Photo Credit: Fox13
Tax Increases Coming

 
Memphis mayor A C Wharton unveiled his 2012-2013 budget to the City Council yesterday. He calls for a one-time, 47 cent tax increase, but no City employee layoffs. More on the tax increase from ABC24. Wharton also proposed cutting fire companies and closing five public libraries. He said the City will still need to cut $24 million. “Sparring” over budget decisions. More from WREG.

On WREG’s Live@9, mayor Wharton and Councilman Kemp Conrad preview what was coming. And various council members discuss with Fox13 what they expect.

Midtown: Lunchtime robberies are becoming a problem for diners.

Memphis City Council: The Council has formed a study committee to examine giving incentives to businesses to retain them or attract them. The Council also approved a mulching operation, despite community protest, and work on the Wolf River Greenway.

Municipal School Districts: The House Finance Subcommittee approved the limited bill to allow MSDs next year. It now goes to a full House vote.

Shelby County Commission: Commissioner Terry Roland says the new unified County school board would increase County property taxes by 26%.

Deer: A burgeoning deer population is becoming a problem for Shelby County drivers.

Memphis Police Department: As he passes his first year on the job, police Director Toney Armstrong is profiled by Fox13 and by WREG.

Southern Hot Wings Festival: It’s this weekend and they are celebrating their tenth year with a move to a new location.

Politics: The bill to limit discussions about sexuality in elementary and middle schools is moving again in the State House. Some news bits from the Legislature.

Activists from unnamed groups protested for a “tax that is fair” yesterday in Downtown Memphis.

Charter Schools: Former mayor Dr Willie Herenton proposes opening charter class rooms in under-attended schools, utilising their space.

Germantown: City leaders reviewed capital improvement projects at a budget workshop.

FedEx: They are in talks to acquire small French shipping firm, TATEX. This is their second acquistion in a month. Chairman Fred Smith says reports of his company leaving Memphis or Tennessee over tax laws are untrue.

Second Amendment: A lobbyist for the National Rifle Association declared that “FedEx’s opposition” to the Employee Safe Commute Act is reason enough for the General Assembly to pass it. Business continue their opposition to the bill.

Mississippi: A bill that would simply repeat the illegality of school administrators changing grades awarded by teachers has been sent to the governor.

NEW! INTERNET EXCLUSIVE! Tomeka Hart and Separate Schools: Regular contributor Mick Wright shows that Tomeka Hart, candidate for the Ninth Congressional District, working with Darrell Cobbins, doesn’t have the best interests of Shelby County’s surburban residents in mind when it comes to schools.

New! Internet Exclusive! Achievement School District Blog: The Communications Director of the ASD, Jeremy Jones, inaugurates an informational blog for us with updates on developments, plans and events for the six schools in Memphis they’ll direct. We’ll be updating the blog here as new entries (PDF document) get posted.

County School Board: There is opposition to changing the board name, post-merger because of law and costs.

Local Elections: A quick rundown of some of the races this August.

Weather: Fox13 looks at the people who chase area storms.

Memphis Animal Shelter: Former employee Demetria Hogan has been charged with an array of offenses related to last year’s disappearance of a family dog, Kapone. More from the Flyer, ABC24, WMC, WREG.

City of Memphis: The City will agree to an Environmental Protection Agency consent decree that means a $1.29 million fine and $250 million in sewer repairs to stop raw sewage discharges.

Second Chance: Local pastors are hoping to create a branch program to work with felons who have more than one conviction on their record, to get them rehabilitated and employable.

DeSoto County: The Board of Supervisors approved 90 road projects, most funded by the State Aid program; more from ABC24. They are also searching for a new Road Manager. They also heard from officials about the County’s strong rural presence. Olive Branch officials approved a contract for work along I-269. Southaven’s Board of Aldermen had an hour-long closed meeting last night on “personnel and litigation matters”. Southaven’s Penny For Your Parks tax isn’t generating the revenue expected.

Minority Business Development Agency: Thanks to a Federal four-year grant from the Department of Commerce, Memphis will join dozens of cities across the nation in helping to establish and maintain minority-owned businesses. MBDA web portal.

Business: Independent bookstore The Booksellers at Laurelwood celebrates their first year, still struggling. Nearby at Poplar Plaza, an update on renovations.

In the Commercial Appeal, What to Do and People in Business.

Internet Exclusive: What Is “Stand Your Ground”? Regular contributor Craig Harper looks at Tennessee’s “Stand Your Ground” law, telling you what it is and what it covers. Clear and factual information.

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

The Adventures of Pete Big Bear: He’s moving soon, so he lists the things he’ll miss about Memphis. Good luck!

vibinc: (Satirical) thoughts from a Democrats on the “guns in parking lots” bill.

Commercial Appeal: They seem to completely misunderstand what the Yacoubian poll revealed about teachers. Noting Andrew Love’s passing in the context of dementia.

Wendi C. Thomas: She writes about model rocketry, the Mid-South Rocket Society and the Team America Rocketry Challenge! (via the Commercial Appeal)

John Branston: Are local media too negative in reporting on the schools merger? (via the Flyer)

Lakeland Highlights: Anonymous letters are a one-sided conversation.

I Love Memphis: It’s never to early to start planning for Memphis in May, and she’s got some handy tips.

a belle, a bean, & a chicago dog: Were you a “senior hottie”?

Air Traffic Mike’s: Remembering Rhondo the Wonder Idiot and working on a boat. Billy, Mercedes and Christine learn a lesson.

Ben Thompson Can Change: He used to despise happy people until he became of them.

Benito’s Wine Reviews: Some tips and reviews on saké.

Best Memphis Burger: It’s a mini-Twitter/blogger meetup at Local Gastropub.

Bigger Than Your Head: The wine of the week.

Burn My Mouth: He’s looking forward to the Southern HotWing Festival this weekend.

Divers and Sundry: Thoughts on the Hilary Rosen/Ann Romney kerfuffle.

Empty Oven: This blog was started because, for many years, April couldn’t get pregnant and now she’s at 25 weeks.

Fertile Ground: A mid-season soccer league report.