Photo Credit: Beacon Center of Tennessee
Dividing the Dollar Pie

2012 was a record-setting year for the States, in terms of tax collections. Inforgraphics on how the State’s budget breaks down and how much of our State’s money comes from the Federal government. The State Legislature sent the income tax ban to the voters for a referendum in 2014.

Raleigh Springs Mall: Sixty million dollars will be spent, including $29 million from the City of Memphis’ capital improvement budget to renovate and redesign the abandoned site. The “Raleigh Springs Re-Use Plan” will populate the new site with a variety of government offices and agencies. All this is in response to neighborhood complaints about the condition of the overall site. More details, plus video of the presentation by City Councilman Bill Morrison and mayor AC Wharton. It will take about three years to complete. The Raleigh Springs Community Council is helping out. More stories from the Flyer, ABC24 and ABC24 video, Fox13. Citizen reaction.

Representative Steve Cohen: Cohen posted and then deleted a mildly controversial tweet this week regarding singer Cyndi Lauper. The story, such as it is, went national and Cohen is riding the media attention. More from the uncritical press and his supporters in the media. More from the Commercial Appeal, WREG, Fox13.

Memphis: Although the city’s summer jobs program was changed into something else, Mayor AC Wharton had a conference call with President Barack Obama, looking for more money for summer jobs. More from Fox13.

Local Politics: Judge Joe Brown, fresh off his TV show, will run for Juvenile Court Judge. The Daily News interviews the new chairman of the Shelby County Democratic Party, Bryan Carson. State Representative Lois DeBerry is undergoing cancer treatment.

For political talk junkies, WKNO has the Daily News’ Behind the Headlines and WREG has Informed Sources from last week.

The Next Election Cycle: Embattled US Fourth District Congressman Scott DesJarlais is already being outraised by at least two possible primary challengers. the Flyer on conservative efforts to unseat Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker. Senator Alexander raised one million dollars in the first quarter of 2013.

Second Amendment: The Flyer’s Jackson Baker recount a meeting between pro-gun (sort of) and anti-gun supporters at the AgriCenter gun show. Following pressure from State sheriffs, the sponsor of a bill to liberalise the State’s knife laws has stripped out most of that language. (HB581)

Mississippi: A judge refused to reduce the amount that Southaven mayor Greg Davis owes the State. Mississippi’s US Senator Roger Wicker says it’s “unfortunate” that DeSoto County is so close to Memphis.

Education Reform: The Associated Press looks at the progress of municipal school systems and State charter authorisation; more from them. The legislation to create a statewide charter authoriser office is having some trouble.

Mo’ Money Taxes: The Justice Department is trying to shut the company down.

TVA: Did the Obama administration open a door to the possible sale of the publicly-owned utility? US Senator Bob Corker doesn’t think the sale idea is viable.

Local Media: Mediaverse asks, “Is the local TV station landscape about to change dramatically?” Another informed opinion, from Shaun Fossett. 96X is back on the air!

Overton Park: A look at how the Overton Park Conservancy is doing after one year of operation. OPC website.

Memphis: Faced with tough finances, the City is rethinking annexation, cutting back on sewer line expansion.

County Commission: The agenda for Monday’s meeting, where the sale of the Tall Trees juvenile detention facility and paying legal fees will be discussed. The Daily News covers the County budget, and its issues.

Property Taxes: A guide to the property tax reappraisal process. The local real estate market is showing signs of recovery. The County’s property taxe rate will increase by 33 cents.

AutoZone Park: Where matters stand in the sale of the Redbirds and their ballfield.

Shelby County Unified Schools: School board member are in San Diego for a conference. Your taxes are paying for it. The Memphis City Schools Education Foundation, although it is serves a system that is going away, will still serve students inside the city. The school system wants to know what parents think of a County school uniform. The job posting for the next superintendent is available. Hundreds of teacher layoffs are expected.

Mark Walden: The ABC24 weatherman, who suddenly died last week from “natural causes” was laid to rest on Saturday. Tribute video at that link; WPTY’s story on his service. Information about a college fund for his two-year old son.

Richard Fields: Long-time local civil rights attorney and political player Richard Fields died Saturday when he was struck in traffic Downtown. One witness said, “He didn’t pay attention to what was coming.” More from WMC.

State Legislature: The State Senate passed a utility deregulation bill already passed by the House; it now goes to the governor. A worker’s compensation reform bill, opposed by Democrats, has passed the Assembly. (SB200) A freeze on State beer taxes also goes before the governor; more from ABC24.

The bill to ban cameras in polling places has been withdrawn. The bill to tie some welfare payments to a child’s performance in school advanced in the House but was then dropped by its Senate sponsor. The ploy to stop the sponsor, State Senator Stacey Campfield was an eight year old girl, who was taken out of school. Notice that GOP legislation in a GOP supermajority Assembly still gets the Democratic scare-label in the media? State Representative Antonio Parkinson wants the discussion sparked by this bill to continue. An effort to toughen the state’s anti-gang laws, pushed by Chattanooga mayor Ron Littlefield, was struck down. The House voted to keep public gun carry permit data private. The State ban on new municipal school systems may be lifted.

As the General Assembly winds down its business for the year, a large number of bills are being killed off. State Senator Mark Norris runs down progress on legislation so far. The Flyer surveys the current session of the Legislature.

Corrections: The company that won the State’s contract for enforcement, Centurion, employs the wife of the Corrections Department head, and other interesting things.

College: Getting ready for the expense of going to college. Part two of that WREG series. The Wharton Charitable Fund, run by Mayor Wharton’s wife, provides scholarships to local students.

Tennessee: It’s a whole new era in local government in Chattanooga. An audit of the State’s job training program has raised a lot of questions about how well it works. The Home Affordable Modification Program is due to shut down this year, but a coalition of Tennesseans want to see it survive. The number of women-owned businesses is booming in the state.

Fayette County: The county’s school system will have to cut 11 positions due to a $600,000 budget shortfall.

Arkansas: The State House will vote on a Senate proposal to make Medicaid a private option. Weather is creating concern of a widening disaster in the oil spill at Mayflower. Officials are not sure how to handle the disaster.

Survey Says! Memphis’ Top Ten tourist destinations are, largely, the casinos in Mississippi? Another Top Ten list, this time of credit tips and habits.

Memphasis: He’s lucky to know Bea Miller. (Via the Daily News)

Memphis News: Simply and clearly put, the City of Memphis should not acquire AutoZone Park.

Greg Johnson: TVA is an example of what government shouldn’t do. (Via the Knoxville News Sentinel)

Frank Cagle: The empty house is filled again and the permaculture eatin’ is good. (Via the Knoxville Metro Pulse)

Joe Sullivan: Governor Bill Haslam’s Tennessee Plan is a bold gambit. (Via the Knoxville Metro Pulse)

Tom Humphrey: Governor Haslam is a master of getting what he wants through inaction. (Via the Knoxville News Sentinel)

Snark Bites: Legislators plan to secede from the 21st century? (Via the Knoxville News Sentinel)

Carlee McCullough: The business of the arts. (Via the Tri-State Defender)

Lucy Shaw: How to handle an aggressively evangelising and judgmental coworker. (Via the Tri-State Defender)

Flyer: Labels can mean different things, depending on who uses them.

Jim Mulroy: Factors to consider in workers compensation cases. (Via the Daily News)

Kelsey Jacobson: Are you proud to be a Memphian? (Via WMC)

vibinc: The kittens are coming to get you. Steve also marvels at Governor Bill Haslam’s 68% approval rating.

MAKE IT HAPPEN: Damie has a pregnancy update for her readers.

NMissCommentator: The surprising event that changed Flannery O’Connor, at the age of 5. Also, some thoughts on an NPR piece on Southern country music.

16 Balls in the Air: An announcement of changes to come.

Theology & Geometry: Is this a groundhog or a nutria?

Bigger Than Your Head: Nine red winds from Spain and Portugal.

Squeaky Wheel Seeks Grease: A surprisingly cheeful post-surgery report, although the medication may have had something to do with that.

My Memphis Mommy: I can’t even summarise this amazing blog full of deals, coupons, sales, daily deals, restaurant deals, and so much, much more. Start at the top and just start scrolling.

Benito’s Wine Reviews: Wine sippy cups. He’s been in Oregon on a wine-tasting tour.

Commontaries: He just got wise to the hustle. The career hustle, that is. Thoughts on Judge Joe Brown.

The Conservative Zone: March was a “lost month” for him. Wish him well.