Photo Credit: WREG/MSJ
Annexed No More?

 
State Attorney General Bob Cooper issued a ruling that two bills filed by three Shelby County legislators, concerning Memphis’ annexation reserve, are likely unconstitutional or “constitutionally suspect”. They will not go forward, at least for now. More on the halt to “Norris-Todd II” from ABC24, WMC. Memphis will likely stop the annexation of Fisherville now.

State Senator Mark Norris says parties “seem interested in opening a dialogue about future annexations.” Lt Gov Ron Ramsey was unequivocal in his opposition to the bills; more from the Commercial Appeal. And City Councillors are still sounding belligerent. The Flyer’s Jackson Baker profiles Norris.

The City Council was preparing to annex the Bridgewater area this Tuesday. The annexation resolution. (PDF document)

Shelby County Commission: At today’s special meeting the commission will vote on a modified resolution, slightly different than Monday’s declined version. It concerns the conditions under which the County can sell schools buildings to the municipalities. The special meeting’s agenda. (PDF document)

Memphis Police Department: The examination of the division, called for by Director Toney Armstrong when he took over last year, will be conducted by Executive Research Foundation, who will be in town next week. The judge hearing the Norman Benjamin case suggests annual psychological exams for officers.

Voter ID: A bill passed out of both House and Senate committees allowing seniors over 60 without photo ID to vote absentee. Each bill goes to another committee and then full votes.

Michael Heisley: The owner of the Grizzlies is part of a group bidding for the Los Angeles Dodgers, the stadium and surrounding properties.
 

Memphis City Council: The Daily News profiles council member Bill Boyd. They heard a presentation on providing services to the Gray’s Creek/Fisherville area, if it is annexed.

Education Reform: The Hechinger Report, who collaborated on the stories in the Commercial Appeal’s three-part series on teacher evaluations in Tennessee, also hosts all three parts. An estimated 68 Memphis City Schools may be moved to the State-controlled Achievement School District if the State is aggressive in its reform effort.

Politics: Speaker of the Senate Ron Ramsey talks with Fox13’s Les Smith about drug testing people who receive State benefits.

Community Foundation of Greater Memphis: They will host two workshops for non-profits interested in their Nonprofit Capacity Building grants.

Transition Planning Commission: Some schools may get a level of autonomy not shared by the majority of schools.

No Child Left Behind: Tennessee is one of ten States granted a waiver from NCLB. More from Fox13, ABC24, WMC and WREG. Our reforms are tighter than those required; we were “willing to set higher, more honest standards”. Governor Bill Haslam hopes that the waiver will boost teacher morale.

Mississippi: The State Supreme Court heard arguments in the Haley Barbour pardons case, but did not rule yesterday. More from WMC, WREG. State Representative Steve Holland wants to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America”. Holland insists it was a joke.

State Income Tax: The PolitiFact TN project (newspaper reporters all) looks at State Representative Gerald McCormick’s claim the State Constitution “clearly” bans an income tax, focusing on that word to decide (surprise! surprise!) that the State Constitution doesn’t ban an income tax!

Arkansas: A voter fraud investigation in Crittenden County has yielded a voice mail offering absentee ballots from the Democratic primary last year.

Memphis Medical Society: Incoming president Dr Robert H. Miller is profiled by the Commercial Appeal.

Online Exclusive: Vote Fraud in Tennessee’s Elections: The president of the Tennessee League of Women Vothers, Margie Parsley, argues that real vote fraud is being improperly addressed by the State of Tennesse. They’ll be watching this Spring.

Black History Month: A calendar of upcoming events from the Tri-State Defender.

University of Memphis: The on-campus view of the Big East conference switch from the Daily Helmsman. Attention is turning to making sure the Liberty Bowl and the Fairgrounds are up to snuff.

Memphis Police Department: Is the Police Union “ticket slowdown” strike coming to an end?

Overton Park: Invasive non-native plants are moving into the park necessitating action.

Mortgage Settlement: Major mortgage providers–Bank of America, Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup and Ally Financial–agreed to a $26 billion settlement of lawsuits brought by States and Tennessee’s share comes to $146 million. This ends years of lawsuits. It will impact about 10% of underwater mortgages. The participating institutions must centralise the “point of contact” for mortgages being serviced. More stories from the Daily News.

Great American Steamboat Company: More on the job fair later this month, as the company prepares to hire 300 people.

James Earl Ray: Shelby County Register Tom Leatherwood reports his office has discovered nine video tapes of Ray in County custody that need someone to digitise them for viewing. They include the only known recorded images of Ray pleading guilty in court. More on what was found.

Blight: The Vance Avenue Collaborative is fighting higher profile Downtown projects, successfully, for improvement dollars.

Business Forward: More on the White House Business Council’s meeting with Memphis business leaders last week and this week’s followup.

Business: The local Asian-American and Pacific Islander communties will have a meeting with White House representatives next week.

From the Daily News, it’s Today’s Events. The Commercial Appeal covers People in Business. And the Business Journal reports People on the Move.

Pinnacle Air Lines: They were able to reach another interim contract agreement with United Air Lines, meaning more revenues this Spring.
 

FedEx: With looming US Postal Service financial problems, Fed Ex, their largest single private contractor, may face collateral damage from budget cuts.

DeSoto County: Volunteer Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation will hold their annual volunteer training this weekend. The Commercial Appeal’s Bulletin Board for Friday. The Penny for the Parks program is ready to dispense funds.

Sequestered Juries: Shelby County has spend over a half-million dollars on sequestered juries in one year.

Mo’ Money Taxes: Cofounder Derrick Robinson says their problems are“exaggerated”. More from Robinson from ABC24. High fees for Refund Anticipation Checks are upsetting some customers.

West Tennessee: The mayor of Gilt Edge, Phil Nelson, resigned to protest a conflict of interest by the Fire Chief, Steve Fletcher, also being an Alderman.

Online Exclusive: R-E-W-T, Root For Newt! Our tea party contributor, Ed “Doc” Holliday was in Charleston, South Carolina, for the CNN Republican presidential debate and he thinks he’s found “the Tea Party’s new prize fighter”. Do you agree?

Online Exclusive: The Political Silly Season: Our political and financial contributor, Chuck Bates, is already growing tired of outrageous political ads and he’s still got to survive until November!

Shelby County Sheriff: Retired detective James Bishof, accused last year of sexually assaulting a woman who had come to seek help, has been indicted on charges of aggravated sexual battery and official oppression.

sharp stick in the eye: Some advice, after six months experience, on baby gear.

Steve’s Nude Memphis Blog: What brings people to his blog?

polar donkey: For the political junkies, he’s created some redistricting maps with demographic information mapped in!

Mick Wright: Fifty things you don’t know about Rick Santorum.

I’ll be the one in heels: Critiquing Madonna’s performance during the Stupid Bowl.

Dining With Monkeys: The drink machine was awesome, the burgers were good and quirky and the decor was decidedly Eighties at BGR: The Burger Joint.

Brain Release Valve: The story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears as a Republican political metaphor.

Bigger Than Your Head: The wine of the week is Italian.

FUNdraising: Part three of a five part series on fundraising as a corporate board executive. (via the Daily News)

Money Matters: Communicating your retirement goals clearly to your spouse or partner. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Chef Timothy: If he were you, he’d by-pass the five minute meal in favor of fresh vegetables. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Stacy Swimp: US Representative Allen West believes “conservatism is a matter of lifestyle evangelism”. (via the Tri-State Defender)

John Branston: FedEx founder Fred Smith on Facebook. (via the Flyer)

Flyer: Was Memphis “forced into” annexing Gray’s Creek and Bridgewater?

Commercial Appeal: Pink Palace improvements should be a City capital improvement list priority. They support the national mortgage settlement.

Agitatrix: I don’t think she’s the only one who has this reaction to contemporary music.