The U.S. Attorney's office announced the plea Wednesday. Shaw agreed to a sentence of 50 years in prison pending approval of the judge in the case, Samuel H. Mays.

The fire at the Family Dollar Store at 3732 North Watkins on June 15, 2003 took the lives of Lt. Trent Kirk and Pvt. Charles Zachary and injured Pvt. Tim Scott.

Local footwear company Gametime Athletics is introducing the Face-Off sneaker, an athletic-style shoe with a personalized digital image printed on the side and sole of a shoe.

Gametime, started by Checliss "Big C" Rice as a jersey company in 2004, has designed footwear for numerous NBA teams, including the Memphis Grizzlies. Their M-Town shoe line, featuring a variety of colored athletic kicks, was introduced in April 2006.

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"These three incentive programs will place Tennessee squarely among the most production-friendly locations in the U.S.," said Gibson. "Building on Tennessee-based films like Walk the Line, Hustle & Flow and 21 Grams, we're showing that Tennessee is a prime location for filmmakers seeking artistic and economic success."

The Tennessee film and television incentive program will utilize a series of tax rebates, a headquarters incentive, and a grant program established by a $10 million fund sought by Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen last year and approved by the Tennessee General Assembly in the Visual Content Act of 2006.

Under the legislation, Tennessee can support film and television projects in the following ways: The same rebates are available for Tennessee-based production companies with an in-state production budget of $200,000 per project.

Film production companies that establish a permanent headquarters facility in Tennessee and incur a minimum of $1 million in qualified expenses in the state may be eligible for a 15 percent refund of the company’s qualified expenses.

The Film, Entertainment and Music Commission is also establishing a competitive grant application system for Tennessee-based filmmakers. Filmmakers who reside in Tennessee can apply for a grant of up to $40,000 for the development and completion of qualified film or digital productions.

Applications for each of the incentive programs must be made to the Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission. The executive director of the Commission will evaluate applications, select projects for funding and then recommend them to the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development and the Commissioner of Revenue for approval.

Additional information on each of these incentive programs, along with applications and definitions is available on the Tennessee Film, Entertainment and Music Commission Web site.

"A warm, Memphis-style sun shone Sunday on the Black Ensemble Theater. And in the guise of Rufus Thomas, the lanky Rick Stone was 'Walking the Dog' and, when not perambulating a persnickety pooch, leading a chorus doing the 'Funky Chicken.'

"And Isaac Hayes was in the building. Or, at least, Dwayne Lonzo's decent facsimile thereof. 'Sing, Black Moses,' said a voice from the back. For a moment, this nascent spring seemed like a promised land.

Black Ensemble knows how to throw a seasonal party. But even by the exuberant standards of this joyous theater, 'Memphis Soul — The Story of Stax Records' is an uncommonly good time." Read the rest of Jones' review.

Intrepid Flyer reporter and Pesky-Fly-about-town, Chris Davis, took the picture while pursuing his daily rounds. We'd love to write a thousand words about it, but in this case, it's probably better to allow the picture to do all the talking. Your job is to imagine just what on God's green earth would provoke a preacher to put this on his church's sign.

Truly, only in Memphis.

Oh, and on the other side? The Spanish version: "Domingo -- Jesus dijo, traerme aquel asno." Madre mia!

"Memphis did so much for me, so it's always like going back home when we have a show there," says Womack. "And I’m glad this one is in the spring. The last time I was there, it was snowing, it was cooold, and people were standing around the corner waiting in line to see me.”

The show this weekend features a rejuvenated setup following the death of Womack's longtime sound engineer, Rudy Taylor, who had several hits with the Gap Band, including "You Dropped A Bomb On Me" and "Party Train."

“We were doing a show with Al Green the night he passed," Womack says. "I came off the road and have been off for a long time since he passed. It didn’t feel right without Rudy. I think this is the second time out since then. He wouldn’t have wanted us to stop.”

Womack’s career actually springboarded in Memphis with the recording of his signature remake of "Fly Me To The Moon." Without prompting, he recalls, “Willie Mitchell played trumpet and his brother James played sax and we recorded it at Chips Moman’s American Studios.

Age has mellowed Womack. “I don’t drink and I don’t smoke anymore, and haven’t for seven years now. I used to hang all night with the chicks to the next day. All I’m about now is going to the stage.”

For more information and tickets to Sunday's show, go here.

— Tony Jones

Flags flew at half staff outside the historic church, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his final speech, and the entrances were draped in purple and black bunting.

Celebration music played over the church public address system inside. Two screens lowered from the ceiling played a slide show of Patterson's life. Patterson lay in a casket wearing his white vestments with red trim. His gold-rimmed spectacles rested upon his face.

Today's viewing began a four day home-going celebration that will culminate with a Saturday morning funeral. Former president Bill Clinton reportedly will attend. Patterson died of heart failure last week at the age of 67.

— Preston Lauterbach

The city wants a state-of-the-art system that will provide digital audio recordings of meetings, provide citizens access to the files on the city’s Web site, and provide each of the council members with a touch screen interface.

The system should also be able to count to 13, in order to collect and track council votes in real-time, including options for “yes,” “no,” “abstain,” and “ranting."