Photo Credit: KOMOnews.com
Unanswered Questions

 
The volunteer study of the Memphis Animal Shelter, done by the Rotary Club, was released this week and links some employees to dog-fighting rings around town. They also faulted inconsistent background checks and “haphazard” training and an atmosphere of “animals are disposable”. Mayor A C Wharton is calling on the Shelby County District Attorney to investigate. More reports from Fox13, ABC24, WMC. You can read the report here. The MAS moved into the new facility on Appling City Cove this week, quietly.

Unified Shelby County Schools: A Commercial Appeal story on all the ways the new district will lose students and State money never actually lists the amount of students and money to be lost. Online schools ( or cyberschools) are growing so fast, regulation has not caught up yet. The merger transition commission heard from a panel giving them a “heads up” on the diversity they’ll face.

Second Chance: Despite a low 4% recidivism rate, the City is reviewing the program due to recent high-profile failures.

MATA: At this week’s opening of the Airways Traffic Center at the Airport, General Manager Willie Hudson may have announced the public bus system’s next plan: bus rapid transit. And at a public meeting on the Short Range Transportation Plan they announced a few new initiatives. MATA website here.

MLG&W: They are raising most fees, but spreading the increases out over a couple of years. MLG&W website here.

Shelby County Politics: How the tea party’s Campaign for Liberty nearly took over the Shelby County Republican Party.

A historic meeting as Occupy Memphis was scheduled to attend by invitation a Mid-South Tea Party meeting for a sharing of goals and ideas. CBS News also reported the story. The Daily Helmsman has a long report on Tuesday’s Occupy Memphis march.

Memphis International Airport: Changes with Delta Air Lines continue their impact on Memphis as flights continue to decline sharply. Airport authorities are “very optimistic” that other airlines will fill the gaps, like Southwest Airlines. And they are blaming the economy for their woes. Arnold Perl was re-elected chairman of the airport authority’s board of commissioners.

Memphis City Schools: A teacher at Sheffield High School, Darrin Miller, was arrested this week on 6 counts of solicitation of a minor. More from WREG. Sheffield was the same school where principal Russell Heaston was removed for having an inappropriate relationship with an underaged former student. We’re previously covered Heaston.

Pyramid: Despite being a big fundraising attraction 20 years ago, the personalised plaza bricks in front of the Pyramid will soon be gone.

Morgan Keegan: Rumors and signs that a purchase may be in the works, by Stifel Financial.

LaunchMemphis: Reports from their third annual Ignite Memphis event from the Flyer.

TVA: Their board voted to forgo an executive pay increase for 2012.

Farmers Market: The former Cordova Schnucks will be turned into the Cordova Farmers Market by the same group that created the Winchester Farmers Market.

Project Green Fork: Certifying restaurants on their sustainable and low-environmental impact is what they do and now they’ll do it in two Mississippi restaurants. More from the Daily News. PGF website here.

NBA Strike: For Memphis, a suspension of games by the Grizzlies is hard on the city.

Local Media: The Tri-State Defender kicks off celebrations of their 60th year of publication.

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: 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!

Unemployment: The State’s unemployment rate fell to 9.6% in October. Employment is growing at a rate of 1.7%. More from WMC.

Eduardo Marmolejo: A judge ruled Thursday that Marmolejo has no reason to challenge the court decision to try him as an adult. The court declared him competent.

Memphis Police Department: A new DVD is being offered, “Computer Cop”, that teaches parents what to be careful of with their children on the Internet.

Memphis City Council: Councilman Kemp Conrad and Memphis Police Assciation president Mike Williams appeared on Fox13 to debate City pensions.

Thanksgiving: The number of people who travel this holiday season will be at a post-recession high. More from the Commercial Appeal.

Dutch Treat Luncheon: The featured speaker this month is radio talk show host Robert Haynes, this Saturday at 11:30AM. The DTL website is here.

DeSoto County: A new central logistics center in Olive Branch for G. E. Energy; more. County deputy Chad Billingsley was found guilty of using excessive force earlier and ordered to pay $250,000.

Blight: Memphis has an enormous number of historic properties and too many of them are in ruinous condition.

Fresh Moves Bus: The Vance Avenue Collective/Collaborative has obtained a former MATA bus to help bring fresh food to a “food desert”. It begins next Summer. Information on the VAC here. (PDF document)

Collierville: A Town employee, Paul Wilburn, who was fired for theft will not be allowed to resign and collect accrued sick days.

Business: Impact Innovations, who took over the Cleo plant and some operations, wants a PILOT to resume a smaller operation.

The Business Journal offers People on the Move. In the Daily News, there’s Today’s Events. The Commercial Appeal covers What to Do and People in Business.

Blues City Brewery: When it reaches full production capacity, their Memphis plant will be one of the most impressive in the county.

Toyota: Their new plant in Blue Springs, MS, rolled its first Corolla sedan off the production line this week. The State also used the occasion to debut a new license plate. More from the Daily News, the Commercial Appeal, Fox13, WMC.

ServiceMaster: A 1.3% increase in 3Q revenues was announced.

Medtronic: They have found a buyer for their Physio-Control unit, which makes defibrillators, to the Bain Capital firm. The sale should close by March.

Mississippi: The Mississippi University for Women has chosen a preferred candidate for president, Dr Jim Borsig. Tate County’s controversial Youth Court referee, Leigh Ann Darby, who had three teenagers strip-searched and jailed, has resigned. More on her from WMC and WREG.

Bartlett: Even though the replacement alderman for John Barzano will be named on Tuesday, the Town isn’t sure how to do it.

Vegan Crunk: Sushi … for one? A recommendation for vegans in Al Rayan restaurant. A suprising confession.

Walls of the City: Sanctuary, gun-free zones and other delusions. He explains his comment policy for the Occupiers who need it explained to them.

Smart City Memphis: Whitehaven gets the attention it deserves. RE-evaluating the tools of economic development in Memphis.

Seen Memphis: Photos from the Downtown Veterans Day Parade.

Sarah Fortune: One-month old baby Iris sure is popular.

Reginald Milton’s A Fresh Look: The Republican map of shame: voter suppression by State.

Midtown, Middle Class, Medium Rare: If “it goes without saying” then why did you say it?

no rococo: Persimmon cookies and you can get some, too. Rockin’ breakfast at The Arcade with The Boats.

Memphis Lagniappe: His famous Fabled College Football Playoff Predictions. He also ranks Memphis’ best tamales.

Steve’s Nude Memphis Blog: Twenty-two random questions answered for you.

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: Some holiday and seasonal doings Downtown.

Mr. Brame’s Blog: He bribed one of his students to write a book review of The Invention of Hubert Cabret.

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

Barbara H. McLaurin: Five things your mama never taught you about money. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Dr Timothy Moore: He dons a different hat, as Chef Tim, and offers recipes for cornbread and dressing. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Marcus D. Pohlman: Another plea for more money to “educate” pre-K kids. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Commercial Appeal: Recasting the image of pimps and prostitutes for a new fight. Another story about the difficulties of getting voter ID, except they got their voter ID.

Flyer: The wrangling over Shelby County redistricting.

John Branston: Roughly one in four students at Rhodes College are varsity athletes and ten percent of men are football players? (via the Flyer)

Memphasis: “If it’s your jungle” then the University of Memphis need to grow some claws. (via the Daily News)

FUNdraising: Recognising and correcting “nonprofit fatigue”. (via the Daily News)

Memphis Foodie: The Blue Plate Cafe is one of his favorite places to grab breakfast. And he had a “great experience” with his burger at Stuffy’s.

Mediaverse: His thoughts on local media engagement with Twitter.

polar donkey: A dog’s tale of two cities, with racial breakdowns and CHARTS!