Photo Credit: WMC
Balancing The Budget

 
Memphis Mayor A C Wharton proposes to put the City’s budget into balance with a mix of layoffs, furloughs, pay cuts, loss of paid holidays, reducing library and community center hours, cutting youth and senior services, even a revived merger of three City divisions. Wharton is also open to Councilman Shea Flinn’s proposal for a one-time property tax increase. Fox13’s Les Smith calls it the “budget battle that never ends”. Families of City employees are worried. More from ABC24, WMC, WREG and the Commercial Appeal.

City Attorney Herman Morris is being considered for the position of public utility manager in Springfield, MO.

One-Time Property Tax Increase: Councilman Shea Flinn’s proposal for a one-time, 39 cent property tax increase was not rejected by the Council, but was put aside for two weeks. The discusssion reportedly turned ugly.

City-County Schools Merger: More on the possible use of a mediator to unstick the negotiations. The search for a proper and acceptable mediator.

Memphis City Schools: Despite direction from the State, the MCS schools are still having theft problems with school fundraisers and events. Booker T. Washington High School is still stumping hard to get President Barack Obama to give their commencement address. More on the difficulties that Omni Prep Academy (a charter school) is having with money and staffing.

Memphis in May: A seminar-luncheon on May 5 will promote host country Belgium as a good place to do business for Memphis companies.

Tennessee: If you are looking for something different for Easter Sunday, consider dining at one of the eight State Park restaurants. We are rated 17th in the nation for our “tax-friendliness to small businesses and entrepreneurs”. Teen and young-adult HIV cases have rocketed up by one-third in the past few years.

Mark Yates: More on the police incident involving the newly nominated chairman of the Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) and his wife, Veronica.

US Senator Bob Corker: He doesn’t think rising fuel costs will stall the economic recovery.

Politics: State Republicans have a diversity of opinion on whether tort reform is needed. A bill just passed by the House would require notice by mail to affected residents if a community is planning to annex land. A study by pro-immigrant activists finds that immigrants pay about $157 million in sales and property taxes in Tennessee in 2010. A bill to require proof of citizenship for students is dead. The House Education Committee apporved a bill to raise and tighten standards for HOPE Scholarships; more in the Commercial Appeal. Is State Senator Stacey Campfield attempting to break State law? Video of Democratic Representative JoAnne Favors holding forth on her blood pressure and encountering dogs in the Legislative Plaza. A bill allowing judges to go armed in the courtroom is headed for a full House vote. The Legislature may ban media broadcast of 911 calls.

The financial disclosure numbers for all Mid-South Congressional representatives.

Tort Reform: The bill has cleared the House Judiciary Committee with amendments. People who have won previous large damage awards say it’s not about the money. More from the Commercial Appeal.

UPDATED! Second Amendment: The Daily Helmsman gets student reaction to the debate on concealed carry on campus. Southwest Tennessee Community College issued their own statement opposing carry by permit holders.

We have the full, if brief, text of University of Memphis President Shirley Raines’ comments on TN Senate Bill SB0051, allowing concealed carry of guns by permit holders on campus. The Commercial Appeal’s pro-gun control story from Sunday and a wider roundup of news reports this week from Tom Humphrey of the Knoxville News-Sentinel. More reporting from Fox13. Campus reaction, from ABC24. Via the Knoxville News-Sentinel, reaction on the UT campus.

Abortion: After passing the Senate on a 24-8 vote, the bill to allow a voter referendum on abortion language in the State Constitution now faces a vote in the House.

The Haslam Administration: Governor Bill Haslam is due to announce later this week a series of major changes, including implementing a “financial incentive matrix” for development projects.

Germantown: The featured speaker at the Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce Business Expo next week will be Jon K. Thompson. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen quickly approved a number of repair and maintenance items at Monday’s meeting. (stories via the Germantown News)

NEW! Internet Exclusive: Memphis Film Commission’s Linn Sitler: Main Street Journal contributor Mick Wright talks with Sitler about Getting Memphis Before the Cameras again.

Internet Exclusive: Shelby County Commissioner Steve Mulroy: Commissioner Mulroy takes a few minutes to explain Why the Need for Public Secrecy? when it comes to County Commission business on public issues.

Shelby County Commission: More on the revocation of paid County employee leave for charitable and reward reasons. Commissioner Chris Thomas, who was also nominated to the board of the Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) is filing for bankruptcy protection.

State Education Reform: After initially backing away from the original collective bargaining bill for a less-strict State House version–with union involvement being the key difference–Speaker Beth Harwell is now signaling possible support for the original Senate plan.

Rusty Hyneman: The controversial, debt-riddled developer hs been circulating a home-made video thumbing his nose at this bankruptcy troubles.

Downtown: The mobile food vendors fair during lunch hour was a huge success; the ordinance allowing it permanently was approved by the City Council. A Flyer report on the vegan eats. Johnny G’s Creole Kitchen is coming to Beale Street, from Bud Chittom, of the Blues City Cafe.

DeSoto County: Saturday’s Mudbug Bash as the largest ever. A public-private consortium will renovate a part of the Northwest Mississippi Community College Aviation Maintenance building into an “advanced technology training center”. More on the Board of Supervisors’ approval of the redistricting changes. And more on Olive Branch’s consideration of a public smoking ban. (all previous stories via the Desoto Times-Tribune) The smoking ban in Olive Branch failed to pass.

Islam in Tennessee and the Mid-South: Two hundred Muslims turned up at the Capitol yesterday, to protest the “anti-terrorist bill”, which they feel still violate freedoms and due process. More in the Knoxville News-Sentinel. Also, the planned-but-now-canceled protest in Southaven against a Nation of Islam center was going to draw the New Black Panther Party to town.

Business: A trade commissioner for Hong Kong, Donald Tong, encourages Memphis to do more business with the city, an access point to China.

Today’s Events and Memphis Newsmakers, from the Daily News. Also, the Commercial Appeal provides People in Business and What to Do.

Delta Air Lines: They are adding a $10/round trip charge to ticket costs.

Lockheed Martin: They are opening a “mission support center” in Jackson, MS, this Fall that will employ 350. They will have job fairs starting in May.

Pinnacle Airlines: Stunning growth in passenger numbers for March for the airline.

Davis-Kidd Booksellers: The five remaining stores owned by Joseph-Beth Booksellers go on auction today. More in the Commercial Appeal.

McDonalds: Hundreds responded in Memphis alone to the company’s National Hiring Day.

Financial: A second quarter of loan profits for Regions Financial as their mortgage and securities division, Morgan Keegan, also posted improved net income.

Millington: The new business park being formed from the old Millington Naval Support Activity station depends on new road expansion on Veterans Parkway.

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.

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.

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)

Real Estate: Is this graph a sign of returning confidence in the residential real estate market?

The Worldly Investor: He looks at the upcoming debt ceiling debate. (via the Daily News)

Light Their Fire: Are you the kind of boss who creates “loyalty beyond reason” in your employees? (via the Daily News)

Guerrilla Sales & Marketing: What makes your business interesting NOW to the public? (via the Daily News)

Scott Carroll: The editor-in-chief of the Daily Helmsman argues that gun control trumps civil rights. (via the Daily Helmslan)

Commercial Appeal: The foreclosure process is weighted too much in favor of bankers in legislation being considered in Nashville. Governor Haslam is tone-deaf when it comes to Cabinet pay.

Stephen Fotopulos: He opposes the “Arizona copycat bill” on immigration reform because it “Federalises” local police and will cost the state economically. (via the Tennessean)