Memphis City Schools: Back to school stories from: Fox13; special section from WREG and the Commercial Appeal. Shelby County schools, too.

The new block scheduling for schools is still confusing some students and parents. After more than a year in town, Superintendent Kriner Cash doesn’t have TN license plate or a State-issued driver’s license?

Budget cuts mean bus route changes that many parent learned about today. Superintendent Kriner Cash explains. Parents were shut out from speaking at the school board meeting last night. More from Fox13, WREG, Eyewitness News. Fewer students on busses this year. Parents are now complaining that some bus stops are near the homes of sex offenders.

Swine flu is one problem schools are preparing for.

The Lowery Administration: More on the separation of Pete Aviotti from City government.

Second Amendment: The local parks and recreation board recommends Dyersburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen ban gun carry in City parks. (via the Dyerburg State Gazette) Collierville will allow gun carry in public parks and even the greentrails.

West Memphis 3: Lawyers for two of the three men convicted in those killings are now asking Judge David Burnett to step aside.

Local Media: E. W. Scripps, parent company of the Commercial Appeal, managed a small profit in the 2Q and saw its stock rise, though the newspaper segment’s profit dropped sharply. The Commercial Appeal self-reports. The Flyer’s Jackson Baker gets cover from a West Tennessee blogger on his “teabagger” remark.

Business: Allied Clinic is opening a second location on Lamar Avenue. In 2Q, GTx revenues were up more than a quarter; more from the Daily News and the Commercial Appeal. FedEx Express is expanding its international shipping. CKX reported declining revenue and profits for the 2Q.

People in Business, from the CA.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis: In collaboration with Roebuck Auctions, they will hold a fundraising auction this Thursday.

DeSoto County: It’s back to school for DeSoto kids. A settlement has been reached between the ACLU and Southaven police on a lawsuit alleging attacks against students. County schools are now fast-food free zones. And there is still debate about narrow bus routes. Olive Branch hopes to issue $4 million in bonds to retire debt and fund some projects. Only a few open slots remain for the Olive Branch Citizens Police Academy.

Southeastern Conference: They are announcing draconian new guidelines for media and journalists and interpreting “media and journalists” in the broadest possible way. Predicatably, it’s not going well. At all.

Panhandling: Some find it annoying and troublesome, but it’s legal in Memphis and Germantown.

Mississippi: MS University for Women may soon become Reneau University; the Commercial Appeal has more.

Oakland: City Attorney Richard Myers provides some background information on the indictment of Oakland Mayor Bill Mullins and former police chief Bob Tisdale in an excellent summary article from the Oakland News.

Survey Says: For the last quarter, online sales declined. Two-thirds of employees are still cautious of retirement savings plans. The Employment Trends Index remains at the same level as the past two months. New home sales in Shelby County are still depressed. Apartment occupancy in Memphis is up slightly. It was a record year for bank overdraft fees.

NEW! Main Street Journal August Issue: Now celebrating our fourth year as Memphis’ premier newsmagazine. The Table of Contents for the August issue is now online for you to peruse.

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!

The Cohen Town Hall: US Rep. Steve Cohen talks about the raucous reactions. In other Rep. Cohen news, he’s still keeping tabs on the local VA hospital.

Shelby County: Employees of a County security company whose contract ended in July, haven’t been paid.

Memphis’ Next Mayor: None of the major announced candidates for mayor have filed the paperwork yet. Eyewitness News also noticed this. Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton goes on the radio to campaign. And all the candidates were out campaigning this weekend, it seems.

Politics: Former Senator Bill Frist has reapplied to Belle Meade Country Club, taken by some as a sign of his retirement from politics. US Senator Bob Corker is making three speaking appearances in Memphis today. The fight in Nashville over implementing the Voter Confidence Act is now likely headed to court. ProPublica has a breakdown of Federal stimulus money in Tennessee; Memphis and Shelby County did only middling in receipts.

Former State Senator Paul Stanley spoke Monday at a prayer breakfast on personal standards and human failure. His travails even made the latest issue of Newsweek.

The Other Town Hall Meeting: Memphis Mayor Pro-tem Myron Lowery had a town hall meeting on Friday and the Eye On City Hall blog reports here and here.

Tennessee: Dyer County School system achieved its goals in the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) measure of the No Child Left Behind Act. (via the Dyersburg State Gazette) Federal stimulus money will be used in West TN to help keep non-violent offenders out of jail.

EmergeMemphis: The business incubator company is planning a $1.26 million expansion.

Shelby County Jail: They have again earned national accreditation from the American Corrections Association. This was the jail’s first re-accreditation hearing.

Mississippi River Cobblestones: There will be a public hearing this evening where citizens can present their ideas and questions on what to do with renovating or removing the cobblestones along the river. See also the “Opinion and Blogs” posts for more information.

St Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Researchers there have found an intriguing connection between Parkinson’s disease and bird flu.

Arkansas: Dr Randeep Mann is now officially a suspect in the carbombing attack against Dr Trent Pierce. Sangeeta Mann, his wife, is also charged with him on other weapons and blocking investigation charges. West Memphis Police Chief Bob Paudert discusses Dr Mann’s involvement. More from WREG, WMC, Eyewitness News and the Commercial Appeal.

The State also received $69 million in Federal stimulus money to help renovate colleges, universities, prisons and more.

Redbirds: They have released some employees and promise to bring back the RBI progam.

Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens & Cannada: They had 54 lawyers in their firm named to the 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

55-40 Memphis: A pithy observation about a report on the Cohen town hall meeting.

Cwabs! Getting to sing the national anthem before a “sporting event”.

Jen-sized: Sad memories of the cult of Chili’s.

Jerm’s Baby Blog: Choices, choices.

joelarkins: Local cable provider helps him pull the plug and thoughts on the new Weather Channel morning show.

Notes from Memphis: The Elvi elude her.

The Chockley Blogs: First day of school.

vibinc: An invitation to a political event today.

Student: Revisited: Are you bejeweled? A lucky night at the casino.

(Lang Wiseman) Random Thoughts: He’s back on the health care reform series with parts five (on the soaring costs) and six (with a helpful analogy).

Pretty in Pink Megan: She’s in a cupcake coma, thanks to Muddy’s Bake Shop.

moremittenz: Meet Josephine. (Read back in her archives for the story.)

Complacencies of the Peignoir: No more sweet August afternoons with the parents.

theology & geometry: The toll of the stress of house hunting.

The Gates of Memphis: A public meeting this evening about the Mississippi Riverfront cobblestones. More details here.

Commercial Appeal: Noting the community boost to the poor and needy kids going back to school. Politicians can spend unlimited funds once in office, but candidates can’t raise it.

MAKE IT HAPPEN: Combining yoga thinking and marathon training.

Pulled Before the Push: How to make friends at work.

MemphisConnect: Places to make your Memphis voice heard. Where is it? Oooh… Memphis wine events!

The Tale of a Southern Belle: She’s a Tweeple now.

Wow. Really? Huh. For those who need it and even some who think they don’t: salon etiquette.

Doug Johnson at Work: An update on the weight loss.