Graphic Credit: US District Court
Paths Are Cleared;
The Way Is Not So Clear

 
Judge Hardy Mays’ Friday ruling may be appealed by lawyers for the Shelby County Board of Education. A summary of the ruling, from the Daily News’ Bill Dries and another from the Commercial Appeal’s Zach McMillin. State lawmakers prefer to leave the State out of the discussions after the vindication of the Norris-Todd law. But will they act if the judge orders elections for a new Shelby County school board? Would he allow the current board to make appointments? The various proposals submitted all largely differ “on issues of timing and urgency”. And, of course, the price tag for the whole thing is growing.

The Shelby County Commission voted for a proposal to redraw districts for the school board that would give five to the City and two to the County. Reports on the various plans from Fox13 and again.

Bass Pro Shop Pyramid: Work is at last scheduled to begin on converting the Pyramid into a Bass Pro Shop Superstore on October 11 for an August opening. The issue of “seismic retrofit provisions” has been worked out. More from Fox13, ABC24, WMC.

City of Memphis: The City is hiring yard crews to mow lawns and clean up blighted properties … for $100,000.

Morgan Keegan: Another buyer may have been found, MF Global, headed by Jon Corzine, the former governor of New Jersey. More from the Daily News.

Voting Rights: Not all felons have lost their voting rights.

Great American Steamboat Company: When the steam lines are fully rented out, they expect to also accomodate 7000-10,000 hotel rooms annually.

Southwest Tennessee Community College: Their Federally required “gainful employment” reporting is a tad suspect….

Amazon.com: Governor Bill Haslam insists he hasn’t changed his position regarding the company collecting taxes, but he also seems to anticipate future deals with different terms, perhaps the company collecting taxes voluntarily. The chairmen of the House and Senate Finance Committees, Representative Charles Sargent and Senator Randy McNally, aer opposed to waiting and want the State Attorney General to issue a ruling Amazon must start paying now.

Governor Bill Haslam: He is “not even anywhere close” to endorsing for the Republican presidential nomination.

Bartlett: A “strategic planning session” is planned for later this month mostly for economic development, and also for discussions of a possible school district. Mayor Keith McDonald (with Fox13’s Ernie Freeman and City school board member Tomeka Hart) talks about a separate school system.

Tennessee: This Fall’s freshman class at UT-Knoxville has the highest ACT average ever. Dorms at UTK are full, too. The State’s pension plan is on solid footing, say officials.

State Financial Incentives: Are financial incentives for economic development being paid out for Middle Tennessee delivering jobs that are worth it? How the deals are awarded.

Suzette York: Reports from a candlelight vigil and memorial for York from the Commercial Appeal, ABC24, WMC. The school is offering free counseling service to students and teachers. A memorial fund has been established. Students will return to class at the Memphis Junior Academy on Tuesday.

The only suspect in her slaying, student Eduardo Marmolejo, will be tried as an adult, if prosecutors have their way. He will also get a mental evaluation. Fox13 looks at the difficulties Hispanics face in the legal system.

Chancery Court: The City’s losses in the embezzlement case against Brandon Gunn may only be $138,000 of an estimated $1 million loss.

Politics: Another TN Congressman, in this case Representative Stephen Fincher, is on a “fact-finding” trip to Israel. The State’s budget is made up of nearly half Federal funds.

Saltillo: The mayor and aldermen want “high quality growth” for the town. Developer Jay Shannon, who has three shopping centers, agrees. (both stories via NEMS360.com)

Railroad Quiet Zones: Areas of the City may be designated noise-free for railroad whistles and they may be just as safe.

Comcast: They now offer, to qualified customers, $9.95/month internet and a cheap computer.

Real Estate: Pretty soon, all homes will offer “Shelby County schools”.

NEW! INTERNET EXCLUSIVE: We present a special summary excerpt from Judge Samuel Mays’ ruling on the school consolidation case, a quick read that gets you up-to-date on the issues and challeges remaining.

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.

Memphis Vs Nashville: Unusually high (perhaps record-setting) turnover of principals at Metro Nashville schools.

Immigration: Charities that resettle refugees in Middle Tennessee are getting fewer dollars because they are helping fewer refugees due to new laws.

Gangs: Northaven is being overrun by gangs.

Memphis City Schools: The administration is working to clear out a 550-strong pool of “displaced teachers” before the end of the month. Even with the surplus, they are considering hiring more teachers! Hundreds of students have been arrested for hundreds of assaults on teachers in the past two-and-a-half years.

Mid-South Food Bank: Volunteers gave the facility a makeover and expansion over the weekend. One in seven Americans now depend on food banks.

Downtown: A historical marker has been placed at the original location of Lansky Brothers Men’s Shop on Beale. More from the Commercial Appeal.

Business: Does our high unemployment rate “stigmatise” our City’s image?

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

Anda Distribution:They are locating a warehousing and distribution facility that also brings 70 jobs in Olive Branch. It’s a $23 million investment. The closeness of Olive Branch to the FedEx hub played a role in site selection. The company expects to begin operations in second quarter 2012.

Memphis Animal Shelter: Outgoing director Matt Pepper was praised for his leadership under enormously difficult circumstances. Pepper resigned last week, before the latest “scandal” broke. Are web cams in the shelter transparency or a hindrance? He talks with Fox13. More from WMC and WREG.

Neil’s: There will be a benefit for the club, which was destroyed by fire last week, on Thursday.

BRIDGES: The organisation’s president, Jim Boyd, is stepping down for a position with an as-yet-unnamed foundation working to build “community of leaders to advance racial, economic, educational and environmental justice”.

TVA: They reported a third quarter loss of $240 million, blamed on a variety of factors–especially April’s storms. A rate increase may be needed. The board will discuss the issue on Thursday.

Internet Exclusive: Bloomberg’s Money: What Does It Mean For Memphis? New contributor Craig Harper tells us what to expect with Mayor Bloomberg’s grant to Memphis for fighting “juvenile handgun violence”.

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?

DeSoto County: Mississippi North District Transportation Commissioner Mike Tagert will make State resources available to the DeSoto Greenways project. More from the Desoto Times Tribune. The B. J. Chain Public Library in Olive Branch is the State’s second-busiest public libray. The DeSoto County Democratic Party will hold a reception and dinner later this month. County Planning Director Jim McDougal is leaving next month, for a position in Memphis. Supporters are hoping to place the Hernando Farmers Market in the nation’s top ten. County Supervisor Jessie Medlin paid an uncontested “settlement” or “fine” for a vote last year, which is only now raising questions. The Board of Supervisors meets today. The DeSoto County Bulletin Boards for Sunday and Monday, from the Commercial Appeal. The County Tourism Association is setting up geocaches around the county.

One Commerce Square: Very soon the familiar red dot logo of Independent Bank will sit atop One Commerce Square. There may also be a restaurant announcement coming soon.

Wendi C. Thomas: She reports from “The Poverty Tour: A Call to Conscience” which ended in Memphis on Friday. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Richard Chesteen: The head of the TEA takes exception to comments last week about them from Lt Gov Ron Ramsey. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Chris Peck: He decries the “hyping” of the news that all media–even his paper–engage in. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Otis Sanford: He sees parallels between the 1972 court ruling imposing bussing in Memphis and Judge Mays’ decision on school consolidation. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Memphis News: Please don’t appeal the ruling in the City-County school consolidation case.

William Gotten: The lessons of the Grace Commission of 1982 were completely lost. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Denise Bollheimer: She seems to miss the difference between volunteering your time and money and having someone take it from you to give to others unasked. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Andre K. Fowles: Memphis is an undervalued commodity. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Bill Minor: He calls the debt ceiling negotiations “a hostage-taking by Republican extremists”. (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Tom Bohs: A short history of recessions and the reassurance that this one won’t go on forever. (via the Jackson Sun)

Tennessean: “Well-reasoned compromise” is needed in Congress right now.

R. Lawrence Van Horn: Congress should be governed by two simple principles. (via the Tennessean)

Gail Kerr: Let local law enforcement decide what to do with confiscated guns, not the Legislature. (via the Tennessean)

Arne Duncan: The US Secretary of Education visited Nashville last week and says we are “demonstrating the only acceptable response to these challenges”. (via the Tennessean)

Scott McNutt: After President Obama’s “Disappoint Mints” and State Rep. Joe Armstrong’s “Strong Arm Censored Mints”, other politicians want in on the act. (via the Knoxville News-Sentinel)

Giving Back: Victims To Victory helps survivors of homicide (family, friends, coworkers) to cope and prosper. (via the Daily News)

Small Business Advisor: Start-ups are easy; “stay-ups” take more work. (via the Daily News)

Frank Cagle: Politicians, history and humor. (via the Knoxville Metro Pulse)