Photo Credit: Memphis Heritage
Hotel Chisca is Go!

 
Among other City Council business yesterday, the budget committee approved adding $2 million from the Capital Improvement Budget to the funds from Main Street Apartment Partners to turn the Hotel Chisca into a mixed-use apartment/retail space. MAAP is the same group that also did One Commerce Square. Are taxpayers being asked to prop up a private business deal?

In other actions, the full Council voted down the increase to the hotel/motel tax. Councilman Shea Flinn’s “adult entertainment district” proposal has been put on hold for two weeks; more.

Councilman Ed Ford Jr wants drivers who live outside of the city to be charged for auto inspections; more. The City’s red light traffic cameras would be used for enforcement. But some Memphis drivers may be given “hard luck exemptions” for inspections involving “check engine” lights.

Municipal School Districts: Governor Bill Haslam signed into law the second bill in the pair that makes MSDs happen, lifting the ban on the formation of MSDs.

Memphis City Schools: Area teachers are receiving their evaluations from the Teacher Effectiveness Measure. Just 2% were rated Level 1, the lowest level and they face supportive or disciplinary actions. That could affect about 150 teachers; more. Two female teachers at Knight Road Elementary School got into a physical altercation in the school.

West Nile Virus: Mosquitoes carrying the virus have been identified in Shelby County.

Morgan Keegan: An $8 billion lawsuit against them, brought by Fairfax Financial Holdings, wasdismissed by a Superior Court judge. An appeal may be filed. Five more MK employees have been recruited to Wunderlich Securities.

City of Memphis: On some blighted properties, officials are passing the buck on who is responsible for action.

Politics: It will be hard to notice, but the grocery tax goes down this Summer. Two more bills signed into law. And a listing of the recent round of signings by the governor.

Mississippi: The governor has named Brent Christensen as the new head of the Mississippi Development Authority; more from the Daily News.

Real Estate: The Housing Market Index posted its “best reading” since 2007. More from the Daily News.

Exclusive: Paul Morris: Hotel Chisca: The effort to save the Hotel Chisca from the wrecking ball is back in the news and we think this column deserves republishing.
 
 

Exclusive: Conservatives Cannot Afford To Be Silent and Republicans Cannot Afford To Let Them is the message in this month’s column from our political/financial contributor Chuck Bates. It’s do or die.

Overton Park Conservancy: More on their $500,000 grant from the Assisi Foundation. (See yesterday’s post for further stories.)

Booker T. Washington High School: It was one year ago today that President Barack Obama spoke to the students about education and their futures. The echoes of his visit are still there.

Downtown: The next step in riverfront rehabilitation is rehabbing the cobblestones.

Mississippi Highway Shootings: Police are on heightened patrol for the suspect linked to two shootings and are warning the public. Memphis police are also on the lookout. Tips are pouring in. More reporting from ABC24.

Citizens are more aware and changing plans in response. The impact on businesses. Mid-Southerners are “fearful”.

Overton Square: More on the progress of construction and planning.

DeSoto County: Problems with overcrowding at the animal shelter. State Representative Tommy Woods, of Byhalia, is retiring after 25 years. AFter a State ethics OK, the Southaven Board of Aldermen voted to purchase some land from Mayor Greg Davis’ cousin. Olive Branch officials approved a study of the Maywood dams.

World Trade Club: International marketing manager Chris Leubbers, of Norfolk Southern Corporation, spoke to them about intermodal shipping and his company’s plans. WTC website.

Business: The new developers who own the Mall of Memphis plan to build light industry or a distribution center business park.

The Daily News details Today’s Events and Memphis Newsmakers. The Commercial Appeal reports People in Business and What to Do.

Thomas & Betts: The European Commission has given anti-trust clearance to their purchase by ABB of Switzerland.

AutoZone: Expectations are high among analysts about third quarter performace reports due tomorrow.

FedEx: With the American Red Cross, they will host a disaster preparedness roundtable.

Guerrilla Sales & Marketing: How to avoid ten common sales problems. (via the Daily News)

The Worldly Investor: Global consumer confidence is returning to pre-Great Recession levels. (via the Daily News)

James D. Eason: Under new court-ordered changes, it’s best the State’s two major organ-donation centers merge. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Sid Salter: While many citizens oppose so-called “sin taxing” immoral activities, State officials sure do like it. (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Bill Minor: Honoring the memory of Civil Rights fighter John Doar. (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Commercial Appeal: The new teacher evaluations put teachers into “sharper focus”. Farewell to Donald “Duck” Dunn.