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Will COGIC Come Back?
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Memphis Mayor A C Wharton is traveling to St Louis, MO, to try to woo the Church of God in Christ’s annual convention back to Memphis, beginning in 2013. COGIC website here.

Memphis Police Department: For the fourth consecutive month a dramatic drop in tickets issued is noted. Police and City officials are downplaying the change.

Unified Shelby County Schools: MCS Superintendent Dr Kriner Cash says funding at the same or higher levels will be a sign of commitment from the new school board.

Morgan Keegan: The brokerage is drawing tepid interest and lowball offers.

Memphis City Schools: Own a piece of your old classroom as the school system holds an auction on Saturday.

Occupy: The Memphis occupation is in stark contrast to most Occupy movements in the news. “James”, a specific example of a Memphis occupier.

Spokespeople from Occupy Nashville say they want to “start anew” with Governor Bill Haslam and State officials, and will hand-deliver a letter saying as much. The text of the letter. Counter-protesters from Vanderbilt University’s College Republicans faced off the ON. The in-depth special section on Occupy Nashville from the Tennessean.

Voter Reform/ID: Secretary of State Tre Hargett hosts a video explaining the new voter ID law, via the Tri-State Defender. Democratic groups in 13 states are “targeting” voter ID laws.

Red Carpet Tour: Governor Bill Haslam met in Memphis with a group of site selection consultants to promote Memphis. He also named Memphis Bioworks as one of nine “business accelerators” across the State.

Memphis Belle: A monument to the WWII bomber has been installed at Veteran’s Plaza in Overton Park.

DeSoto County: Mississippi Transportation Commissioner Mike Tagert steered $1.4 million in Federal funds to County parks and trails. With the election just days away, gubernatorial candidates are flocking to the county. The Bulletin Board, via the Commercial Appeal. County Sheriff Bill Rasco is touting the upgrades to technology in the sheriff’s office.

Politics: US Representative Diane Black is one of 34 Congressmen who signed a letter calling for the resignation of US Attorney General Eric Holder over the Fast & Furious matter. Politically “vulnerable” Congressmen Jim Cooper and Stephen Fincher are being blasted by the opposition parties.

Memphis Animal Shelter: Three former employees–Ernest Alexander, Angela Middleton, and Tina Quattlebaum–had their cases on animal abuse charges delayed into 2012. The Shelter is still hoping for a “fresh start” in their new location.

“Fresh Cat”: A Memphis-based company says they will send you a new kitten every year. Are they real, though?

University of Memphis: The proposed smoking ban, which would suspend a student in some circumstances, is angering some students. A Daily Helmsman story.

Blight: The Community Enhancement Division is paying community groups $50 per lot to clean up parts of the City. More from WMC.

Bartlett: The hopefuls wanting to get the Position 6 appointment to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen will get their chance this Tuesday. The intersection of Altruria and Memphis-Arlington roads will get a 4-way stop before gettig a traffic signal.

Mississippi: Ole Miss fans can now get a Regions Bank check card with the school’s logo on it. A brief ABC24 story on the “personhood” amendment. Governor Haley Barbour voted for the amendment.

“Promoting Growth” Business Expo: The City is conducting outreach to small business owners to connect them to City contracts. They are also promoting their related JumpStart program to help minority-owned businesses.

NEW! INTERNET EXCLUSIVE: Meet Tennessee’s new Small Business Advocate, Lauren Plunk, whose job it is “to help owners of businesses with 50 or fewer employees work through whatever questions or issues they may encounter in dealing with government agencies”.

INTERNET EXCLUSIVE: In a long and well-researched article, blogger Stephen Ross (vibinc) argues that the Shelby County Commission didn’t choose the right Title X agency when it chose Christ Community Health Centers over Planned Parenthood. Read his passionate and detailed argument and see if you agree!

City Council District 7 Race: The race between Lee Harris and Kemba Ford is a battle between political support v. union support. The Flyer’s Jackson Baker also looks at the race. The Tri-State Defender has long interviews and profiles with both candidates, Kemba Ford and Lee Harris. They also give their well-reasoned endorsement.

State Budget: All departments have been ordered to cut 5% in their 2012 budgets; three have already complied. The State faces a $360 million budget shortfall.

Abortion: Tennesseans will vote on a pro-life amendment to the State Constitution in 2014.

Downtown: The Flyer looks at the new pedi-cab service.

Southaven Mayor Greg Davis: Davis was ordered by State auditors to repay $171,000 in illegally charged in “personal travel and expenses”. The deadline for repayment is early December. Davis is expected to stay in office. Video of Mayor Davis’ statement to the press. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen denied any liability for Davis’s assessment; more from ABC24. A comprehensive report from the Desoto Times Tribune.

MLG&W: An investigation by ABC24 finds the utility spent $300,000 on travel expenses in 2011, so far. More.

Madison Avenue Bike Lanes: Now that the bike lanes are a fait accompli, business owners are dropping their former opposition.

Business: The city is undergoing a minor renaissance in the motor coach industry.

From the Business Journal, People on the Move. The Commercial Appeal has What to Do. In the Daily News, you find Today’s Events.

Delta Air Lines: October traffic was down almost 4 percent.

Fred’s: Good news as 3Q and year-to-date sales were up. More frequent visits from repeat customers and higher customer spending were credited.

Pinnacle Airlines: Despite a 5% increase in operating revenue, the company saw a had a net loss from a number of causes. They call it a “rebuilding mode”.

Mueller Industries: Chairman and member of the board of directors Harvey Karp will resign effective December 31. He will become a “chairman emeritus” and consultant for six years.

Checkers: The drive-through hamburger chain is now accepting the Cash Benefit on EBT cards to pay for purchases, at two locations in Memphis.

Local Media: WREG debuted a new broadcast studio last night at 10PM. A gallery of photos from WREG.

Internet Exclusive: Our regular contributor, Chuck Bates, has a powerful look at the Republican presidential primary, the Left-leaning press, and the shenanigans you can expect between now and November 2012. A must-read!

Internet Exclusive: Incidents in Shelby County made Republican State Representative Barrett Rich concerned about criminals not serving their full sentences. Here is what he plans to do about in the 2012 Legislature.

Mediaverse: Thoughts on the Daily News moving into sports news. Did WMC engage in “copyright infringement” of a Daily Helmsman’s story?

Memphis Daily News Blog: Early voting in the City Council District 7 race will “exceed” just 1000. The Memphis Farmers Market ends its sixth season this weekend. Is the price of Morgan Keegan dropping?

Memphis Lagniappe: Is Memphis International Airport’s Larry Cox confused?

Memphis, Etc: Occupy Wall Street goes wrong(er).

MemphisConnect: The Urban Child Institute has research showing links between early childhood home environments and future developments. Maybe you need a little Memphis 101?

Mr Brame’s Blog: Four books he read (and reviews here) in October.

My Memphis Mommy: As usual, an amazing number of deals, bargains, giveaways, discounts and more and now they are tracking Black Friday deals as well! Start at the top and keep on scrolling’.

NMissCommentor: Political wisdom from 1896. And using the law to accomplish the illegal.

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: Green Beetle news. He does look like one of the lucky few. And some changes coming to Downtown.

Reginald Milton’s A Fresh Look: Take part in MATA’s Short Range Transportation Plan next week.

Sarah Fortune: Meet Iris Ardella and get an update on her first few weeks in the world.

The Conservative Zone: The “worker’s paradise” is going down the tubes. Fisking Occupy Memphis.

Joe Spake’s Daily Buzz: The rest of the day’s news, from all sorts of eclectic places.

Raymond Broadhead: Schools should be focused on real teachers in real classroom, with technology as an aide. (via the Tennessean)

Bryce Ashby and Michael J. LaRosa: The paper’s “go to guys” on Hispanic issues argue that American should use the military to create a path to citizenship. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Commercial Appeal: Despite defrauding the town of Southaven of $176,000, they are remarkably calm and forgiving about Mayor Greg Davis. They refuse to hold Delta Air Lines responsible for high fares to Memphis and monopolistic behavior.

Tarsha Elliot: The director of Clinic Services at Planned Parenthood reminds people that they are still serving the community. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Dr Timothy Moore: Don’t forget to pray when fighting cancer. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Flyer: They are still promoting the usual FUD about changes to voter ID laws.

Memphasis: Say what you mean and don’t give in to corporate vacuity. (via the Daily News)

FUNdraising: The last in their four-part series on assuring financial health for non-profits. (via the Daily News)

John Branston: Meet the world’s longest Occupier: Jacqueline Smith.

short + Rose: Fall-ish cookies and pie. And a couple of self-knitted sweaters.

Sig Cooks: Recipe and instructions (with photos!) for Beer-Braised BBQ Beef Short Ribs.

Joe Spake: Take a trip to Lost Memphis.