Photo Credit: Mid-South Peace & Justice Center
Is It Reform or Revenge?

 
Teachers union collective bargaining reform passes in the State House Thursday by a 59-39 margin. (State legislation website.) How the Representatives voted. The version passed in the House is amended and less strict than the Senate version. More reports from Tom Humphrey of the Knoxville News-Sentinel, the Tennessean, the Nashville City Paper, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Fox13.

Florida went down a similar road a dozen years ago; what we can learn. The State House also voted to make employment of non-teaching positions “at will” for school directors. Governor Bill Haslam has rewritten his charter school legislation and “watered it down”.

Memphis City Council: Mayor A C Wharton’s proposed budget makes slashing cuts to athletics and the Parks Department; more from WREG.

Flood Recovery: Code enforcement is now fanning out to certify buildings for rehabitation. And FEMA agents are also blanketing the community, offering financial and other assistance. More from ABC24. “Stinky brown stuff” bubbling up in North Memphis. Northaven looks to the future. Once again: beware of scammers! More from WMC. You can search for disaster assistance here. The Salvation Army needs your help.

An update from the Daily News on the progress of re-opening the Tunica casinos; more from WMC. Memphis City Beautiful is taking over parts of Downtown cleanup. Mississippi recorded its first flood-related death.

FEMA is seeking to recover $1.6 million in 2010 flood aid disbursed to hundreds of Tennesseans.

Memphis City Schools: A track coach at Sherwood Middle School, Arlen Wilburn, has been arrested and charged with the rape of a student on campus. More from Fox13, ABC24, WREG. His neighbors are defending him. And that’s three reported sex scandals in one week.

Shelby County Government: In a move to prevent contractor scams, the County is going to require that anyone doing flood repair work have a photo ID; more from ABC24. Memphis Latinos are protesting a move by County schools to require positive ID for student enrollment. Mayor Mark Luttrell talks with Fox13 about the economic improvements happening of late.

Islam in Tennessee: The judge has ruled against the plaintiffs who sought to block construction of an Islamic mosque and community center in Rutherford County (Murfreesboro). More from the Daily News Journal.

Booker T. Washington High School: A Flyer interview with Lauryn Duvalle, who helped advise on the school’s winning video.

City of Memphis: How the “I Love Memphis” mural project came to be.

Unemployment Benefits: Lt Governor Ron Ramsey says he doesn’t expect the State Senate to go along with Democratic calls to extend benefits another 20 weeks.

Politics: The immigration bill requiring employers to use E-verify was amended and now drivers licenses will suffice; more from WPLN. Two of the three immigration bills proposed by Rep. Joe Carr this session have now been deferred. The House anti-terrorism bill has been amended to “more closely match” Federal law; passage is now expected. The Department of Education and the state Board of Education will conduct a study of how sexuality is taught in the classroom before a bill to block discussion of sexuality outside of hetero-normative limits is brought back up; more from the Tennessean. Democrats are mounting a last-minute campaign to the governor. Child custody would now be changed to maximise time spent with parents in divorces. The Senate unexpectedly moved on the income tax ban constitutional amendment.

Is legislation by Rep. Vance Dennis self-serving and possibly even payback?

MLG&W: The board of directors votes to delay changing the winter cutoff moratorium after an appeal by City Councilwoman Janis Fullilove.

Sears Crosstown: Trying to decide what to do, who will do it and where the money comes from. A very detailed history of the Memphis landmark.

Memphis Animal Shelter: Animal activists from around the nation continue to hammer the shelter with their agenda. A statement from Mayor A C Wharton addressing that issue. More from WREG.

Kick Out Cable: Local “social media guru” Bob Hazlett unplugged his TV from the cable and survived to share his experience with others. Bob’s website is here.

Lambuth University: A group of investors–the City of Jackson, Madison County, West Tennessee Healthcare and Jackson Energy Authority– has come forward with a $6 million proposal to rescue the school. Negotiations are still continuing with the group back a University of Memphis takeover.

Online Exclusive: Joe Saino, the Shelby Watchdog: Memphis Mayor A C Wharton asked the public to offer suggestions about cutting the Memphis City budget and Joe is only to happy to provide Some Suggestions that would reduce it substantially!

Online Exclusive: George Kuykendall: The executive director of Citizens for Community Values says that it’s Game Day for Memphis in its fight against strip clubs.

Unemployment: The state’s unemployment rate for April rose to 9.6%. More in the Commercial Appeal and from Fox13.

City-County Schools Merger Lawsuit: All parties meet again today, in the effort to expedite a ruling in the suit. The “innovative school district” legislation is worrying local officials that it will screw up the merger, says City school board member Martavius Jones; more from Fox13.

Memphis Police Department: More personnel moves as new Police Director Toney Armstrong changes the MPD to suit his plans for it.

Shelby County Commission: The race for the next commission chairman may be a free-for-brawl. The commission voted to change language in the ordinance previously favoring small business to also include large businesses.

Tennessee Department of Motor Services: The new Whitehaven driver service center is now open and it’s the largest in the state.

Memphis in May: This month is as good an excuse as you’ll need to try strong & dark Belgian ales.

Overton Square: The new developer, Loeb Properties, will host two public hearings to show its revised plans.

TEDx Memphis: This conference of innovators and inspiring thinkers with “ideas worth spreading” is Saturday at the Fogelman Center at the University of Memphis. The TEDx Memphis wesite is here.

The Rapture: Given past history and Biblical injunctions against predictions of the End Days, it’s unlikely to occur on Saturday, May 21.

Aquaculture: The USDA will hold two public hearings to get public input on the contentious issues of catfish farming.

Business: Tennessee ranks sixth in something called “consumer distress”.

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

Delta Air Lines: In an effort to boost profits, they will cut capacity by removing hundreds of planes from service, but higher prices for fuel are here to stay. The airline is cutting back on European flights.

Pinnacle Airlines: More in the Daily News.

Amazon.com: The State Senate has formally deferred the bill requiring the company to collect sales taxes in-state, until 2012. House Finance Committee Chairman Charles Sargent wants Amazon “to do the right thing” voluntarily. More from the Tennessee Report. Now that the issue has been settle, Governor Bill Haslam is ready to talk with Amazon.

Memphis International Airport: The board of the Airport Authority voted to approve a $123 million budget for operations and maintenance. The airport may also get involved in paying for the insurance and repairs for the flood-damaged General DeWitt Spain Airport downtown. More from the Commercial Appeal.

Mississippi: Governor Haley Barbourwill not call a special session to sort out the redistricting mess.

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.

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)

Collierville: Having cut as much as they can in the budget, a property tax increase is seeming very likely.

St George’s Independent School: An unexpected and large bequest from an unexpected donor means scholarships for their students.

DeSoto County: Southaven mayor Greg Davis gave his State of the City speech to the Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday; more from the Commercial Appeal and WMC. Bowing to State, Federal and ADA demands, Hernando will create a plan to address disability accessibility, though there is no money to implement it. Very few are turning up at the FEMA assistance office.

Memorial Day Weekend: Travelers this holiday weekend will be wealthier and more numerous than last year. And more travel overall is expected.

Rev. Steven S. Nelson: The Legislature was right to pass the bill to block more-restrictive non-discrimination ordiances at the local level. (via the Tennessean)

Lee Bearman: Tennesseans should support the anti-terrorism bill. (via the Tennessean)

Tennessean: State Senator Bill Ketron supposely needs to “come clean” on the “complete disregard for facts” in his anti-terrorism bill.

Memphasis: High water and tall tales. (via the Daily News)

Steve Basar: Everyone wants the City to find the money in the budget for their pet projects or civic ideas. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Because I Said So: What has happened to phone etiquette? (via the Commercial Appeal)

Commercial Appeal: State programs, once started, must always be “properly funded”. Are they calling for robust intervention in foreign affairs?

FUNdraising: The power of local volunteers. (via the Daily News)

Memphis News: We as a community need to decide what to do with the Sears Crosstown building.

The Flyer: Ac-cen-tu-aaate the positive.

John Branston: Things he’d like to hear around Memphis. (via the Flyer)

Alisha Kiner: The principal of Booker T. Washington High School thanks President Barack Obama for a very personal moment. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Bernal E. Smith II: Memphis can, indeed, be great. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Lucy Shaw: Tending the gardens of your life. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Tri-State Defender: A call for more money for children and education.