Photo Credit: WREG.com
Path of Least Resistance

 
The Memphis City Council approved a $610 million budget, based on a $3.11 property tax rate. It was a split, 7-6 vote. This is an 8 cent reduction on the current rate. They will use $20 million of the City’s $81 million reserve. Bill Dries, of the Daily News, describes the process as “frustrating” for all involved. Mayor A C Wharton says the City’s budget future is “uncertain”. And unions aren’t happy with the budget.

In other business, the Council will vote in two weeks on Councilman Shea Flinn’s half-cent increase in the local-option sales tax, to replenish the City’s reserves. The council also tabled his adult entertainment district proposal. They found $2 million to rehab the Hotel Chisca, but with financial stipulations, which the Downtown Memphis Commission opposes. The council cut funding of the Family Rewards program.

Shelby County Commission: A commission committee voted unanimously against repair and renovation of the Vasco A. Smith Jr. Administration building. The committee also voted to place the Emergency Management Agency fully under County control. More commission news. The commission is scheduled to vote on redistricting next week.

Michelle Obama: The First Lady will host a fundraiser in Memphis later this month. More from WREG, WMC. A report from a previous fundraiser in Nashville.
 

Memphis City Schools: An advocacy group devoted to financial transparency rates the schools system with an “F” grade for its website.

Summer: All city pools will be open this Saturday! Pool ID is required. More from WMC.

Education Reform: The Beacon Center reports a poll that finds 60% of voters support school vouchers. The Beacon Center website.

Arkansas: A fight in West Memphis over sunken above-ground pools. A fumigation emergency in Tyronza.

Federal Reserve Beige Book: The Eighth District report is “mixed”. Short summary from the Commercial Appeal. Read the full report here.
 

Business: Memphis added 9200 jobs during the past year; the financial sector alone added 500 new jobs.

The Daily News covers Today’s Events. The Commercial Appeal reports What to Do. And the Business Journal notes People on the Move.

Piccadilly Restaurants: They are teaming up with Catholic Charities to give Piccadilly discounts for food donations to a group of mobile food pantries being started by Catholic Charities.

Municipal School Districts: All six suburbs will collaborate on an educational workshop for potential candidates for the 30 school board seats.

DeSoto County: A closer look at the I-69/I-269 Corridor. A candidate profile of Mike Smith, who is running for the State Senate District 19 seat; he hopes to be the County’s first African-American senator. Concerned about costs, the Board of Supervisors would like to fold the elections for State Senator Merle Flowers interim successor into already-scheduled November elections. They also want employee input on the next budget. Building permit revenues for Southaven are slowly returning to normal. The Board of Aldermen for Southaven will use outside counsel, Butler Snow, to ease problems for City Attorney Mark Sorrell. High speed internet is still difficult to get in some parts of the County.

Nashville: Charter school operator Great Heart Academies says it will not give up on opening a school in the city; more from the Tennessean. Metro police are using a civil lawsuit to prevent gang meetings. More on this novel approach from the City Paper and the Nashville Scene. A public forum is planned for Metro school board candidates.

Hundreds showed up to protest a possible 53 cent property tax increase at the Metro Council meeting in a tumultuous meeting; more from the Tennessean. The Tennessean believes supporters of the tax increase may get “drowned out”.

Real Estate: Shelby County home sales were up 25% in May.

NEW INTERNET EXCLUSIVE! The Mayor of Collierville, Stan Joyner, writes an open letter to the people of Colliverville, supporting the creation of a school district for his town, calling it a “transformational” decision.

New! Internet Exclusive: The Fight Against Synthetic Drugs: Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich writes how to recognise synthetic drugs, how they are sold, and what’s being done by County and State officials to fight the dangers.

NEW! 5th Annual Israel Fest: Coming on Sunday, June 10, is the free and family-oriented Fifth Annual Israel Fest, which has events, music and attractions for everyone. Learn more about featured speakers and the schedule of events.

Tennessee: We are warming to telecommuting. The Department of Transportation will use the traffic data they already collect to power a smartphone app to avoid I-75 and I-24 traffic foulups. A report by children’s advocates calls for increased spending for kids programs. A link to that Kids Count report and the full Associated Press story. The State’s oldest log home’s furnishings and other antiques are going on sale.

Medical Safety: A survey by the Leapfrog Group rated all Memphis hospitals with a “C” grade or better. More reports from WREG. In a loosely related story, doctors call Memphis the “buckle of the cancer belt”.

Unified School District: Will the new district require higher taxes or fewer teachers?

Germantown: The 11th annual Mid-South Junior Fishing Rodeo is coming up this weekend.

Millington: Lt Rita Stanback has been named the interim police chief. Further reports from ABC24, Fox13. This, after Police Chief Ray Douglas’ sudden resignation. More on Douglas from ABC24.

FedEx St Jude Classic: The FESJC website. Five players groupings to watch.

Charter Schools: The Grizzlies Foundation will open the Memphis Grizzlies Prep Charter School, a middle school for boys.

Mississippi: A Federal grant of over $4 million will be divvied up among the State’s regional airports to “maintain passenger air service outside urban hubs”. The State is preparing to distribute 1600 claims in the Morgan Keegan/Morgan Asset Management settlement. The body of Adam Mayes will be shipped to Tennessee, to be donated to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; more from WMC, ABC24. The new nuclear attack submarine, USS Mississippi, was commissioned this past weekend. Be careful drivers, as the Highway Patrol is enforcing the “Move Over Law”.

“Digital Elvis”: Following up on the “digital Tupac” that debuted at Coachella, as rumored, the Digital Domain Media Group will bring a “digital Elvis” tour to life, at a later, unspecified, date. They have a number of other events planned, as well.

Former US Representative John Tanner: He has joined the Nashville law firm of Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens & Cannada.

Politics: Governor Bill Haslam says slow government services are an extra burden on taxpayers. State House candidate Kenny Young is pledging not to accept the per diem payment. The “nastiness” of the Rutherford County GOP continues to bubble along. Is the tea party a limited influence in TN politics? In their study of the possibilities for this Fall’s elections, the TN Journal notes that the GOP needs only to pick up two seats in the House to have a super-majority.

The US Third District Congressional race is dividing the loyalties of top-ranked Republicans. The incumbent, Chuck Fleischmann has an aide, Chip Saltsman, who is getting quite a bit of press on his own.

Governor Bill Haslam: He had a ceremonial signing of the bill eventually ending the inheritance tax. Haslam was also in Bartlett to sign three more bills.

Shelby County Courthouse: The Circuit and Chancery court divisions will transfer over to an e-filing system for court documents that will mean fewer visits for most attorneys.

Rays of Wisdom: The health insurance landscape will soon change dramatically, and not in ways you expect. (via the Daily News)

I Swear: He reviews Tina Fey’s autobiographical Bossy Pants. (via the Daily News)

Douglas W. Schelling: America’s patent system is about to undergo fundamental changes. (via the Daily News)

Sid Salter: Can unionising efforts by the United Auto Workers in the state save the declining fortunes of the union movement. (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Dale Lilly: Pretending is so much more than child’s play. (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Representative Craig Fitzhugh: A slightly different and more detailed version of his MSJ article, from his regular column in his local paper. (via NWTN Today)

Commercial Appeal: They jump on their FedEx St. Jude Classic hype machine to see only the good. An interesting argument, if typically CA, against Lakeland starting its own school district.

Michael J. LaRosa: Tennessee should support tuition “equity” for “undocumented” students and the US Congress should support the DREAM Act. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Wendi C. Thomas: She makes it clear that neither school superintendent dazzles her enough to be sufficient for the Unified school superintendent job. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Because I Said So: He’s started his vacation. (via the Commercial Appeal)

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

beth g sanders: I survived Mr Potato Head among other childhood horrors.

Bigger Than Your Head: The wine of the week.

Biking in Memphis: Don’t park in the new bike lanes being laid out around town.

Commontaries: Is Kim Kardashian a black woman’s worst nightmare?

Creme de Memph: Researching that all-important question: Where does Union Avenue Extended begin?

dminmem: Homemade baked beans.

Dining with Monkeys: The grand opening of Overton Bark was also a food truck rodeo.

East Memphis Moms: They’ve got some recommendations for Summer reading programs and what to pack for Summer vacation.

Fertile Ground: Summer camp season starts early with them and Garden Path Art Camp.

first responses: Briefly explaining God as a trinity and His expression through community.

Floating, Floating, and Floating With Travilis: Watch out for three scantily-clad women scamming you for some water. The wisdom of carrying a knife.