Photo Credit: salon.com
Red Zone For A Blue City

 
Will Memphis have a “red light district”? City Councilman Shea Flinn is proposing the idea and he wants discussion of it; more. His motive is to capture the revenues generated and to exempt the clubs from County SOB regulations. Flinn expects to capture tourists and the convention trade.

Memphis City Schools: Seven elementary and middle schools were granted Federal funds as part of an “Innovation Zone” project that makes “systemic changes” in the schools. GRASSY is a schools program to keep kids out of gangs that is celebrating its first anniversary.

Memphis Budget: City Hall and the City Council are trying to reach a compromise as negotiations are underway.

Juvenile Court: Some preliminary details of the planned public forum the Justice Department will hold at a future date. At a public meeting chaired by County Commissioner Henri Brooks, she detailed the report. Apparently, big, big changes are ahead.

Municipal School Districts: More on Governor Bill Haslam’s signing of the bill allowing MSDs in Shelby County.

Shelby County Commission: The Flyer’s Jackson Baker on supermajorities and redistricting.

USFL: The US Football League is restarting and Memphis is one of the cities being considered for a franchise! Stories from ESPN and FoxSports. A website on the Memphis Showboats.

DeSoto County: The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall is now in Southaven. More from ABC24. The Commercial Appeal has the County Bulletin Board for Friday.

Transition Planning Commission: They are planning on setting the bar rigorously high for teacher evaluations.

Healthy Church Challenge: The Tri-State Defender looks at the impact to African-Americans of being the “fattest city” in America.

Youth Villages: They won a Starbucks competition and will receive $145,000 to “help children with emotional and behavioral problems”.

Tennessee: Since Governor Bill Haslam’s taken office, over 1000 State jobs have been cut and more are on the way. The State’s Economic and Community Development agency is sending a trade mission to Mexico this Summer.

University of Memphis: Hazardous materials training this week, with the Memphis-Shelby County Local Emergency Planning Committee.

Politics: The rules regarding unemployment benefits are going to tighten soon; more from the Tennessean. Governor Bill Haslam elected not to sign the resolution against Agenda 21 passed by the Legislature, which was non-binding anyway. The governor believes Vanderbilt University should voluntarily end its “all comers” discrimination policy and not be forced by government. The defeat of Indiana senator Dick Lugar could mean a higher profile for US Senator Bob Corker on the Senate Foreign Relations panel.

Emergency Responders: Despite spending one million dollars on new ambulances this year alone, Memphis still has a shortage.

Shelby County Schools: Two County schools, Houston High School and Collierville High School, landed in the the U.S. News and World Report’s list of the best public high schools. No Memphis City Schools were listed.

Gasoline: Prices have dropped five percent from last month’s peak. Current Memphis average is $3.46/gallon. (via Memphis Gas Prices)

Postal Service: They had a quarterly loss of $3.2 billion and blame Congress for not passing the reforms they need.

Nashville: Metro Nashville prepares to celebrate their 50th anniversary; more from the Tennessean. The Chamber of Commerce is endorsing Mayor Karl Dean’s property tax increase and its budget.

Mississippi: The State’s NAACP will ask the Justice Department to intervene in the State’s new voter ID law. A new study shows a marked reduction in obesity among school students.

Internet Exclusive: Southpaw: As she argues rather persuasively in this week’s column, our musical heritage in Memphis is both our blessing and our curse.

City of Memphis: Park Services will hold registration for Summer Camp this Saturday morning. The Heal the Hood Foundation seeks to provide positive outlets to youngsters to combat the influence of gangs, drugs and more. The City will eventually build 55 miles of bike lanes interconnecting the city’s neighborhoods. The A Step Ahead foundation hopes to provide low-cost or free long-term birth control to women. They Flyer interviews Onzie Horne, the City Deputy Director of Community Enhancement about the 25 Square cleanup program.

Zippin Pippin: The National Amusement Park Historical Association has awarded the attraction, now in Green Bay, Wisconsin after refurbishing, the Best New Attraction. It now has its own website. Memphians who travel there can ride it for free.

Lakeland: The town will hold a special meeting today to discuss getting the municipal school district vote on the August 2 ballot.

Downtown: The owner of 118 Madison Avenue, whose slow collapse has blocked sidewalks, says he’s waiting for the City to tell him the plan for demolition. Food trucks converged on Court Square yesterday. WREG’s Live@9 talks about Beale Street walking tours. Legendary singer Koko Taylor had her brass note added to Beale Street.

Same Sex Marriage: The Faith in Memphis panel expresses their opinions, in the wake of President Barack Obama’s opinion on Wednesday. Democratic US Senate candidate Park Overall says she agrees with Obama. Meanwhile Republican leaders Governor Bill Haslam and Lt Gov Ron Ramsey oppose gay marriage. A statement from the TN GOP. WREG has Mid-South reaction.

Education Reform: Governor Bill Haslam put into effect the NCLB waiver changes to education in Tennessee. The State’s press release.

Chattanooga: Hamilton County schools failed their “innovation zone” grant and will have to wait, to try again.

Business: Which social media platform is right for your business? The organ donation business is growing increasingly bitter about changes in the way donations are handled in the State. Mid-South utilities are warning their customers about a scam; more from ABC24. “Extreme” couponing?

In the Daily News, you’ll find Today’s Events. From the Commercial Appeal, coverage of People in Business and What to Do. The Business Journal reports the People on the Move.

ServiceMaster: First quarter operating income was up a strong 130%, with strong gains posted by its divisions. They say 2012 is off to a “strong start”. More from the CA.

FedEx: They have signed an agreement to acquire French business-to-business transport company TATEX. More from the Daily News and the CA. Dave Rebholz, president and CEO of FedEx Ground, warns that many businesses make their profits on shipping and handling.

BancorpSouth: Long-time chairman and CEO Aubrey Patterson has announced his retirement, effective next year.
 
 
 
 

Amazon.com: Their online TN customers got an invoice recently detailing the State taxes they may owe. It’s a voluntary payment but the State expects you to pay it. Or else!

Grocery Stores: The “Big Two”–ie Kroger and Wal-Mart– now dominate the local market, although many smaller stores survive.

Bedbugs! They have arrived in Memphis, Whitehaven specifically.

Hattiloo Black Arts Fest: It’s this Saturday, featuring musical and perforance arts in Overton Park as well as a gallery of artists. Hattiloo Theatre website.
 
 
 

Real Estate: Poag Lifestyle Centers and DRA Advisors affiliates have, together, purchased The Avenue Collierville (formerly The Avenue Carriage Crossing). They see a very rosy location as the economy recovers and new roads are built. More from the Commercial Appeal.

Ina Hughs: Changing PTSD from a disorder to an injury. (via the Knoxville News-Sentinel)

Tennessean: State cuts budget, elderly go hungry.

Jackson Sun: The City of Jackson is right to take aggressive action against owners of dangerous nightclubs. Another newspaper argues for government intervention in the “fight against obesity”.

FUNdraising: Strategies to get your message out to the media. (via the Daily News)

Tarrin McGhee: Healthy relationships are the key to healthy infant development. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Mike Vinson: An incident reminded him of the days of junk yards and “the junk man”. (via the The Murfreesboro Post)

John Branston: Irresponsible dog owners have led to the creation of Dog Bark in Overton Park. (via the Flyer)

Flyer: They’re rather upset with being the minority party in a real two-party system.

The Rant: He wishes someone would come in and improve television programming. (via the Flyer)

Commercial Appeal: Hoping against hope for a return to a manufacturing economy in the Mid-South. Good luck to Loeb Properties and their little entertainment district.

Brent Taylor: He opposes the Sheriff’s Office buying two UAVs because of the overwhelming potential for abuse. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Memphasis: He believes it’s up to District judge Hardy Mays to stop the “wreck” that’s coming from Nashville. (via the Daily News)