Years are arbitrary units of time, and a lot of what was most interesting in Memphis in 2018 are ongoing changes or trends that don't stop because a calendar flips. With that in mind, this year-in-review often doubles as a kind of year-in-preview: A Memphis 10 look back at some of the most significant Memphis stories and developments (often literally) of 2018, and beyond. 

According to 2018 TNReady test scores almost 80 percent of Shelby County Schools' third-graders are not proficient in reading. Read901, convened by Literacy Mid-South, is working to get 90 percent of third-graders reading at grade level by 2025.

Marshall University defensive coordinator Adam Fuller was officially named University of Memphis defensive coordinator, according to a university release Saturday. 

Instead of sitting out, Missouri quarterback Drew Lock relishes the chance for one final game.

The Grizzlies lost another big lead and then let a close game slip away, as they fell to the Boston Celtics 112-103. 

Dozens of former Tiger athletes have come from as far away as Australia and South Africa on the international front and New York and Florida in the U.S. to call Memphis home.

There were more than votes to count in the 2018 local elections. There were voters, early voting locations and lawsuits – six of them – against the Shelby County Election Commission.

The Shelby County Commission will hold a comprehensive discussion on Juvenile Court at its next committee meeting in January. 

Facial, hand and neck tattoos aren’t nicknamed “job stoppers’’ for nothing. And there’s nothing subtle about Robert Fortner’s face tattoo. Still, the self-described “misfit’’ has work that fits him like a glove over his heavily inked hands. He is a partner in what is arguably the most Bohemian bar in Memphis.

Kyrie Irving had 26 points and 13 assists, Al Horford added 18 points, including a pair of key 3-pointers in the closing 1:32, and the Boston Celtics rallied for a 112-103 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night.

In the South, we eat lunch every day except Sunday, when our midday meal is dinner. At my grandmother’s table, Sunday dinner was fried chicken or pot roast, both served with an assortment of vegetables, biscuits or cornbread to go with it all.

Frazer and Dana Gieselmann have had their share of grief and loss the past few years, but they haven’t let their circumstances stop them, instead turning their hardships into doing something good for the community.

Former U.S. Attorney Ed Stanton is the independent monitor who will report to U.S. District Judge Jon P. McCalla on steps the Memphis Police Department is taking to end surveillance of protesters after violating a 1978 consent decree barring such surveillance.

After a lackluster first half, Memphis put on an offensive display to coast to an easy 96-65 win over Florida A&M in the Tigers final game before conference play

Clubhouse and office renovations are slated for AutoZone Park to accommodate the Memphis Redbirds and the inaugural season of Memphis 901 FC, the city's new soccer team.

After an up-and-down 2018, the site of the former Benchmark Hotel appears to be heading into the new year on a high note.

As the Grizzlies recover from a pre-holidays rough patch, we sort through the pressing issues, including Jaren Jackson Jr.'s usage, Shelvin Mack's regression, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol's improving play, and Dillon Brooks' return. 

County commissioner Tami Sawyer and activist Josh Spickler discuss flaws in the juvenile justice system and the roles a new assessment center and new juvenile detention center might play in reforming the system. 

Memphis-based Jernigan Capital Inc. announced it has acquired complete ownership of a recently completed self-storage facility in Long Island, New York, by purchasing the membership interest from its development partner.

Liberty Bowl competitors Missouri and Oklahoma State are looking forward for the chance to see how they stack up offensively and defensively.

High school lacrosse gains TSSAA sanction, opening the door for more competition and increased opportunities for potential players.

There were only a few warning signs that something might be wrong. Dr. Robert Bolding thought he had perhaps suffered a stroke. There was the numbness on his left side, and his family said his behavior was odd. He was inclined to ignore the frequent headaches, figuring maybe it was just the weather.

One of the biggest decisions facing Shelby County government in 2019 is whether it will allocate funding for the Memphis Area Transit Authority in its 2019-2020 fiscal year budget.

The 86-year-old scientist who linked the origin of the flu virus to migratory birds still comes to work at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to prepare for a possible pandemic should bird flu ever learn to spread among humans.

The Memphis Grizzlies benefited from early poor shooting by Cleveland to build enough of an advantage and hold off a late charge by the Cavaliers for a 95-87 victory.