Memphis City Council: The TN Equality Project’s Jonathan Cole talks about the now-pulled non-discrimination ordinance.

August 5th Election Voting: Local media never reported on the folks from BlackBoxVoting.org, whom local Democrats involved in the election investigation, until now, when one levels charges of voter intimidation. Shelby County Democrats continue to stoke distrust in the election.

University of Memphis: Southern Avenue is not only being repaved but bike lanes and parking are being added, too. Current work, though, has taken away a lot of parking. And a major, $5 million, renovation of Robinson Hall is being planned. The U of M chapter of Sigma Kappa has gone dormant. (via the Daily Helmsman)

Memphis Police Department: Thirty-nine police lieutenants are now eligible for long-withheld promotions to major, thanks to a judge’s ruling in this long-running case.

Redbirds: Kemmons Wilson Inc is in early talks to buy the franchise; the Commercial Appeal also reports. The Commercial Appeal profiles the Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation.

Tennessee: A majority of teens are now missing routine vaccinations.

Church Health Center: They are asking local doctors’ offices to donate “1 in 3 to the CHC” — medications that is, to them and their mission to serve the poor.

Politics: Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Cornelia Clark will be sworn in tomorrow as the new Chief Justice; ceremony details. Republicans in the US Eighth Congressional District race are now trying to connect Democrat Roy Herron to President Obama’s estranged former minister, Jeremiah Wright. Herron and Republican Stephen Fincher will debate on October 5. A server in a bar in Nashville is suing to overturn the new “guns in restaurants that serve alcohol” law on the basis of OSHA safety rules!

Petitioners gathered enough signatures to force a recall vote on Chattanooga mayor Ron Littlefield. For some, it will be a quick path to office. (stories via the Chattanooga Times Free Press) A court fight is now expected.

Memphis College of Art: They are branching out from the “campus” around Overton Park on Poplar to a new graduate school in the South Main Historic Arts District.

DeSoto County: The first of four Parent Advisory Council meetings on the County’s fifteen Title 1 schools was this week. Horn Lake’s Mayor’s Youth Council is the first of its kind in the county. (stories via the Desoto Times Tribune) The County is ready to move on the new County Jail site, just south of Hernando. A number of prescription benefits cards are now popular around the county. The Commercial Appeal also reports on the Hernando West subdivision. The Southaven Planning Commission OK’d the fuel pumps at Kroger’s.

Harold Ford Jr: He may be calling himself a New Yorker these days, as he did in several interviews last week, but he’s also still registered to vote in Shelby County. Isn’t that a crime?

Christian Brothers University: Along with a number of packaging, shipping and medical-device companies, they have formed the Healthcare Packaging Consortium.

Marina Cove: An announcement is expected today on possible major redevelopment of the blighted property.

Financial: Business owners have new online resources from First Tennessee.

Islam in Tennessee: A suspicious fire at a construction site for an Islamic Center in Murfreesboro is under investigation. There were reports of shots fired as well. The FBI is avoiding terms like “domestic terrorism” and “hate crime” but newspapers are freely calling it “hate”. Governor Phil Bredesen is calling for “religious tolerance” but other political leaders (of both parties) aren’t speaking out. Southern Baptist leaders are condemning the incident, as is the TN ACLU. A vigil is now planned; more in the Commercial Appeal.

Governor’s Race: Former president Bill Clinton will be in Nashville next week campaigning for Democratic candidate Mike McWherter.

Real Estate: Mid-America Apartment Communities is buying up a Dallas complex; more in the Commercial Appeal. The Obama administration has two new programs designed to help struggling homeowners.

Arkansas: Lawmakers are backtracking on a promise to get more funds for schools this year.

UPDATED: Main Street Journal Soapbox Dinner: Come out for this informative and entertaining evening, cosponsored with 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! A new table has been added, thanks to US Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn.

City School Funding: The Memphis City Schools say they are willing to work with the City to get their $58 million.

Shelby County Government: There are three major reasons for the massive wave of retiring County employees coming on Wednesday. Online tag renewal started yesterday and is explained.

Metro Charter Vote: The suburban mayors are organising in opposition to the new, proposed charter. A charter debate/meeting in Germantown last night; more from Eyewitness News, the Commercial Appeal.

The Wharton Administration: CAO George Little insisted yesterday that the firing of a City Attorney records request officer, Bridgett Handy-Clay, was not retaliation; more from Eyewitness News, WREG and the Commercial Appeal. The City is now reviewing the many “one dollar deals” for rent and space the City has signed over the years. More on the twenty Fire Department vehicles that have no emergency radios. CAO Little is also talking about a major shakeup of Fleet Services and the General Services Divisions.

Memphis International Airport: Thousands of pounds of body parts were stopped before they continued on to Chile.

The Delta Fair: It kicks off this Friday and runs through September 12. Delta Fair website is here.
 
 

Mississippi: Ole Miss has unveiled new tailgating rules. (via NEMS360.com) A Chicago gang and gun-selling ring has been connected to students at Rust College. Various communities are viewing ways to take advantage of alcohol sales taxes.

Leadership Academy: FedEx CIO and executive vice president of information services Rob Carter will speak this Thursday at their “Celebrate What’s Right” luncheon series.

Business: Hilton Hotels is laying off 36 Memphis workers. And 51 more Memphis jobs will be lost when Louis Vuitton transfers local distribution operations to New Jersey; more in the Commercial Appeal. More on both stories from the Daily News. Two Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets will get renovations.

Today’s Events in the Daily News. The Commercial Appeal tells you What to Do.

Campbell Clinic: They are expanding their presence in the Medical Professionals Building on Union, moving some offices around and adding more physicians.

Jason’s Deli: The problem was not a dishonest employee at the store level, but someone who hacked into the company’s computer, says the Secret Service.

Southern Heritage Classic: Will Tiger Lane be ready in time for the Classic, which is September 11?
 

Mosquito Spraying: The Shelby County Health Department’s schedule for spraying, to combat West Nile.

Shelby County Schools: They are having trouble with “lives with” students who are fraudulently enrolled in County schools.

Bass, Berry & Sims PLC: Eleven of their attorneys have been named to The Best Lawyers in America 2011.

Germantown: Former police lieutenant Stephanie D. Hill has settled both her discrimination lawsuits with the City.

West Tennessee: The State’s first elected black sheriff, Hardin County’s Delphus Hicks, Jr, is retiring today. Fines and fees have been collected in Trenton, but they aren’t making it to the bank! (stories via the Jackson Sun) Two Dyersburg candidates for alderman have agreed to not post signs. The candidates for Dyer County sheriff have spent a combined $40,000. Corn harvest losses in Obion County could total $12 million. Oakland mayor Scott Ferguson wants to take their Parks Department “to the next level”.

Survey Says: Local gas prices fell another nickel. A Washington Monthly story on “dropout factory” colleges is drawing sharp rebuke from two local schools.

Air Traffic Mike’s: He’s supposed to be retired but he still stumbled into a job anyway. And just as suddenly, the job is over.

16 Balls in the Air: Oooh! Breakfast cookies! Worrying about definitions.

MemphisShelbyInform: He relates his personal experience with Bridgett Handy-Clay and discovers there are still a lot of questions about her dismissal.

Midtown Stomp: “Like feasting on a cloud.”

Rustmeister’s Alehouse: A very brief thought on Big Brother and surveillance.

sharp stick in the eye: Her grandmother is 90, which means party time.

Smart City Memphis: Lamenting the lack of vision in Memphis.

Commercial Appeal: Moving hiring of police officers back to the Police Department called “smart, prudent move”.

A Right Perspective: Buy locally and support your neighbors. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Megan Harris: What a long strange journey it’s been from clueless college freshman to wise senior. (via the Daily Helmsman)

Zack McMillin: What if campaign ads were honest? (via the Commercial Appeal’s Eye On Politics blog)

David Waddell: Finding the reality inside the expectations. (via the Flyer)

Ansley Fones: Well, here’s one Memphian who is glad she came back!

Blue Collar Republican: What some readers will find to be surprising views on religion in America and religious freedom.

Benito’s Wine Reviews: The Summer doledrums lead to musings about his blog’s direction.

Cafe Kel: A friend goes diving and disappears, triggering the story of their friendship.

Brain Release Valve: The universe is huge. Some interesting photos of a “blue” sky. He’s now a published author!

Can’t Stop: Learn more about developing a marathon running pace.

Dining With Monkeys: They find Taqueria Garibaldi to be cheap, flavorful and fun.

FIX MEMPHIS: Cyclocross season is coming. Stranded on Highland.

Former Mean Girl Seeks Same: A song takes her back and she realises how far she’s come since then.

I Love Memphis: It sounds like Incredible Pizza lives up to its name. The Midtown Overlay explained.

I’ll be the one in heels: Her son Elijah has turned 17, it’s his last year of school and she’s a proud mama.

Wendi C. Thomas - I opine: She recounts her date with a pimp.