Memphis’ Next Mayor: The A C Wharton campaign officially rolls out. Rev James Netters of the Mt Vernon Baptist Church talks about supporting (now former) candidate Willie Herenton or Charles Carpenter. The Tri-State Defender profiles A C Wharton. The Daily News looks at the Charles Carpenter and the A C Wharton campaigns, and the Carol Chumney campaign.

Profiles of the Mayoral Candidates: Want to know more about the candidates for mayor? WREG has a series of profiles: Carol Chumney. Sharon Webb. Jerry Lawler. Myron Lowery. Charles Carpenter. James Harvey. A C Wharton. Wanda Halbert.

The candidates’ websites or Facebook pages (those that have them): Carol Chumney. Charles Carpenter. Jerry Lawler. Wanda Halbert. Myron Lowery. A C Wharton. Ben Ferguson. Rev Kenneth Whalum Jr.

Memphis Discount Prescription Plan: The City of Memphis unveiled a free discount prescription plan, available to all Memphians. More in the Commercial Appeal, Fox13, WMC, WREG, Eyewitness News.

Consolidation: The Memphis Police and the County Sheriffs are emphasising cooperation in fighting crime, in preparation for future consolidation efforts. The mayors are also pushing for Fire Department consolidation.

Politics: The Nashville Tennessean looks at Middle TN’s importance in the Republican governor’s primary race. More on that forum held by the Republican Women of Williamson County here, via WPLN. And here is an audio file of the whole thing. (MP3 format.)

The Speakers of the State House and Senate have named their members of the new Judicial Nominating Commission. More in the Commercial Appeal.

Another report on State Rep. G. A. Hardaway’s town hall meeting on health care reform last weekend.

Bartlett: Longtime judge Freeman Marr says he’d like to run again, in 2010.

DeSoto County: County Sheriff Bill Rasco denied any negligence in the death of a jailed teen. The Chancery Court will now have on-staff public guardians at litem. Two US Senators had a private health care reform discussion with North Mississippi doctors. Olive Branch is still dealing with the debris from the early Summer storms.

Big Brothers / Big Sisters: The mentoring organisation will have its gala annual fundraiser this Saturday at Minglewood Hall. Big Brother / Big Sisters website.

Arkansas: The Green Party is suing the Secretary of State to be returned to the State ballot. The Public Service Commission will hold hearings about splitting the 870 phone area code.

Tennessee: The State’s unemployment benefits fund dropped dangerously low this year. (via NWTN Today) State auto dealers made $52 million in the “Cash for Clunkers” program.

Shelby County Schools: Administrators are working out new procedures to match the new student transfer policy that is coming. County students are now using Wii for PE?

Memphis Catholic Diocese: Six local priests have received the title of monsignor.

Unemployment: Shelby County’s unemployment rate was stable for July at 10.4%. Both DeSoto and Tunica Counties in MS saw rises. More in the Daily News, the Commercial Appeal. Unemployment information on Mississippi.

Shelby County Commission: More on the vote for the county charter commission to design a consolidated City / County government.

City of Memphis: More on the troubled Summer Youth Employment program, which has left hundreds of area youth unpaid; a report from Eyewitness News. Eyewitness News talks with Darrell Eldred about his fateful racial remark.

Downtown: Robert G. “Bob” Williams Jr, the developer of several Downtown projects has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Court Square Center is gearing up to start leasing.

Collierville: The Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted to keep waste, trash and debris collection under the City. They also voted to keep a contract for police and fire dispatch for another year. (both stories via the Collierville Independent)

Munford: The City is getting a $400,000 grant from the State of Tennessee to build a welcome center.

Starry Nights: The call is going out for volunteers for the revived family Christmas extravaganza. More from Eyewitness News.

Business: Fred’s saw down sales but a surge in net income; more in the Daily News and the Commercial Appeal. Simon Wadsworth is retiring as CFO of Mid-America Apartment Communities. First Horizon Insurance Group is buying Sandlin Insurance Agency. Owens Corning plans to spend $22 million on their local roofing and asphalt plant.

A business profile of Sneak Peek, a shoe store, from the CA. A business profile of Cole’s Do It Center in Millington, from the CA.

People in business, from the CA.

Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce: Their first Global Leadership Award will go to FedEx CEO Fred Smith will be awarded on September 15. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be the featured speaker.

Feed the Soul: The second annual MIFA community fundraising event is set for October 1.

Stanford Financial Group: SFG head R. Allen Stanford was hospitalised with heart problems.

Buzz Aldrin: The second man to walk on the moon, astronaut and author Buzz Aldrin will be the guest of honor at an event held by the Memphis Charitable Foundation. More from WREG.
 

Memphis Regional Logistics Council: At a recent preview of an upcoming transportation and logistical study, Joe Waldo talked about opportunities and problems with Memphis’ transportation web and intermodal facilities.

Rustmeister’s Alehouse: The Federal government already provides excellent affordable health care for some Americans, at enormous cost.

Notes from Memphis: Lots of downtown activity this weekend including … squash!

Persian Pit Bull: Is there any significance to 33?

Pretty in Pink Megan: A shopping trip to … Oxford? And check out her new home office.

MAKE IT HAPPEN: A whole lot of heartfelt thanks on behalf of Shelby Angel.

Vegan Crunk: Enchilladas for breakfast? Yum!

The Daily Docket: The Levitt Shell free concert series kicks off Saturday.

That’s My B: Making compound honey butter.

String of Theories: A recipe for grilled, bacon-wrapped artichokes. If you’ve never heard of the TED.com series of (brief) lectures, then start here and prepare to fall into a world of wonder and amazing-ness.

Joy’s Life and Times: She’s getting nervous as her marathon nears.

I’ll be the one in heels: A showdown on Twitter. Wait, what?

joelarkins: Blogging made him a local news story star.

Scribblescrawl: Amusing grafitti found on Poplar Avenue, downtown.

Slybrand: A great quote on failure.

ForkBombr: Today is the release day for Mac’s OS 10.6, or Snow Leopard. Plenty of Memphis Mac blogging.

Fertile Ground: Fun in the kitchen with Jiro & Julia.

Doug Johnson at Work: Who goes first — Jay or Conan?

Commercial Appeal: Praise for President Obama’s keeping Ben Bernanke at the Fed. The problems with the Summer Youth Employment program are “another fine mess” for Memphis government.

16 Balls in the Air: Your inner child never goes away.

vibinc: A report from Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim Kyle’s talk with the Drinking Liberally crowd.

The Tale of a Southern Belle: Friday dog blogging.

A. C. Kleinheider: Why conservative African-Americans seldom become Republicans. (via the Memphis Flyer)

Bigger Than Your Head: A whole lot of rose.

BEEB: Some spectacular examples of face painting. Seriously. Go see.

55-40 Memphis: Name calling as a political strategy.

Divers and Sundry: So, can we take back WWII then?

Cwabs! If you’re heading off to college, don’t forget these basics. What is a “desired salary”?