Photo Credit: WMC.com
Say Whaaaaaat?

 
Late yesterday afternoon, following a closed-door “executive session” meeting, a petition was filed for a restraining order and injunctive relief by the Shelby County Commission seeking to stop the creation of municipal school districts in Shelby County. It will be heard in the courtroom of Federal Judge Hardy Mays. Commissioner Mike Ritz says such MSDs would “damage” Shelby County’s finances. The suit attacks Norris-Todd law as “special legislation”, which is illegal in Tennessee and alleges new suburban MSDs would “resegregate” the County. Commissioner Chris Thomas opposes the move. There are also questions about whether the closed door session violated the State’s open meeting law.

You can download the petition and the associated third party compliant (which explains what the County Commission hopes to acheive and why) from the Main Street Journal. (PDF documents)

Memphis Animal Shelter: Interim director James Rogers hopes to “makeover” both the shelter and its image.

Shelby County Elections: County voters by the numbers. Contact the Election Commission NOW if you want to be sure you’re registered to vote!

Unified School Board: They may open a national search for a new superintendent. The Unified School Board must approve the Transition Planning Commission’s plan for the new system and then get it approved by the State’s Commissioner of Education. Download that TPC plan.

City of Memphis: The law firm that collects the City’s delinquent taxes–Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson–will repay a citizen who was swindled by an employee, out of his tax payments.

Immigration Debate: The head of Latino Memphis, Mauricio Calvo talks about the Supreme Court ruling on Arizona’s laws with WREG’s Live@9.

Bartlett: The town will, at least for now, allow door-to-door sales, within limits.

Grizzlies: The Daily News has the second part of three in their profile of potential Grizzlies owner Robert Pera. Part one.

Murfreesboro Mosque: The controversial Islamic Center going up in Rutherford County has been having an effect and reflecting the changes in the area.

Politics: The US Supreme Court’s ruling on immigration this week will likely prompt new legislation from the General Assembly next year. Especially the immigration status check provision, which the Court unanimously approved; more from the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Jonesborough, in East Tennessee, becomes the latest town to plan to display the 10 Commandments using the “historically significant documents” law. TN Conservation Voters has ranked legislaters on their environmental records. Memphian Dave Lindstrom is trying to get a petition together for a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling.

Third District Congressman Chuck Fleishmann is losing his Chief of Staff, Chip Saltsman, to work on his re-election campaign. Democratic challenger Eric Stewart has Democratic polling that shows the Fourth District seat of incumbent Scott DesJarlais is “winnable”.

Code Orange Alert: The Mid-South continues under an ozone alert. MATA busses will be a quarter all day. Check the Shelby County Ozone Action Alert website. An open-ended burn ban for the County has been issued; more from WMC. Heat advisories are expected by the weekend!

Now is not the time to lose your air conditioner. People are preparing for the extended, high heat. How to stay safe and cool. Officials urge caution.

Shelby County: ABC24 has a one-on-one interview with County mayor Mark Luttrell. You can schedule your own 10-minute meeting with Mayor Luttrell! Many questions from the County Commission about Steve Jobs’ liver transplant for the doctor who performed it, and about the house Jobs recovered in, where the doctor now lives.

Affordable Care Act: Governor Bill Haslam says the State is prepared for Thursday’s expected ruling from the Supreme Court. American industry is awaiting the Supreme Court’s announcement on their Affordable Care Act ruling.

Our Federal Senators: Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker are among 31 Senators asking Attorney General Eric Holder to officially investigate national security leaks.

Nashville: Metro Schools have recommended denying the amended application of Great Hearts Academies. Davidson County Clerk John Arriola, who was caught taking fees for performing weddings, has resigned. Arriola will not be prosecuted. The Nashville City Paper has a round-up of news on the new Metro budget.

Convoy of Hope: This event will provide free clothing and groceries, without question, many free health screenings and a job fair. Volunteers still needed! Saturday at the Fairgrounds.

NEW! INTERNET EXCLUSIVE! Operation Broken Silence: This anti-human trafficking organisation has been working to raise their profile in Shelby County and helping to get Shelby County governments to be aware of the problems of human trafficking here at home.

New! Internet Exclusive! Southpaw: Sweet Home Shelby-Co: Andria K. Brown is back from her Summer vacation, where trips to stomping grounds both old and new brought her to a realisation about herself.

Fourth of July: DeSoto County’s Fireworks on the Farms is set for this Saturday, at Cedar Hill Farms. Forrest City, AR, has imposed a fireworks ban, because of extreme drought conditions. Expect more parts of the Mid-South to follow suit.

Unemployment: While Memphis’ rates might be higher than State or national unemployment rates, economists here say “Don’t panic!”

Education Reform: Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman calls the State’s TCAP results hardly a “disappointment”. Grades 3 - 8 showed improvements in math and science. Statewide, students improved in 23 of 24 tested areas. The State’s press release. More on TCAP gains from the Nashville City Paper, the Knoxville News Sentinel, WMC, the Associated Press and the Commercial Appeal. The TN Democratic Party continues to fight for a special session of the Legislature on education.

MATA: Despite not publicising them until the day of the board vote, dozens of routes will be cut or modified in August. They will drop the Poplar 22 Express route. More from the Commercial Appeal. MATA website.

Tennessee Pork Report 2012: The Beacon Center has released their annual study of government waste, handouts and other porky spending. You can download the report. (PDF document) Governor Bill Haslam disagrees with calling State financial incentives “corporate welfare”.

Collierville: A $750,000 State grant will fund the first phase of the extensive Center Connect Project. The town is finding a way to “repurpose” dirt.

Operation Safe Community: Just because kids have been detained by Juvenile Court, doesn’t mean they can’t still go to school.

Tennessee: The State Comptroller’s report has found more than $900,000 missing from various County coffers. Shelby County was not listed. The State Supreme Court has issued new ethics rules for judges; more from the Knoxville News Sentinel. We are ranked number 14 for economic growth across the country.

Millington Chamber of Commerce: They will host a forum tomorrow that will connect various local, State and Federal resources with small businesses and entrepreneurs who need assistance.

Local Media: Radio station Sports 56 WHBQ AM is also being simulcast on 87.7 FM, and soon on Channel 6.

Mo’ Money Taxes: Company co-founder Markey Granberry insists “I’m not a criminal, I hadn’t committed any crime” ahead of a Congressional hearing tomorrow. Who will testify at Thursday’s hearing? More from the CA.

Chattanooga: Two local expenditures on private business by the State are drawing criticism from the Beacon Center. (see above) The Chattanooga City Council narrowly approved a budget that gave City employees a small raise.

Two men have filed a Federal lawsuit to stop the Rutherford County Commission from using Christian prayers to open their meetings. Their attorney, Robin Flores, has a local history; more.

MIFA: The charity is losing jobs this Summer because the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant that funded them ran out.

Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce: They are honoring ten young Memphis professionals in their Crossroads magazine.

Business: The Daily News has Today’s Events and the Memphis Newsmakers. And the Business Journal talks about People on the Move.

Nucor: They will invest $125 million in an expansion of their Blytheville, AR, facility.

AutoZone: An analyst with Deutsche Bank boosts his recommendation to “buy”.

Mississippi: The City of Southaven hosted an $80,000 reception for State and local officials last night on behalf of the Mississippi Municipal League. Hernando mayor Chip Johnson is the new president of the MML.

Blight: Dangerous and troubled Montera Park Apartments may soon have new owners.

Real Estate: The location of the now-closed Stringer Garden Center store on Poplar Avenue in Midtown will soon become a Family Dollar store. The new residential building codes for the County could add 20-25% to the cost of a new home! The area foreclosure rate is rising.

DeSoto County: Tunica County Prosecutor Charles Graves has been chosen to prosecute the traffic case against Southaven mayor Greg Davis. Davis’ court date has been set–July 31. Sheriff Bill Rasco says, if criminals come to the County he will chase them down. Southaven will soon open its first adult day care center. County news bits from the CA.

Emergency Alerts: Your cell phone may start getting Amber Alerts and severe weather warnings you didn’t sign up for.

JNSZD: Can anyone identify this bottle of “Finest Artesian Memphis Water”? Oak Court death watch.

Living Loud in Midtown: Grilling and books on a lazy Sunday. Wine, tacos and Fireball.

Memphis Daily News Blog: Even in death, Steve Jobs continues to fascinate. No political picnic this year.

MemphisConnect: It’s never too late to think about football. Thoughts on, and pointed questions about, fatherhood.

Mr Brame’s Blog: It’s all fun and games until a tree lands in your yard. Which it often does in Memphis.

NMissCommentor: Thoughts on this week’s coming Supreme Court rulings.

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: A review of Rio Loco, downtown. Great photos from LuvMud 2012.

sharp stick in the eye: Photos from a weekend trip to Heber Springs.

short + rose: A garden update, as the tomatoes and spices come in, and, oh, the wildflowers….

Taming Insanity: That boy’s gonna be trouble. You’re using Google+ wrong.

The Adventures of Pete Big Bear: Places in Memphis he’s lived in: Glassel Hall, Townshend Hall, and the Hawthorne house.

Joe Spake’s Daily Buzz: The rest of the day’s news, from all sorts of eclectic places. Also, interesting social media and tech links for this week.

Sid Salter: Even though Democratic candidates get a boost from columns like this they “start out behind by double digits”. (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Bill Minor: MS Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney thinks his State will keep its health care exchange regardless of Thursday’s expected Supreme Court ruling. (via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Commercial Appeal: A predicted decline in property values across the County will devastate government budgets and lead to raised taxes. Stricter building codes will be worth it!

Guerrilla Sales & Marketing: Dispelling the sales myth of Mad Men. (via the Daily News)

The Worldly Investor: Avoiding the fiscal cliff in the American economy and investing. (via the Daily News)

Michael Graber & Jocelyn Atkinson: Finding a better word for “innovation”. (via the Daily News)

John Branston: Despite a five hour meeting, the unified school board somehow managed to leave the superintendent question hanging. (via the Flyer)

Stephanie Drouillard: The digital do’s and don’ts of modern business etiquette. (via the Business Journal)

polar donkey: What if Memphis could bring “things together to let people enjoy the forest, improve public transportation, and really draw people back inside the 240 loop”? His incredible, radical proposal.