Celina Alvarez, a Franklin, Tenn., resident who moved to the United States 18 years ago from Jalisco, Mexico, spent $18,000 in application and attorney fees just to get a green card.

FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- -- iQuantifi , an online software platform providing automated and personalized financial advice, was voted Best of Show at last week's FinovateSpring 2012 , the finance industry's premier invitation-only tech conference.

Pick up the scissors or grab your guitar! A group of locally owned businesses is hosting its second "Saturdays at The Commons," this Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Commons at Spring Hill.

The public is invited to the first candidate forum of the 2012 election season hosted by the Republican Women of Williamson County.

A frequent visitor to Franklin's commercial area and beyond will notice that some stores just aren't where they used to be, a few have closed and yet there are new ones in the mix.