Late this afternoon, prosecutors filed a motion to dismiss all charges against Edmund Ford and Joseph Lee. Both men were preparing for a trial where prosecutors alleged Ford has supported Lee on the Memphis City Council in return for Lee giving him preferential treatment while Lee was president of MLGW.
Your Thoughts?
The Center City Commission is talking about once again allowing cars on the Main Street in the Mid-America Mall. The hope is cars will translate to more customers for businesses that have struggles since the tracks went down and the cars disappeared. Many think traffic could be just what’s needed while others are concerned about the co-existence of street cars and automobiles. Another concern is the lack of parking on Main Street.
What do you think?
On wreg.com, you can read and see a report about an apparent police beating. I say apparent because we haven’t hear the police officers side of the story but the tape speaks for itself. An officer is seen punching a suspect several times, apparently with hand cuffs wrapped around his hand. Duanna Johnson said she wouldn’t get up and walk over the officer because he was using derogatory names because she is a transsexual. Please read the report and watch the video then post your comments here.
Memphis City pools will re-open July 2 with tougher rules and more security after two drownings on the day the pools opened to the public.
During a committee meeting Tuesday afternoon, Parks Director Cindy Buchanan said, “Memphis City pools are as safe as they can be.”
Buchanan told committee members the last several weeks have been spent going over pool rules as well as talking with other cities to see what rules could be adopted here.
Here are some plans for pools when they open:
Life Guard Requirement:
Cindy Buchanan stresses lifeguards are on duty, not to babysit, but to save lives.
Several city council members have questions and concerns to this plan could change.
Mayor Herenton plans to ask the Memphis City Council to have voters decide whether the mayor (Herenton or otherwise) should be allowed to appoint both the MCS school board and superintendent. Herenton also wants to form a board that would work with Shelby County to oversee and approve construction projects.
Thoughts?
Helena-West Helena Mayor James Valley says he has no problem with dogs or other animals. He just believes that strays in his east Arkansas town are better off in the nearby national forest than the local animal shelter. The mayor says the city’s animal shelter was so run down a regional humane society worker cut the locks last winter and released all the dogs. The city then moved the operation to a temporary fenced-in area outdoors at the city sanitation department. Still, people complained that the animals were not properly cared for at the temporary shelter, so the mayor decided the dogs would be better off fending for themselves in the St. Francis National Forest. Valley says the city street director released about 10 dogs into the forest yesterday after the animals were fed and watered. About three dogs were kept to be put down by a veterinarian. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service says the agency was not contacted by the city before releasing the dogs, and does not condone releasing animals into the forest.
Dr. Kriner Cash has been offered and has accepted the position of superintendent of Memphis City Schools. Cash was chosen over Dr. Nicholas Gledich. It was almost clear from the beginning of the meeting Dr. Cash was the choice. Cash would not say he will not go to a previously scheduled interview in Cincinatti Wednesday saying his Memphis contract still needs to be ironed out.
Thoughts?
It’s been more than a week since two kids drowned in two separate Memphis City Pools and yet the pools are still closed. Initially we were told the pools would open today but as of now they are still not open. We’re told lifeguards and others were undergoing extra training and perhaps new rules were being put in place.
Your thoughts?
Are you impressed by either of the finalists for superintendent of Memphis City Schools?
The Memphis City Council has voted to cut 70 million dollars from Memphis City School funding. Their vote puts money back into the city budget and includes an 18% property tax cut.
