Image Credit: Memphis City Council
Endless Election Season

 
Late Friday, City attorney Allan Wade released a letter (PDF download) detailing the changing districts in the new redistricting plan for the City of Memphis. Districts 1 and 7 will see the most changes. Local blogger Polar Donkey has done a mock-up of the changed districts, which he calls “redistricting epic fail”. You can find your current precinct here.

Edmund Ford SENIOR, former City Councilman and father of a current City Councilman, has tossed his hat into the Memphis mayoral race. WMC has more on the “interesting names” in the race.

Officer Tim Warren’s Funeral: He was laid to rest on Friday, with full honors, in Cleveland, MS. Thousands turned out. Many law enforcement officers travelled from hundreds of miles away–East TN, Little Rock, even Chicago. Memphis mayor A C Wharton spoke at the funeral. More from ABC24 and again, WREG and again. Also, reports on last Thursday’s “Sea of Blue” procession from Fox13, WMC, ABC24.

The other victim of the DoubleTree Hotel shootings, Arthur Warren, was also buried on Friday, elsewhere in Cleveland. More from Fox13.

If you would like to contribute to one of the funds to help support the Warren family, here are some contact names: Fox13, WMC. T.G.I.F. is raising money. Ofc. Warren’s regular beat, Beale Street, also had a fundraiser. If you are a law enforcement officer in need of help at this time, contact the 100 Club.

TCAP: Memphis City Schools posted some gains, but not enough to bring them up from the bottom of the State rankings. Shelby County Schools still remain in the top third of schools. “Struggle and growth” for the schools. Metro Nashville saw a 5% improvement over last year. You can study the TCAP numbers here; a PDF downloadable version of State numbers. Video, from Tennessee Report, of the State announcement. Statewide, scores improved.

Morgan Keegan: The possible buyer, according to analysts, for the subsidiary of Regions Bank, has been identified as Stifel Nicolau. Regions is believed to want to sell to the highest bidder as soon as possible. Stifel Nicolaus website here.

Crime: The police are investigating a series of home invasions. They are also investigating two separate cases of malnourished animals. The Center City Commission is running a new anti-blight campaign.

Trash: Would switching to a private waste management contractor net real cost savings while keeping service high?

Islam in Tennessee: The anti-Islamic group ACT! for America is a “potent political force” in the Nashville area.

Memphis Animal Shelter: “Chronic” problems at the City facility, including a missing (and possibly stolen) dog, have gone international. Police are investigating two separate cases of animal cruelty.

Politics: In State redistricting, Williamson and Rutherford Counties in middle TN could gain State House seats. State Senator Roy Herron is angry that the investigation of Congressman Stephen Fincher’s campaign disclosures ended inconclusively, calling it “an exoneration and a partisan cover-up”. A version of “Caylee’s Law”–a reaction to the unsuccessful prosecution of her mother, Casey Anthony, for her murder–may be coming to Tennessee. A Nashville-area landfill is getting a second look at expansion with a new administration.

US Senator Bob Corker: According to the latest financial disclosures, he has raised $2.6 million in the 2Q, for a total of $5.3 million.Does Corker “reflect a growing Republican acceptance” of higher taxes?

Illegal Immigration: Various civil rights groups are suing to block Alabama’s upcoming law that allows police to arrest anyone for illegal immigration, if they are stopped on some other cause first.

Global Ministries Fellowship: This outreach ministry has recently bought almost 600 local apartment units. Any profits are used to support their ministry.

DeSoto County: Olive Branch firefighters didn’t have a training facility, so they built one. A Federal grant, from the Surface Transportation Program, totalling $1.5 million will be used for “routes, bridges and transit projects”. Brigadoon Farms is placing high hopes in the Lewisburg Flea Market. The two Democratic candidates for governor–Bill Luckett and Johnny Dupree–debated the issues over the weekend. The County Tax Assessor says the overall value of assessed property in the County was up one percent. The town of Hernando will open bidding for a new water tower tomorrow.

Germantown: It’s a new career for retiring Fire chief Dennis Wolf.

Operation Broken Silence: They are a local, campus-based operation working worldwide against human trafficking and mass atrocitiy and could use your help. You can also donate here.

Memphis City Schools: It may be Summer for students, but teachers and administrators, with the help of a few students, are already looking forward to Fall. Stand for Children is an activist group that supports the merger while calling for better schools. Their website is here, also Put Education First.

Preservation Memphis: WMC also reports on the small-scale effort to boost projects to saving the City, a piece at a time.

The Haslam Administration: Last week, Governor Bill Haslam’s office trimmed the subscriber list to its Daily News Clips service by 90%, prompting howls of outrage. Haslam says he’ll be better prepared for next year’s Legislature.

Tennessee: Some statistics on obesity in the state.

INTERNET EXCLUSIVE: Gas Giveaways and Presidential Politics: Mark the date, as our Financial Correspondent Chuck Bates offers President Barack Obama a rare thank-you for proving that market forces still control the oil industry and the price of gasoline at the pump.

Internet Exclusive: Herman Cain for President: Mississippi Tea Party activist Doctor Ed “Doc” Holliday says the only man who stands a chance of defeating President Barack Obama in 2012 is Republican candidate Herman Cain, and he lays out why.

Shelby County Commission: Commission chairman pro tempore Mike Carpenter is now out of the race, so unless a surprise candidate appears in today’s commission meeting, it will be Commission chairman Sidney Chism for the next year. The commission is looking to toughen anti-tagging laws.

Livable Memphis: New crosswalks and pedestrian lights have been installed along the Shelby Farms Greenline along Highland Avenue. The next major leg of the Shelby County Greenline will connect Overton Park to the Farm. More on the electric vehicle charging stations at the Peabody Hotel. A profile of the City-County Office of Sustainability’s Paul Young.

Memphis Ethics Board: Four years after it was constituted, this City watchdog still has only one employee, borrowed equipment and no budget.

Memphis City Council: Representatives of thirteen City unions are meeting this morning for a press conference.

Arkansas: West Memphis police chief Bob Paudert is retiring, to devote his full time to speading the word against the “sovereign citizen” movement, which devastated his family, police force and community; more from WREG. Looking back at Paudert’s career: Fox13, ABC24.

The Attorney General, Dustin McDaniel, wants to sue Forrest City Grocery for selling banned cigarettes. Naturally, with a tax revenue surplus to divvy up, the Legislature is brimming with ideas and demands.

City-County Schools Merger: Shelby County School board president David Pickler says school consolidation could be “held up in courts with appeals for many years to come”.

Shelby County Government: A director in the County Trustee’s office, Anthony Gunn, has been terminated due to issues in a recent background check. He is the brother of Brandon Gunn, who is facing Chancery Court financial and legal troubles of his own.

Strong Cities, Strong Communities: Memphis has been selected for this White House pilot project to “actualize strategies for making Memphis a city of choice”.

Mississippi: The next sales tax holiday will be July 29-30; more from WMC. A Navy airship made a scheduled stop in Tupelo on its run from Hot Springs, AR, to Huntsville, AL. Is the Department of Public Safety countering the clear intent of the new concealed carry law for prosecutors and public defenders?

Business: Manufacturing activity was up slightly in June. A look at the volatility of the restaurant chef/owner scene in Memphis.

Today’s Events, from the Daily News. People on the Move, in the Business Journal. From the Commercial Appeal, People in Business for Sunday and Monday, What to Do for Sunday and Monday, and Property Transfers.

PInnacle Airlines: The new VP and CFO for the corporation is Edward “Ted” Christie. More from the Business Journal and the Daily News.
 
 
 

FedEx: The FAA wants to fine the company for hazardous shipping violations from 2009. More in the Daily News.

Yarnell’s: Long before their sudden closure last month, they had financial issues. The City of Searcy cannot be held liable for their closure, because they gave grants to the company.

Medtronic: Local analysts believe the company’s spinal division, based in Memphis, may be in trouble.

Gasoline: Prices have been falling slightly nationwide lately. But, the current Memphis average is $3.48/gallon. (via MemphisGasPrices.com)

Please, Stop the Heat! A heat advisory remains in effect until 10PM tomorrow; more in the Commercial Appeal. The extreme heat is dangerous, y’all! The Health Department is asking drivers to carpool, to hold down pollution. Thanks to the heat and stagnant air, MATA is again offering twenty-five cents fares today. MATA website here.

Tennessee Media: The Knoxville News-Sentinel, the sister paper to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, is about to launch a new look to its print product.

Memphis International Airport: The major airlines and air freight carriers are happy to try out the NextGen air traffic control system being tested in Memphis.

Internet Exclusive: Is Downtown Up To Snuff? The Main Street Journal’s senior writer, Michael Roy Hollihan, has a little Q&A with the Center City Commission’s Paul Morris about the state of the Downtown, and a few other topics of interest.

Boys in the ‘Hood: Your awwww moment of the day: first haircut.

Dinner Belles: Interesting presentation of some great ideas for watermelon. Print and post on your fridge!

Former Mean Girl Seeks Same: A stuffed animal rescue shelter, because she has “a tender heart and a very vivid imagination”.

I’ll be the one in heels: Just as Mom gets her boy off to college, five new kids drop in, but just for a visit.

Living Loud in Midtown: An interesting Saturday, involving liquor, bikes, Cobb salads, froyo and more, not necessarily in that order.

Tennessean: Governor Bill Haslam could rebuild public trust with greater transparency.

Dick Williams: It’s a little early to rate the governor’s political transparency. (via the Tennessean)

Frank Cagle: Who says conservatives can’t be for conservation, too? (via the Knoxville Metro Pulse)

Knoxville News-Sentinel: Allowing TennCare to cover anti-smoking programs is a good move, politically and ecnomically.

Tom Humphrey: The State Legislature (like others across the nation) is being timid about adopting an internet sales tax, no doubt fearing the voter backlash. (via the Knoxville News-Sentinel)

Dr Manoj Jain: The relationship between doctors, drug company representatives and the pharmaceutical companies is changing. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Wendi C. Thomas: She presumes to speak for MPD officer Tim Warren on what he’d want. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Giving Back: This week, he highlights the Powerlines Community Network. (via the Daily News)

Small Business Adviser: In sales, every encounter, every one, needs your “A” game. (via the Daily News)

Gail Kerr: Nashville Councilman Jamie Hollin’s angry, profane outburt last week at fellow Councilmembers was “entertainment”. (via the Tennessean)

Joe Spake’s Daily Buzz: The rest of the day’s news, from his usual, eclectic sources. He also offers a few tips on effectively using your Google+ stream.

Ronnie Agnew: (via the Desoto Times-Tribune)

David Hampton: The “personhood” amendment won’t outlaw abortion and you can’t change his mind, though he wants to change yours…. (via the Desoto Times-Tribune)

Commercial Appeal: The Space Shuttles were an “essential step” to the stars. When State education cannot meet simple goals, rewrite the goals! Paying an ongoing City expense like employee salaries out of City reserves isn’t a wise course. It’s your government’s job to get you into shape? And it needs more money to protect your natural landscape from you.

Gina Hancock and Michael Reuter: The Nature Conservancy wants Congress to support the Land and Water Conservation Fund. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Shandrian Guinn: The Early Success Coalition is a diverse group, funded by Federal dollars, aiming to reverse the early life negatives of too many Shelby County children. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Stan Joyner: The mayor of Collierville heard the voice of the people loud and clear! (via the Commercial Appeal)

Kevin S. Huffman: The State’s Commissioner of Education notes that TCAP scores statewide did rise and is generous with the credit. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Amy M. Doville: She presents some goals that can be set to begin correcting the myriad of problems at the Memphis Animal Shelter. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Otis L. Sanford: Surprise, surprise, he’s against the death penalty–in a fence-straddly sort of way. (via the Commercial Appeal)