The identical problem with using the wrong early voter rolls in electronic poll books occured in Sevier County, too.

MLG&W: Medco Health Solutions was chosen for the utility’s pharmacy benefits management contract.

West Memphis: While Awesome Products is building a new plant that will bring 200 jobs to the area, residents are angry with the construction traffic!

Memphis City Schools: The administration is once again obfuscating on enrollment numbers. Truancy affects nearly half of all students and a number of community leaders are coming together to fight it. The District Attorney’s office claims a serious reduction in truancy. Stand For Children is a series of “study circles” intended to foster discussion and ideas about improving the schools. Four out of five students at Hawkins Mill Elementary get free breakfast thanks to grant money. The administration will let out $15 million to “turnaround experts” who will help the most troubled schools. City and County schools may be eligible for as much as $32 million in Federal education funds.

Highland Row: The University District project is still in the works, though financing is still being worked out.

Germantown: With the outdoor amphitheater project slowly dying away, the City is considering what else to do with the Ocean View Farm property.

Governor’s Race: Democrat Mike McWherter would welcome a campaign visit by President Barack Obama. As expected, McWherter is hammering at Bill Haslam’s PILOT Oil connections. Darrell Waltrip cuts an ad for Republican Bill Haslam. Haslam has started a leadership PAC. A Shelby County appearance by Haslam has folks buzzing because Memphis Mayor A C Wharton appeared with him; more in the Daily News Blog, Fox13 and the Commercial Appeal.

Memphis Police Department: Operation: Blue Heat, this Summer’s sweep, has resulted in 1400 arrests. More on the haul of illegal drugs, money and guns. More from the Commercial Appeal.

Lorenzen Wright Murder: His former assistant, Wendy Wilson, is filing lawsuits against the Commercial Appeal’s Geoff Calkins; blogger, radio talk show host and radio station manager Thaddeus Matthews; and attorney Gail Mathes, claiming slander. More from Fox13. No new developments in the murder investigation.

Hank Aaron Celebrity Sports Weekend: The United Negro College Fund and LeMoyne Owen College are co-hosting this event, a fundraiser for historically black colleges and universities.

DeSoto County: More on the new Twin Lakes wastewater treatment plant. The Hernando Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted not to raise taxes. A new provider of services for the aged means new emphasis on following rules that may mean some seniors lose services they shouldn’t have gotten.

Methodist Healthcare: Now you can go online to track wait times at a handful of their hospitals.

Spirit Fest 2010: This weekend’s gathering of alternative health and spritual healing devotees is at the Holiday Inn Express in Germantown.

Politics: While at his booksigning, Harold Ford Jr took a moment to talk family and politics with the Daily News’ Bill Dries. More from WKNO-FM. Voters are trying to recall Chattanooga mayor Ron Littlefield. Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey and House Speaker Kent Williams are both backing John Morgan as TN Board of Regents chancellor.

Democratic challenger Greg Rabidoux is still trying to bait incumbent US Seventh District Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn into noticing him. In the Eighth Congressional District, Republican Stephen Fincher gets the Club for Growth endorsement; more. Fincher reaffirms his commitment to Social Security after an attack ad from Democrat Roy Herron.

Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris, speaking in Memphis, says the State Legislature will likely have to cut another $1.5 billion from the budget.

West Tennessee: A Madison County Sheriff’s captain’s run for a County office was a violation of the Hatch Act, but was unintentional. Lambuth University is still in talks with The Learning House about a partnership.

Burch, Porter & Johnson: Seventeen of their attorneys were named to the 2010 Best Lawyers in America.

Arkansas: The Lottery Commission has set the rules for lottery ticket vending machines.

Tennessee Bar Association: They have set up a special committee to rewrite foreclosure rules to aid borrowers and lenders.

Tobey Skate Park: The Flyer with a general report on the City’s first skatepark.
 
 

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.

Unemployment: Good news, as the state’s unemployment rate falls to 9.8%, the lowest in 17 months. The State’s press release. More reports from Fox13, the Commercial Appeal.

Dutch Treat Luncheon: This Saturday’s meeting will feature County Commissioner Mike Carpenter, talking about consolidation. The speaker begins at noon. DTL website here.

Memphis Animal Shelter: New, expanded hours beginning at the end of the month.

Downtown: The Center City Commission continues to give out financial incentives to businesses wanting to come downtown. (See also Pinnacle Airlines story below.) The City is applying for a $16 million Federal grant for major repair work on Main Street.

The Wharton Administration: The Daily News’ Bill Dries notes that, as time and wear go forward, Mayor A C Wharton is developing an “edge”. More on the NewCITYzen Naturalization Campaign and the New American Citizens’ Academy, two new programs to help legal immigrants to find help integrating into the community.

Shelby County Schools: New superintendent John Aitken got his first performance review.

Lester Street Murders: Jury selection will begin next month in Nashville as the judge takes questionnaires for the potential jurists. More from WREG, the Commercial Appeal.

Tennessee: Shelby County will share in recycling rebates from the Department of Environment and Conservation’s Division of Solid Waste Management. A multi-million Federal grant meant to expand broadband access will be used to buy laptop computers for needy kids; more here. (previous two stories via the Jackson Sun)

Summertime: If you’ve been sniffling more lately, it could be ragweed.

Blight: Is Ward 232 the most dangerous neighborhood in Memphis? In the University District this CVS pharmacy is being welcomed.

Society of Entrepreneurs: Drawing on his own experience with his company ReTrans, David Wedaman believes Memphis is a great place for entrepreneurs.

Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce: The Commercial Appeal profiles new public policy and community affairs VP, Andre Dean.

Business: You can watch the recession play out on Germantown Parkway. The Dollar General chain will begin beer and wine sales in select Southern states. A new round of layoffs at the Whirlpool refrigerator plant in Fort Smith, AR. Frito-Lay’s new, annoyingly loud Sun Chips bag is made by the Bryce Corporation in Memphis. I said, IT’S MADE IN MEM– Oh, forget it.

A business profile of Fundcraft Publishing of Collierville, in the Daily News.

From the Daily News, Today’s Events and the Commercial Appeal recognises People in Business.

Pinnacle Airlines: The Center City Revenue Finance Corporation has taken three actions to add to the financial incentives for Pinnacle to move Downtown. More reports from the Daily News and the Commercial Appeal.

Memphis International Airport: Passenger counts were down, but cargo traffic was up in July. More on the cargo side of the airport, from the Daily News. One amenity the new transportation facility at the airport will have: electric car charging stations.

AirTran is raising their first checked bag fee by one-third.

Tupelo Furniture Market: The two-day expo (today and tomorrow) is one of the largest and most anticipated in North America.

Hickory Ridge Mall: Growth is slow but defintely steady. The UniverSoul Circus is expected next week!

Rhodes College: The Zipcar company will give students the option to rent vehicles for use around campus or town, for hourly, daily or longer term rates. More in the Flyer.

Survey Says: A road project in NE Tennessee is rated by The Daily Caller as the top job-killing Federal stimulus project in the nation by a US Senate study.

Mississippi: State Senator Hob Bryan says the way the budget was written makes it possible to add Federal stimulus funds. The State’s Medicaid system has now switched over to electronic record-keeping. The State received a $90 million Federal grant to expand broadband service. The State Department of Health is working to raise awareness of tobacco’s ills.

Industrial Development Board: They are putting off some talks (about the Germantown Technology Corridor) until the new mayor takes office and discussing consolidation at next month’s meeting. More on the Jabil Circuits PILOT transfer.

16 Balls in the Air: Her next-youngest makes a milestone friendship.

Air Traffic Mike’s: “Memphis politics… you can’t make this s*** up.”

Confessions of a West Tennessee Liberal: A public issues forum next weekend on alternative justice and restorative justice, and more.

Cute Stew: Your cute overload for today, from an expert on cuteness.

Former Mean Girl Seeks Same: If only life came with a pause button.

Gilmour Girl Goes Memphis: Sometimes, the B-ride is where we need to be.

I’ll be the one in heels: A family vigil for her dying mother-in-law.

Left Wing Cracker: Pace the Matt Kuhn editorial in the other column, this unswerving Democrat argues why they need County party primaries.

Meredith Jubilee and Madeline Jane: Your Friday “cute kid” picture — spaghetti face. Even little kids understand that drugs are bad.

Mrs. Katherine: Well, at least she knows what she wants to be, no matter how sweet, odd and unlikely.

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: Attack of the Nuh-Uh Girl!

Weeden Arts Watch: The “to do” list of a public-arts advocate.

Smart City Memphis: A massive “rah-rah” post for the new charter.

The MakeShift Revolution: She’s made some important changes and is embarking on the journey.

The Soundcheck and the Fury: A guest post from Lance the greyhound.

Commercial Appeal: Donor fatigue shouldn’t diminish aid to Pakistan. Rationalising the poor ACT test score results.

Cindy Wolff: A foreboding story of her mother’s descent into Alzheimer’s and her own fear of a similar fate. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Tennessean: A call for more laws and legislation to stop smoking. The State’s record of incorrectly using the tobacco settlement funds is dismal.

Jackson Sun: They call for passage of the Free Flow of Information Act, which differentiates First Amendment protections between reporters and bloggers.

Geoff Calkins: Media attention to Janis Fullilove’s damnfoolstunt is drawing negative attention to Memphis. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Matt Kuhn: A call to end County party primaries (via the Flyer)

The Rant: Hordes of Canadians invading America? (via the Flyer)

John Branston: Some odds and ends of the local political scene. Looking at trends and wondering what they mean for the future. (via the Flyer)

State Senator Reginald Tate: Very sobering numbers on the State lottery scholarship fund. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Ask Myron: Oh, how Fantasia has fallen. Also, happy birthday Myron! (via the Tri-State Defender)

Dorcas Young: The “Know Now. Live Longer.” program hopes to make those with AIDS/HIV aware of all the community services available. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Jack Dewald: Life insurance as an expression of love? (via the Daily News)

Dan Conaway: Learn. Don’t return. (via the Daily News)