The Wharton Administration: Memphis mayor A C Wharton says all City employees will now get annual performace reviews. Because many haven’t been. Police officers are worrying about losing benefits under a Wharton task force. Wharton’s office will spearhead efforts to educate homeowners about loan scams and “predatory lenders”. More in the Commercial Appeal.

Shelby County Government: The Retirement Board is slowly moving forward toward a new, less-generous, pension plan. Hoping to head off a maneuver by Interim mayor Joe Ford, County Commissioner Mike Carpenter has solicited a legal opinion on when Ford can veto the benefit cut ordinance. Now, County employees are voicing their concerns. Is it a “showdown”? Will it work?

Informed Sources: Video from WREG’s new Sunday night political roundtable, hosted by Richard Ransom, is now available online. Well worth watching.

Juvenile Violence: Fox13 looks at how the City is dealing with youthful violent criminals.

Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center: County Commissioner Mike Carpenter is proposing to move them to a different department of County government.

TVA: The Tennessean has a massive story on their collapsing board of directors and the politics that is hamstringing the utility.

Tennessee: Responding to complaints about his salary, incoming Board of Regents Chancellor John Morgan offers to take an $80,000 pay cut. The State is handing out $3.8 million in grants to fight litter.

Day Care Death: The latest death of a child while being transported is reviving calls to “do something”.

CHARGE: A push by several local mayors to take advantage of the area’s “logistics hub” to become a demonstration model for electric vehicles. More from WMC.

West Tennessee: A memorial statue of fallen soldier Sgt Dustin Laird of Martin has been repeatedly vandalised and now stolen. The monthly Dyer County Feed the Need food distribution is tomorrow and needs volunteers. (previous two stories via the Dyersburg State Gazette) County Commissioners for Hardeman County declined to raise the property tax. (via the Jackson Sun)

Business: Electrocraft Arkansas will produce “green motors” and will hire 55 more workers.

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

“Marketplace of Opportunities” : At this Nashville lunceon next week, sponsored by the Tennessee Minority Suppliers Development Council, Memphis Mayor A C Wharton will tout Memphis and its business opportunities.

Memphis and Shelby County Industrial Development Board: At their latest meeting they transferred a PILOT from Hewlett-Packard to Jabil Circuit; more from the Daily News and the Commecial Appeal.

Survey Says: Tennessee is ranked 30th for stimulus-paid jobs. We are also the second most medicated state, according to Forbes magazine.

Chucalissa: The C. H. Nash Museum is searching for volunteers to help with cataloging items.

Governor’s Race: Both Republican Bill Haslam and Democrat Mike McWherter are courting Shelby County and West Tennessee pretty hard. Winston Cup and NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip has endorsed Haslam.

Community Centers: City Councilman Jim Strickland wants the City to consider outsourcing operations of the centers. Four are now being run by Memphis Athletic Ministries.

Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority: The board of commissioners meet today.

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

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE! Memphis Shelby County Metropolitan Charter: Save Our Shelby County asks the unaddressed questions about the new charter. And Tom Guleff, co-leader of SOS, is calling on Election Commissioner and president of Rebuild Government Brian Stephens to step down.

Shelby County Division of Corrections: The Fatherhood Rehabilitation Program aims to keep former prisoners from returning to prison.

Memphis City Schools: After the high school football season kickoff, the High School Football Jamboree, a brawl breaks out at a nearby restaurant. The Commercial Appeal looks into the contract and background of MCS consultant Jeffrey Hernandez.

Mississippi: The State has received a $70 million Federal grant to improve wireless emergency communications.

Downtown: Retailers are embracing the block party idea to attract shoppers. The Center City Development Corporation has awarded a $75,000 commercial office grant to Le Bonheur Community Health and Well-Being; additional details from the Commercial Appeal. Further report on the reggae/Caribbean-themed restaurant replacing the Plush Club.

Hispanic Memphis: Via La Prensa Latina, a report on a community meeting about immigration issues. Google translation here.

Memphis v. Nashville: The Capitol City will begin a “pay as you throw” system for waste management that charges extra fees to heavy trash producers.

Bartlett: A look at the candidates in the municipal elections, even an opponent for Mayor Keith McDonald!

Germantown: The Board of Mayor and Aldermen has voted to disallow LED gas signs. The Germantown PD report on the handling of the Lorenzen Wright 911 call.

ACT Scores: Scores for both City and County school students fell compared to last year. Five percent of City students were performing on a college level.

The MED Foundation: The Helena Health Foundation has donated $25,000 for trauma training and more.

Memphis Fire Department: Does the City have enough ambulances and is the standard for response time strict enough?

Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center: The Daily News profiles new CEO James L. Robinson III.

DeSoto County: From the Desoto Times Tribune, a report from the site of the new Methodist Healthcare - Olive Branch hospital; more from WMC, WREG and the Commercial Appeal. In a court appearance on a drunk driving charge, Southaven alderman Ricky Jobes was found not guilty. The Regional Utility Authority approved a cheap contact on the Twin Lakes Pump Station. Four candidates filed for the vacant alderman’s seat in Olive Branch. Both Hernando and Horn Lake made the Playful City USA list.

Real Estate: Fairwood Capital has bought the Embassy Suites St Louis-Airport, which Memphis-based Maximum Hospitality will manage; more in the Commercial Appeal.

Politics: The Daily News profiles State Senate majority leader Mark Norris, focusing primarily on his law practice. NBC calls the Sixth and Eighth US Congressional District races potential Republican pickups. CQ rates the TN Eighth and MS First as “toss ups”.

Another report on Seventh District US Rep. Marsha Blackburn’s campaign stop in Bartlett on Tuesday. She is declining to debate her Democratic opponent Greg Rabidoux.

In the Eighth Congressional District race, Republican Stephen Fincher has released a poll showing him with a double-digit lead over Democrat Roy Herron; more from the Commercial Appeal. The campaign press release. Herron took his “Cuttin’ and Creatin’” campaign to Dresden this week.

Memphis Music Foundation: The non-profit agency’s president, Dean Deyo, is trying to get the music industry in Memphis working again.

Writing’s For The Birds: Big changes for the Schultz-Mulroy household.

Vegan Crunk: When her vegan and vegetarian friends come to town she sends them to Deja Vu Creole Soul Food & Vegetarian Restaurant. That one picture just sorta turned me off her Stirfryday idea.

Ray and Dana Brandon: Philanthropy begins at home. (via the Daily News)

Jackson Sun: Consistency between a Madison County and Jackson juvenile daytime curfew is important.

Commercial Appeal: Support for the County Commission’s revamped days-off policy for County employees. Criticism of MCS contractor Jeffrey Hernandez focuses on Supt. Kriner Cash not communicating clearly?

Josh Davis: City Councilwoman Janis Fullilove’s discrimination ordinance should be replaced with one more like the County’s. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Wendi C. Thomas: She criticises the hiring of Jeffrey Hernandez by the MCS, but leaves herself an out in case he produces results. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Because I Said So: “Hey, kids! Feel for me!” (via the Commercial Appeal)

Pretty in Pink Megan: Furs!

Smart City Memphis: A short history of relations between various City and County mayors. Arguing for the new charter government in rather romantic terms.

Egotistical Whining: Interesting thoughts on morality and “basic rights”.

theology & geometry: She heads off to visit friends in Oregon. Here’s why it was so difficult for her to come back home.

Daily Art (mas o menos): The artist has a breakthrough.

Boys In The ‘Hood: Dad gets a little misty-eyed and worked up when his oldest starts school.

artbutcher: The enormous plot hole in Inception.

Just A Girl in the World: A “distressing glimpse into her psyche” as she puts it.

Left Wing Cracker: He was a guest on WREG’s Informed Sources and shares the videos. He did a great job, too.

Memphis News Blog: But will he give police officers tickets, too?

Midtown Stomp: They are sweet, fuzzy and juicy!

Notes from Memphis: Finding the perfect product, losing it, finding version 2.0 and then tracking it down.

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: Job openings at the Peabody Hotel.

16 Balls in the Air: The Mainbain does a sponsored product review! After eleven years, Mom is back to one, who surprises her.