Memphis Commercial-Appeal

On its MemphisCrimeStories.com site, the Memphis Commercial-Appeal utilizes GIS technology to allow residents to plug in their street name or zip code and see recently reported crimes in their areas.

A top architect is advocating the use of zoning and urban design to transform a key urban thoroughfare into a "zipper" bringing together many of the city's top assets and neighborhoods.

Piecemeal development has occurred around the FedEx Forum in Downtown Memphis, but a major project from a potential new owner of the city's NBA team has boosters excited.

Crime-weary residents of all ages, races and sexes are increasingly choosing to protect themselves by purchasing guns and learning to shoot them. Happiest about the trend are the owners of the city's gun shops.

Developed by a university professor, the CeaseFire campaign addresses violent crime as a public health issue, and uses a neighborhood-wide information and outreach campaign to help curb violent behavior before it occurs.