Janet Addison is peering into a large, blue recycling bin on the University of Memphis campus. She does not like what she sees.

“Okay, right now, everything that’s in here is contaminated,” says Addison, who’s been working as a recycling operator for the university for almost two years.

By contaminated she means that along with recyclable items —bottles, papers, cans —there’s also plenty of gunk.

January is National Slow Cooker Month!

On Tuesday, the Memphis City Council finally broke a deadlock that had lasted seven weeks and resulted in a leadership crisis. The problem: members couldn't decide on three appointments for vacant district seats. After the election of a new chairman, Kemp Conrad, the council made relatively fast work finding consensus candidates.

Political analyst Otis Sanford offers his take on this week's events, along with his predictions for local lawmakers as they headed to Nashville for the first few days of this year's Tennessee General Assembly.

With more than 170 acres of rolling hills bordered by stately trees, the Germantown Country Club has been an exclusive oasis for golfers for decades. But with a declining membership and in financial straits, the club is scheduled to close next month. 

If I told you there was a vaccine to prevent cancer, would you get it? 

In the contentious election year that was 2018, the Tennessee GOP made illegal immigration a prominent talking point both in the General Assembly and in various political campaigns.

This year I made a resolution to eat healthier in the New Year.

As the City of Memphis' Bicentennial celebration gets underway this year, political analyst Otis Sanford points out the positives, especially new growth in the downtown area, a lower murder rate and some recent positive marketing of the city. 

Mayor Jim Strickland is expected to seek a second term this year, and Sanford says that he would likely do well if the election were held tomorrow. 

Speaking of elections: Congressman Steve Cohen -- who is starting his seventh term in office this month -- felt the need to quash rumors of retirement due to health reasons. He says he'll be running in both 2020 and 2022.

Finally, Sanford talks about the on-going impasse in the Memphis City Council over appointments to three vacant seats. He expects that next week's meeting will likely not offer any new resolutions.