Graphic Credit: Main Street Journal

MEMPHIS CITY SCHOOLS CHARTER SURRENDER: Before yesterday’s vote, board member Tomeka Hart posted this call to action on her blog.

Because the vote happened so late Monday night, many news reports didn’t come out until Tuesday: WKNO-FM, Associated Press the Flyer (and read the comments), Memphis Daily News blog, Fox13, ABC24, WMC, WREG, the Daily News.

Fox13 rounds up reactions from a number of the principals in Monday’s vote, and other legislators who will be involved later. They also talk with SCLC President Rev Dwight Montgomery. Board members Martavious Jones and Rev Kenneth Whalum are interviewed.

The Immediate Fallout: Is the resolution now in effect? What’s the next step in the process? The Election Commission is scrambling to set up and be prepared for the vote. What happens next? Concern and confusion. The election is next.

State Senator Brian Kelsey is the first Shelby County legislator to announce he’ll file a bill allowing the State to take over any failing school districts when they give up their charter. More are coming. The Flyer’s Jackson Baker has much more on Kelsey. Kelsey speaks with Fox13. More from WREG.

Superintendent Dr Kriner Cash: At the press briefing Tuesday, Dr Cash was sad that a weekend agreement with Shelby County Schools was bypassed by the charter vote. (Raw video of the entire press briefing at the link.) Is his future now uncertain? He raises the issue of creating next year’s budget.

Shelby County Schools: Beginning the preparations to become a megadistrict. SCS board chairman David Pickler calls the charter surrender vote “the action that we have long feared”.

DeSoto County: District Attorney for the 17th District, John Champion, is getting the staff and money he needs. The OBC3 is a multi-denominational coalition of local churches pooling resources and people to improve the community. The City of Hernando took out a $1.25 million loan for some recent expenses. Leftover Christmas trees in Hernando will become artificial reefs in Arkabutla Lake. More on the redistricting dilemma and time constraints the County faces.

Millington: Local charities and aid agencies are having an especially rough time after having to deal with flooding last Spring.

Business: Why the “China century will be the shortest on record. The biggest threat to Wal-Mart is… dollar stores? Last minute indications by retailers are good.

A business profile of HTL Advantage, which markets West Tennessee megasites, from the Daily News.

Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics is expanding and will add almost 100 employees in early 2011. More in the Daily News.

People in Business, from the Commercial Appeal. Today’s Events in the Daily News.

FedEx: A quick tour of the SuperHub.
 
 
 

Electrolux: Memphis Chief Administrative Officer George Little is revealing the construction of the new facility involves some tight deadlines for the City.

Medtronic: The company says that Federal regulators have approved their aneurysm device.

Memphis International Airport: The past year is described as “stellar”.

Mississippi: The state’s population grew over the last decade. Governor Haley Barbour is being asked to explain his comments on desegregation. (stories via NEMS360.com)

City-County School Consolidation: The Main Street Journal offers readers several of the documents central to the debate on this issue. A factsheet on Memphis City Schools surrendering its charter. An “information session” on special school districts for MCS from November. The 2008 49-page study from the University of Memphis on special school districts and the 11-page executive summary. (All are PDF documents.)

Shelby County Special School District: The Main Street Journal interviewed Shelby County School Board president David Pickler in 2009 about a school district for County schools.
 

Holiday Schedules: Memphis trash pickup. MATA holiday schedule.

Germantown: GPAC was awarded a $10,000 NEA grant. Work on the Wolf River Boulevard extension could begin this Spring. (stories via the Shelby Sun Times)

Demographics and Census: The Hispanic population in Metro Memphis has hit 52,000.

Memphis City Council: At yesterday’s meeting they approved the renewed lease for red light traffic cameras. A Council committee approved an employee suggestion program with hefty financial bonuses.

Memphis Animal Shelter: The Friends of Memphis Animal Services try their best to rescue as many animals as their budget will allow.

Downtown: That office space the General Services Adminsitration has been searching out is for the Army Corps of Engineers.

Governor-Elect Bill Haslam: He named Huntingdon mayor Dale Kelley as the administration’s chief lobbyist. His new commissioner of the Department of Human Services will be Dr Raquel Hatter. The nominee for Finance Commissioner, Mark Emkes, has some close ties to corporate interests.

Shelby County Commission: Other bits of business from Monday’s meeting.

Holiday Cheer: A stranger was handing out $50 bills at the Shelby Drive Goodwill store.

Politics: Former Congressman Zach Wamp appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe to talk about changing the tone of politics. The chief of staff for Lt Gov. Ron Ramsey, Matt King, is leaving with the new session.

The ACLU-TN makes a Federal terrorism watch list! Both US Senators–Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander–will vote for the START treaty. (via the In Session blog of the Tennessean) Retiring Congressman John Tanner’s farewell remarks to the House.

Governor Phil Bredesen announces what may be his final appointments to State boards and commissions.

Tennessee: According to new US Census data, our population grew by 11.5% during the past decade. The State will keep its nine Congressmen. More on the Census data and the population shifts.

Hope House: Medical advances since the identification of the HIV virus have turned the outlook of the facility toward hope.

Bartlett: The parent-preferred rezoning changes to Bartlett High School would overload the school. (via the Bartlett Express)

Local Media: Finally, a website dedicated to amusing or amazing comments in the Commercial Appeal from their readers.

West Tennessee: The Madison County board of commissioners voted to pay four years of unpiad library system retirement debt. (via the Jackson Sun) Some Winter driving tips. (via NWTNToday.com)

16 Balls in the Air: Parenting tip #643. And, when your parenting lessons take root.

No Rococo: Sophorn has applied for a contest/writing gig involving weeks of travel across Asia. Wish her luck!

Weeden Arts Watch: As head of UrbanArt, he’s learned the importance of following directions.

Tom Guleff: Joe Citizens: A Shelby Countian opposed to school merging has some demands for MCS.

Commercial Appeal: The Shelby County Commission made the right call on the House District 98 seat. They list a lot of questions about the school merger, but will they now answer them?

Wendi C. Thomas: She views the school charter vote as a good thing, which also seems to mean an opportunity to tinker and snark at Republicans. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Better Business: Be very careful of the conditions and requirements when accepting a rebate or gift card.

Bill Theobald: US Senator Bob Corker wants the Fed to focus on keeping prices stable and fight inflation. (via the Tennessean)

John Branston: He clears up some myths about the charter surrender, and points out a few highlights from the Board of Education meeting. He also covers the surprising, passionate and controversial comments from Superintendent Dr Kriner Cash. (via the Flyer)

Light Their Fire: Building transparency between employees and management. (via the Daily News)

Guerilla Sales & Marketing: Top Ten sales resolutions for the New Year (via the Daily News)

I’ll be the one in heels: She clicks her way through the wonderful world of online job applications.

theology & geometry: That back-to-work-after-vacation feeling.

The Chubby Vegetarian: Would you like to give some nice, handmade food gifts?

North Mississippi Commentor: He’s factchecking Governor Haley Barbour’s recollections of the Civil Rights era and the Citizens Councils. More here and here, too.

MemphisShelbyInform: Charter surrender and Mutually Assured Derision.

Pretty in Pink Megan: Some last minute gift ideas. New hair!

Secret Agent Mom: She looks at the birth of Jesus with a clear, sympathetic eye and comes to understand Mary’s situation.

Sig Cooks: He shows you how to make garlic-infused clarified butter!

MemphisConnect: Several upcoming events for the internet entrepreneurs out there.

I Love Memphis: 16 ways to ring in the New Year.

ForkBombr: He has a choice: keep the iPad or move to the 11.6″ MacBook Air?

A Merry Wife: She has a graphic with some of the many, many expenses involved in a big wedding.

What’s For Dinner? The school board vote for charter surrender was “momentous”. Thoughts inspired by the conjunction of the Winter solstice and a total lunar eclipse. A nice recipe for bourbon (or rum) balls.