Cohen v. Herenton: US Rep. Steve Cohen and former Memphis mayor Willie Herenton actually talk real issues and solutions!

The Wharton Administration: On the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Mayor’s Advisory Council for Citizens with Disabilities is working to help the disabled participate fully. With money from the NEA, the City will study creating living and studio space for artists. The Memphis Preservation Plan seeks to identify and protect many of Memphis’ older structures and buildings.

Memphis City Schools: How the Gates Foundation came to select Memphis for their education grants. More on the tightening standards of school tests. Additional Federal money, this time from the Student Leadership Program.

Shelby County Elections: The Shelby County Democratic Party is suing M. Latroy Williams, Charlotte Draper, the Memphis Democratic Party of TN and the Shelby County Democratic Club, for misleading campaign literature. More from the Commercial Appeal. The Tennessee Equality Project and the local Sierra Club have endorsed Interim County Mayor Joe Ford. The Flyer’s Jackson Baker reports on the marquee races and the down-ballot races. WKNO-FM looks at the County mayoral race, which is lately mostly congenial.

Shelby County Schools: Registration Day is August 3. (via the Collierville Independent)

DeSoto County: Those pink trash cans in Southaven are a “huge success”. Too successful, it turns out.

Local Media: Publisher Bernal E. Smith II says the Tri-State Defender will announce plans for growth and new products at a reception Monday.

Tax Holidays: Two coming up: Mississippi this weekend and Tennessee the next! More details on Mississippi, from Fox13 and the Commercial Appeal.

Binghampton Farmers Market: They are preparing for their September 4 opening.

Politics: Just how much influence does the tea party movement have on TN Republicans?

In the Eighth Congressional District, Democrat Roy Herron has a new ad, and it has a truck! Republican Stephen Fincher’s self-infusion of $250,000 into his campaign is, predictably, generating new attacks. Dr Ron Kirkland’s brother Robert has spent $1.2 million on the doctor’s campaign! A report from the Dyersburg State Gazette on a Kirkland campaign stop.

Wells Fargo: They are holding a free, two-day workshop next weekend for homeowners with Wells mortgages who need help.

Bartlett: Mayor Keith McDonald was elected to the board of directors of the Tennessee Municipal League. (via the Bartlett Express)

Governor’s Race: Republican Zach Wamp has a new ad out, featuring Bill Haslam critic Rusty Criminger. Democrats have taken the words of the Republican candidates and turned them into an ad of their own. And Democrat Mike McWherter says Bill Haslam is lying about a State income tax; Haslam promises no income tax. The Wall Street Journal runs a story called Zach Wamp’s Rebel Yell. Zach Wamp’s latest ad, with the Criminger ad. Republican Ron Ramsey responds to questions at a Cookeville forum, including some on his critique of Islam. The AP’s Erik Schelzig looks at the personal campaigning style of the three Republicans. Zach Wamp has joined the US Congressional Tea Party Caucus. Richard Locker in the Commercial Appeal has a round-up and some scheduled stops in the Mid-South.

Andy Sher of the Chattanooga Times Free Press interviews oddball candidate Basil Marceaux, a Republican darling of the Democratic pundits.

Financial: BancorpSouth has declared a quarterly dividend.

Lifeblood: Their “Pint for a Pint” campaign starts Sunday.

UPDATED! Main Street Journal Online: Senior writer Michael Roy Hollihan sits down with County Commission District 5 candidate Dr Rolando Toyos and introduces him to voters in The Swing Seat. And now, County Commissioner Steve Mulroy responds!

NEW! Main Street Journal Online Exclusive: State Rep. Mark White: He explains why he’s travelling to Arizona with a copy of the TN State resolution on their immigration law.

Shelby Farms Park: A Conservancy search committee has put forward Laura Adams for the new executive director, replacing Rick Masson.

Mississippi: Governor Haley Barbour wants to hold off on suing BP so as not to endanger current claims and settlements.

Shelby County Register of Deeds: Former employee Regina Daniel has been charged with theft and official misconduct. More reports from Fox13, WREG and the Commercial Appeal.

Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare: They have won a State Certificate of Need for their 100 bed hospital in Olive Branch. More reports from the Daily News, the Desoto Times Tribune, WMC and the Commercial Appeal.

Metro Charter Commission: The public showed little interest in their public presentations. Only three meetings to go before they must have a completed proposal. To help sell their proposal, they have approved a “five year tax ceiling” for the new entity.

Arizona: TN legislators, including Germantown’s Mark White (R-Dist. 83), are going to Arizona to present their governor with a copy of the TN resolution supporting their immigration law. Nine legislators are now signed up. Be sure to read the “online exclusive” above. State Democrats are critical of the trip.

Tennessee: The State Library and Archives will build an online database of Civil War battlefields. Governor Phil Bredesen signed an executive order implementing the STEM Innovation Network, encouraging science and engineering education. More on the Department of Education’s approval of the State’s Race to the Top budget.

Business: Memphis is one of two finalists for a Jabil Global Services industrial expansion. Highwoods Properties’ funds from operations beat analysts’ expectations. Hamilton Beach Brands is moving from Memphis to Olive Branch; more from the Daily News and the Commercial Appeal. California’s Soladigm, Inc., which makes “smart” windows, is moving to Olive Branch, bringing 350 jobs; more from Eyewitness News. Thirty-six jobs to be outsourced by Hilton Worldwide.

In the Commercial Appeal, Achievements in Business. Today’s Events from the Daily News.

A professional profile of Donny Granger, of Creation Studios in Bartlett, from the Daily News. In the Tri-State Defender, a professional profile of Nicole Gates, the Shelby County Infant Mortality Campaign coordinator.

Oakland: The town’s Economic Development Committee is launching a branding campaign for the town, via radio and TV. Mayor Scott Ferguson gave his first State of the Town speech to the local Chamber of Commerce.

Delta Air Lines: They, along with most major airlines, beat revenue and income predictions for 2Q/2010.

FedEx: Congress is expected to vote today on another extension of the FAA reauthorisation bill. The fifteenth extension since 2007.

Leadership Academy: Participation was up by a third for this year’s “Summer Experience”, aimed at making interns and residents in Memphis permanent citizens.

Real Estate: Memphis’ foreclosure rate is falling; more from the Commercial Appeal. Mortgage prices fell for the sixth straight week. The New Horizon Park apartments have been sold, two weeks after being bought, for nearly triple the purchase price.

Heat Wave: Heat is blamed in the death of a four month old baby. Previous victim James Thomas refused to use a fan or AC unit.

Orpheum Theatre: They will be having auditions for Star Search 2010 on August 7. More information here. (DOC document) Orpheum website here.

Arkansas: Favorable weather, for a change, means an early harvest. The panel has completed its hearing into Circuit Court Judge L. T. Simes.

Mediaverse: Some very sobering (OK, anger induced) thoughts on the disparity of spending between minority businesses and “white” businesses in City contracts.

Midtown Security Community: It’s confirmed — there’s a coyote in Central Gardens. Here’s what to do.

Notes from Memphis: Some of the odd byways of Memphis history. Mexican chocolate iced coffee.

Squeaky Wheel Seeks Grease: Bonnie is still working to pull together a blogger meetup.

ForkBombr: It’s a girl! Congratulations.

Friends for Our Riverfront: Is New York’s High Line a model for Memphis’ Promenade?

Doug Johnson at Work: Endomorphic and hyperthyroidal.

Benito’s Wine Review: Not just a review of Apothic Red but some history of the name.

Bigger Than Your Head: Could it be? The “best freakin’ sammich in the universe”!

artbutcher: The Nuge.

Cute Stew: She’s put up her final three prompts. Get to it!

Vegan Crunk: Her Southern vegan cookbook is going to be published! Congratulations.

Thoroughly Modern Medusa: An enormous gallery of professional photos from Cody and Carter’s wedding.

The Morgan Update: The milestones are coming “fast and furious” now.

The Chockley Blogs: Chloe’s really big head.

Frank Cagle: Did Wamp’s attack ads stop Haslam’s momentum but aid Ramsey instead? (via the Knoxville MetroPulse)

Nicholas Beadle: On the eve of leaving his paper, he shares a few things about covering politics you probably didn’t know. Farewell, Nick. (via the Jackson Sun)

Ask Myron: On vacationing in Las Vegas. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Reginald Tate: The State Senator notes that the Mason-Dixon polls show a demand for substance from voters. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Linda S. Wallace: If we consider race, does that make us racists? (via the Tri-State Defender)

Tri-State Defender: Their list of political endorsements, except for the Ninth Congressional District race.

Dan Conaway: Memphis has lovely bones but needs a sprucing up. (via the Daily News)

Kathy Thurmond-Edwards: All businesses need business insurance. (via the Daily News)

John Branston: Why did the Pie Factory lofts fail as they did? (via the Flyer)

Cameron Mann: The City could and must do a better job promoting and exploiting its art and music. (via the Flyer)

Richard Locker: Income tax follies… in 2010. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Geoff Calkins: Lorenzen Wright’s murder is “stunner”. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Commercial Appeal: They want more money and more effort towards the Downtown. No easy answers to “vicious dogs”.