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Get on the Bus–Back to School

 
Memphis City Schools start back today, thanks to a payment of $12 million by the Memphis City Council on Friday; more. Superintendent Dr Kriner Cash was interviewed by Fox13 about the first day of school. He also talked with ABC24. Looming over everything is the worry about the merger of City and County schools.

“This was a made up crisis by the Board of Education,” says City Couniclman Myron Lowery on the high-stakes drama of threatening to delay school. The City Council is also upset that school employees, especially administrators, got a pay raise. The stress of the new teacher evaluations and the frequent teacher observations is worrying many teachers. MCS has no data disaster recovery plan!

Millington: The investigation that was launched last week with raids by Shelby County Sheriff’s deputies and the TN Bureau of Invetigation, was over allegations of gambling by mayor Richard Hodges. Police chief Ray Douglas knew, but didn’t participate. Hodges reportedly offered $40,000 worth of drainage work and other property improvement to settle a $10,000 debt. Read this affidavit here and the search warrant here. (PDF documents) The Associated Press has the background.

Hodges reportedly tried to extort money from the owner of Transmission Doctors for a police badge. County Commissioner Terry Roland also reported Mayor Hodges. Roland talks with WMC about what was going on, as well as WREG. Hodges’ son led a prayer vigil for his father.

Shelby County Commission: The commission starts their second year of their term today. The meeting agenda is here.

Second Chance Program: The program for felons to be given retraining and life skills to re-enter the workforce, while “vouched for” by the City is being rethought.

Tennessee: A Tennessee Navy SEAL, Aaron Vaughn of Obion County, was killed in a Taliban attack on a SEAL chopper in Afghanistan. It is thought to be the largest loss of life in Navy SEAL history. More from WREG.

Crime: There were four homicides recorded this weekend in Memphis. More from ABC24 and the Commercial Appeal. One woman died under unknown circumstances.

Traffic Lights: Federal grants will pay for fiber-optic lines to better connect and synchronise the lights.

General Sessions Court Clerk: A point of law is giving former clerk Otis Jackson leeway to attampt to stay in office.

Debt Downgrade Fallout: No one is exactly sure what happens to Tennessee’s threatened bond downgrade now; more. Tennessee GOP freshman had a voice in the debt-reduction debate. Representatives Fleischmann and DesJarlais both voted “no” on the increase.

Politics: Humphreys County, west of Nashville, last week passed a sales tax increase that raises their local portion to its maximum. Now three cities in the County will have to give money back to the State. The DMV is starting to streamline and overhaul procedures to get a photo ID, cutting the wait and preparing for the elections next year. A look at the new internet laws about piracy and bullying, from the Tennessean.

Disappoint-Mints: When State Representative Joe Armstrong had Obama Disappoint-Mints pulled from the shelves of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville’s, little did he suspect that company would return with Strong Arm Censored Mint. And the mints are a best-seller.

Illegal Immigrants: Althought it hasn’t passed in a decade of trying, the face that the DREAM Act is possible makes children (and their parents) stay.

The Haslam Administration: Military reporting on Governor Bill Haslam’s visit to Iraq and Afghanistan last week.

Real Estate: While June showed promising in the residential housing market it’s still far too early to call it a rebound. Fyette and Tipton Counties are showing declines.

Survey Says: According to the US Census Bureau, 93% of Memphians drive to work. Business Facilities magazine rates Tennessee number one in “automotive manufacturing strength”.

Germantown: At today’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting the subject is bonds.

NEW! INTERNET EXCLUSIVE: On The Money: Debt Deals, Tax Steals and Class Warfare: Our finanacial contributor Chuck Bates explains the debt ceiling debate and the deal that was made last week.

NEW! INTERNET EXCLUSIVE: China – Capitalism in a One Party System: State Representative Mark White returned from a trip to China with observations on how can you keep a one-party state happy when the young have tasted democracy?

State Education Reform: With the waiver request for the State to to opt out of No Child Left Behind, the State and Shelby County enter a new period of school reform. The Obama administration has decided to allow some States to opt out. A study by the Associated Press of Tennessee school systems shows that systems without collective bargaining rights for teachers performed better than those with negotiated contracts; more in the Commercial Appeal.

Shelby County Schools: WMC reports on the residency crackdown by the school system.

COGIC: Elder Charles Patterson was named to succeed his father, Bishop J.O. Patterson Jr, as pastor of Pentecostal Temple Institutional Church of God in Christ.

Farmers Market: Three more markets are being added to the list of those accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

University of Memphis: The campus of the former Lambuth University has now been tranferred to the U of M and will be known as University of Memphis, Lambuth Campus. Classes start on August 27. More in the Commercial Appeal.

Sales Tax Holiday: Shoppers “flooded” Jackson-area stores. Lines of shoppers were waiting for stores to open in Arkansas. Memphis shoppers were buying school supplies.

Ernest Withers: A followup to a Commercial Appeal report on the FBI files on Withers seems mostly an excuse to rehash the arguments made in court trying to get the FBI to confirm events for them.

Livable Memphis: While the Shelby Farms Greenline and other “green” urban amenities are expected to help with housing prices in years to come, it’s too early to know for sure.

DeSoto County: When Deborach Slocum opened her Northcentral Electric Power Association she wasn’t expecting the $5500 bill they presented to her. Questions about who the District 4 Constable runners-up are will have to be resolved before the runoff. Hernondo is “in the running” for Money magazine’s 100 Best Places to Live. An NAACP rally on August 20 will help kids in need with school supplies. The Desoto County Courthouse is the place to be on Election Night. America’s fastest growing city, Olive Branch, is slowing down.

Morgan Keegan: What Memphis loses if the company is either bought by an out-of-town firm or it closes is high-wage jobs and philanthropic giving.

The Heat Drags On: There is an help line number for heat: 274-7477. The death of Officer Anthony Rahming was found not to be heat-related; more from ABC24. Entergy employees plan for the heat.

Business: Are back to school sales a shot-in-the-arm for the local economy?

From the Commercial Appeal, What to Do for Monday; People in Business for Sunday and Monday; Property Transfers. The Daily News has Today’s Events. And the Business Journal reports People on the Move.

Amazon.com: Advocates for small, women-businesses say that TN sholdn’t focus on the “big splashy” jobs anouncements but everyday, small businesses. They don’t want their stores used as testing grounds for online purchases.

Pinnacle Air Lines: They will begin, this week, moving into their new corporate HQ in One Commerce Square.

Cargill: They are working with the Port of Memphis on a rail modernisation and extension project on President’s Island.

Memphis Animal Shelter: The former head veteranarian, Dr. Angela Middleton, who was dismissed in the original shakeup of the MAS, has now filed suit, claiming discrimination.

Valero Fire: Friday’s fire at their Memphis plant could cause gas prices to go up by affecting supply.

Arkansas: Air Force Tech Sgt. John W. Brown was one of 38 Navy SEALS killed in Afghanistan by Taliban fighters in an incident last week.

Andre K. Fowlkes: Memphis is an “extreme case” of refighting the old fights. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Small Business Advocate: Do your values in your corporate community match your actual corporate values? (via the Commercial Appeal)

Lt Governor Ron Ramsey: He says that the mantra “Republicans hate teachers” in nothing more than “Big Lie” propaganda. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Chris Peck: The man responsible for crafting the image Memphis gets in the news bemoans the image Memphis gets in the news. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Otis L. Sanford: Four incumbent City Councilmen and have no challengers, a sad state of affairs. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Commercial Appeal: A “correct conclusion” on reauthorising the FAA. Surviving the heat. Respite from the crisis. Blaming Congress on job creation.

Jack Neely: Thoughts on Knoxville size and consolidation (via Knoxville Metro Pulse)

Dan Dillon: Making the internet more accessible to those with disabilties. (via the Knoxville News-Sentinel)

Tom Humphrey: It depends on what your definition of voting, trials and abortion are…. (via the Knoxville News-Sentinel)

Snark Bites: Some fun at the expense of the Knoxville mayoral race. (via the Knoxville News-Sentinel)

Knoxville News-Sentinel: Sales tax holidays are needed by consumers and retailers.

Small Business Advisor: For a good CEO, there are no excuses. (via the Daily News)

Giving Back: This week he highlights Hope House. (via the Daily News)

Memphis News: Education reform is a year-round, statewide effort.

Ronnie Agnew: “Future governors should not try to emulate outgoing governor Haley Barbour. They They don’t have his political intellect.” (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Gail Kerr: Chattanooga smells bad when it’s hot. (via the Daily News)

Tennessean: Dump the No Child Left Behind standards for the Race to the Top standards.

Gilman W. Witting: Fix the devil you know, in the No Child Left Behind Act. (via the Tennessean)

Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman: A lot has been learned since NCLB was passed a decade ago; let’s use Race to the Top instead. (via the Tennessean)

Dwight Lewis: Respectful manners of dress should be the standard. (via the Tennessean)

Richard L. Grant: Legislators who signed the Americans for Tax Reform pledge were just making a promise to voters. (via the Tennessean)