A state panel approved Memphis’ request Monday for a Fairgrounds Tourism Development Zone to help fund an estimated $150 million project complete with a youth sports and events complex that will depend on construction of a privately developed hotel.

University of Tennessee President Joe DiPietro is leaving the system on a high note – amid strong financial reports and growth of facilities – after surviving some bumps and bruises, mainly dealing with student diversity.

Memphis City Council members will fill a vacancy at their Tuesday session and elect a new chairman and vice chairman for 2019.

The Provisional Counting Board, which meets once following every election, began counting provisional ballots Monday, Nov. 19.

A dispute between two potential vendors for a food management services contract from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office for its three correctional facilities was reignited at the Shelby County Commission’s committee meeting Wednesday afternoon.

With finances in good shape, key positions filled and building projects reshaping the Memphis campus, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is wrapping up a strong 2018 and looks toward long-term major improvements such as a Biotech Research Park.

More than 60 women ran for elected office in 40 races throughout Shelby County during the 2018 election cycle, resulting in several historic firsts and government representation being a little more reflective along both gender and racial lines in the county.

With Amazon set to net nearly $77 million in state funds for a Nashville logistics headquarters, Shelby County state legislators say they’d like to see Tennessee spread the love to Memphis.

The Thanksgiving turkeys are not even in the oven yet, but Memphis has already had it's first dusting of snow and residents turned out by the thousands Saturday, Nov. 17, for the annual Whitehaven Christmas Parade and to welcome Santa as he choppered in from the North Pole to visit the Pink Palace and officially open the Enchanted Forest Festival of Trees.

A state panel is set to consider Memphis’ request for a Fairgrounds Tourism Development Zone in which tax revenue would be used to pay off the debt for construction of a youth sports and events complex and connected improvements, an estimated $100 million project.

For all of the planning and man-made features that went into the new Mississippi River Park and its River Garden, including people-sized bird nests, there is another new feature that park planners didn’t anticipate.

State Sen. Brian Kelsey is putting his name in the hunt for the Senate Republican Caucus chairmanship, creating a three-person race for the leadership post.

Seven citizens including the mother of former Memphis City Council member Bill Morrison, the leader of Latino Memphis and the former Shelby County Probate Court clerk have applied to fill Morrison’s vacant District 1 council seat.

With a proposal to extend City Council term limits rejected, the stage is set for the first significant change on the 13-member council since nine new members were elected in 2007.

With the hopes of establishing a new master plan, the Overton Park Conservancy issued a request for qualifications aimed at prospective designers, planners and developers on Friday, Nov. 16.

Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen will leave her post in January to take a job as CEO of a nonprofit organization that helps schools attract and keep top-notch teachers.

The Shelby County Commission took another step toward rebuilding its relationship with the administration of county government Wednesday.

Three Memphis nonprofits will be part of a two-year trial program to make up the gap between what it costs to build or rehab a house in some parts of the city and what the appraised value is.

Two people were killed and 44 were injured when a tour bus headed to Tunica flipped over on an icy section of Interstate 269 in DeSoto County Wednesday afternoon.

A light wintry mix of snow and sleet dusted Memphis Wednesday, Nov. 14, causing some schools to close early, a wedding party to take cover, and the city and local businesses to take precautions as winter weather conditions threatened the area on a late fall day.

Memphis River Parks Partnership eliminated the full-time positions of five to six employees at Mud Island River Park as the organization moves to more centralized management of the riverside and prepares for significant changes in the park this spring.

Black farmers await a key hearing Jan. 3 in U.S. District Court in Memphis on a lawsuit alleging they were sold inferior soybean seeds as part of a race-based conspiracy.

Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland told 120 hospitality industry leaders Wednesday he would like to see more agreement among them before he commits to anything like an increase in the city hotel-motel tax to fund Memphis Cook Convention Center improvements beyond its coming $175 million overhaul.

Former Memphis Bishop Martin D. Holley ruined the fellowship in the local Catholic diocese, spoke disrespectfully of his predecessor – Bishop Terry Steib – and steered the diocese into financial jeopardy before he was asked to resign by Pope Francis, a local monsignor said.

Covington businessman Paul Rose is joining the race for the 32nd District Senate seat vacated by Mark Norris, possibly making it a four-person battle for the job.