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Merry Christmas &
A Happy New Year!

 
The Main Street Journal Online is taking the next week off to celebrate the holidays, and be with families and friends. We will return to regular updates on Tuesday, January 2, 2012. We wish all our readers a safe and merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Memphis Animal Shelter: Police are still looking into the disappearance and reappearance of seized dog, Kapone.

County Redistricting: The Flyer’s Jackson Baker focuses on the political blossoming of Commssioner Justin Ford. Fox13 also notices Ford’s effort to “make his mark”. The whole redistricting effort may end up in court.

No Child Left Behind: The Center for American Progress rates Tennessee’s application for an NCLV waiver as very clear and action-oriented.

Overton Square: The old Yosemite Sam’s might become a Local on the Square Gastropub expansion by this Summer.

Collierville: The owner of Town Square Antiques, Karen Tripp, has been accused of embezzling $1.5 million from Seilor-Nabors to fund her business and lifestyle.

Rossville Christian Academy: The private Christian school is drawing criticism from some for a new policy on homosexuality.

Kobe Bryant: A lawsuit being brought by a Memphis man, Bill Geeslin, has been partially dismissed by a Federal Appeals Court judge. The assault and battery charge will still go forward.

Memphis Public Library and Information System: More on the library’s new JobLINC bus.

DeSoto County: The public is now getting its first look at the receipts in question in the case of Southaven mayor Greg Davis, which aldermen say they hadn’t approved. A gay group, the Log Cabin Republicans, is supporting Davis for handling being outed.

A deal between Hernando and the Edgewood subdivision is stuck on the meaning of “tentatively”. Former Horn Lake Alderman Tom Polzin passed away yesterday; the Commercial Appeal’s obituary. The County Bulletin Board, also from the Commercial Appeal. Hernando’s first responders are getting early Christmas presents.

Mortgage: The rate for 30-year fixed mortgages has fallen to a third record low.

FedEx: The company is under scrutiny for a surveillance video of a driver tossing a monitor during a delivery. FedEx has presented a strong and well-received reaction to the now viral video of that driver, though it is far from the only video of driver misbehavior.

Local Media: WKNO will broadcast a Beale Street New Year’s Eve program themed on “Come Bury Your Blues“.

Leadership Academy: A study shows they have a $70 million economic impact with their fellowship program.

MATA: General manager William Hudson is touting the re-introduction of “express routes” in the new year. He’s also fig on “bus rapid transit”.

R. Allen Stanford: A judge has ruled he’s mentally competent to stand trial. There had been some question after a jail fight.
 

Bartlett: Even though it will be next Winter before the election, two aldermen candidates are already putting down their markers.

NEW! INTERNET EXCLUSIVE! Our Tea Party contributor Ed “Doc” Holliday looks at the Republican presidential candidacy of Newt Gingrich and wonders if his past baggage can–or should–be overcome in tea party eyes.

Internet Exclusive: Bloomberg’s Money: What Does It Mean For Memphis? Correspondent Craig Harper returns to ask the difficult questions that no one else is asking about Memphis Mayor A C Wharton’s use of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s money to fight juvenile handgun violence.

Unemployment: Good news, as the Memphis metro unemployment rate has 9.2%, the lowest since January 2009. More from the Commercial Appeal.

The Holidays: Both UPS and FedEx report increased volume from 2010. A Kwanzaa event calendar. How public schools now handle–or don’t–the holidays. The busiest day for holiday travel in the Mid-South was December 21.

Sweetpea’s Table in Olive Branch is preparing to serve folks on Christmas Day. The Bible Church had a first-come/first-serve gas giveaway yesterday; more from WREG, ABC24. Thieves stole a truck filled with thousands of dollars of Honeybaked Hams; more from ABC24. But, the holiday spirit is in full view in Memphis! Tamales for Christmas?

Flus and virii and making their annual re-appearance. Be careful of shopping with smartphones and tablets.

Millington: A reward is now being offered in the case of the break-in at City Hall.

IRS: The tax agency has given 1400 non-profit groups and agencies an extended deadline to file their returns.

Downtown: The new owners of A. Schwab, part of the family that started Piggly Wiggly, promise not to change it too much. Investors in B.B. King’s Blues Club are also involved. More from ABC.24. The parking meters Downtown are getting a makeover.

Memphis Police Department: It’s been a bad year for dirty cops in 2011.

Business: The Daily News is up to speed on Today’s Events and Inked. In the Business Journal, you’ll find People in the News.

Wright Medical Group: Their largest shareholder, OEPW LLC, has been going on a year-ending share-buying binge. This also follows the hiring of a new CEO.

Amazon: The company made official yesterday plans to open two more distribution centers in Middle Tennessee. Summarising article in the Commercial Appeal.

Valero Energy: They were awarded a 15 year PILOT by EDGE in exchange for promised investments totalling almost $300 million.

Electrolux: They are “very close” to naming a general contractor.

Internet Exclusive: Why Shelby County Needs Single-Member Commission Districts: County Commissioner Steve Mulroy explains his single-member district proposal for the County Commission redistricting–why it’s better and more responsive to community needs.

Anthony Siracusa: So … government is the tool of the planners of the people? (via the Flyer)

John Branston: 2011 in review. (via the Flyer)

Commercial Appeal: Opposing Democrats’ conventional thinking is a “cynical game”. Congratulations to the Memphis Horns for their Grammy.

Helen G. Morrow and B. Keith English: Basically, if too many parents opt out of a vaccine program for their kids, they can threaten all children. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Lucy Shaw: Why isn’t the “Christmas spirit” a year-round thing. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Memphasis: Christmas spent in England. (via the Daily News)

FUNdraising: Grassroots diversity can by risky but worthwhile. (via the Daily News)

Bernal E. Smith II: We are at a “point of crisis” in the way our society looks out for our children. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Chef Timothy: Watch your diet and health this year so you can celebrate next year. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Denise Lofton: A City Council meeting shows the “us v. them” attitude still exists in Memphis. (via the Tri-State Defender)