Metro Charter Commission: Rebuild Government, the group that says it only wants to facilitate discussion, held a rally for the new consolidated government on Wednesday. They will also run “political-style” advertising. The Flyer’s John Branston walks through the major points of the charter. More from the Tri-State Defender, Eyewitness News, WREG.

You can download the new, proposed Metro Charter here. (PDF document)

Shelby County: Interim Mayor Joe Ford says he’ll veto a County Commission resolution to reduce the number of days off for County employees; more from the Commercial Appeal. The large numbers of new elected officials also means massive turnover in the ranks.

Memphis City Council: Even though 90 new cruisers sit unusued, the Council approved an additional purchase of 15 more, with drug seizure money.

Shelby County Election Challenge: Two hundred people showed up at a Shelby County Democratic Party-called meeting to claim voting problems last week. More news reports from Eyewitness News. US Rep. Steve Cohen has called in a US Department of Justice investigation, though he doesn’t feel that’s why Democrats lost. WREG’s Mike Matthews was there for the rancorous standoff at the Election Commission warehouse. An on-scene report from Thursday night’s attempted audit, via Democratic partisan Steve Steffens. The TBI is still investigating. TN Democratic Party chairman Chip Forrester chimes in.

Memphis Police: A man, Edilzar Orozco, plowed into a police cruiser, seriously injuring one officer. He faces a slew of charges, including DUI, driving without a license or insurance or registration, and more.

Skate Park: The Daily News provides an in-depth look at the upcoming Tobey Park skate center.

Memphis City Schools: The Tri-State Defender has an article on Caldwell-Guthrie Elementary School principal LaWanda Hill. Animal Services are making “stray dog sweeps” on the sidewalks near city schools. City schools say they’ve given up on their own “peace force”.

Christ Community Health Services: Fox13 reports on their low-cost dental services in the Hickory Hill area.

Shelby County Mayor: Newly-elected mayor Mark Luttrell has announced his transition team.

Eighth Congressional District: The two former challengers to Republican victor Stephen Fincher apppeared with him at a unity photo-op of sorts in Millington. More reports from WREG.

Southwest Tennessee Community College: A story on the new Nursing, Natural Sciences and Biotechnology Building and the programs that it will house.

Politics: The Flyer’s Jackson Baker with a massive roundup of Shelby County political news. Republican State Senators are calling for an investigation of Governor Phil Bredesen’s appointments to the Board of Regents. Unofficial results in the party elections for their respective Executive Committees are in. How big will the Republican US Congressional majority be this Fall?

Governor’s Race: Democrat Mike McWherter is busy campaigning in West Tennessee and Shelby County. Both McWherter and Republican Bill Haslam have agreed to a debate on WREG along with two others. McWherter has been agreeing to every media debate or forum he can.

Tennessee: A legal Mexican guest worker claims he was being held and made to work illegally by a Tennessee company. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development will host an event for women and minority businesses wanting to get involved with TNInvestco.

Memphis Institute for Leadership Education: Co-founder Austin Baker spoke to the Memphis Business Alliance about his program’s “Spririt of Memphis” rallies. It has seen a three-fold increase in participation.

Keshun Douglas: He is one of two separate escapess from sheriff’s custody while at The MED and he was apprehended in Georgia.

University of Tennessee Health Science Center: They have laid off 33 employees; more in the Commercial Appeal.

NEW! Main Street Journal: From our August issue, Editor in Chief and Publisher Jonathan Lindberg welcomes The End of Racial Politics.

Land Use Control Board: They approved the “Midtown overlay” zoning plan. More from Eyewitness News and the Commercial Appeal.

Shelby County 911 Board: “Turf issues” are gumming up merger talks.

Second Saturday Legal Clinic: The Memphis Bar Association’s Access to Justice Committee will offer advice and information on a variety of legal topics.

MLG&W: EcoBUILD program-certified homes save up to a third on electricity costs. A previously-approved sewer rate hike is showing up on bills now. Sustained high heat is driving electricity demands for the utility.

Downtown: The Center City Commission has recommended a grant to Le Bonheur Community Health and Well-Being for commercial office improvements. A Brass Note honoring Carl Perkins has been placed on Beale Street. Jerry Lawler and Joe Cooper have split over their Main Street market, which Cooper will still operate.

Postal Service: Pit bulls running wild on Duke Road means no mail delivery for other residents.

The Murderous Heat: A 16th heat-related death; more reports from Eyewitness News, WMC, WREG. Along with the heat, come the insects.

DeSoto County: Hernando was named the “Healthiest City” in the state. It’s still pressing forward on its Tree City USA status. Hidden history at the Eudora Baptist Church Cemetary. The Sugarland show at the Snowden Grove Amphitheater will be its largest yet. US Rep. Travis Childers was campaigning on tax and farm issues this week; he also talked education; more from the Desoto Times Tribune. After a marathon presentation meeting, the master plan for Hernando West was tabled until October. The new owner of the former Girl’s Home of Impact Ministries will allow the girls to stay on longer. “Tech savvy interns” are needed in large numbers for the TeachUp program of the Digital Opportunity Trust. (previous three stories via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Business: Mallory Alexander International Logistics is opening a new office outside New York City, in association with Charles Kendall Freight. Medtronic completed acquisition of ATS Medical this week. A massive expansion of Sitel’s call center in Mississippi will mean hundreds of jobs. Here’s a report on what Federal investigators were looking for when they raided Gibson Guitar’s Nashville facility.

A Daily News professional profile of Rachel Hurley, digital media director for Signature Advertising & Media.

A report on the Raleigh United Methodist Church job fair. Video report from WMC. And a report from the Commercial Appeal.

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

Delta Air Lines: Now you can book through Facebook.

Carrollwood Lakes: Residents in this subdivision have a forest instead of the titular lake and it’s causing problems.

Lambuth University: Employees there got a partial paycheck, their first since early July.

Financial: Wunderlich Securities has expanded into Ohio. Mortgage rates continue their push into historic territory.

Elvis Presley: CKx has at least two offers to buy Elvis Presley Enterprises. A longer version of the Associated Press story. Elvis fans are sweltering in the heat during Elvis Week.

National Civil Rights Museum: A grant of $750,000 was received from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Commercial Appeal also reports.

Real Estate:: Mid-America Apartment Communities has puchased the Verandas at Sam Ridley in Nashville. July foreclosure filings fell for both Memphis and Tennessee; but actual foreclosures surged. Two new tenants for the Ridgway Trace Center; more in the Daily News. Federal aid totalling $81 million will help unemployed homeowners avoid foreclosure.

Bartlett: Standard & Poor raised the general obligation bond ratings for the City to AAA.

Arkansas: The Lottery Commission agreed to a public hearing on ticket vending machines. The Department of Corrections is considering cremation for unclaimed inmates’ bodies.

Shelby County Animal Control: A family pet picked up by them expired from heat exposure after being kept in the truck for three hours. And then it gets worse.

MemphisShelbyInform: Comparing the various metro areas in terms of paid time off for City/County/Metro employees.

No Rococo: Her son Atticus shares his Best of Memphis list.

Notes from Memphis: A rare personal post on time and mythology. The 10 Commandments monument downtown picks up a lot of curious flotsam, especially coins.

Pretty in Pink Megan: Fall boot season is almost here. She has a strange attraction to spikes.

River City Mud Company: How weak is President Obama right now? Weak enough, Derek argues, that Basil Marceaux is competitive!

Ramblings of the Mad Cow: Let Chris share the many annoyances of her daily commute with you.

MemphisConnect: The Germantown/Memphis horse statues.

Left Wing Cracker: Set your remotes to “educate” as he’ll be on WREG’s Informed Sources this Sunday night.

I Love Memphis: Twenty-six places that have free wifi.

Crime in Memphis: Thug Thursday is back! And thoughts on fighting crime.

Barefoot in Memphis: The epic three-day lawnmower battle.

Ansley Fones: Just how much of yourself should you put on your blog?

Gail Kerr: The losers in last week’s elections need to quit whining already. (via the Tennessean)

Robert Lee Long: Development didn’t destroy the memories of Lost Rabbit. (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Because I Said So: Readjusting to the back-to-school requirements. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Wendi C. Thomas: She’s working with New Path to recruit a challenger for school board member Rev Kenneth Whalum. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Commercial Appeal: Applauding cutting the Defense Department budget. The $26 billion “state aid” money isn’t controversial for Tennessee.

Dr. Coby V. Smith: Meet Marshall A. Randolph, the modern day Ida B. Wells. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Dr. Michelle Mitcham: “Multicultural competence” is important in today’s business world. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Ask Myron: “Life After” fame and success is fascinating viewing. (via the Tri-State Defender)

John Branston: Has Memphis reached a tipping point with regards to healthy outdoor projects like bike trails? He doesn’t like naysayers.

Susan Drake: Some simple tips to overhaul your company’s personality. (via the Daily News)