The Cohen Town Hall Meeting: The Memphis Watchdog, and Main Street Journal contributing writer, Joe Saino was at the town hall meeting and files his own report.

State Senator Jim Kyle: He announced his bid for governor today, from Memphis. Lots of local politicos were present. More on the announcement from Fox13, WMC, Eyewitness News, Daily News and the Commercial Appeal.

US Senator Bob Corker: He made a whirlwind tour through the Mid-South on Tuesday. A report from Covington. And the Commercial Appeal also reports.

Memphis’ Next Mayor: WREG is doing profiles of the major candidates for the mayor’s office. So far: Charles Carpenter, former Herenton aide and campaign manager; and Carol Chumney, former City Councilwoman and previous mayoral candidate.

Remington College: The school of cosmetology is offering free haircuts for kids from August 17 to 29.

Politics: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ward Cammack released a 39-page plan to bring economic prosperity. And Republican candidate Zach Wamp is also out campaigning. Shelby County District Attorney and also Republican candidate for governor Bill Gibbons says message trumps money.

A report from the Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber of Commerce coffee meeting with some State legislators taking questions. (via the Dyersburg State Gazette)

SoFo: A new “four star hotel” is coming to the “South of the FedEx Forum” area downtown being called SoFo.

Tennessee: A new record as the State reports twelve straight months of below-expectations revenue collections; more in the Business Journal, WMC. The Highway Patrol is warning motorists in rural areas to watch out for school busses. The US Dept of Education is granting the TN Dept of Education $22 million for charter schools.

Beale Street: The forensic audit has determined that $6.4 million in profits (just from 2002 to 2008!) was never reported.

Arkansas: A judge is requiring the wife of carbombing suspect Dr Randeep Mann to move their guns from their house, which an expert says isn’t cheap. The State Republican Party is promising all four US Congressional districts will have open town hall meetings on health care. Some are celebrating because the last of the payday lender businesses is gone from the state. More on Helen Harris, former West Memphis councilwoman who was arrested. Lawmakers are delaying approval of a lotto contract.

University of Memphis: Whether you eat there or not, you still have to pay campus dining fees and that is making some angry. A progress report on three new campus facilities undergoing construction for the 2010 school year.

June Storms: FEMA is in town to assess damages.

Financial: SunTrust is paying the US Treasury Dept $66 million. First Tennessee Home Loans has rehired Greg Ellenburg as West TN sales manager, the post he once held.

Foreclosure: There are so many foreclosed properties in the city that courts and agencies tasked with cleaning them up can’t keep up.

Bass, Berry & Sims: Working Mother magazine has named them one of the best law firms for women.

Christ Community Health Services: They are adding dental clinics at two fo their centers.

DeSoto County: Kudzu Playhouse is hosting a fundraiser for the Hernando Performing Arts Center on August 22. More reporting but still few details on the settlement between the ACLU and Southaven police about an incident involving black schoolchildren.

NEW! Main Street Journal August Issue: Now celebrating our fourth year as Memphis’ premier newsmagazine. The Table of Contents for the August issue is now online for you to peruse.

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!

Memphis City Schools: Superintendent Dr Kriner Cash tell parents “Get your kids to school”. Parents are still upset with the school bus route changes. And parents are driving their kids to school.

Fire Departments: City Mayor Pro-tem Myron Lowery and Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton are hoping to consolidate both fire departments.

Collierville: More on the City’s vote to allow gun carry in public parks and the greentrail. More from the Commercial Appeal.

Business: Aaron’s Office Furniture is opening their first store in Hickory Hill, on Winshester. TBC Corp., taking advantage of incentives, is keeping its offices in Florida. Wunderlich Securities is calling off its acquisition of Anderson & Strudwick Inc.

A professional profile of Elizabeth G. Rudolph, of the Jurex Center for Legal Nurse Consulting, from the Daily News.

People in business, from the Daily News. And, People in Business, from the CA.

Ripley: The city is fighting the recession with a civic makeover downtown and installing WiFi citywide.

Victorian Village: Thanks to a grant from three local agencies, they will partner with the University of Memphis to train “ambassadors” for the Village.

Southern Lodging Summit @ Memphis: That’s the new name for the conference coming on August 18 and 19.

West Memphis 3: Testimony from a forensic pathologist in the hearing for a retrial of two of the convicted murderers.

Baptist Memorial Health Care: They are proposing to expand their facility in Oxford, MS.

Germantown: A Georgia firm is hoping to rezone land on Poplar as retirement housing. Farmington Elementary has won national awards for its focus on health.

Bartlett: Property owner donates fifteen acres and change to the City.

Indie Memphis: They have met the requirements of their ArtsMemphis challenge grant and are halfway to their fundraising goal. More here.

Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce: A report from Tuesday’s legal advice forum for small business.

EmergeMemphis: More on their partnership with the Center City Revenue Finance Corp. to raise $500,000 for a major expansion.

Visible School Music and Worship Arts College: They will be holding fundraiser concerts in living rooms across the area as they try to raise the capital for a new office. Website here.

Survey Says: Online searches for health insurance information have jumped lately. Hiring is up for the second half of 2009! Productivity rose in Q2, while labor costs plummet. Wholesale inventories fell for the 10th straight month. Back to school spending is expected to be lower this year.

theology & geometry: Liking and hating the information overload of the internet.

(Lang Wiseman) Random Thoughts: He continues his series on health care reform by looking at the underlying issues.

Rustmeister’s Alehouse: He survived the colonoscopy.

The Conservative Zone: He’s been busier than “the proverbial one-armed wallpaper hanger”.

String of Theories: A friend was right there when Monday’s suicide at the Peabody Hotel happened.

LeftWing Cracker: Opposing Jim Kyle for governor because he opposes an income tax. Best speech ever, though.

Sassy Molassy: Going back to school from the teacher’s perspective.

Moments in Time: Janet and Jason take baby Natalie to church for her dedication.

Ramblings of a River City Resident: A rant on Republicans, populism, Andrew Sullivan and Wal-Mart! Also, off to law school.

Persian Pit Bull: Dog blogging.

Reginald Milton’s A Fresh Look: He’s upset with Comcast moving MSNBC to the hoity-toity digital tier and muses on the politics of it.

Geoff Calkins: Young couple moves to town, experiences Memphis crime, decides to get the heck out. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Burt Waller: Community health centers already provide excellent models of health care reform. (via the Commercial Appeal)

what would you ax it? Once again, Dave eats strange and repellent foods just for you and photographs the process. (Mild language alert.)

dminmem: Some painful personal memories of life with a dangerous dad.

autumne reflections: A report from Saturday’s Journey concert, what she saw of it. Meaningful connections with people, 140 characters at a time.

Commontaries: Some critical observations about the Cohen town hall.

Bigger Than Your Head: Frederic picks his wine of the week.

16 Balls in the Air: More back to school bittersweetness.

Blue Collar Republican: Liberals and conservatives may have common cause. Did Rep. Steve Cohen miss something at his town hall meeting. Thoughts on Collierville’s vote to allow gun carry in public parks. And a report from Sen. Bob Corker’s appearance at an Oakland town hall.

Crime in Memphis: Correcting a point in a Commercial Appeal article.

Lean Left: An easy to forget observation on bloggers.

I’ll be the one in heels: Some more from her high school reunion. And a trip to the old high school.

Commercial Appeal: Approving the merger of the City and County Fire Departments. State shouldn’t give up on solar power industry.

Joy’s Life and Times: Her first Ironman is drawing near.