WILLIE HERENTON V. WMC’s JOE BIRCH! The one-on-one “explosive” interview that all Memphis is talking about. (Includes full 18 minute video.) Was Herenton’s entry into the special election part of enormous sub-rosa power struggles involving Mayor Pro-tem Myron Lowery and local attorney Richard Fields?

Is he mentally unstable? Fox13 Insiders, WMC, the Commercial Appeal wonder.

Herenton also did a radio interview with WDIA’s Bobby O’Jay. And, he spoke with Fox13’s Les Smith. News reports from WMC, CA’s Eye on City Hall, Eyewitness News, WREG.

More reports on Herenton’s decision to pull an election petition from WREG.

Reactions! From Mayor Pro-tem Myron Lowery. From various City Council members. From the other mayoral candidates. WREG’s Mike Matthews. From rival candidate and former confidant Charles Carpenter. From the Knoxville News-Sentinel’s Tom Humphries.

How does this affect the A C Wharton campaign? Not much, says Wharton.

School Menus: Memphis City schools here and Shelby County schools here.

Memphis City Schools: Other cities are having problems with their busses and routes, not just Memphis. And tonight’s Board of Education meeting is expected to be packed and raucous, with angry parents and teachers.

City of Memphis: The Commercial Appeal looks at the tangled and lucrative relationship between local attorney Allan Wade and the City.

Germantown: A report on the status, projected costs and revenues of the planned Saddle Creek IV project.

Tennessee: Governor Phil Bredesen is still confident he’ll get Federal funding for the “solar initiative”. School systems statewide are gearing up new curricula to improve schools. The governor is dusting off a 1999 report of reform of higher education to consider implementing some of its recommendations, especially helping the University of Memphis become more of a research center.

Memphis Health Center: The Commercial Appeal obtained a redacted version of a Federal report on the MHC, and its recommendations for change.

Midtown North Community Garden: This garden on North Hollywood needs help, especially gardeners and tools.

Business: International Paper is being sued by a group of residents in South Carolina, over pollution.

A business profile of the Miller Net Company, from the Daily News. A business profile of the Rosebriar restaurant, from the CA. Also from the CA, a business profile of Catering for U, from the same folks who own Automatic Slim’s and the Beauty Shop.

People in Business, from the Commercial Appeal, for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Done Deals, from Sunday’s CA.

From the Small Business Advocate, finding your business’ spirit.

Delta Fair & Music Festival: The deadline to enter some contests and competitions is Thursday! Fair website here.
 
 

Weird: A drainage ditch along Getwell Road has a green unknown substance in it that the EMA will have to study to identify.

Real Estate: The law firm of Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh is staying put at One Commerce Square. The “Towne Center at Soulsville USA” project hopes to continue the turnaround of the neighborhood around LeMoyne-Owen College.

Local Media: Beginning today, AT&T is offering their U-verse cable television package in the TN Mid-South area. U-verse website.

Mississippi: The State Board of Education is asking for an almost 7% raise for teachers next fiscal year. The State’s increase in cigarette sales tax has raised almost $37 million.

West Memphis 3: Teacher and friend testify in re-trial case. WMC has a longer version of the story.
 

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis: Changes to the program since 2003 have dramatically lowered rates of foreclosure for those they help with homes.

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 Peabody Hotel Suicide: He has now been identified as James Dickinson. Only two news reports on this story: Eyewitness News and the Daily News. Blog reports from Paul Ryburn and String of Theories.

City Schools: The State Attorney General, Robert Cooper, is asking the appeals court hearing the City school funding case if his office can file an amicus curiae brief. Shelby County school system employees were used during school time to distribute fliers advocating a political position to parents? At least one of the new City bus routes poses a danger to children.

The Paul Stanley Affair: From the Memphis News, writes a long and detailed overview of the Stanley affair. Bill Dries gives a political history of Stanley. The Shelby County Commission is expected to appoint a very short-term replacement at today’s meeting.

Memphis’ Next Mayor: Moments after his son was sentenced to prison, former Memphis City Councilman E. C. Jones declared he was running for Memphis mayor. More from the Memphis Flyer, Fox13. Sharon Webb and Ben Ferguson pull petitions, too. And now Edmund Ford Sr has made his entry official.

Continuing their series of mayoral candidate profiles, WREG talks with James Harvey.

Politics: The Judicial Nominating Committee is released the names of the 237 applicants for the 17-member committee. East TN State Rep. Stacey Campfield has been interviewing the Republican gubernatorial candidates (videos on his blog) and now Democratic candidate Ward Cammack agrees to go under the spotlight.

Shelby County School Board chairman David Pickler is no longer in the running for the State Senate District 31 seat.

Around 1000 people showed up for US Rep. Marsha Blackburn’s town hall meeting in Republican dominated Franklin; more here, though they claim only 500 turned out. A blog report from another Blackburn town hall in Savannah. US Rep. Jim Cooper defends his avoidance of town hall meetings.

Providence Baptist Church: They have filed for a $1.3 million loan for a new Family Life Center.

Financial: The Delta Trust Mortgage Corp. has turned to podcasting to reach consumers. Forty-three percent of Memphis mortgages are in negative equity. Regions Bank economist Bob Allsbrook says “debt is out; savings is in”.

Rock for Love 3: The fundraiser for the Church Health Center is this coming weekend. Event website here. More from the Daily Helmsman.

I-385: Compliance with Federal regulations regarding wetlands and streams along the route will mean additional hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Riverfront Cobblestones: An interview with Barry Lendermon on plans by the Riverfront Development Corp.

Arkansas: The Trauma Advisory Council has approved 68 hospitals for a new statewide trauma system. Some substantial raises for certain educators are drawing fire.

DeSoto County: The managers of the Mid-South Fair and DeSoto County Sheriff Bill Rasco have reached an accord on the cost of security. The Mississippi State University Extension Service has named Joy Anderson as the DeSoto County director. Laurel wilt disease is now confirmed in the state. CenterPoint Energy is proposing a steep rate hike for residential customers, less so for business.

Marine Corps: The Kilo Company 3/23rd Marines 4th Regiment was welcomed back to Memphis from deployment in Iraq by a happy crowd.

University of Tennessee Health Science Center: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is funding 20 scholarships to the Clinical Nurse Leader program at the school.

Urban Child Institute: Questions are being raised about the compensation of CEO Eugene K. Cashman Jr.

Stanford Financial Group: The court-appointed receiver, Ralph Janvey, is managing to anger almost everyone involved in the case.

Jen-sized: A trip to the Kroger at the Memphis/Germantown border leads to some observations on customer service.

LeftWing Cracker: Pimpin’ the A C Wharton Memphis mayoral race website. Helping Democrats meet each other.

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: You can help support — really support! — the Memphis Famrers Market!

Gilmour Girl Goes Memphis: Our pets deserve the best we can give them.

Haaaaave You Read My Blog? Considering shutting down their blog? Unless you comment….

I’ll be the one in heels: High school hair and hair today.

at home she feels like a tourist: Wondering if she should join the Whole Foods boycott. Also, where and why do you grocery shop? Just to be clear: she’s not leaving Memphis (and two reasons she’s staying).

Blue Collar Republican: Thoughts on the mayoral race and two surprising shout-outs!

16 Balls in the Air: WWMMD?

Commontaries: Congressman? Yes. Mayor? No. And thoughts on the O’Jay / Herenton dustup that began it all.

Dining With Monkeys: Guest reviewer Stephanie takes her family to Salsa Mexican restaurant on Poplar for … chicken nuggets?

Fertile Ground: She got a free copy of In the Kitchen With Kids and finds it a pretty fun recipe book.

Ashley la Rouge: A trip to the public library.

Allison Scott: Once again, comparing Memphis to other places and reminding us it’s not so bad here. (via the Commercial Appeal)

The Memphis News: Former State Senator Paul Stanley’s fall illuminates the underside of the Legislature.

The Commercial Appeal: Willie Herenton’s “illogical and irrational” actions. City shouldn’t settle the Beale Street financial fiasco, but see what’s still out there. Now is not the time to discuss City Council raises. Budget cuts are more than numbers on paper. The Beale Street Music Fest should be moved to another weekend.

Dr Scott Morris: Supporting the Common Ground project to help move Memphis forward. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Otis L. Sanford: Memphis City Schools superintendent Dr Kriner Cash’s communication skills are “somewhat lacking”. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Chris Peck: “Stoking fears” or fearful questions, we need answers. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Halloe Robinson: Finding and encouraging our talented students can pay off handsomely. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Michael Kelley: A long, respectful profile of Maxine Smith. (via the Commercial Appeal)

a field guide to urban memphis: Here’s a plan: everyone should run for mayor! A simple idea for improving health care.

55-40 Memphis: Bob claims to have a copy of Richard Fields’ scandalous letter and he, too, won’t publish it!