Metro Charter Commission: Their town hall meeting today will be streamed live on the web. More, on the involvement of Leadershiip Academy, MemphisConnect and Rebuild Government. A Commercial Appeal report. Real life experiences with May’s flooding help commission member and Millington Mayor Richard Hodges inform his task force’s approach to governmental relations.

Shelby County Mayor’s Race: Fox13 reports on the Greater Bartlett Council of Neighborhood Associations debate between Sheriff Mark Luttrell and current Interim Mayor Joe Ford. It got heated.

Memphis City Schools: A teacher was assaulted by a student at Trezevant High School. One of the programs funded by the Gates Foundation grant is the Envoy Program; complementary report from the Commercial Appeal. The eight lowest-performing schools in the system may have longer school days beginning next year; more. Chimneyrock Elementary is now officially a City school.

Shelby County Schools: Plans to secure funding for a new Collierville Middle School are underway even though no site has been chosen.

Germantown: Despite citizen complaints, the proposed senior living facility will go forward.

Tennessee: FEMA says Federal assistance in the state has topped $200 million. The State’s criminal recidivism rate actually fell last year!

Memphis: An informative interactive graphic from Forbes magazine showing inbound and outbound migrations to Shelby County. (via Nashville PostBusiness)

Local Media: The new political editor of the Tennessean will be Clint Brewer, formerly of the Ten­nessee Cen­ter for Pol­icy Research, and with extensive Middle Tennessee newspaper experience.

Politics: Next Legislative session will see a vote for a new Speaker of the House to replace Kent Williams and the candidates are already lining up. Nearly two dozen State boards are in danger of sunsetting in a battle over how appointments to those boards are made.

UT’s Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Policy will train students to be poll workers for November’s elections.

The US Seventh Congressional District Democrat, Greg Rabidoux, running against incumbent Republican Marsha Blackburn, has picked up another “obvious” endorsement.

And in the US Eighth Congressional District race, Republican Dr Ron Kirkland has released an ad attacking rival Stephen Fincher on donation claims.

DeSoto County: The first test of the new jail site will be attempting to annex the land the site is on. A look at the candidates for the empty County school board seat. And another look at Olive Branch’s new unkempt lawns law. (previous stories via the DeSoto Times Tribune) More on that law from the Commercial Appeal. Southaven’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen was expected to pass a ban on “synthetic pot”; Horn Lake and Southaven approved. The Foundation for Excellence in Education hopes to raise $50,000 for teachers. And plans to annex the new jail site land have been tabled!

Republican candidate for the US First Congressional District, Alan Nunnelee is touting an 8 point lead over incumbent Democrat Travis Childers.

Governor’s Race: Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam has topped $8 million in fund-raising. The campaign press release. A report from Monday’s Republican gubernatorial forum in Blountsville; more here. Nashville’s Pith in the Wind blog criticises Republican Ron Ramsey’s latest radio ad.

The MED: Local prisoners are now mixed with the other folks waiting in the emergency room.

Heat Wave: Bilingual tips on keeping your pets cool, from La Prensa Latina. The UT Extension Service describes the four warning signs of overheating. No AC at Ridgeway Crossing Apartments. Why fans may not be enough in a Memphis Summer. AC repairmen are jammed up! Hundreds have been calling for free County AC units and fans; more from WMC. Heat shelters have been opened.

Main Street Journal Online Exclusive! Handgun Carry: Following an incident in Bartlett last week, people are asking what’s the law regarding carrying a handgun and when you can use it. Tom Givens, owner of Rangemaster and their chief instructor, gives you answers.

City of Memphis: The administrator who is in charge of City vehicles, Arthur Adams, who was charged with DUI while driving a City vehicle, has now retired.

Downtown: Hedge fund investment marketers Trestle Capital Partners will be moving Downtown if a loan from the Center City Commission is approved.

Cohen v. Herenton: A report on Willie Herenton’s appearance at the Voice of Raleigh and Frayser Community Action Network open town hall meeting. The Commercial Appeal story contains a lot of Cohen talking points.

Plush Club: A hearing on permanently closing the club has been delayed. More from Eyewitness News, WMC.

Memphis Animal Shelter: An update on changes under new director Matt Pepper. Suspended/former veterinarian Angela Middleton is still on the payroll months after suspension. Advisory Board member Cindy Sanders is being sued for libel and harrassment by a night-shift employee.

The First Tee Program: This golf program for teens and kids has been struck by criminals again. You can help them recover.

Bartlett: Last week’s incident at a Little League game involving Nicholis Williams and a gun and “these people” has made the Nashville alt-weekly news. The AP report via Eyewitness News.

Business: Twin Creeks Technologies broke ground on a solar panel manufacturing plant in Senatobia. The property under Memphis Biofuels’ production facility is being auctioned at foreclosure. Better Business Bureau advice on buying and selling gold. Net income was a slight riser for Best Buy in Q1.

Financial regulatory reforms will be bad news for small business.

What to Do and Done Deals in the Commercial Appeal. Memphis Newsmakers and Today’s Events in the Daily News.

Delta Air Lines: They are reporting a 20% jump in per unit revenues this quarter!

Mexican Trade Delegation: A report on the meetings and progress of City leaders and businessmen in Mexico City.

The Aetna Foundation: They and Aetna awarded $101,000 in community grants to four Tennessee recipients.

University of Memphis: A half-million dollar grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services will train 30 school librarians.

West Tennessee: The State is awarding $2.6 million in Safe Routes to School grants to communities across the state. Three more counties (including Obion and Lake) are eligible for Federal natural agricultural disaster aid. Lambuth University has agreed to accept a loan from their prospective investors. Dyer County has received almost $2 million in FEMA aid so far. The Obion County Republican Party is ready to go. Reaction from family and friends on the death of Army Sergeant Israel O’Bryan in Iraq.

Real Estate: Speaking to the Memphis’ Certified Commercial Investment Members, Dr Rajiv Grover, dean of the Fogelman College of Business and Economics, said commercial real estate professionals need to watch for the hurdles to business growth. The largest multifamily deal of the year, Arbors of River Oaks, has sold for $16.3 million.

Previously Posted: More on the Memphis Zoo approaching their one millionth visitor.

Arkansas: Ten airports around the state will share a $1.2 million grant. Scientists are studying the campground where so many died in flooding over the weekend. Six properties have been added to the National Registry of Historic Places.

Vegan Crunk: She went to Bonnaroo for her paper and you get to see some great pictures.

theology & geometry: She’s coping and wincing. She also posts some vignettes from her weekend in her sister’s hospital room.

The Soundcheck and the Fury: His rule on literary rules.

The Ominous Comma: Brent appears on a pocast talking about his faith.

Lori Turner: Experiential marketing can make for memorable experiences for your brand. (via the Daily News)

Commercial Appeal: It’s hot out there. Race to the Top funds won’t be enough to turn the schools around.

The Chockley Blogs: Another Memphis family on a Gulf vacation.

The Chubby Vegetarian: Making purslane pesto. Is this right on time: lavender, peach and honey ice cream?

The Lynnster Zone: Trust me, it’s all part of your cat’s master plan.

The MakeShift Revolution: Watching as a family tradition/trait is passed down right before her eyes. Some Summer reading for moms.

Gilmour Girl Goes Memphis: A quick one while she’s away.

at home she feels like a tourist: She takes the Twitter plunge, though how her eloquence will get squished into 140 characters will be interesting.

One Half Amazing! What is HTML5 and why you should care.

Pretty in Pink Megan: Some Apple iPhone fail.

Rustmeister’s Alehouse: Your politics quote of the day.

Shaun Fossett: Thoughts on the rollout of HD newscasts on local television.

Smart City Memphis: Sharon Goldsworthy for Metro Mayor? Thoughts on a re-borning Memphis City Schools.

Student: Revisited: Finding the simple, perfect moments of the day. You Flannery OConnor fans will appreciate this.

Speak to Power: Video of Prince Mongo fro 1981.

Notes from Memphis: Photos from a Lebanese beach.

I Love Memphis: Eleven ways to stay cool this Summer in Memphis. Luncha t the Thyme Bistro.