Photo Credit: Well Fargo
Resolution Delivered

 
Wells Fargo has reached an agreement with the City of Memphis that dismisses their lawsuit, in exchange for $4.5 million in morgage downpayment assistance, $3 million to the City and County for programs “related to improving economic vitality, preserving public safety, and increasing financial literacy”. In addition, the bank agrees to create $425 million fund for morgage loans, at least $125 million for “low- and moderate-income borrowers”. The suit alleged the bank targeted African-American mortgage holders with risky refinancing.

Election Controversy: The administrator of the Shelby County Election Commission, Rich Holden, says accusations of deleting voting records for 488 African-Americans are “unfounded”. Holden was able to produce a number of “deleted” records for WMC. He also blamed Congressman Steve Cohen’s need for “paid media or free media” in an election year. Some of those “deleted” react.

The Unified Shelby School Superintendent: The discussion about MCS superintendent Dr Kriner Cash or SCS superintendent John Aitken becoming the new superintendent of the Unified school district is sharpening. Next week, the Unified school board will go into executive, closed-door session to discuss renewing Dr Kriner Cash’s contract. A group of ministers who support Cash are trying to stop the meeting.

Municipal School Districts: Collierville, Arlington, Millington, Bartlett, Germantown and Lakeland were due to vote last night on MSDs. And, all six voted to approve the referenda on August 2. The Collierville Board of Aldermen voted unanimously last night to hold a municipal referendum on whether to create an MSD. County Commissioner Terry Roland talks taxes needed to support MSDs.

Murfreesboro Mosque: A chancellor ruled that construction must stop because the Rutherford County Planning Commission didn’t give adequate notice of the meeting that approved it. Work continues on the mosque until a court order is handed over. Another meeting can be called to restart the construction.

Southwest Tennessee Community College: They have reached an undisclosed agreement with Clear Channel that will allow them to build a Nursing, Natural Sciences and Biotechnology Building by removing two Clear Channel billboards … in 2014.

Shelby County Trustee: David Lenoir is the latest in a line of trustees stretching back to David Patterson asking the City of Memphis to let his office collect back and delinquent taxes.

National Civil Rights Museum: Renovations underway will allow visitors to get closer to the balcony where the Reverend Martin Luther King was shot.

Lifebood: They are making a push in June to drive up blood donations with Donor Fest. Lifeblood website.

Healthy Eating: Access to inexpensive fresh fruits and vegetables is improving in Memphis.

Politics: A rare photo indeed, as smiling State Democrats stand alongside Governor Bill Haslam. He also signed Kimberlee’s Law into effect. Congressman Marsha Blackburn has helped form a group, Women’s Policy Committee, to “put a female perspective on the issues”. In TN’s Third Congressional District, everyone is just a tight community of politicians. The TN Democratic Party struggles for relevance and a New Path forward after “a near-knockout punch” in 2010. An question and answer session by the Cookeville Herald-Citizen with Governor Bill Haslam.

DeSoto County: The Hernando Chamber of Commerce is growing with its city. Overly intrusive local regulations trump constitutional rights, at least for now, in Horn Lake. A special judge, DeSoto County Circuit Court Judge Robert Chamberlin, has been named to hear Southaven mayor Greg Davis’ traffic case. Mike Smith, a former DeSoto County Democratic Party leader, has joined the race for State Senator Merle Flowers’ seat.

Italian Fest: It will be this weekend at Marquette Park. Fest website.
 
 
 
 

Survey Says: Memphis is ranked 58th in daily population growth for the US and number two in Tennessee.

NEW! INTERNET EXCLUSIVE! An Open Letter to The Voters of the Ninth District: Republican candidate Wilson Stooksberry offers a plea and a challenge to voters to consider his candidacy.
 

NEW! INTERNET EXCLUSIVE: Achievement School District Blog 05: Every student attending Cornerstone Prep is performing at or above national standards for their grade. Cornerstone Prep serves students in the Binghampton community.

Internet Exclusive! Southpaw: The Tale of Two Covers: Columnist Andria K. Brown notes two very different magazine covers and the articles they represent. One, she thinks, is much more important than the other.

Education Reform: With an outside review of the teacher evaluation system by SCORE due soon, Governor Bill Haslam says the State could make changes over the Summer. In Nashville, eight of ten charter schools had their applications denied, including some surprises.

Memphis City Council: The three budget proposals from Councilmen do not require a tax increase. Councilmen appear disposed against Mayor A C Wharton’s plan, which calls for a “one time” tax increase. The Commercial Appeal stresses Wharton’s budget plan.

Mississippi: At least seven elected Democrats have switched over to the Republican Party; they will be announced later today. There were no fatalities over the Memorial Day weekend holiday.

Downtown: Mayor A C Wharton is promising the stretch of Madison Avenue currently blocked by the partial collagpse of 118 Madison will be open by the Fall. More from ABC24.

UTK Coach Pat Summitt: She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom yesterday by President Barack Obama. More reports from the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Overton Bark: Part of Overton Park, a 1.3 acre area in the middle of the park, will be fenced off for a dog park beginning this weekend.

University of Memphis: The School of Law has found an interim dean in William Kratzke.

Memphis Marketing: A number of billboards around Tennessee and along the Mississippi River will tout Memphis’ “comeback” to build regional tourism.

Collierville: The Board has approved, 3-2, a plan to build a dog park in W. C. Johnson Park.

Pyramid: People who want to reclaim the bricks they donated money to lay twenty years ago, can do so this Friday and Saturday. Proof of purchase required.

Business: Fresh Healthy Vending is coming to the Memphis area. The trucking industry is cautiously optimistic with gas prices being so low.

The Business Journal reports People on the Move. From the Daily News, we learn of Today’s Events and Memphis Newsmakers. The Commercial Appeal will cover What to Do and People in Business.

Delta Air Lines: After suspending its non-stop flights between Amsterdam and Memphis, they will now inaugurate a similar route between Atlanta and Amsterdam.

FedEx: They are buying their authorised representative in Brazil, Rapidao Cometa, moving them into the FedEx Express subsidiary. More from Fox13 and the CA. Experts predict a restructuring at FedEx Express by October.

Picadilly Restaurants: After 60-plus years in Memphis, they are expanding into the food service industry.

Memphis International Airport: The number of flights is down 22% and the number of passengers is down 17% over April of last year.

Second Amendment: Only 16 of 44 guns and rifles stolen from a Whitehaven home have been recovered. The man accused of the thefts, Johnny Wash, appeared in court yesterday. Michael Wilson was also charged.

Tennessee: Some 3000 jobless Tennesseans quit looking for work altogether in April, driving down the unemployment rate. The pools at TN State Parks escaped closure this year.

Trustmark: They have announced their intention to buy BancTrust Financial Group, of Alabama and Florida, for $55 million. More from the CA and again.

Arkansas: A Federal District Court has refused to block the certification of a State Democratic primary that State Senator Jack Crumbly was contesting. Crumbly is black and his opponent, State Representative Keith Ingram is white.

Jocelyn Atkinson and Michael Graber: Real innovation isn’t just an idea, it’s a process. (via the Daily News)

The Worldly Investor: Thoughts on where the markets are now versus the Great Depression. (via the Daily News)

Commercial Appeal: Once again, worrying what other people think about Memphis. Applause for “money well-spent” by the County Commission.