retirement effective May 1.

Templeton joined state government in 2011 as Haslam took office as governor.

His family’s farm is in Stantonville and produces grain, cotton, hay, timber and cattle.

Templeton was a field representative for U.S. Rep. Ed Bryant from 1995 to 2003. He also is a former McNairy County commissioner and a former president of the McNairy County Chamber of Commerce.

– Bill Dries

Regular Brews, Longer Hours for Memphis Made

Memphis Made Brewing Co. is expanding its year-round offerings and extending hours at its Cooper-Young tap room.

Fireside and RockBone IPA will join Lucid Kolsch as year-round offerings. The brewery will continue to sell limited release and seasonal beers.

Starting April 15, the tap room will be open Friday from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Saturday from 1 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“We were turning away a lot of people at the end of the night, so we decided to stay open a bit later,” said co-founder Andy Ashby in a statement. “Cooper-Young draws people at all hours, so we wanted to make sure we were available to as many people as possible.”

The brewery will continue to give public tours at 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

– Madeline Faber