Photo Credit: Mid-South Food Bank
Hungry in Memphis

 
You would think, three years into the Great Recession in one of America’s largest, poorest cities, that the local media would be filled with stories like this, from the Commercial Appeal, about finding enough to eat and meeting the needs of the many hungry people in Memphis. But it has not. Mid-South Food Bank website here.

Shelby County Commission: At the specially-called meeting on Friday, to get a third vote on County redistricting, they couldn’t find nine votes. They will try again on Wednesday. Report from last week on the redistricting vote.

Unified Shelby Schools: The County schools Transition Planning Commission will meet with the former superintendent, Peter Gorman, of the Charlotte/Mecklenberg County school system; more from the Commercial Appeal. The commission has a busy week ahead.

City of Memphis: The Daily News takes you behind the scenes of business recruitment, site selection and economic development. Mayor A C Wharton is holding an open meeting in the Cooper-Young neighborhood to discuss their crime worries.

Morgan Keegan: Mayor A C Wharton confirmed the City is preparing an incentive package to keep Morgan Keegan, if it is sold.

Informed Sources: This local panel discussion of political events, from WREG, airs late on Sunday night and can be watched here. Part two of the show is here.

Tennessee: State tax collections in November were up 5.2%. More from the Commercial Appeal. Economic forecasters see revenues falling slightly and unemployment staying high. The State’s $40 billion highway budget lacks oversight. We are in the top ten State’s for getting highway projects in under budget.

Norman Benjamin: In court on Friday, his attorney said he will plead guilty to all charges against him: solicitation to commit first-degree murder, filing a false offense report, and unlawful gift of a firearm to a minor. He will receive an eight year sentence in exchange. Background on the case, from ABC24. More reports, from ABC24, WMC.

Politics: Legislators are predicting a shorter session next year.

Governor Bill Haslam: Borrowing a page from Occupy movement, the Commercial Appeal studies the tax filings and other documents of the governor’s income for some “fact checking”–long after such data might affect an election. The governor believes we don’t need to weaken our open records laws. Moody’s has raised the State’s bond outlook. Haslam also doesn’t want to cut the estate tax and Hall income tax.

Southaven Mayor Greg Davis: On Friday, Davis repaid auditors $96,000. He still owes $75,000. More, from the Desoto Times Tribune, ABC24, WMC. Davis has thanked his supporters.

DeSoto County: Fitness guru Mark Fenten was in Hernando to help the County design and plan new “fitness amenities”. School superintendent Milton Kuykendall took a pay cut, which the school board approved. His school district is also the State’s largest and fastest growing. Hernando Parks and Recreation director Dewayne Williams is also the founder of West End Ministries, an outreach ministry. Springhill Cemetery will get a challlenge grant to meet, and they need your help!

WKNO: They will debut, Newsmakers, this Wednesday evening an interview series, hosted by the Daily News’ publisher Eric Barnes.

New Madrid Fault: Two hundred years later, scientists and government offiials are still debating the severity of the quake and how planning for the next one should proceed.

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.

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.

Memphis v. Tennessee: New “smart” streetlights in use in Chattanooga will direct traffic during weather and other emergencies, as well as being surveillance cameras and pollution-monitoring sensors. A second Nashville charter school may be closed soon.

Memphis City Schools: Hamilton High School “campus monitor” Jermaine Wince was charged with statutory rape by an authority figure for an incident last month.

Overton Park: The newly-constituted Overton Park Conservancy is ready to get to work beginning this week. Website for Speak Up for Our Park!

Rep. Ulysses Jones: Three people have been indicted for forging his will, tampering and perjury of the former State Representative–Avis Langford-Brannon, Beverly Prye and Sandra Richards. All three are Memphis firefighters. Jones’ children challenged the will in court. More details here.

Second Amendment: The security drama that Frederick Mallick at the Memphis airport because he flew instead of drove and forgot his Smith & Wesson handgun was still in his luggage. Nashville police had a “gun swap” (for Kroger gift cards) that netted 90 guns.

Crime: The Harbor Town Association is warning joggers on Mud Island to beware a “creepy stalker” and report sightings. Personal injury lawyer Michael Montesi was arrested on suspicion of drunk and reckless driving.

Green Tech: Electric car charging stations actually outnumber vehicles on the road by two-to-one in Middle Tennessee.

Lakeland: Officials are asking residents for donations, in lieu of a tax increase. More from ABC24, WMC.
 

Business: For businesses with no fixed storefront or folks who just like the app-based simplicity, there is new new Apple/Android/smartphone-based Square, card reader. The Daily News surveys the small business scene in Memphis and says a recovery may be happening!

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

FedEx: This is the busiest time of year for them.
 
 

Nissan: Hundreds waited in the cold weather of Middle Tennessee to apply for jobs.

Mississippi: Corporal punishmen is on the decline in the State’s schools.

Collierville: Town Administrator James Lewellen is reminding citizens that there is a hotline and other means to anonymously and safely report theft and violations of Town policy.

Financial: IberiaBank has now opened their new HQ on the 4800 block of Poplar Avenue, in a former Regions/AmSouth Bank branch building. Regions Financial is moving into the non-traditional payday loan/3rd party check-cashing sector.

Tom Humphrey: Legislators in Nashville are returning to a “State government knows best” attitude. (via the Knoxville News-Sentinel)

John Morgan: College tuition is increasing but the cost of college is going down. (via the Tennessean)

Jim Summerville: The State Senator says that our college students aren’t getting their money’s worth. (via the Tennessean)

Tennsseean: Cutting HOPE scholarships in a time of rising tuitions isn’t helping our graduation rates.

Jackson Sun: They applaud Governor Haslam’s stance against weakening open meeting laws.

Chattanooga Times: An overview of the battle to recall mayor Ron Littlefield.

Chattanooga Free Press: Does the Tennessee state budget have $311 million to waste?

David Hampton: If the Occupy movement wants to succeed, it must act more like the tea party movement. (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Jan Knight: Make sure you’re celebrating the right thing with the right attitude this season. (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Memphis News: The rules of economic development have changed in Memphis.

Small Business Adviser: It’s hard to go wrong with simplicity. (via the Daily News)

Giving Back: Some advice on network building and community engagement. (via the Daily News)

Chirag Chauhan: Make sure your savings survive to become a family legacy. (via the Daily News)

Small Business Advocate: Fear should not immobilise you, but motivate you. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Commercial Appeal: A call to Southaven Mayor Greg Davis to step aside during the criminal investigation. Thoughts on medical tourism make them wonder why medicine is so expensive in America. Are people “lured into government service by generous benefits“? Support for the open meetings law, of course. Congress should extend, once again, unemployment benefits.

Rodney K. Smith: Big-time college football isn’t about money, it’sabout power. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Geoff Calkins: The Grizzlies, after a surprising season last year, are talking titles this year. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Better Business: Tips on checking out a charity before you give. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Chris Peck: Clearly marking when and why a story was changed will deal with this problem. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Otis L. Sanford: Combining two Memphis journalism obsessions into one article: census numbers and optimism. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Amanda Myers: Language skills can help break the cycle of poverty. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Ken Paulson: December 15 is the anniversary of the Bill of Rights. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Wendi C. Thomas: She opposes the City Council bonuses to City employees. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Andre K. Fowlkes: How Memphis can increase its number of college grads. (via the Commercial Appeal)