Photo Credit: Fox13
Lines in the Sand

 
While Mayor A C Wharton presented a 47 cent property tax increase; it’s far from a sure thing. Wharton’s budget makes a lot of cuts, too. Sides are already being chosen and some councilmen talk about “right-sizing” government.

Municipal School Districts: At the weekly meeting of the Shelby County legislative delegation, members “critiqued” State Senator Mark Norris as he defended his efforts to allow the suburbs to form MSDs.

Memphis: A lot of big events are happening this weekend. The Play It Cool program gives free A/C units to low-income seniors. Many Memphians worry that an early, warm Spring means a hot stifling Summer.

Transition Planning Commission: An array of outsourcing proposals for various services will be discussed over the coming weeks, and will generate controversy.

Shelby County Commission: In contrast to the City budget situation, County mayor Mark Luttrell proposed no tax increase and a one percent raise for County employees. More from WMC.

Memphis Redbirds: The Business Journal’s Alan Howell was there opening night to document the game.
 
 
 

Shelby County Health Department: The department is making a pitch to the Shelby County Commission for more funds for a special team for social programs.

Reverend Jeremiah Wright: He appeared at a conference at House of Prayer Ministries in Raleigh to but the media was focused on his past connections to President Barack Obama.

Business: The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to beware of identity theft.

From the Business Journal, People on the Move. The Daily News carries Today’s Events.

Delta Air Lines: Will their $10-20 fare increase stick?

ConAgra Foods: They are buying Odom’s Tennessee Pride, the nation’s “second-largest maker of frozen breakfast sandwiches and sausage”.

Verizon: They announced an auction of frequencies in the 700 MHz A and B spectrum in dozens of markets, including Memphis. This is contingent on government approval of other pending deals

Mississippi: Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation has announced the location for their Oxford hospital. More from the Commercial Appeal. Does North MS have a “culture of tax-dollar corruption”?

Memphis International Airport: President and CEO Larry Cox talks about Pinnacle Airlines, Southwest and more. An incident at the airport last week, involving aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles on a runway, is now being investigated by the FAA. Larry Cox responds.

Foreclosure: Q1 2012 foreclosures were up 30% over 2011. Shelby Crossing, Phase II, is now in foreclosure.

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.

The MED: In two years, the hospital’s diversity program has tripled expenditures to minority business vendors.

University of Memphis: Radioactive door hinges set off all kinds of alarms on Wednesday.

Memphis City Schools: This year, students’ TCAP scores will be factored into each semester’s grades.

Pat Summitt: She stepped down as the Lady Vols head coach and assumed a “coach emeritus” role. Last Summer, she announced she had early onset dementia. Her career stats are “jaw-dropping”. Summitt’s video statement on her health and her retirement. More from WREG.

Memphis Police Department: The former officer who gained notoriety for broadcasting sex on his police equipment, Dion Anthony, now says it was all planned. Off-duty officer Jared Collins was arrested on multiple charges related to a DUI on Tuesday; Collins cursed out the arresting officers.

DeSoto County: Aldermen in Southaven decided to raise the rental fees for Snowden Grove amphitheater. Sales tax collections in Southaven “shattered records”. Olive Branch will give two developers more time to finish their subdivisions’ sidewalks. A preview of Springfest.

City of Memphis: City workers average fifty-five paid days off a year.

Southaven Mayor Greg Davis: State auditors are going to collect the rest of the money he owes but hasn’t paid, from his public official bond. The bonding company may then sue him to recover those funds. The investigation continues; more from WREG.

Politics: Lobbyist Dan Haskin managed to send a partisan email on pending legislation via the account of Republican Representative Bob Ramsey.

The House passed Haslam-backed legislation requiring mandatory jail time for repeat convictions for domestic violence, but cut the length of jail time. And the Senate unanimously passed the bill to allow students to express opinions without discrimination, especially religious ones.

Arkansas: Two men who pleaded guilty in the Operation Delta Blues sting–Sedrick “Binky” Trice and Dempsey Word–were sentenced this week.

West Memphis Three: The prosecutor in the case, Scott Ellington, says that the costs of a retrial and potential juror misconduct were major factors in taking an Alford plea.

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.

Commercial Appeal: Cheering the five winners of this year’s Women’s Foundation Legend Awards.

Tyler Hampton: Noting fifty years of SRVS, helping the community’s disabled. (via the Commercial Appeal)

John Branston: How to make some “Tennessee unthinkables”…thinkable. (via the Flyer)

Robert Lee Long: Small town people often have the biggest hearts. (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

I Swear: Admiring the work of author John Nolan. (via the Daily News)

Sid Salter: A brief history of a MS newspaper. (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Joe Boone: He pens an open letter to Governor Haslam, asking him to act like a “educated, well-mannered executive”. (via the Flyer)