On the Block: A new bi-weekly feature on the Main Street Journal website, where we ask local leaders about important issues of the day. This week: Do politicians from West Tennessee start with a location advantage or a location disadvantage in state-wide races?

Collierville: The City is expected to slightly lower their property tax rate while increasing trash collection fees and dipping into the Reserve Fund. This Saturday, the Parks and Recreation Department is hosting the ‘Tennis Block Party’.

City of Memphis: More on the cuts to the Memphis Police Department proposed by Mayor Herenton.

MSARC: The Flyer with a summary of the current situation.

Pinnacle Airlines: Pilots picketed the shareholders’ meeting, protesting lack of a contract and a pay raise. More in the Commercial Appeal.
 

Politics: Were you aware of State House bill 0484 (and Senate bill 0113), sponsored by Shelby County’s own representatives G. A. Hardaway and Ron Lollar that would make it a felony to “annoy or alarm” or “cause distress” to a minor via phone, email or other communication? (Bill link.) Governor Phil Bredesen is still mum on the gun bills on his desk. The interstate direct wine sales bill is too. More on that in the CA. Rep. Karen Camper has gone back to the hospital in Nashville. Governor Bredesen signed into law a bill preventing jails from being decertified under particular circumstances.

The Flyer’s Jackson Baker profiles Shelby County DA, and governor’s candidate for the Republican Party, Bill Gibbons. Also, a look at the naming of Richard Holden as the new Election Commission administrator.

The State House passed a bill holding adults liable for underage (ie. 18 - 20) drinking on their property; more from Fox13 and WMC. The House has also delayed a $50 incurance surcharge for State employees who smoke. A controversial bill in the House seeks to remove limits for individual campaign contributions.

The State Senate has approved a bill that revises the state’s water laws. The bill to require a paper audit trail on State voting machines is advancing, but may be delayed because of cost concerns.

Beale Street: One of three cases involving the entertainment district has been transferred to the judge also handling the oldest and largest case of the three.

Crime: The number of license plate stickers being stolen is rising. A report from the Midtown Security Community meeting last night.

Memphis and Shelby County Airport Authority: The Board of Commissioners approved a smaller budget for 2010. Much more in the Commercial Appeal.

Millington: Board of Mayor and Alderman hold open meetings on closing Civic Center, but public interest is low.

DeSoto County: Nearly $300,000 in US Dept. of Energy money will help the County to retool buildings and revamp procedures to make the County ‘greener’. Memorial Day weekend means lots of travellers on the road, and that means extra police and sheriffs out on patrol!

Cotton Museum: It will expand into new space in the Cotton Exchange Building, beginning in September.

Good Morning Memphis: The Block Party for Peace is this weekend, beginning at the K-Mart parking lot on Austin-Peay. The Memphis Pink Palace Museum, Planetarium and the Lichterman Nature Center are offering free and special trial memberships this summer! Answers to questions on pedestrian injuries. Health care reform for kids.

The MED: New cost-cutting measures aggressively target employee benefits.

Mississippi: Tay Berryhill, a 16 year old 10th grader, is already a successful businessman! Governor Haley Barbour met this week with a Chinese trade delegation. The University of Mississippi has narrowed the field of candidates for chancellor down to a short list.

David Kernell / Sarah Palin: The lawyer for the young man charged with hacking Governor Palin’s email account last year — David Kernell, son of Memphis Democrat and State Rep. Mike Kernell — now claims Kernell is innocent and no crime was committed.

“A Healthy Baby Begins With You”: The Tri-State Defender has a report on some of this week’s activities in the campaign against infant mortality.

Memphis City Schools: Rossville Elementary’s portable classrooms will be demolished and a new $7 million wing built. A hopeful-sounding report from the Ad Hoc Committee meeting on school funding, from WREG and another from the CA. And a report on the brainstorming session trying to win a Gates Foundation grant for the school system.

Business: Humana has moved their TN operations from Memphis to Brentwood. Wright Medical Group has settled 29 of 33 lawsuits in Virginia.

People in Business, from the CA.

First United Methodist Church: Rev. Martha B. Wagley is set to retire next month from the Downtown church devastated by fire in 2006.

FedEx: A bill in the US House, the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act seems to grant favors to the unions the company has to (or now may have to) deal with.

The Mystery Plane: If you were curious about the cargo plane circling downtown on Thursday, it was part of a Homeland Security test on missile defenses.

Local Media: Memphis will get its first FM-sports radio station when WMFS 93.9 (93X) becomes ESPN 92.9. It will simulcast ESPN 680 AM for the time being. Mediaverse reports on the May sweeps ratings for the Memphis market. Former WMC anchor Bill Lunn has taken a job in Minneapolis / St Paul with an ABC affiliate.

Sisterhood Showcase: The 14th Annual Showcase and Summit for black women begins June 6.

Tennessee: The state’s unemployment rate for April rose to 9.9%; more from Fox13, WMC and the CA. Tennessee Healthcare, an activist group supporting State health insurance, says CoverTN doesn’t provide enough for sufficient health care coverage. More on the twenty acre solar farm being built in Haywood County.

Dr Martin Luther King Biopic: At least two of his children claim they have not signed on to the project.

Girls Inc.: A select exhibition of photos from an arts program will be displayed at Memphis Brooks Museum of Art through the end of the month.

Tennessee Rural Opportunity Fund: Program that provides growth capital for rural areas wins national recognition.

Overton Square: A report from the informational meeting held by Memphis Heritage last night.

Summer Fun: Here are some of the schedules, rules and guidelines for the City’s public pools.

Real Estate: Mortgage rates remain low. Foreclosures in Shelby County declined almost 8% over last year. Also, the foreclosure crisis is hitting all sectors of the community. United Housing is an agency to help borrowers and homeowners in every step of the process to avoid foreclosures.

Center City Commission: The question of allowing cars again on Main Street is expected to come up in today’s meeting.

Survey Says: According to Relocation.com, Memphis is the 19th ranked “Best Cities for a Fresh Start.” Is it a sign of coming recovery? The Index of Leading Economic Indicators is up slightly; more in the Daily News.

Arkansas: The State Supreme Court is hearing arguments in the case involving 14 school districts and school funding. The director of the Highway and Transportation Dept. says the State needs $200 million just to keep pre-existing roads in good repair. This year’s deer season had the largest number harvested in ten years.

Squeaky Wheel Seeks Grease: Planning for the Memphis blogger meetup continues. Join in!

Smart City Memphis: A look at smarter infrastructure thanks to Shelby County Engineer Mike Oakes.

a field guide to urban memphis: She reports on a rumored new ordinance to tighten up hard on downtown panhandlers.

Downtown Memphis Blog: Did this end up on the news last night?

From the Rainbows: Well, someone has sure had a busy, busy week.

Love is a Movement: Here’s a great watering tip for your garden.

moremittenz: If it weren’t for bad luck, she’d have no luck at all.

My Midtown Memphis: It seems the owners and potential developers of the Overton Square property aren’t dealing straight with Memphis Heritage.

Persian Pit Bull: Three totally adorable puppies looking for homes.

quite swimmingly: Vintage tattoo-inspired fragrances?

Commercial Appeal: Credit card reforms in Congress both give and harm. The region needs to find a way to pay for a billion-dollar third bridge over the Mississippi River.

vibinc: A call for accountability in government versus the barbarism. And thoughts on the abortion restriction amendment.

The Daily Docket: A rant on women’s takeover of government. Where was State Senator Jim Kyle on the vote over the abortion restriction bill? And a radical suggestion to improve Memphis in May.

Vegan Crunk: Bacon made from shiitake mushrooms? And, an interesting vegetarian (vegan?) lasagna.

Gary Robinson: The Commercial Appeal’s online news editor says the paper is trying to adapt to the new audience they have in the Internet Age. (via the Commercial Appeal)

autumne reflections: A thumbnail of an apartment can be better than the largest empty palace.

John Branston: He looks at the delay in naming a new Federal prosecutor for West Tennessee. (via the Memphis Flyer)

Ramblings of a River City Resident: Someone’s going to New Orleans this weekend.