City Schools Funding: Following the State Supreme Court’s decision, the first step is determining exactly how much is owed. What cannot be collected via cuts will require a tax increase. More from Eyewitness News, WMC, WREG.

City Problems: The Lick Creek Storm Water Coalition wants City action on sewage backing up into bathtubs and toilets after heavy rains. Southeast Memphians want abandoned, burned-out buildings dealt with. Operation Safe Community is slowly achieving its goals. Some residents of Orange Mound aren’t waiting for the City to get around to cleaning up. Leaving District 4 out of the University District Overlay is causing questions and problems.

Rhodes College: A mild fraternity prank by SAE got them into hot water anyway.

Memphis Police Department: Bridges McRae, former MPD officer, agreed to a charge of excessive violence in the case of Duanna Johnson. He will serve two years. More from Eyewitness News, WMC, WREG and the Commercial Appeal.

Officer Clayton Hickey, arrested in Olive Branch with beer and an underaged girl, has resigned.

Governor’s Race: Governor Phil Bredesen says voters will decide if there’s a conflict of interest when a candidate also owns a mega-business, referring to Republican Bill Haslam. More Democratic dissatisfaction with candidate Mike McWherter. Both candidates will face a Student Town Hall of first-time voters later this month, as part of the First Lady Series.

August 5th Election Challenge: All the defeated Democratic candidates have now joined the legal challenge of the election. More reports from the Tri-State Defender, WKNO-FM, Fox13.

The attorney for losing Dyer County Sheriff’s candidate Rickie Tidwell is calling for a new election to be held. Related story, both from the Dyersburg State Gazette.

Germantown: A dispute between the City and Walid Sakaan, the owner of the property needed to complete the Wolf River Boulevard, is headed to court.

Bike Lanes: Businesses and biking enthusiasts are clashing over parking and lane design in Cooper-Young.

Politics: The “wine in grocery stores” bill is not dead yet. A number of Memphians are heading to Washington DC for Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally this weekend.

Shelby County Schools: The school board began the process to rezone the northeastern part of the County.

Shelby County District Attorney: They are starting a new special victim’s unit for rape and child sexual abuse cases.

Arkansas: Utility customers are being warned of a bill assistance scam.

DeSoto County: Area food pantries are really feeling the strain. State Senator Doug Davis will bring up a bill allowing the new County Jail to be built anywhere in the county; more in the Commercial Appeal. (previous stories via the Desoto Times Tribune) The Board of Supervisors is discussing raises for County employees; more in the Commercial Appeal. Northwest Mississippi Community College has seen a 22% increase in enrollment. Olive Branch is raising certain fees and fines in the proposed new budget.

Financial: New Trust One Bank CEO and president Terence Lewis says his bank is eager to loan.

Valero Energy: Twenty-seven non-profits will benefit from their $300,000 gift.

Credit Card Crime: Jason’s Deli isn’t the only store having problems with credit cards. Victims are finding each other online to commiscerate.

Mike Rose Soccer Complex: The facility is reaching out not only to international soccer players, but to musicians as well. Their website is here.

WLOK Stone Soul Picnic: The line-up of artists for next weekend’s event. WLOK website here.

Hurricane Katrina: The Gulf Coast disaster five years ago taught the local non-profit and church assistance community a lot about disaster response.

Survey Says: Increasing business travel might bump per-room revenues for Memphis hoteliers. CredAbility calls Tennessee the 10th most distressed state.

NEW! Main Street Journal ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Advocates for the proposed Memphis Shelby County Metropolitan Charter, Rebuild Government, present their arguments in favor of the new government. Their website is here.

Main Street Journal Soapbox Dinner: Come out for this informative and entertaining evening (DOC format) cosponsored by the League of Women Voters, with a host of Memphis’ most interesting, powerful and connected people! Register now for the September 7th event by emailing us. Tickets are going fast!

Unemployment: The jobless rate for Metro Memphis is down, to 10.1% for July. Shelby County’s rate also fell, to 9.9%. The State list with all counties’ rates. The Commercial Appeal reports.

Memphis City Schools: The County Sheriff and District Attorney’s offices are teaming up for a pre-K education program called Fight Crime. More from Eyewitness News and the Commercial Appeal.

The Tri-State Defender offers their ideas for 10 actions African-Americans can take to help make college a reality for students.

Metropolitan Charter: Metro Memphians would face two different property tax rates, depending on where they live. County leaders in Bartlett and Lakeland are opposing the charter. A public meeting has been scheduled for Monday in Germantown.

Lorenzen Wright Murder: A month after his body was found, still no answers on his murder.

Downtown: The South Main Arts District is growing despite the recession.

Food Access: The Flyer has a big article on a growing confluence of government agencies, private foundations, neighborhood activists and more seeking to create a Memphis and Shelby County Food Policy Council to address “food deserts” and more.

Public Transportation: The “Telling Our Story” campaign is a local effort designed to highlight the importance of public transportation in the lives of Americans.

Mid-South Council to Help Advance the Regional Growth of Electrification: More from the Flyer on the effort to bring an electric vehicle demonstration project to Shelby County.

Tennessee: The TN Highway Patrol is “aggressively” seeking men and women to apply as troopers. Outgoing Board of Regents chancellor Charles Manning will receive his salary through the end of the year, alongside new chancellor John Morgan.

Business: Second quarter profits were up 19% in the first quarter for Fred’s, as was net income. A new round of layoffs at American Snuff won’t affect plans to expand later; more from the Daily News and the Commercial Appeal. Two important promotions at Perkins & Marie Callender’s. The Tennessee Titans franchise lost value last year.

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

FBI: Fox13 profiles the new Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis office, Amy Hess.

Shelby County Commission: Commissioner Mike Carpenter is receiving threats after trying to cut County employees’ leave time.

Harold Ford Jr: The Nashville Scene’s Jeff Woods scathingly reviews Ford’s book, More Davids Than Goliaths.
 
 
 

National Cotton Council: The news is good for this year’s crop.

CN Railway: They are looking to add a “logistics park” next to their Intermodal Gateway in southwest Memphis.

Marina Cove Apartments: Plans for the redevelopment of the site will be unveiled next week.

Mississippi: Former Medical Examiner Bruce Levy, arrested for marijuana possession, has been placed on diversion. The purpose of the special legislative session was to provide financial incentives to Kior, Inc., which creates oil from wood and other plant materials.

India Fest 2010: This celebration of Indian culture will be held Saturday at the Agricenter. India Fest website here.
 
 

Xspectre8: Here’s the background that explains this post on trail hiking.

The MakeShift Revolution: It’s already Halloween planning time? A teacher’s perspective on parenting, from guest-blogger Jennifer.

Steve’s Nude Memphis Blog: Ten things he’s been meaning to say to other (anonymous) people. (Though, if you’re a regular reader, some can be figured out.)

Notes from Memphis: The coolest pedestrian bridge in the world is right here in Memphis.

No Rococo: She pays tribute to Melissa Sweazy’s photography. (Melissa’s work has also been featured here.)

MemphisShelbyInform: Comparing the benefits, pensions and OPEBs of Metro Davidson and “Metro” Memphis and, of course, asking questions.

Mrs Katherine: Ten reasons a six-month old can’t sit there and eat.

Midtown Stomp: He’s put together a “World Tour of Wine” for September.

La Vie Quotidienne: Awww… Sylvie is sick again.

Gilmour Girl Goes Memphis: She’s broken her training commitment.

Former Mean Girl Seeks Same: How to avoid the necessary breakup.

Cute Stew: Stop by and wish her a happy birthday. In honor of her birthday, she’s running a giveaway… with twelve winners!

Speak To Power: Thoughts on the withdrawn non-discrimination ordinance.

John S. Richbourg: A call for comprehensive immigration reform. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Mary Mancini: The liberal Democratic activist points out that all voters demand accurate elections. (via the Tennessean)

Mark Goins: The State’s Coordinator of Elections says the few mistakes on August 5th were overwhelmed by all the correct votes. (via the Tennessean)

Tennessean: Trying hard to blame the Republican Party for the August 5th election screwups statewide.

Sid Salter: Like it or not, Mississppi’s political redistricting efforts will likely end up in court. (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Ask Myron: It’s off to the movies this weekend. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Reginald Tate: The State senator argues the debate over State funding of pre-K education is over. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Tony Nichelson: Where is Memphis’ African-American leadership? (via the Tri-State Defender)

John Branston: Does anyone really know what will really happen under the metro charter? (via the Flyer)

Michael McCusker: A retired major with personal experience in Afghanisatan speaks in support of the mosque near the World Trade Center site. (via the Flyer)

Flyer: On the anniversary of women’s right to vote, calling for the Memphis non-discrimination ordinance to be passed.

Dan Conaway: Reimagining the Mid-South Fair. (via the Daily News)