Photo Credit: Lance Murphey, Daily News
Airport Cities World Conference & Exhibition

 
Memphis was showcased to the international transportation planning community with an introductory tour of the city. The conference is a chance for Memphis to show off its application of the “aerotropolis” concept via its aiport. More from Fox13, ABC24 and WREG.

For Memphis, the conference kicked off with the signing of a beneficial new trade agreement by Memphis mayor A C Wharton Jr. and French Minister of Urban Development Maurice Leroy linking the businesses around the Memphis and Paris airports. More from WMC.

Shelby County Commission: On Monday morning, County mayor Mark Luttrell presented a $1.2 billion County budget that emphasised cutting costs. They are trying to close a $23 million budget gap. More on the budget presentation from Fox13.

The Crisis Center: They have been preparing for the rollout of the Call4Kids hotline program (274-7477) that will field calls reporting possible child abuse or neglect. More from Fox13, WMC and WREG. Their Facebook page.

State Education Reform: Memphis Education Association president Keith Williams says teachers are “under attack”. Governor Bill Haslam met with State House Republicans but says they didn’t discuss revising House legislation on teacher union collective bargaining.

Memphis Police Association: The police union explains its reasoning in suspending their president, J. D. Sewell.

Advent Presbyterian Church: This Cordova congregation voted to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA) to join the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, which they feel is a better, more traditional ideological fit. They may not be the only Memphis Presbyterian church to do so.

Mississippi: A look at three outsider candidates for governor in 2011.

Business: A study by a division of the parent company of the Memphis Business Journal finds that Memphis is ranked very poorly nationally on being “conducive to the creation and development of small businesses”.

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

Thomas & Betts: They may close an Iowa plant and consolidate operations in Tennessee. More in the Commercial Appeal.

Real Estate: March new-home building permits were down by half over last year. And while homebuilder sales and starts were down, there was still some good news. The Memphis Area Association of Realtors will host a real estate forum-tour for Midtown next week.

Earth Week 2011: Shelby Farms’ kickoff will be this Sunday with a Down to Earth Festival. More information on Earth Week in Memphis here.
 

State Income and Sales Taxes: Even though House Speaker Emeritus Jimmy Naifeh meant his sales tax amendment to the constitutional referendum banning an income tax as a “poison pill”, Middle TN Rep. Glen Casada is seriously putting forward a separate bill on the sales tax freeze! (SJR18 in the General Assembly’s database of bills.)

Illegal Immigration: There is some dispute on how much it is costing the State.

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.

Operation Safe Community: Major property crimes continue their downward drop but violent crimes were up for the first part of 2011. More from ABC24.

Shelby Farms: The bison herd is infected with intestinal parasites, which make them appear emaciated. More from WREG.

Memphis-Shelby County EMA: The director, Bob Nations, says his agency is “severely understaffed” so that it might affect public safety.

DeSoto County: Volunteerism is a great force raising money and awareness for the Horn Lake Animal Shelter. The Tea Party of MS plans to protest “radical Islam” at the Nation of Islam Southaven Muhammad Study Group next Saturday; more from WMC. From the Commercial Appeal, the county Bulletin Board.

$57 Million: Late news that the City of Memphis has transferred $44 million to the Memphis City Schools.

Bartlett: More on the shocking sewer and water rate increases coming to customers in the town.

Shelby County 911: Their hoped-for new facility by the Penal Farm is now on hold because the City of Memphis didn’t include their funding contribution in the next budget, which prompted the County to follow suit.

“Twitter Kings of Memphis”? One non-Memphian and two salesmen are the most “successful” Twitter users in Memphis? Really, WMC?

US Senator Bob Corker: Well, it wasn’t a Grammy award, but a thank-you is still nice.

Politics: State Senate Democrats had a press conference on Monday to chastise Governor Bill Haslam and Republicans for not creating jobs; they lamented that Republicans aren’t embracing their legislation-based approach to job-creation. More on this from Tom Humphrey of the Knoxville News-Sentinel. The State Supreme Court has ruled that new standards for judging IQ disability in death penalty cases must be broader and higher; more in the Commercial Appeal.

Tennessee: The TN Highway Patrol wants to change their name to TN State Patrol; more.

Gasoline: For the past five weeks, Americans are buying less gas than a year ago as average prices approach $4/gallon. Locally, the average price is $3.63/gallon.

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)

State Rep. Gerald McCormick: After years of dominating State government, Democratic complaints about Republican job creation ring hollow and late. (via the Jackson Sun)

From My Seat: Some Redbirds observations from their opening weekend. (via the Flyer)

Small Business Advocate: If your business needs to step up a level, you might be ready to build alliances. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Andrew C. Phillips: Foreclosures in Memphis aren’t just a function of crime, poverty and neighborhoods. (via the Daily News)

Smart Stuff 4 Work: Is your brain a runaway stagecoach? (via the Daily News)