Photo Credit: MCS & MSJ
But What Was Said?

 
The Deputy Superintendent for Memphis City Schools, Dr Irving Hamer, has been placed on “administrative leave” after a female MCS employee complained about comments he made at a work session at Superintendent Dr Kriner’s Cash’s Memphis home. The matter is being referred to outside counsel. Dr Cash’s official statement. The Commercial Appeal notes that Hamer has been criticised for his “brusque management style”.

Transition Planning Commission: The “Path to Autonomy” model for organising schools in the County is gaining steam. The suburban mayors are also asking that their possible school districts be taken into account. TPC website.

Millington: Although many are opposed to switching to a city manager instead of a mayor, the Board of Alderment had a three hour meeting yesterday to work out details of the switch.

Shelby County Sheriff Bill Oldham: He is interviewed by WREG.

Memphis City Schools: A minor media embarrassment over a misspelled marquee at Westwood High School.

City of Memphis: The City is spending over $600,000 on lobbyists this year.

Memphis City Council: The sanitation privatisation plan they were considering was opposed by unions and clergy.

Mo’ Money Taxes: WREG springs an ambush interview on co-founder Markey Granberry.

Rainbow PUSH: The Rev Jesse Jackson’s organisation says it will invest in 50 businesses in the Mid-South to gain access to financial and hiring information.

Gibson Guitars: Six months after a high-profile raid on the company’s manufacturing plant, including the seizure of wood inventory, no charges have been filed.

Economic Development Secrecy: The legislation that would make ownership details and “due diligence” details secret during negotiations was delayed in the Senate. Speaker of the Senate Ron Ramsey predicts the bill will fail. More from the Associated Press.

Memphis Animal Shelter: In announcing James Rogers as interim director, mayor A C Wharton also touted the shelter’s improved criminal statistics. Shelter employee Carol Lynch might be the victim of a retaliatory disciplinary charge.

Tennessee: According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the number of children in “high-poverty communities” has doubled.

Politics: Beneficiaries of the Investment Small Business Company Act are praising its “funding for venture capital firms to invest in startup companies that are either located in Tennessee”. The “top to bottom review” promised by Governor Bill Haslam has been completed; you can read it here.

State Representative John Deberry discovers there are no friends so fickle as political friends.

Demographics: Thirty percent of Memphians are under the age of 19.

Voter ID Reform: Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s office spent $42,000 on letters to citizens over 60 warning them to have proper ID to vote. The Rev Jesse Jackson believes there’s “a developing pattern of suppression” in voter reforms.

Second Amendment: Governor Bill Haslam believes a deal will be worked out on a narrower version of “guns in parking lots” legislation.

Cordova Leadership Council: They will hold an open meeting to discuss survey results and priorities.

US Postal Service: Three Mid-South mail sorting centers will be consolidated into a single Memphis facility. No Memphis centers are expected to close. More from the Commercial Appeal.

US Senator Lamar Alexander: A “suspicious letter” brought out the authorities on Thursday. He was not the only member of Congress to receive such a letter.

Local Media: Former WPLX talk radio host Thaddeus Matthews is now blaming the Tea Party for his being taken off the air. His website.

Internet Exclusive: Where’s Carol? Contributor Mick Wright wonders why Shelby County District Attorney candidate Carol Chumney is missing in action for her own campaign!

Internet Exclusive: How I Got Involved in Local Politics: Southaven’s Oriana Hill was dismayed that nothing was being done about Mayor Greg Davis’ official shenanigans, so she decided to take action herself. Read her exclusive story here!

Shelby County Public Defenders: The Flyer profiles the office and the challenges it faces today.

African-American History Month: As the month and celebration wind down, the Tri-State Defender has the final events.

“Predatory Lending”: While in town yesterday, the Rev Jesse Jackson said he wanted to have a summit meeting with the area’s largest banks about that and foreclosure. More from WMC.

Mississippi: The State Senate approved private charter schools. The State Department of Revenue is late with 150,000 refund checks to taxpayers. New restrictions on abortion? Legislators are studying switching to “performance-based budgeting”.

Occupy: Legislation to keep Occupiers from camping overnight on War Memorial Plaza passed the Senate, 20-10. More from the Nashville Scene and the Commercial Appeal.

DeSoto County: The Southaven Chamber of Commerce is working on releasing a report detailing mayor Greg Davis expenditures on their dime; more. Citizens are trying to get Davis’ salary lowered. DAvis is the highest-paid mayor in the State.

Trash pickups will be changing. Warm weather has been good for County roads.

Ripley, TN: A “gang fight” involving as many as 400 people overwhelmed local police. Multiple law enforcement agencies were called in.

Police Chases: A 100-mph chase by a Shelby County deputy is reviving discussion of the limits and apporprateness of high-speed chases.

Emerge Memphis: An interview with interim director Eric Mathews.

Business: Architectural firm Looney Ricks Kiss is consolidating three offices outside of Memphis, and two floors in the Toyota Center into a single floor of offices there. Hundreds of job applicants turned out for a Mitsubishi job fair. Several national grocers are looking at moving into the city.

From the Daily News, Today’s Events and Inked. The Commercial Appeal covers People in Business and What to Do. People on the Move, from the Business Journal.

Wright Medical Group: Net income for the fourth quarter plummeted thanks to Federal compliance issues and “distributor transitions” from last quarter. More from the Commercial Appeal.

Arkansas: By a very lopsided vote, the Legislature agreed to consider the State budget for next year. The Operation Delta Blues corruption and drug sting is leaving “mixed feelings” in Helena-West Helena.

Memphis International Airport: They are presently the only airport using Delta Air Lines’s Intermec CS40s which monitors services to the disabled.

Online Exclusive: Rick Santorum’s Necessary Three Strategies: Our Tea Party contributor, Ed “Doc” Holliday is an enthusiastic Rick Santorum supporter now and he has three things he believes it’s necessary Santorum do right now to take his campaign to the White House.

Online Exclusive: Opportunity Lost: It’s one of the most referenced books on local politics and author Dr Marcus Pohlmann, of Rhodes College, introduces it and explains a little about why you should read it, too. It’s a touchstone for understanding Memphis and Shelby County racial politics in education.

Commercial Appeal: No surprise, they blindly support “affirmative action” in college admissions. Kudos to MLG&W employees.

Joe Sullivan: Performance pay for top teachers should be increased. (via the Knoxville Metro Pulse)

Frank Cagle: They spend their time fixated on other people’s sex lives so you don’t have to. (via the Knoxville Metro Pulse)

Robert Lee Long: Reporters in war zones are “brave and selfless” in the extreme. (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Sid Salter: Charter schools are “alternative worth fully empowering”. (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Dale Lily: Patience is a virtue in short supply these days.

Money Matters: Making sure your legacy to your children survives your death. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Lucy Shaw: To fate and to love are choices we can make. (via the Tri-State Defender)

David Pickler: The “Path to Autonomy” is a path to separate schools nonetheless. (via the Flyer)

Flyer: It’s time for the return of compromise.

John Branston: For the eternally aggrieved, there are always more forbidden words to find. (via the Flyer)

Ruth Ogles Johnson: After many months of school merger euphoria, the old divisiveness sets in. (via the Flyer)

FUNdraising: How to engage and manage your volunteers. (via the Daily News)

Memphasis: The Waffle Shop is open. (via the Daily News)