Car Tags: Do you really need a license plate? Moorish Americans say no.

Memphis City Schools: Students will ride in new busses next year that will save the system $6 million in the first year. Simple assaults continue to rise, but crimes reported to local police plummet? Trying to get astroturf for Central High School.

Regional Medical Center: State funds promised for FY2010 still haven’t arrived.

Summer Heat: State officials expect an increase in West Nile virus cases due to an abundance of mosquitos. More from the Commercial Appeal.

Cohen v. Herenton: Website The POLITICO profiles Willie Herenton and his focus on African-American representation. The Commercial Appeal adds a bit. US Rep. Steve Cohen introduced a bill offering tax credits to businesses that join the fight against so-called “food deserts”.

Bass Pro - Pyramid Deal: The Commercial Appeal claims that Mayor A C Wharton is “stonewalling” on the details of the lease agreement.

Nashville v. Memphis: Metro Nashville will start a bike-sharing program this Summer.
 
 
 

Tennessee: The Federal government has approved the temporary “enhanced coverage assessment” that the state’s hospitals agreed to; more from Tom Humphrey of the Knoxville News-Sentinel. Eyewitness News with the consumers-eye-view.

The new chair of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority is Mary Freeman; the press release. The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, the high-risk pool for medically uninsurable Tennesseans, is readying to roll out. Mark Gwyn has been reappoointed the head of the TBI.

Politics: Governor Phil Bredesen looks back at his political career. More on his reminiscence from Tom Humphrey of the Knoxville News-Sentinel and the Pith in the Wind blog.

Even though it’s FY2011, the State still hasn’t closed the books on the last budget year! The State Republican Party has unveiled a new website.

A candidate forum — for Republicans, Democrat and Tea Party — was held in the Eighth Congressional District last night. Republican Dr George Flinn has released a new campaign ad. Republican Dr Ron Kirkland continues to needle Stephen Fincher for voting Democratic; and more on the TN Republican Party’s response.

Will Democrats continue to stalk Republican speaking appearances?

Victory University: The former Crichton College is now a for-profit university and offering a large number of scholarships. Website here.

West Tennessee: In Covington, the new community playground (to replace a burned-down one) is falling far behind schedule. (via the Covington Leader; free reg. required) The TN Highway Patrol will be running checks on Highway 104. A mastodon fossil was discovered in a Tipton County yard.

Previously Posted: More, from the Tri-State Defender, on the State of Black America report from the National Urban League. And more reports from Fox13.

Real Estate: Homeowners have an extra ninety days to close their home sales and claim the homebuyer’s tax credit. More on the “shadow inventory” of foreclosed properties. The winner for best interior designer at the Vesta Home Showcase was Germantown’s Fran Winstock.

Governor’s Race: Republican Bill Haslam raised $1.7 million between April and June; $8.7 million total in the campaign. Haslam has made contributions to various Democrats over the years. How many celebrities do you recognise in this Zach Wamp ad?

Democratic candidate Mike McWherter is criticising a business merger of Pilot Oil (Haslam’s family company) and Flying J Travel Plazas, calling Haslam an “oil sheikh”. The business story.

Financial: First Tennessee is very close to breaking a losing streak.

Main Street Journal Notice: The Main Street Journal Online is taking the July Fourth holiday off. We will resume regular posting on Tuesday. Have a happy and safe Fourth of July, please.

Metro Charter Commission: The next question for them has to do with the size of the Metro council. The upcoming public presentations by the commission are all in Memphis territory, and none are in the six other municipalities!

Bartlett: Some City employees are unhappy with a $1000 bonus instead of a raise.

Memphis: Livable Memphis hopes to make the city more bike friendly and GrowMemphis want to establsih a “food policy council”.

Local Media: WPLX is the nation’s only all-blues radio station, thanks to Thaddeus Matthews. Local chef Elle Green is another Memphian hoping for a show on Oprah’s network. Her Oprah voting site is here.

Fourth of July: Some fireworks safety tips. If you’re going to be on lakes or rivers, some boating advice. Schedule of events in the Mid-South. Another list of Independence Day events. The TN Department of Transportation will suspend road work for the holiday weekend. Fireworks will happen in several North Mississippi towns.

The MED: They have unveiled a new, friendlier website.

Germantown: Debate over the proposed amphitheater gets taken to the media and sparks fly.

DeSoto County: Hernando is the “Healthiest Hometown” in the state. Also, Hernando mayor Chip Johnson was voted the second vice-president of the Memphis Municipal League. Property owner Steve Beene has donated land for a connector road to the site of the new County jail. (previous stories via the DeSoto Times Tribune) Olive Branch’s first bike lane is coming along.

St Jude Children’s Research Hospital: They won two separate research grants totalling $680,000, one each from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and the National Cancer Institute. A short bit in the Commercial Appeal. K-Mart is a St Jude Corporate Partner of the Year.

Business: An analyst for UBS has upgraded his recommendation of FedEx and UPS shares.

A business profile of CK’s of Memphis, which aims to turn the famous brand around, in the Daily News. A business profile of Paradigm Spine, an American implant, from the Commercial Appeal.

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

Pinnacle Airlines: They have acquired Mesaba Aviation from Delta Air Lines for $62 million. Both are Delta Connections partners. More in the Commercial Appeal.

Delta Air Lines: A union from the former Northwest Airlines wants first crack at unionising Delta.

Mississippi: The Schultz GMBH plant under construction is the recipient of a Federal grant for infrastructure improvements. More on the State’s budget surplus this year. More on the “Pepsi Challenge” and the Tunica Humane Society. The Tunica County Airport is getting almost $800,000 in Federal improvement grants. Senator Thad Cochran is trying to set up arbitration boards over the flood plain map disagreements.

FedEx: More reports on the airplane fuel dump over north Shelby County and potential link to mystery crop ailments.

Mid-South Minority Business Council: A report on this week’s Economic Development Fair, from the Tri-State Defender.

Fayette County: The Tri-State Defender profiles the new superintendent of Fayette County Schools, Dr Cedrick Ware.
 
 

Left Wing Cracker: Farewell, Weiner High School.

La Vie Quotidienne: An update on Sylvie, and she needs some help with blog design.

Mayor A C Wharton’s Blog: Get your kids involved in Summer reading.

Mediaverse: The Ninth District Congressional Race in the national media.

Notes from Memphis: She finds stars around the Downtown.

theology & geometry: Why antique stores are fun.

Writing’s for the Birds: Things she’s learned since she and her fiance moved in together.

What’s Going On Back There: The birth of an anti-capitalist.

The MakeShift Revolution: Learning to lead from the margins.

Speak To Power: How can Ron Ramsey be anti-Washington when the State gets the bulk of its budget from there?

sharp stick in the eye: The “Love and Happiness” road trip.

One Half Amazing: The most amazing invention ever, the waffle popsicle maker.

Thoroughly Modern Medusa: Happy loving couples make it look so easy.

Greg Siskind and Elissa Taub: America needs immigration reform to get the doctors and nurses we need for health care reform. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Commercial Appeal: Historic preservation for some but not all. Full release of the lease agreement between the City and Bass Pro Shops is called for.

Tennessean: The State Health Plan is seeking your input.

Jackson Sun: Kudos to the Legislature for the tougher armed robbery sentences.

Brittany Jackson: She writes about winning an ACT-SO scholarship. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Ruby Bright: How local agencies are leveraging Federal funds into real solutions for Memphis’ poor women and children. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Renee Malone: The RISE Foundation is teaching how to nurture a neighborhood. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Dan Conaway: Beating the drum for Downtown. (via the Daily News)