Jeff Sanford, Center City Commission: Sanford’s address to the Commission’s annual luncheon two weeks ago caused a buzz. But it’s been hard to find more than excerpts, until now. Thanks to the CCC, the Main Street Journal is proud to present the full text of his address!

Our Next Mayor: Candidate Jerry “The King” Lawler has put out his platform. More on the Berje Yacoubian poll, though still not the actual numbers; his poll does appear flawed, though. City Councilman Kemp Conrad has announced he’s not running; addition reports from the Flyer. Candidate Charles Carpenter will put his campaign office in Whitehaven, at the Whitehave Plaza.

The Shelby County Democratic Party’s Executive Party has turned down a call for a “People’s Convention” for forcibly narrow the field of mayoral candidates, at least among Democrats.

Town Hall Meetings: Mayor Pro-tem Myron Lowery is holding one this afternoon at City Hall. Here are the three main ones, if you want to attend. A somewhat related story from Fox13 about the closing of community health clinics.

Tax Holiday! Today through Sunday, certain items are exempt from State sales taxes.

Second Amendment: Metro Nashville has now banned gun carry in public parks.

Politics: Only nine days after he announced as a candidate for State Senator Paul Stanley’s seat in the upcoming special election, Rep. Brian Kelsey has raised over $100,000! State Senator Jim Kyle is proposing an update to campaign finance laws, due to the rise of the internet; more in the Commercial Appeal. Could US Rep. Bart Gordon (6th District) lose his seat in 2010? US Rep. John Tanner (8th District) is going to conduct town hall meetings by invitation-only tele-conferencing.

The Flyer’s Jackson Baker surveys the state political scene. And, his epic cover story on the upcoming mayoral election.

The Former Mayors: The Daily News’ Bill Dries looks at the “passing parade” of present and former mayors and how they have been perceived.

Collierville: New street signs are going up warning auto and truck drivers to watch out for motorcycles.

Fayette County: WMC interviews the County School Superintendent, Myles Wilson.

National Civil Rights Museum: More recipients of the Freedom Awards are announced, including Julius “Dr J” Irving and the Dalai Lama. Merlie Evers-Williams was previously announced. More in the Commercial Appeal, Fox13, WREG, Eyewitness News.

“Cash for Clunkers”: The US Senate will keep the program running with an additional $2 billion in funding.

Tennessee: A Court of Appeal has ruled that Corrections Corporation of America, who manage the State’s prisons, are covered by the State’s open records law.

Glankler Brown: Sixteen attorneys from the firm were announed as winners of the 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Survey Says: As reflected in a magazine survey, the nation’s CEOs are losing confidence.

Dr Trent Pierce: He attended his first State Medical Board meeting since the car bomb attack.
 

Census: It’s coming up next year and a lot’s at stake.

Mississippi: Governor Haley Barbour is urging spending restraint as State revenues fall well below projections in brand-new fiscal year.

University of Memphis: Noticing a sharp drop in female enrollment, the computer science department is holding Computational Thinking Camp for Girls, a summer computing camp for girls.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis: They are growing their staff in advance of two major housing projects coming up later this year.

Memphis City Schools: Superintendent Kriner Cash makes public his data-rich, detailed presentation of what he sees as the problems and solutions for the school system. A must-read for everyone!

The teacher’s union is complaining about increased work expectations for high school teachers. Also, First Student, which handles MCS school busses, has laid off 170 part-time workers, as the system closes bus routes. Parents are upset at the major changes being made so close to the start of the school year.

City Hall Investigations: City Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Wanda Halbert has denied asking for an “ethics investigation” from City Attorney Elbert Jefferson of then-fellow Councilman Myron Lowery. More stories from the Commercial Appeal, Fox13, WREG, Eyewitness News.

A related story as WMC looks at the future difficulties Mayor Lowery might have with an evenly split City Council. And, taxpayers will once again foot the bill for the Lowery / Jefferson dispute.

Local Media: The Commercial Appeal is advertising for new citizen members of their editorial board. Comcast has taken some more channels into the digital box zone.

Memphis and Those Lists: According to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis per-capita income in the Memphis statistical metro area rose 1.7%. We’re number 107!

MLG&W: The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union complained about a plan to hire outside, non-union, workers at yesterday’s board meeting and so the plan is delayed.

Real Estate: Local home sales are improving. Beware of a foreclosure scam popping up around the Mid-South.

Office Suites PLUS: They are unveiling a new program for “downsized” workers, who will be given a free office for 90 days!

Business: Mid-America Apartment Communities had a good second quarter. Medtronic won a California patent infringement suit to the tune of $37 million; more in the Daily News. Profits and revenues were up in Comcast’s second quarter. But for Verso, they saw a one-third decline in net sales. Bad news for Fred’s all around, as July, 2Q and year-to-date sales all declined. Cotton king Dunavant Enterprises may be bought out by rival Allenberg Cotton; more in the Daily News, the Commercial Appeal. Applegarth Books, a Millington book store, is doubling its size. Comcast’s 2Q profits rose an impressive 53%.

The Commercial Appeal looks at “seasoned workers”.

A professional interview with Shantelle Leatherwood, of Christ Community Health Services, from the Daily News.

People in Business, from the CA.

DeSoto County: Baptist Memorial Hospital - Desoto and T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability are jointly opening a facility in Southaven for assistive technology and driving rehab for those with disability. A District Court has ruled the DeSoto jail cannot take any more State prisoners, due to overcrowding. A grant from Entergy helps the public library’s Bookmobile meet with pre-schoolers; more from WMC. The County school system has agreed to reroute certain busses along narrow roads; more on WREG.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference: From the Tri-State Defender, a review of the week’s activities.

“Total Woman” Women’s Conference: Coming this Saturday and themed “No More Boundaries”, it will include a range of presentations and workshops.

Riverkings: The schedule for the 2009 - 2010 season has been set. Team website.

Doug Johnson at Work: This post is, well… a potpourri.

Vegan Crunk: A whole day of salads and not a leaf of lettuce?

Urf! Sometimes they just don’t want to go to daycare.

The Tale of a Southern Belle: A warning to parents about your children’s photos online.

MemphisConnect: It’s the water, baby! Five interesting & unique places to shop. Later this month, plan for a huge party!

Commercial Appeal: Memphis City Schools need to do a better job communicating changes to parents. If Mayor Lowery sees opportunities to act, he should, but with more tact and mindfulness.

Geoff Calkins: He gets an early, private tour of the Mayor of Memphis’ seventh floor office. (via the Commercial Appeal)

John Branston: He advises Mayor Lowery to lose some weight. (via the Memphis Flyer)

The Rant: Can we get a national ban on driving while using a cell phone? (via the Memphis Flyer)

John Branston: The mayoral race is going to be a six ticket ride. (via the Memphis Flyer)

Jen-sized: Out of frustration is born … positive thinking.

Left Wing Cracker: He’s urging people to pay attention to the cobblestones.

Xspectre8: Man vs. catfish. And, health problems.

Friends for Our Riverfront: What’s wrong with this picture?

Rev Dr Deborah Burson Smith: Returning to Memphis after thirty years was a saddening challenge. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Fore Left! An interesting map of average July temps nationwide.

ForkBombr: Comcast internet users, this is what changed for you. A warning if you’re thinking of upgrading to Windows 7.

Author of Y’all’s Destruction: Cat blogging.

Dr David M. Mirvis: Arguments in favor of “expanding” health care coverage. (via the Commercial Appeal)

A View From the Middle: You can’t beat this for fresh: reviewing the movie 500 Days of Summer right outside the theater!

BEEB: A rather peculiar lunch date.

vibinc: Another plea for mayoral candidates to talk about issues. Some pointers to Memphis and Tennessee political blogs.

(Lang Wiseman) Random Thoughts: A couple of dangling questions from the Lowery / Jefferson dust-up. Part four of his series on healthcare reform, this one on the uninsured.

The Conservative Zone: Awwww… his first home emergency.

String of Theories: A quick and simple recipe for tilapia with lemon/peppercorn sauce.