Metro Charter Commission: Two taxing districts and a division of services in those districts are being hammered out.

City of Memphis: The City will open its first dog park this Saturday; more from the Commercial Appeal and Fox13. Higher waste fees and a whole new sanitation scheme may be in the works. Will competition with private business make public employees work harder? Don’t forget that you must register for City public pools; more from Fox13.

MATA: North Memphis Route 7 may not be cut after MATA officials actually ride it and see real passengers. A daycare van driver involved in a crash with a city bus may have been texting while driving.

Memphis Heritage: They are now playing catch-up and “wait wait” with events regarding the Union Avenue Methodist Church.

MLG&W: An effort to include free prescription discount cards in your utility bill runs afoul of the utility’s policy.

Meritan: This non-profit child-placement agency is being investigated by the Department of Children and Family Services over concerns about child health and safety.

County Mayoral Race: Sheriff Mark Luttrell is hoping to restore the Sheriff’s autonomy under the new charter rules.

Politics: Details of the compromises that broke the State budget impasse. The Senate passes the budget bill, 30-3.

Although it passed in the State Senate, the “super speeder” bill died in the House. Compromise language in the “English-only workplace” bill was stripped out just before passage Thursday; more from the Tennessean. Background on the failed anti-income tax consttutional amendment; State Senator Brian Kelsey blames a member of the House. Both houses vote to liberalise “liquor by the drink” licenses. The bill to set the duties of County election administrators fell one vote short. And the Senate passed the bill (already passed by the House) to make violent criminals serve more time while easing and broadening choices for other criminals. They also rolled back the fees for nurses’ licenses.

School districts that received “Race to the Top” funds now have to figure out what it’s demands for “bold and innovative programs” means.

Stanford Group: The judge decides to stay out of the squabble over whether or not the insurance company has to pay the legal fees of four of the defendants.

Cohen v. Herenton: The Flyer’s Jackson Baker calls Willie Herenton’s appearance last week at Cohen HQ a “red herring”.

Memphis FBI: More on the appointment of Amy Hess as the new local office chief.
 
 
 

Tennessee: The deadline to register for FEMA assistance related to last month’s storms and flooding is July 1. Claiming tax deductions from the storms and flooding! The Teacher Evaluation Advisory Committee meets tomorrow to hear input from educators on “Race to the Top” evaluations. The State is having massive and controversial problems with its computer system. Hundreds of veterans will get permanent housing assistance thanks to a HUD grant.

St Jude Children’s Research Hospital: They were rated the number one children’s cancer hospital in the nation; more from WMC, Eyewitness News and Fox13.

Previously Posted: More on the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis. Defense attorneys for Jessie Dotson want only black-and-white photos of the crime scene used.

Desoto County: After Horn Lake passed a new signage ordinance, now comes the permit fees to pay for it. Hernando mayor Chip Johnson is objecting to a late site addition in the search for property for the new County jail. Experts from MS State University are making their pond expertise available to pond owners.

MAIN STREET JOURNAL Online: Long-time contributing Finances & Economics writer Chuck Bates, host of News & Views on the Information Radio Network, has his column, On The Money, available on the website. Read it here.

Shelby County Commission: Fighting over the too-high property tax rate between Interim Mayor Joe Ford and County Commissioner Mike Carpenter, who wants to lower it. More on the battle from Eyewitness News. Taypayer reaction. The Commission is scaling back plans to widen East Holmes Road after residents have been waiting … for 35 years! A massive overhaul of the County’s IT department is called for, but will it happen?

Downtown: The Grizzlies Academy says it’s closing but school board policy says it must stay open another year? More from WREG, Fox13.

Cleaborn Homes: The Tri-State Defender looks into the changes to come.

Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce: They will be hosting a “Red Carpet Tour” of the city for businesses and trade publications next week.

Arkansas: Senator Blanche Lincoln, in a tight primary race, is touting her “truth test”. More very small earthquakes in Faulkner County.

Eighth Congressional District Race: Elder dean of the political scene Jackson Baker looks at the major party candidates in the race. (Independent, tea party, candidate Donn Janes is conspicuously missing.) Democrat Roy Herron compares his campaign to his ol’ trusty pickup truck.

National PTA: At their annual convention next weekend, here in Memphis, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will speak.

Summer Health Fair: Cosponsored by the Tri-State Defender and the Orange Mound Community Center, this “Family Fun Day” in July will focus on family health.

Mississippi: The State Insurance Commissioner is warning consumers about a Tennessee-based company, American Trade Association.

Turrell: The mayor, Franklin Lockhart, has been charged with eight counts of malfeasance by State prosecutors.

Business: Three things Memphis needs to be a great city. If your bank is sending you reminders on making a choice, be sure to read them!

Iuka’s Alliant Techsystems is canceling its expansion. May sales for Fred’s were up. The former Artisan Hotel at Union and McLean is now the Country Hearth Inn & Suites.

A professional profile of Trish McLaughlin of Red Rover Sales and Marketing. and another profile of Jay Oliphant of Dixon Hughes PLLC, both in the Daily News.

What to Do This Weekend, from the CA, and People in Business.

Delta Air Lines: Customers will no longer pay certain SkyMile award ticket redemption fees. Further reports from the Commercial Appeal.

FedEx: A look at the same-sex benefits they now offer.

Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare: The physicians and employees of the Sutherland Cardiology Clinic will become associates later this Summer. More on the merger from the Daily News and the Commercial Appeal.

Imperial Lanes: The old bowling lanes appear to be coming down in favor of a strip mall.

Governor’s Race: Republican Zach Wamp uses quotes to show the TN Valley Corridor was what attracted VW to the state. But he did use taxpayer funds to pay for some summits. All four major candidates say, if elected, they’ll continue the tradition of the governor’s breakfast with legislative leaders. Democrat Mike McWherter has kicked off his “Mike Works Tour”.

Real Estate: The Memphis foreclosure rate for April was 2.2%. CVS Pharmacies has signed a deal for the former Memphis Area Home Builders Association site.

Survey Says: Economists with the University of Tennessee say the economic recovery is underway but job recovery is years away.

Ansley Fones: The summer with no summer.

Commercial Appeal: John Calipari’s generosity earns points with them. Turning City school funding into a civil rights issue.

Brian Clay: He proposes a People’s Debate in the Ninth Congressional District. (via the Tri-State Defender)

JoeAnn Ballard: Parenting begins in the womb. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Ask Myron: Remembrances of two people he’ll remember. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Reginald Tate: The State Senator argues we shouldn’t cut State infant mortality programs. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Bernal E. Smith II: Leave aside the Cohen-Herenton theatrics and focus instead on the real community issues. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Dan Conaway: How ’bout them Memphis … Gars? (via the Daily News)

Former Mean Girl Seeks Same: Just when she thought life was safe….

Gilmour Girl Goes Memphis: Similarly, finding the positives in the negatives.

Garage Sale of Ignorance: From the depths of hiatus, a hilarious FAQ for the blog.

Left Wing Cracker: His party’s biggest takeover in decades and he’s still not happy. A (borrowed) goodbye to Liberadio(!).

Memphis Outsider: Burke’s Bookstore turns 125. Yep, you read that right. 1-2-5.

Reginald Milton’s A Fresh Look: Why did the Memphis Police OK the tv show Police Women?

West Tennessee Conservative: He’s critical of 8th District candidate Dr Ron Kirkland’s failure to disclose a number of issues he’s facing.

The Lynnster Zone: She writes passionately and angrily about a beating and death in Knoxville.