Corker aides starting public affairs firm
Two top aides to retiring U.S. Sen. Bob Corker are setting up a public affairs and government relations firm known as Bridge Public Affairs, which will have offices in Chattanooga, Nashville and Washington D.C.
Todd Womack, Corker's chief of staff, will serve as chief executive and Micah Johnson, Corker's communications director, will be chief operating officer and senior vice president. The new firm, which will be headquartered in the Volunteer Building owned by Corker, will have Corker as a client but Corker said he does not own any part of the business.
Womack has worked with Corker for his entire 12-year tenure in the Senate and served as his communications director when Corker was mayor of Chattanooga. Womack, a graduate of UTC who previously worked at Erlanger Health System and Unum Group, considered his own run for Chattanooga mayor in 2012, but ultimately decided to remain with Corker.
Johnson joined Corker's staff shortly after graduating form the University of Tennessee in 2010. She worked briefly on the presidential ampaign of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio in 2016 before returning to Corker's office as communications director for his final two years in office.
Corker decided not to seek a third term in the Senate this year. Republican Marsha Blackburn was elected last month to succeed him and will be sworn into the Senate on Thursday.
Michael Kors adopts Capri Holdings name
Having added a pair of high-end brands to its stable, Michael Kors is changing its name to Capri.
The company announced the acquisition of the Italian fashion house Versace for more than $2 billion in September, less than two years after acquiring Jimmy Choo, the shoemaker that rocketed to fame on the high heels of "Sex and the City."
Michael Kors Holdings, like its counterparts in France, has charged aggressively into the upper echelons of luxury fashion hoping to pump up sales. Kering snapped up Gucci, Bottega Veneta and Pomelato and LVMH bought Bulgari and Loro Piana.
Capri Holdings Ltd. is projecting $8 billion in annual sales, with most of that coming from Michael Kors. Starting Wednesday, its New York Stock Exchange ticker symbol will be CPRI.
Gianni Versace founded Versace in 1978. The family-run business was thrown into chaos with Versace's murder 21 years ago. His sister, Donatella Versace, will continue with the company, holding the position of creative director.
Michael Kors, who founded the company under his name, also remains as creative director of that wing of the company.
Utility may face charges from fires
California's attorney general has told a federal judge it's possible the giant utility Pacific Gas & Electric Co. could face charges up to murder if investigators find reckless operation of power equipment caused any deadly wildfires in the past two years.
Prosecutors would have to assess PG&E's "mental state" before determining whether to bring charges, which could range from murder to misdemeanor negligence, according to the brief filed late Friday by Attorney General Xavier Becerra.
The opinion was submitted to a judge overseeing a criminal case involving a PG&E natural gas pipeline explosion that killed eight people in the San Francisco suburb of San Bruno in 2010.
PG&E was convicted of violating federal pipeline safety laws, and the judge asked for the attorney general's opinion on whether any wildfires constitute a probation violation.
The attorney general's brief adds to legal troubles facing PG&E, which serves about 16 million people in 70,000 square miles in northern and central areas of the state.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection found that PG&E likely broke state law in connection with 12 of the many wildfires in wine country and elsewhere during 2017. It is also investigating the utility in connection with the Camp Fire, which erupted last month in the Sierra Nevada foothills and killed at least 86 people and destroyed 14,000 homes while leveling the city of Paradise.
Captain D's marks 50th anniversary
Captain D's, on of the nation's biggest fast-food seafood restaurants, is bringing back some classic customer favorites to their menu to mark its 50th anniversary in 2019.
"Fifty years as a beloved brand is a significant milestone for any company," said Phil Greifeld, president and chief executive officer of the Nashville-based Captain D's. "We opened our first restaurant in 1969, and we are going to enjoy celebrating this commemorative, golden anniversary for Captain D's all year long with our guests."
Captain D's rang in the new year by adding such classics such as The Sampler, that includes signature batter dipped fish, crispy butterfly shrimp, chicken tenders, choice of two sides and Captain D's world-famous hush puppies.