Jeff Sanford, Center City Commission: Sanford’s address to the Commission’s annual luncheon two weeks ago caused a buzz. But it’s been hard to find more than excerpts, until now. Thanks to the CCC, the Main Street Journal is proud to present the full text of his address!

Cherokee Children and Family Services: David Weed, the attorney in charge of receivership and State funds has now been accused of siphoning off $100,000.

Consolidation: Memphis Mayor pro-tem Myron Lowery is signalling he wants consolidation of the City and County Fire Departments to happen.

DeSoto County: Security cameras at Olive Branch Middle School caught last week’s tornado as it passed next to the school! And, of course, now there come the repairs. The County Board of Supervisiors declines to eliminate school bus traffic on some roads.

Our Next Mayor: More on the new special election date change. Mayoral candidate Charles Carpenter is questioning the changed date. The candidates are out there campaigning.

Back to School: Area schools are gearing up for the return of students. The flu is a concern this year.

Tennessee: State budget predictions are already collapsing and Finance Commissioner David Goetz is asking agencies to cut an additional $56 million to help. More from Fox13, WMC. A Gallup poll shows that Tennessee leans left? We will be one of the first states to get charging stations for all-electric cars. TN Highway Patrol’s investigation of itself over misuse of funds is fine with Governor Phil Bredesen. The legal battle over the Tennessee Plan continues.

Memphis Business Academy: They will be moving its middle- and high-school students into a repurposed “big box” store in Frayser as they expand to meet the demand.
 

National Civil Rights Museum: A National Freedom Award will be presented today to Myrlie Evers-Williams. More from WREG and the Commercial Appeal.

“Cash for Clunkers”: From the Knoxville News-Sentinel, some criticisms and negative reports on the program and its effects. And a humorous bumpersticker. Mid-South dealers are liking the program and its sales boost.

Golf: The City of Memphis is considering advertising to get more players to the underused courses the City owns.

Previously Posted: The US Postal Service has plans to close only one post office in Memphis. The change by the Memphis City School system in bussing for special needs children is causing problems for some parents.

Memphis and Those Lists: Forbes magazine has ranked Memphis the 39th best city for working mothers.

Education: WMC continues its interviews with area school superintendents, this time, Tim Fite from Tipton County’s public school system. Elementary and middle school students who live within 1.5 miles of their school in Memphis will have to walk this year, which concerns some parents. Tate County schools have already gone back into session this week.

Gayoso Bayou: Once the eastern boundary of the city and a source of malarial mosquitos, it’s now a hidden adventure buried under the streets of the Downtown. A wondrous piece of Memphis history.

Power House Memphis: The unique art gallery and cinema space is closing down, another victim of the recession and an illness.

Good Morning Memphis: From L’Ecole Culinaire, a couple of spring roll recipes! Investing in commodities. At the end of the month, Big Brothers / Big Sisters is hosting the fund-raiser Sports Ball. Not a “flea market” but a free market, to help the less fortunate get ready for school or furnish homes. The Sheriff’s Department and Memphis Area Legal Services are teaming up to help renters learn their rights in a foreclosure market.

Beale Street: Businessman John Wehner is bringing his Village Door nightclub concept to Beale; the Daily News also reports. More on other upcoming changes.

Country Cabin Music Museum: A museum dedicated to rockabilly and country has opened in Bolivar.

Kids: Even very young children can be taught some self-defense moves.

MLG&W: The meeting of the board of directors today will discuss payments to State agencies.

Shelby County Assessor’s Office: Assessor Cheyenne Johnson is proposing a new disclosure form for parties in commercial real estate transactions to fill out.

Real Estate: Interest rates fell last week and so mortgage applications rose. According to the Memphis Area Association of Realtors, June home sales in the Memphis market reached their highest level of 2009; more in the Daily News. The MAAR offers classes for new real estate agents.

Business: Merck and Schering-Plough will pay $42 million to settle lawsuits over the drug Vytorin. One of two defendants in the Luminetx lawsuit has been dismissed. Cooperative Retirement Services of America is taking over Retirement Living Services, from Connecticut. FedEx Trade Networks is opening several overseas offices.

A short business profile of Provider Health Services, a long-term care information technology company, from the Daily News. A professional interview with Emily Campbell Taube, of Adams and Reese, also from the Daily News.

People in Business, from the CA.

Pinnacle Airlines: After four years of trying, they and the Air Line Pilots Association have reached a labor agreement.

Survey Says: Job losses continue to slow down.

Arkansas: A firm has been picked to run the State instant ticket lottery.

Reginald Milton’s A Fresh Look: Thoughts on National Night Out, where elected officials are rare but there are plenty of concerned citizens. Edmund Ford Sr is “going to run his son” for the mayor’s office?

Running With Dice: Some gaming related annoyances, which I guess means he has time to game these days.

Scribblescrawl: Beautyin’ the beast and the story of that wig. Adventures with A/C.

Because I Said So: Families, like nations, sometimes need a beer summit. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Secret Agent Mom: First day of school.

Fore Left! Which was the manufactured event?

joelarkins: “Things I learned during the tenure of the former Mayor of Memphis.”

LeftWing Cracker: Protests at town hall meetings are wrong and staged, now let’s do it to the other party!

Midtown Stomp: More from the Oregon Pinot Camp.

Smart City Memphis: Willie Herenton: hero and anti-hero.

vibinc: Stephen sizes up the first days of Mayor Lowery’s administration and does some calculations on the State Senate seat. And thoughts on the Halbert / Jefferson rumor about an investigation of Lowery.

Complacencies of the Peignoir: Musings on teachers past and present and her own future as a teacher.

Bigger Than Your Head: It’s the wine of the week.

Fertile Ground: Their vacation trek arrives at Yellowstone National Park. Lots of pictures. And the boys become Junior Rangers!

Friends for Our Riverfront: There will be a public meeting about the future of the Mississippi River Cobblestones next week. Why they are important. Why restoration pays off. Quality of maintenance is also important. Say “no” to riprap.

Commercial Appeal: Singing the praises of FedEx and US Rep. Steve Cohen. Something needs to be done about habitual, recidivist drunk drivers.

Wendi C. Thomas: Wendi campaigns for US Rep. Steve Cohen. (via the Commercial Appeal)

John Branston: Going to court instead of demonstrating leadership and common sense. (via the Memphis Flyer)

The Quest: City should be sure the “boom” isn’t hype before committing to public sports complexes. (via the Memphis Flyer)

16 Balls in the Air: A field trip to the Memphis Botanic Garden.

Ashley la Rouge: She might have a job, but if you read her blog regularly you’ll see the irony.

Born Again Hippies: Get those right-wing crazies off my health care reform.

Cliff Heegel, Ph.D.: Suffering is optional.

what would you ax it? A short poignant poem on books and making marks.