Metro Charter Commission: At today’s meeting, a district map for the Metro Council is the big issue.

Memphis Symphony Orchestra: Music director Mei-Ann Chen will also be music director for the Chicago Sinfonietta beginning next year.

Shelby County: Plans are afoot to overhaul the County’s Office of Economic Development. County Commissioner J. W. Gibson, speaking as a small business owner, advised other businessmen to be more assertive about pursuing local governement contracts.

Beale Street: Mayor A C Wharton has created a 31-member committee to plan the entertainment zone’s future.

Eighth Congressional District: The National Republican Congressional Committee fired off a press release attacking Democratic candidate Roy Herron. Herron struck back at an opposition group, the 60 Plus Association. Erik Schelzig of the Associated Press looks at the various Congressional races.

Downtown: More bike patrols for the “safest district” in the city. Last night’s Peabody Rooftop party was a benefit for wetlands preservation. City Market signed a five-year lease.

Lorenzen Wright Memorial: Video from the memorial from Fox13, WREG. A statement from Mayor A C Wharton. News reports from Eyewitness News, WMC, the Daily News and the Commercial Appeal. Heavy hearts. Fan reactions. His family spoke to media afterwards and mourns. WREG photo gallery.

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz: They were rated by MultiCultural Law magazine as among the “Top 100 Law Firms for Diversity”.

Business: Sales for Fred’s increased by all measures. Quarterly income for Buckeye Technologies was down, but the year was good; more in the Daily News. Cracker Barrel gave several executives their first raises in two years.

People in Business and What to Do, in the Commercial Appeal. And in the Daily News, Today’s Events.

Delta Air Lines: Third month in a row of passenger traffic growth. A Federal judge has ruled that a suit against Delta (and AirTran), alleging baggage pricing collusion, can proceed.

TNIvestco: Four venture capital funds raised $80 million in new funds through the sale of tax credits.

Tennessee: Two local farmers markets got cost share awards from the State. Today is the last day to apply for Federal disaster assistance. New mathematics textbooks are available for review from the Department of Education.

DeSoto County: The County schools are working with a smaller budget this year. Southaven will have a public hearing for their budget later this month. Two of DeSoto County’s newest schools open today. The County received a Federal grant of $150,000 to begin study and planning for the I-69/269 corridor.

Mario Jackson and Keshun Douglas: The two County inmates who escaped while being seen at The MED are still at large.

Real Estate: An 11% jump in Memphis home sales for July; more in the Commercial Appeal. A local group of investors has started negotiations to buy One Commerce Square in hopes of making it the corporate HQ for Pinnacle Airlines. More in the Daily News.

NEW! 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! Toyos replies to Mulroy and on August 4, Mulroy answers back!

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.

Memphis City Schools: The city ranks very low nationally on educational achievement at all levels.

MLG&W: The board meets today and among the items to consider is a new contract for prescription drug benefits.

Kwik Chek: No, you didn’t imagine it. They were closed briefly on Wednesday.

Blistering Heat: The County has recorded its 10th heat-related death, an elderly man who had his AC turned off; more from Eyewitness News, WREG and the Commercial Appeal. The City has “cooling centers” but no one’s showing up. How Memphians are handling the heat. Keep up with your AC units because repairmen are getting swamped. The Salvation Army needs help delivering AC units.

Local Media: The Commercial Appeal has named new citizen members to its editorial board. One of their reporters was reportedly briefly the subject of an attempted subpeona by the Germantown police department.

Arkansas: Closing arguments are underway in the trial of Dr Randeep Mann; Associated Press report. The jury should get the case today.

Governor’s Race: The three Republican primary candidates are asked about their toughest calls. They spent yesterday campaigning hard. Republican Zach Wamp continues to press attacks against fellow Republicans Bill Haslam and Ron Ramsey. He predicts he’ll carry Shelby County. Wamp runs the math on why you should vote for him; Ramsey calls it desperation. Ramsey released a new campaign ad on his grey hair. Also, video of Ramsey at the shooting range; check his grouping! The Tennessee Patriot endorses Ramsey, but has a personal connection. Democrat Mike McWherter promises to be more visible.

Germantown: GHS-TV once again was named top cable access station by the Alliance for Community Media. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the purchase of two more easements for the Wolf River Boulevard Road Improvements Project.

Politics: Greg Rabidoux, the Democrat running against Marsha Blackburn in the Seventh Congressional District, has been cited by the FEC for failing to file timely reports.

Mississippi: A third heat death in the state; more from Eyewitness News. Governor Haley Barbour says the new health care reforms will hurt small businesses. Four state sites have been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Sales Tax Holiday: More information on the partial tax break this Friday and Saturday. Retailers prepare.

at home she feels like a tourist: Memphis should never try to be New York.

Bigger Than Your Head: The wine of the week.

Reginald Milton’s - A Fresh Look: A moment of cognitive dissonance at the Joan Baez concert.

Jackson Sun: Pre-kindergarten education is an investment in the future. The new school year presents some tough challenges.

Commercial Appeal: A rundown of their previous endorsements in today’s election and primaries. Harry Ray Coleman should go to jail.

David H. Lillard Jr: The State Treasurer calls financial literacy crucial to life planning. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Geoff Calkins: His thoughts on the Lorenzen Wright memorial. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Because I Said So: Five kids, one adult and the last week of Summer. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Ray and Dana Brandon: Think before you refinance. (via the Daily News)

Susan Drake: How to get, and keep, your employees fired up. (via the Daily News)

Gilmour Girl Goes Memphis: She’s bouncing back.

Lean Left: Another Democrat is amused by Basil Marceaux.

Memphis Daily News Blog: A short history of Memphis farmers markets.

Getting Over My Ex in 30 Dates or Less: After it was “definitely over”, suddenly the texting begins. And then she shakes it off.

Confessions of a West Tennessee Liberal: A short video on blight in Memphis — what it’s doing and how it hurts us. (See also Brad Watkins’ “online exclusive” at the top of the page.)

dminmem: An open letter to the City Council asking them to stop the destruction of the city’s history.

Benito’s Wine Reviews: Adventures in alternative (wine) packaging.

Rustmeister’s Alehouse: Who will he vote for, for governor?

The Intersection of Madness and Reality: Musings on the supposed desire to repeal the 14th Amendment.

Wow. Really? Huh. Some tips on crafting Facebook status updates.