Photo Credit: Bass Pro Shops

The Pyramid: The Flyer has a long cover story looking at the numbers and plans for the Pyramid and the Pinch District next door. More renderings.

Union Avenue United Methodist Church: Will yesterday’s court hearing spell the end for the church or for CVS? A ruling won’t come until December. More from ABC24, the Commercial Appeal.

Shelby County Commission: Wednesday’s Twitter controversy spilled over Thursday to Facebook. Chris Thomas’ Facebook page is here; scroll down to November 18.

Second Amendment: The National Rifle Association will hold their 2015 annual convention in Nashville.

Politics: Rep. Beth Harwell was elected by the Republican caucus to be the next Speaker of the House in Tennessee. She is the first woman to hold the office. Harwell’s illuminating comments to the caucus just before the vote. Immediately after, she and opponent Rep. Glen Casada spoke with the press. A liveblog of the voting, from the Tennessean’s InSession. Additional reports from the Associated Press, the Nashville City Paper, the Tennessean. A roundup of editorial and blogger reactions. Former State Senator Paul Stanley discusses and describes the caucus election process.

Memphis Police Department: Why doesn’t MPD record confessions and interrogations?

Tennessee: There will be no lane closures for road work during the holiday weekend. Former State Medical Examiner Dr Bruce Levy, convicted of possession of marijuana, will keep his medical license. The TN Higher Education Commission is recommending a 7% tuition increase for next year; Associated Press. No charges for Reagan Farr, says his attorney.

Shelby Farms Greenline: Part of the trail will be closed early next year for overhead bridge work by TDOT.

Health Care: How local emergency rooms handle waiting times.

Barbara Swearengen Ware: Will the City Councilwoman weather the storm, asks the Tri-State Defender?

Mid-South Minority Business Council: Today is the 25th Robert R. Church Sr Achievement Awards Luncheon, recognising local businesses for improving minority economic development.

Memphis-Shelby County Industrial Development Board: More from Wednesday’s meeting.

West Tennessee: Family and friends of the two slain postal workers in Henning are asking the public for help. More from WMC, WREG, the Commercial Appeal. The police chief of Ripley is going to be investigated by the … TN Municipal League?

The Peabody Hotel: Both they and the Chez Phillipe restaurant received Four Star Awards ratings from the Forbes Travel Guide.
 

Collierville: Goodwill is opening a new thrift store in the well-to-do town.

Design Rescue: This new cable-network show is looking for people around Memphis. More from Live From Memphis.

Men of Excellence: The second annual awards ceremony, sponsored by the Tri-State Defender, is tonight.

DeSoto County: The County has scheduled public meetings to discuss redistricting with citizens. Voting on the Farm Service Agency’s County Committee is underway. The local 4-H is teaming up with Dark Horse Rescue to the benefit of a lot of horses. Political chicanery in the Circuit Court Dist. 17, Place 4 race. Hernando aldermen approved the new jail access road. State Senator Doug Davis’ becoming the new chairman of the State Appropriations Committee is good news for the County. (previous two stories via the Desoto Times Tribune)

Memphis-Shelby County Port Commission: Former City official Rick Masson has been hired to create a five-year strategic plan for the International Port of Memphis.

Main Street Journal: The Shelby County Watchdog, Joe Saino, offers some ideas on non-metro merger ways of Downsizing Government.

November 2 Elections: The endless elections continue with a District 6 school board run-off; early voting is now underday.

Unemployment: The state’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 9.4% for October. The State press release. More from the Commercial Appeal.

Memphis City Schools: A presentation to the school board says a special school district for the County schools would be a disaster, funding-wise, for the City. Even surrendering the school charter isn’t out of the question. More on the proposal from ABC24.

The Wharton Administration: ABC24 is still reporting on City Hall security coordinator Gerald Fanion’s skirting auto inspection requirements.

Thanksgiving: Sober House is another non-profit agency looking for donations and volunteers for their Thanksgiving Day meal. The Mid-South Food Bank has now collected over 250 turkeys! Preparations are underway for the 26th annual Memphis Thanksgiving Day Dinner.

Downtown: The Convention and Visitors Bureau will take over management of the Cook and Cannon Convention Centers.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis: They are in the running for the American Home Shield Challenge for Change and your vote could help them win.

Arkansas: The State Supreme Court ruled that simply running away from police isn’t sufficient to justify an arrest. Damien Echols speaks on his new trial for the West Memphis Three murders. Outgoing Helena-West Helena mayor James Valley will begin investigating massive fiscal problems.

Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority: They selected the Pickering Firm to handle a $7 million project to design and manage work on the airport’s terminal apron. The airport opened its second economy parking lot.

Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce: The board of directors announced the selection of Joseph “Joe” DeVivo of Smith & Nephew as their new chairman of the board. More from the Commercial Appeal.

Business: Accounting firm Dixon Hughes is now establishing a hospitality and resort practice, derived from Memphis’ Rhea and Ivy.

In the Commercial Appeal, What to Do. From the Daily News, Inked and Today’s Events.

FedEx: Continuing its expansion across Asia, FedEx Express is adding a flight to Vietnam.

Wright Medical Group: They have now settled all litigation arising from their closed business in Toulon, France.

Delta Air Lines: The ground workers group voted against union representation by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

Global Entrepreneurship Week: A report on the Society of Entrepreneurs and LaunchMemphis-hosted “Three Course Conversations on Entrepreneurship”.

Real Estate: Memphis-area home prices fell almost five percent in September.

Survey Says: Memphis was ranked the third most affordable college town.

Memphis Zoo on Ice: The new outdoor skating rink has its grand opening today, in conjunction with SunTrust Zoo Lights. Zoo on Ice website. More from the Commercial Appeal.

“A New Face For an Old Broad”: This two-day urban revival party hope to bring attention and more business to the area around Broad Avenue. More here and here. WMC report.
 
 

Crime: The Shelby County District Attorney and the local FBI met with ministers and local religious leaders to address neighborhood crime, drugs, etc; more from WREG. Scrap metal theft is on the rise. Apparently, the City’s vicious dog bond law isn’t being enforced, because it’s unfair and inconvenient. The District Attorney is also joining the fight against wage theft.

Memphis Daily News Blog: Governor Phil Bredesen has his Willie Stark moment.

Paul Ryburn’s Blog: More problems with Downtown Dining Week. Advice for restaurants that use Twitter.

The Chockley Blogs: One parent’s expereience with kids learning to love reading because of Harry Potter books.

Squeaky Wheel Seeks Grease: “Your sundae of fail doesn’t deserve my sugar.” Tales of the “wasband”. And a video “podcast” of her emotional thank-yous to her readers.

Smart City Memphis: Learning from Liverpool. County Commission hijinks.

Pretty in Pink Megan: Happy birthday, Megan!

artbutcher: Vote for your favorite bike rack and it will get made. Public art, whoo-hoo!

The Morgan Update: Remember, babies have more energy than you do, at least in short bursts.

The MakeShift Revolution: Simultaneous high standards for motherhood and career.

The Intersection of Madness and Reality: The recessions is destroying a generation of black college graduates. Some historically informed thoughts on the idea of social justice.

The Chubby Vegetarian: Vegetarian burgers and a nice recipe. If you are looking for some different and yet classic recipes for Thanksgiving.

I’ll be the one in heels: The sad story of the washing machine and the not-a-plumber.

Andrea Fenise: Working the black dress look without the black dress.

Bill Theobald: When it comes to Congressional spending, everything is a disaster. (via the Tennessean)

Faith Matters: Students learn to care for their school as though it were their own. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Glenn McCullough Jr: Some sensible energy policies that everyone should be able to agree on. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Commercial Appeal: Good news for reading motorists, as most folks don’t know the Appling Road auto inspection station exists! Why must politics be left to inefficient, squabbling amateurs?

Carlee McCullough: The secrets of (successful) banking. (via the Tri-State Defender)

What’s happening Myron? Awards, Star Challenges and more. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Dr Timothy Moore: Cancer isn’t curable, but it can be prevented, treated and revered. (via the Tri-State Defender)

Flyer: The earmark moratorium will likely prove temporary.

John Branston: Downtown reminiscing. (via the Flyer)

FUNdraising: Part two of their series on fundraising planning success. (via the Daily News)

Memphasis: You can stand at one particular point near Memphis and see hundreds of years of history. (via the Daily News)