With the a nod of approval from the City Council in December, Memphis' utility meters are about to get smarter. Memphis Light Gas & Water will begin installing advanced meters across its service territory with the goal of having every resident wired with automated readers by 2020. The results are expected to be savings for the utility's operations, plus savings for customers who can watch their usage in real time. 

Two new websites launched last month that aim to help Memphians make easier philanthropic choices by providing a one-stop resource for all organizations serving the Memphis area and data on where community need exists.

The original concept of local nonprofit HopeWorks was to provide care for the poor and homeless by providing temporary housing, but from there the vision expanded to provide a longer-lasting impact on the people they serve. They now have programs that help people develop skills and strategies that equip them to enter the workforce.