Photo Credit: US Air Force
And You Think It’s Hot Here In Memphis?

 
Surprise! Governor Bill Haslam is in Kuwait and Iraq on an unannounced visit to troops from Tennessee stationed there. He is expected to return at the end of the week. Haslam is calling the trip an “incredible eye-opening experience”. He pronounces himself “impressed”. He’s traveling with other governors in a military-sponsored “educational” trip. More reports from the Associated Press.

Memphis City Council: School will start on time. They voted unanimously to approve the MCS budget, including a payment of $68 million. As long as a payment of $12 million is made this Friday school will start on time. More in the Commercial Appeal.

On advice of counsel, City attorney Allan Wade, the council did not discuss the pay cut for City employees, because the matter is in court. The issue was tabled, again, until September 6. Unions also were protesting changes to the City’s pension scheme. In practice, the City isn’t doing background checks for felony convictions until months have passed since employment.

Memphis City Schools: Parks Director Cindy Buchanan says that MCS can take over operations of Whitehaven Golf Course, but would have to pay for it. The course lost $200,000 last year.

TVA: The Office of the Inspector General has released a report showing that 8 of 9 fossil fuel plants have been leaking toxic materials into the ground.

Birth Control: New Federal rules will require all health insurance plans to offer a number of women-centered health services, including contraceptive pills, including the “morning after” pill.

Federal Debt Ceiling Vote: Only one Congressman in West Tennessee voted against the Budget Control Act–Steve Cohen. Who voted and how in the TN delegation; similar story in the Tennessean. TN Lt Governor Ron Ramsey is declaring victory for Republicans.

“Dozens” turned out to protest the debt deal. “Winners and losers” according to Fox13.

Youth Villages: They are to receive a legacy challenge grant of $42 million from the Day Foundation. It will help the transitional living facility for youth who are aging out of the foster system. It is the largest grant ever received by the Memphis non-profit and is spread out over five years. Some information about Clarence Day. More from the Commercial Appeal.

Politics: Only two of three of the largest cities in Tennessee deny a pension to government officials convicted of malfeasance. A study shows that 771 State employees were denied the 1.6% COLA raise given to other employees and 163 were specifically denied because of performance issues. More from the Tennessean.

An uncertain Federal budget has meant fewer road projects and smaller. Democrats are acting as though the cuts to government are real.

Arkansas: The State now plans to drop all other charges against convicted Army recruiter-shooter Abdulhakim Muhammad. AR is another recipient of the Gates Foundation’s Complete College America million dollar grant to boost college completion rates. The first month of the fiscal year for the State is a down month for tax revenues.

Tennessee: The Administrative Office of the Courts is taking public comment on the nominees for the TN Judicial Nominating Commission. Cuts to the Federal Aviation Authority budget will mean closing the Jackson Airport; however Democrats are willing to compromise. State executions are on hold. State officials want poor residents to know about CoverKids, insurance for children.

Hearing Damage: Baptist Memorial Health Care have launched an initiative to combat hearing loss in teens. Ear buds are believed to be a major cause of hearing damage and they have a website now with an app to teach sound awareness.

The Daily News: As part of the 125th anniversary celebration, they profile fourth-generation owner, Peter Schutt..

MPACT: After three years, executive director Gwyn Fisher is stepping down at the end of the month.

Oakland: An audit of mayor Scott Ferguson’s use of the new Town vehicle for personal driving has prompted a change in policy. And may lead to expensive reimbursement. More in the Commercial Appeal.

McKellar Lake: Officials at the Port of Memphis want Federal funds for an ambitious project to stop efforts by the Mississippi River to flow across President’s Island.

Internet Exclusive! Lies, Damned Lies and Political Rhetoric: Financial Correspondent Chuck Bates believes that too many politicians are willing to play rhetorical games with the high-stakes Federal budget debate. He longs for the days of statesmen.

Internet Exclusive: Corporate Welfare and Government Waste: The Tennessee Center for Policy Research is an independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan research organization that has just released their 2011 Pork Report on State government waste, fraud and mis-spending. The report can be read here.

Internet Exclusive: Herman Cain for President: Mississippi Tea Party activist Doctor Ed “Doc” Holliday says the only man who stands a chance of defeating President Barack Obama in 2012 is Republican candidate Herman Cain, and he lays out why.

Shelby County Commission: The commission is still debating the issue of free, catered lunches.

Millington: Mayor Richard Hodges opens up for the first time with WREG’s Bonny Kinney.

Herenton Returns! Fronting a charter school group called the W. E. B. DuBois Consortium, he hopes to have “four high schools, three middle schools and two elementary schools” by next year. Letters of intent have already been filed. In other charter school news, all three troubled MCS charter schools are pressing forward as though they have approval for next year.

Lambuth University: The Jackson City Council has unanimously approved $3 million toward purchase of the school. The Madison County Commission votes next, on Thursday, on a $2 million stake.

Triple-Digit Heat Wave: Customers of MLGW threatened by utility shutoff need not fear, they will not shut off customers when the temps are above 100 degrees. (95 degrees for seniors.) The Shelby County Health Department is urging heat precautions, as is Mayor A C Wharton. Local churches are stepping up to act as cooling centers. Avoiding heat-related illnesses. Yesterday was 104 degrees, but the all-time high in Memphis was 108 degrees, in July 1980.

Bartlett: The Board of Mayor and Aldermen will hold a strategic planning retreat on August 26 - 27 to plan for enticing development while not losing the character of the town.

Ramadan: A couple of interfaith events to mark Ramadan this weekend.

Memphis Animal Services: They will distribute 50 $10 vouchers on a first-come, first-serve basis this Saturday, for spay/neuter services.

Memphis Library Foundation: They have an extensive wish list for the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library’s 10th anniversary, and the “10 for Ten Campaign” aims to meet it. Library website and a free handout of the wishlist.

DeSoto County: Live DeSoto election coverage from the Desoto Times Tribune. And final results from WMC. No major voting problems were reported. State Senator Doug Davis was defeated by Chris Massey. Bill Rasco won re-election. There will be run-offs of many primaries. Downballot results. Local engineers heard the plan for the Harahan Bridge Project and were “impressed”. The County schools are also cracking down on the residency requirement.

Baptist Memorial Health Care: Oxford and Lafeyette County have approved the sale of the Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi building, which clears the way, with State approval, to build a new hospital.

Business: Most public-traded Memphis companies declined with the market yesterday.

People on the Move, from the Business Journal. Today’s Events and Memphis Newsmakers, in the Daily News. The Commercial Appeal reports What to Do.

Delta Air Lines: Holders of the SkyMiles credit card will receive priority board and in-flight discounts.

Amazon.com: Officials are confirming that the company has agreed to collect online sales taxes some time in the future. House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick says, “I think at some point they will pay the sales tax.”

Entergy: While their profits were flat, year over year, they still beat expectations.

Memphis Farmers Market: While ten elderly farmers were ultimately approved for the market–for a program that supported elderly farmers and customers–about 85 applied!

Mississippi: Results from uncontested races. Tate Reeves was the winner in the Republican primary for lieutenant governor. Campaigning “as hot as the weather”. Lt Governor Phil Bryant has won the Republican primary for governor; he will likely be governor. Delbert Hosemann won re-election.

St Jude Chidlren’s Hospital: The sisters of the Delta Delta Delta sorority have pledged to raise $15 million over five years. This is the third pledge they’ve undertaken in 11 years.

Real Estate: TN ranks 24th in the nation for LEED-certified commercial real estate.

State Senator Lowe Finney: The new voter photo ID law will be an “election disaster” because one party works to assure it will be. (via the Tennessean)

The Worldly Investor: What does a debt downgrade really mean? (via the Daily News)

Guerrilla Sales & Marketing: Are you looking for your best customers in your future? (via the Daily News)

Better Business: Four of the most common scams found on Craigslist. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Sid Salter: A Rand study of disaster spending after Hurricane Katrina found they couldn’t “follow the money” because of poor and incomplete record-keeping. (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Massad Ayoob: In town for a Polite Society dinner, he stopped in a convenience store where all the employees are armed and advertise it!

Commercial Appeal: Cut the budget, just don’t cut ours. An Election Commission watchdog isn’t needed.