The Wharton Administration: The first group of Youth Ambassadors has been graduated. Mayor A C Wharton has announced a plan to deal with the heat; more from WMC, WREG and the Commercial Appeal.

DeSoto County: Not all service dogs are just for the blind. The County schools are ready for classes to start. Services for the aged are in limbo until contracts and payments get sorted out. The town of Walls will review its 2011 budget tonight.

Shelby County Elections: Rumors of the death of the legendary Ford family machine appear premature. The Daily News’ Bill Dries looks at the early voting numbers. Expect campaign signs to linger like Fall leaves. Records are set and more may be set.

Cohen v. Herenton: At a press conference Monday, Willie Herenton claimed race and party show he’ll win Thursday. More from WMC and the Commercial Appeal. Close-up of Herenton’s handout showing his claim that early voting trends say he wins. (via Tom Powell’s Twitpic) How many black votes does Herenton need to win?

Memphis City Schools: Changes for failing schools are on hold until the Federal funds arrive.

Lorenzen Wright’s Murder: Germantown has released edited statements about Wright’s last 911 call. Bureaucratic snafus and territorial issues are blamed; more. Further reports from Eyewitness News, WMC, WREG.

Speculation and rumor is surrounding Sherra Wright; more from Eyewitness News. Her home was searched Sunday. She says she’s waiting for news like everyone else. Her attorney is speaking for her, denies she had any role in the murder.

Booker T. Washington High School honored Wright this week; more from WREG. How police work high-profile cases like this.

Tennessee: A new driver service center, for reinstatements only, has opened. The Tennessee State Library and Archives will soon have thousands of old newspapers from around the state online! The US Army Corps of Engineers report on Nashville flooding is lengthy, “esoteric” and still preliminary. The TN Arts Commission awarded $1 million in Federal funds for its Arts360° programs. A new shot for next year’s flu season will protect against several strains of H1N1.

Real Estate: Troubled Lamar Crossing apartment complex goes to auction later this month. The former Artisan Hotel, which became the Country Hearth Inn and Suites just weeks ago, has now closed.

Bridges: The non-profit, which provides personal development programs, had to learn social media quickly when they got a $100,000 challenge grant.
 

Garden Grit: This organisation seeks to teach suburbans and urbanites to grow their own gardens and eat fresh and local.

Business: Second quarter profits and sales rose dramatically for Wright Medical Group; more from the Daily News and the Commercial Appeal. O’Charley’s has hired its third CEO in two years. Soladigm unveiled their plans yesterday for their Olive Branch plant. Japanese restaurant Ichiban is opening another location in Collierville.

Today’s Events in the Daily News and What to Do from the Commercial Appeal.

What happens to the dollar store market when the recession fades?

Mississippi: More on MEMA grants for severe weather “safe rooms”. Many County Chancery Clerks are making a pretty nice salary. A North MS woman died of heat stroke over the weekend.

Annexation: Activists trying to block future efforts failed to win a referendum, but have a backup plan. More news from Eyewitness News.

Rock for Love 4: The annual benefit for the Church Health Center will be August 19-21.

Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital: Although the grand opening was earlier this Summer, the new hospital won’t open for patients until December. More from the Daily News.

Survey Says: According to Men’s Health magazine, Memphis is the eighth angriest city in the nation. But Nashville is angrier! Grrr! Princeton Review calls Ole Miss one of the nation’s top party schools.

UPDATED! Main Street Journal Online: Senior writer Michael Roy Hollihan has a profile of County Commission District 5 candidate Dr Rolando Toyos. County Commissioner Steve Mulroy responds to the article. UPDATED! And now, Toyos replies to Mulroy!

UPDATED 08/03! 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 supporting their immigration law and gives a short report of their visit with Governor Jan Brewer in Arizona. UPDATED 08/03! Delegation leader, State Rep. Joe Carr, District 48, also reports on the visit and the politics.

Main Street Journal Online Exclusive: Brad Watkins: ISSUES FIRST: Many Shelby Countians would like to see the political candidates talking about real issues with a serious impact on the community.

Metro Charter Commission: They decide that the new metro government, if approved, will start on September 1, 2012.

Hispanic Memphis: Nominations are being sought for Memphis Latino Leadership Awards.

Higher Education: The State wants to revise funding allocations so it’s not tied to enrollment.

Leadership Memphis: The current class is wrapping up their community projects and the next class will be coming.

Shelby County Schools: School board member Teresa Price is resigning early to take a new teaching position.

Second Amendment: Controversial activist Leonard Embody is suing to have his right to carry restored.

Memphis Area Home Builders Association: A committee has been formed to help them find a new office location.

Hernando - DeSoto Bridge: Various work projects, like “earthquake proofing”, will delay traffic through the end of the year. Additional stories from Eyewitness News, WREG and the Commercial Appeal.

Politics: The Eighth Congressional District race is the most expensive in the nation. Early voting in this primary race set a new record. Thursday is supposedly the first real test of the tea party movement’s influence. It’s been little-discussed, but redistricting of the State is the prize in the 2010 elections.

Kelley and Associates Advertising: They just won an Award of Distinction in the 2010 Communicator Awards.

Heat Wave: A ninth death due to heat is confirmed in Shelby County; more from WREG. “Crazy hot temps” says WREG. A new temperature record was set, a “warmest low”. The veracity of old wives tales about heat.

Arkansas: Accused car bomber Dr Randeep Mann will likely not testify, which may hurt his case. The casino gambling referendum won’t be on the November ballot.

Sales Tax Holiday: Retailers are looking forward to this weekend. More from the State’s press release. It’s worth noting that iPads qualify. The holiday will “cost” the State.

Governor’s Race: Democrat Mike McWherter was the only major gubernatorial candidate to respond to a questionnaire from the TN Clean Water Network. He will be campaigning in Memphis on Wednesday. The Tennessee Conservative Union has released its ratings of the three Republican primary candidates. Republican Ron Ramsey calls the celebrities traveling with Zach Wamp and Bill Haslam “gimmickry”. Republicans Zach Wamp and Ron Ramsey are decrying UT coach Bruce Pearl campaigning with Bill Haslam. The Nashville Scene is painting Zach Wamp as increasingly paranoid. More from them on “secret tax plots”. Republican Bill Haslam laughs off Wamp’s accusations and expects to hear more accusations about Pilot Oil. A strange and misspelled missive from the TN Democratic Party.

Spring Flooding: Thursday is the deadline to apply for FEMA disaster assistance relating to this Spring’s floods. More from tn.gov.

Commontaries: An interesting perspective on Sherra Wright.

Bigger Than Your Head: If you’re a gin-and-tonic drinker, he’s got a tonic recommendation for you.

at home she feels like a tourist: Dumpling odyssey.

Lori Turner: Marketing to the baby boomer generation. (via the Daily News)

Commercial Appeal: Convoluted logic and sudden fiscal concern to justify raising taxes. Claiming SCAAP is a suitable replacement for stringent anti-illegal immigration action.

A Right Perspective: Memphis Beat, Lorenzen Wright, our children and “cheap talk”. (via the Commercial Appeal)

MemphisConnect: Miss Opportunity had an interesting week around town.

Speak To Power: They are calling the Ninth Congressional District race a long night for incumbent Steve Cohen.

3: Fighting against stereotypes of how her soon-come daughter must adorn herself.

I Love Memphis: Eight trivia nights around town. More listed in the comments, too.

Blue Collar Republican: Depending on your point-of-view, this is either a Mark Luttrell or Joe Ford robo-call.

Lean Left: Does technology triumphalism leave the poor behind?

Rustmeister’s Alehouse: A takedown of the daily paper’s Chris Peck column from Sunday.

My Path is Wide Open: Friday night fun goes not-too-horribly awry.

Musings, Nits, and Praises: Your teachers in-service scorecard. “+1,000 if registration day includes an open bar.”

La Vie Quotidienne: Your “infant cuteness overdose” of the day. Sylvie and Henry like each other.