Photo Credit: WMC
Fare Thee Well, Coach

 
Reports on the three-hour memorial service, and later funeral, for Memphis State Tigers coach Larry Finch from the Commercial Appeal. A local firm created a Finch memorial ad for FedEx that aired over the weekend. (Ad viewable at link) He was remembered as “the prince of Memphis”. The Flyer reports from the memorial, as does Fox13 and again, ABC24, WMC, WREG.

Memories from fans. WREG tribute video to Finch.

City Impound Lot: On Friday, Memphis mayor A C Wharton suspended all but three employees, citing rampant and long-entrenched corruption. The Memphis police may run the lot in the interim. The employees are being interviewed by investigators and lawyers. More from WMC and WREG.

University of Memphis: Work is due to start in a month on Central Avenue, so that students can safely cross between student parking and the campus.

Bartlett: Your water and sewer rates are about to jump a lot, starting in mid-Summer, to make up for negligent management, apparently.

Airport Cities World Conference & Exhibition This international conference puts the “aerotropolis” spotlight on Memphis starting today. Website here. On the eve of the conference, a Memphis trade delegation in Paris signed an agreement linking businesses around the airports of Memphis and Paris. The Daily News tells you what an aerotropolis is and why it can be transformative for Memphis.

Shelby County Democratic Party: At Saturday’s biennial convention, current chairman Van Turner Jr was re-elected without opposition. More from the Flyer. Behind the scenes thoughts from uber-Dem Left Wing Cracker and more from Reginald Milton.

Ned McWherter Memorial Service: Chief among a huge number of political luminaries, former president Bill Clinton and vice-president Al Gore attended. It was held in his hometown of Dresden. TN Report story with video. More reports from the Nashville City Paper, the Tennessean and again, the Associated Press, Tom Humphrey of the Knoxville News-Sentinel and the Commercial Appeal.

Politics: A bill from Memphis State Senator Beverly Marrero to increase paperwork and individual inspection of nuclear waste landfilled in the state was killed. State legislators, in order to keep Federal funds flowing, will try to make a juvenile sex offender registry private, unavailable to the public. The bill to prevent communities from setting non-discrimination ordinances tighter than State law is likely to pass. No one allowed to drive with a pet in their lap, under proposed State law.

An interview with Senator Bob Corker’s who spoke last week at the Cato Institute.

DeSoto County: The DeSoto Economic Development Council heard from State tourism chief Mary Beth Wilkerson how the county is an engine of tourism. The Olive Branch Board of Aldermen approved $3.2 million in bonds, mostly for water and sewer work. DeSoto Greenways and the DeSoto Arts Council hope to work together to bring more art outdoors. Southavenites–check your water bills! A deal between DeSoto E-911 and the Regional Utility Authority, on joint usage of four communications towers, may be near. More on the audit of Southaven mayor Greg Davis. The Tea Party of Mississippi will hold a protest later this month at a Nation of Islam Islamic center in Southaven.

Real Estate: Some market watchers were surprised by the Q1 drop in home sales in Shelby County. March numbers were up over February this year, but down over last year.

Raleigh: Residents are worried that TN Department of Transportation plans for the old Gwatney Chevy site on Austin-Peay will ruin the “entrance” to their community.

Forest Hill Cemetery: Former owner/operator Clayton Smart pleaded guilty to theft as part of a complex chain of court appearances and guilty pleas.

County Commissioner Chris Thomas: Commissioner Thomas gives his unfiltered thoughts on the Unified school board and the merger with Memphis City Schools, wondering, So Many Questions, So Few Answers.

Memphis City Schools: Booker T. Washington High School is among six national finalists for a graduaton address by President Barack Obama; more in the Business Journal and WREG. Eighteen guns were discovered in City schools in the 2009-10 school yeaer. Homeschoolers of Memphis eclectic is the new name for a support network/group for parents who want to home-school but outside of the large Christian homeschooling movement. TCAP exams are this week and teachers are “under the gun”.

State Education Reform: Governor Bill Haslam says he wants a “smooth, predictable process” … that’s “best for the child” in the Shelby County school merger. State House Speaker Beth Harwell was interviewed by Fox13’s Les Smith about the Legislature’s intervention in the City-County schools merger.

City of Memphis: The lawsuit by former City records clerk Bridgett Handy-Clay, alleging wrongful firing as retaliation for a records request, was dismissed.

Shelby County Commissioner: Though he faces potential sanctions, commissioner Terry Roland continues to press for documents related to billings by one County legal consultant: Baker, Donelson.

Downtown: After 10 years of operations and efforts the Riverfront Development Corporation has thoroughly failed to renovate and reinvigorate the riverfront. RDC website.

Tennessee: Tennesseans are the most upbeat tweeters in the country! And we have one of the lowest tax burdens in the nation.

Mid-South Minority Business Council: Last year the MMBC changed their business-promotion strategy and it’s been paying off. Their website is here.

Business: Site Selection magazine ranks Shelby County tops in counties along the Mississippi River for manufacturing plants or expansions. The US House votes to stay “hands off” the internet, blocking FCC efforts to regualate it. More about the opening of Imagine Vegan Cafe.

The Commercial Appeal reports People in Business for Sunday and Monday; What to Do for Sunday and Monday; and Property Transfers. The Daily News covers Today’s Events.

Mississippi: The Rural Heritage Conservation Extension Act, put forward by Senator Thad Cochran, would extend tax breaks for farmers and landowners who put property into conservation easements. After legislative stalemate, the State’s redisticting plan will likely finally be decided by a Court. A bill is headed to the governor creating a study committee to identify “food deserts” and see how the State can fix them. (story via NEMS360)

Roxana Saberi in Memphis: Occasional contributor Mick Wright was at the appearance of the Iranian-Japanese-American author who spent spent 100 days in an Iranian jail on trumped-up charges. He sent us this report on her life, her new book (Between Two Worlds: My Life and Captivity in Iran) and her experiences.

Online Exclusive: Main Street Journal financial columnist Chuck Bates suggests that President Obama focus on the real bullies of the world.

2011 Memphis Giving Guide: If you want to help but aren’t sure where to volunteer your time or donate your money, this free Memphis Giving Guide, from the Main Street Journal, can help you find the Christ-led ministries effecting social change in Memphis. (11 MB PDF document; right-click and save)

Memphis International Airport: The opening of the new air traffic control tower has been pushed back into mid-June, although the article isn’t clear on why.

Theatre Memphis: They are establishing an emergency fund for members of the theater community who face emergency medical needs. TM website here.

The Intersection of Madness and Reality: The racial politics of black men in drag.

Thoroughly Modern Medusa: Holy moley! It’s moving!

The Daddler and Me: I must admit, Southern family dramas are the best kind.

The Chockley Blogs: Meeting the young man your little boy is becoming.

sharp stick in the eye: Another Memphis couple go on a vacation to Italy.

Sarah Fortune: Some very good news!

Notes from Memphis: Her Vin D’Orange was a success!

Neshoba Nights: A ton of photos from their trip to Italy.

MemphisConnect: Authentic Cantonese dim sum at Golden Coast. And a detailed review of Ubee’s, over the by U of M.

Listwork: Top 10 ways to improve NBA basketball.

Hustle And Sew: Your humorous photo of the day.

Floating, Floating, and Floating With Travilis: Is grandma setting a trap? His “chest tightening moment” of Sunday.

Wendy Eats! PB&J and mac’n'chese at The Elegant Farmer?

The Weeden Arts Watch: John goes back to school to give a guest lecture on Why I Am an Art Worker at Rhodes College.

Cara Notestine: Hey! She’s featured in a magazine!

Brain Release Valve: Turning his dormant blog back into a “dumping ground for all of my brain sputum”. Yay?

Benito’s Wine Reviews: He tries some Appleton Estate 12-Year Old Rum.

Ben Thompson Can Change: “I am a Level III Master of Self-Loathing with 18 years of experience.”

Knoxville News-Sentinel: Although its events were 150 years ago, the Civil War is still instructive today.

Sid Salter: The fact that Mississippi adopted a State budget is an “absolute political and fiscal miracle”. (via the Desoto Times-Tribune)

Memphis News: We need to embrace and run with the idea of Memphis as an aerotropolis.

Giving Back: The Mid-South STEM Alliance isn’t about biotechnology. (via the Daily News)

Small Business Adviser: Think of the flea market as a small business incubator. (via the Daily News)

Commercial Appeal: Congratulating Horn Lake for getting a Towne Square. They thank the legislators who voted like they wanted the legislators to. No government program exists which can clean up a people who don’t care about cleanliness. That empowerment of customers by MLG&W will also entail higher energy bills. If it’s voluntary, how is it a Federal mandate?

Tequila Banks: The executive director for “teacher talent and effectiveness” for Memphis schools reassures teachers (and parents) the new teacher evaluation standards will be fair. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Faith Matters: David highlights a pediatric heart surgeon who is also anti-war. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Chris Peck: A review of Dr Scott Morris’ new book, Health Care You Can Live With. (via the Commercial Appeal) You can read the first chapter of Dr Morris’ book exclusively here! (PDF document)

Otis L. Sanford: A supporter of Mayor A C Wharton’s re-election self-identifies. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Chuck Scruggs: Mr Chuck reminds us that April is Child Abuse Prevention Month though, of course, every day should be. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Michael Kelley: Why is Memphis so littered? Because cleanliness is a learned, self-maintained and reinforced behavior? (via the Commercial Appeal)

Andre K. Fowlkes: It’s a New Economy out there and many Memphians aren’t being prepared for it. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Geoff Calkins: Even in death, it is uncanny how Larry Finch can bring Memphis together. (via the Commercial Appeal)