Shelby County Commissioners may not have much to say at their Monday, May 20, meeting about a critical decision to come on funding for the new consolidated school system.

That’s more likely to happen at a Wednesday committee session, where they will review the $1.18 billion budget proposal formally for the first time since it was approved Thursday by the countywide school board.

2. School Board Sends Merger Budget to County Commission - Friday, May 17, 2013

Countywide school board members approved Thursday, May 16, a $1.18 billion budget for the consolidated school system in its first fiscal year, which begins July 1.

The board approved the budget on a 17-3 vote, with no amendments to the budget plan proposed by interim superintendent Dorsey Hopson and his cabinet.

3. Luttrell Proposes Tax Hike for Schools - Friday, May 17, 2013

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell is proposing a $4.38 county property tax rate including a 6-cent tax hike above the higher certified tax rate for the new fiscal year that begins July 1.

4. Luttrell Outlines Revenue Path to Near $35 Million New Schools Money - Thursday, May 16, 2013

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell is proposing a $4.38 county property tax rate for the new fiscal year that begins July 1. That along with several other fiscal moves would give the consolidated school system the nearly $35 million in extra funding in the school system’s still tentative budget.

5. City Council OKs School Funding Talks - Thursday, May 09, 2013

The newest front in the move to the schools merger in less than two months is an old legal claim that continues to pop up as the countywide school board looks for any new funding it can secure.

Memphis City Council members passed a resolution Tuesday, May 7, to start negotiations among the council, the administration of Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. and the countywide school board.

6. Beyond the Numbers - Saturday, May 04, 2013

It’s that time of year again when thick budget books dominate life for those in the Memphis and Shelby County governments.

But this year’s budget season on both sides of the Civic Center Plaza is more than line items and bottom lines on paper. The deliberations that ultimately determine how much you will pay in property taxes and at what rate go beyond the plans in the books of estimates, projections and the recurring and one-time revenue sources.

7. Luttrell: County Budget Reaching Cuts Limit - Thursday, May 02, 2013

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell refers to county government as “wholesale level government.”

He used the term again Tuesday, April 30, in a state of the county speech to the Memphis Rotary Club at the University Club.

8. School Board Approached by Suburbs - Thursday, May 02, 2013

A new round of talks about the schools merger and municipal school districts is about to begin.

And this time, the countywide school board may be at the table.

Countywide school board attorney Valerie Speakman told school board members Tuesday, April 30, that attorneys for the leaders of Shelby County’s six suburban municipalities have sent her a letter about possible talks on issues that go beyond the consent decree governing the merger.

9. School Board May Delay Superintendent Search - Wednesday, May 01, 2013

The search for a superintendent to lead Shelby County’s consolidated school system could be put on hold by the countywide school board Tuesday evening.

And Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell said Tuesday he agrees with a proposed year-long delay in the merger if it is to take into account the impact of suburban school districts.

10. Events - Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Memphis Rotary Club will meet Tuesday, April 30, at noon at the University Club of Memphis, 1346 Central Ave. Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell will present the State of the County address. Cost is $18. R.S.V.P. to Taylor Hughes at taylor@memphisrotary.org.

11. Events - Saturday, April 27, 2013

ArtsMemphis will present the Stax to the Max music festival Saturday, April 27, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. outside the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, 926 E. McLemore St. Admission to the festival is free; discounted museum tickets are $2 between noon and 5 p.m. Visit staxmuseum.com.

12. Events - Monday, April 29, 2013

A Main Street to Main Street Multimodal Connector Project design review meeting will be held Monday, April 29, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the City Council chambers in City Hall, 125 N. Main St. The public can learn about and view designs for the project. Contact Michael Carpenter at michael.carpenter@memphistn.gov or 636-6596.

13. Schools Front Office Jobs Reopened - Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Interim schools superintendent Dorsey Hopson has restarted the process of reapplying for the top jobs in the consolidated school system.

All of the jobs in the merged school system’s central office, effectively the front office of the school system, were reopened for applications through April 29.

14. Bryce to Keep 318 Workers in Memphis - Friday, April 19, 2013

A packaging maker for retail brands like Frito-Lay and General Mills is getting a tax incentive worth $3 million to keep 318 workers in Memphis and add 95 new employees as part of a $21 million expansion here.

15. Wharton Proposes 28-Cent Tax Hike - Thursday, April 18, 2013

The way Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. views the city’s budget trajectory is shaped by a City Council with different fiscal ideas that have consequences the city is still paying for.

The way City Council budget Chairman Jim Strickland sees it, Wharton has proposed property tax hikes multiple times since taking office in 2009 instead of seeking to fundamentally change city government from the inside.

16. Schools Could Get Additional $4 Million - Wednesday, April 17, 2013

When Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell presented his consolidated county government budget proposal last week to county commissioners, he made an important change that may have upped the amount of new revenue available for the consolidated school district.

17. Budget Season Opens With Wharton Proposal - Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. presents his budget proposal Tuesday, April 16, to the Memphis City Council for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

And council members will probably be listening closely for one dollar amount in particular and how Wharton proposes to deal with it.

18. Luttrell Doesn’t Want Memphis Animal Shelter - Saturday, April 13, 2013

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell said Wednesday, April 11, he is not interested in making the Memphis Animal Shelter a county government operation.

19. Luttrell Doesn’t Want Memphis Animal Shelter - Friday, April 12, 2013

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell said Wednesday, April 11, he is not interested in making the Memphis Animal Shelter a county government operation.

20. Differences Welcome County Budget Talks - Friday, April 12, 2013

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell isn’t happy that the countywide school board hasn’t sent a budget proposal to the county yet.

21. County Tax Rate Projected to Increase by 33 Cents - Thursday, April 11, 2013

The Shelby County property tax rate would increase at least 33 cents in order to produce the same amount of revenue for county government it currently produces.

That was the bottom line of Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell’s budget presentation Wednesday, April 10, to the Shelby County Commission’s budget committee.

22. Status of Auto Inspection Talks Varies - Thursday, April 11, 2013

The state of Tennessee is helping facilitate talks between city and county leaders about the coming deadline.

There are conflicting versions of what will happen at the end of the fiscal year. No one is certain or clear about what the federal response will be.

23. Commission Starts County Budget Season - Wednesday, April 10, 2013

The Shelby County Commission opens its budget season Wednesday, April 10, starting down a road of pivotal decisions for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

The process begins Wednesday with an overview of county finances from Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell.

24. Kelsey: State Confirms Six-Year Auto Inspection Timeframe - Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Republican state Sen. Brian Kelsey of Germantown says he is confident Shelby County vehicle owners outside Memphis won’t have to go through auto inspections for another six years.

25. Council Ups Ante in Auto Inspections Standoff - Thursday, April 04, 2013

City funding of auto emissions inspections is still due to run out on June 30, the end of the current fiscal year at City Hall.

And Memphis City Council members are considering several options, including simply ending the inspections. The possible move comes after Shelby County government leaders announced last month the state has told them the state won’t assume responsibility for the auto inspections for at least a year, probably two. Until then, the auto inspections would apply only to Memphis vehicle owners and not those across the entire county.

26. Agriculture Boom Fuels Agricenter Expansions - Wednesday, April 03, 2013

Agriculture is a promising business, especially considering the rapidly growing worldwide demand for food and fiber products by a ballooning international population.

That’s the backdrop for construction that’s set to begin soon on a state-of-the-art greenhouse and research laboratory at Agricenter International.

27. Commission Votes Down Residency Referendum, Names Gomes New Judge - Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners gave final approval Monday, April 1, to an exemption to the county government residency requirement for Memphis City Schools teachers and other school system employees.

The commission also voted down an August ballot question that would have put to voters doing away with the residency requirement in the county charter.

28. Agribusiness Companies Give Peek at New Facilities - Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Two agribusiness companies have cut the ribbon on their respective facilities at Agricenter International where they are making investments totaling almost $20 million.

Executives from Bayer CropScience and Helena Chemical were on hand at the Agricenter Monday, April 1, to give a sneak peek at the plans for both facilities, which include a new laboratory and greenhouse facilities. Officials on hand for the announcement included Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell and Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr., and at least one economic development official on hand noted informally that the Agricenter is well on the way toward becoming a major agribusiness hub.

29. City-County Swaps Grow More Complex - Monday, April 01, 2013

Memphis City Council members and Shelby County Commissioners are talking about a swap.

The Memphis Animal Shelter would be run by county government if the city would continue funding Memphis police officers in Memphis schools after the merger of Shelby County’s two public school systems.

30. Agricenter Breaks Ground on Two New Projects - Saturday, March 30, 2013

Bayer CropScience and Helena Chemical Co. have committed to separate investments at Agricenter International totaling nearly $20 million.

31. Haslam’s Medicaid Option Fuels Debate - Friday, March 29, 2013

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam called it a “third option” as he turned down an expansion of Medicaid funding at least for now with the federal government paying 100 percent of the cost in the first three years.

32. Agricenter Breaks Ground on Two New Projects - Thursday, March 28, 2013

Bayer CropScience and Helena Chemical Co. have committed to separate investments at Agricenter International totaling nearly $20 million.

33. Haslam Rejects Medicaid Expansion - Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Tennessee will not accept an expansion of Medicaid funding under the Affordable Care Act, Gov. Bill Haslam announced Wednesday, March 27, to a joint session of the state’s General Assembly.

But Haslam also told legislators he is pursuing a “third option” between acceptance and rejection of the funding that would use the federal funding to allow uninsured Tennesseans eligible for TennCare, the state’s version of Medicaid, to buy private health insurance.

34. Companies Investing $20 Million at Agricenter - Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Bayer CropScience and Helena Chemical Co. have committed to separate investments at Agricenter International totaling nearly $20 million.

35. Soul Celebration - Tuesday, March 12, 2013

John Fry, the venerable founder of the Memphis-based Ardent record label and accompanying studio facility, still remembers wandering into the Satellite Record Shop, the music store that once operated in front of Stax Records.

36. Masson Talks Plan for Merger Work - Monday, March 11, 2013

The special master in the schools merger federal court case says his first order of business is to look at the paperwork and other documents of the case and what has been done so far in the merger.

37. Gang Tackle - Saturday, March 09, 2013

Cecil Dotson was a gang member until the day he died violently five years ago this month.

He also worked every day for 16 years as the maintenance man at the apartment complex where he lived until he moved, just before his death, into a rental house on Lester Street in Binghampton.

38. 2013 Political Season Begins - Friday, March 08, 2013

There was a brief time last year when it looked like 2013 would be that rare political creature in Memphis politics – an off-election year.

A citywide sales tax increase referendum in the late summer or fall is probably going to continue the unbroken string of more than 10 consecutive years with at least a special election on a ballot locally. Outside Memphis there are municipal elections in Lakeland and Arlington.

39. ‘All is Not Lost’ - Thursday, March 07, 2013

Baptist Memorial Health Care Corp. has been nationally recognized for its work providing health care services for the homeless population of the Mid-South, helping people like Grace Hilton-Young transform their lives.

40. Lower Property Values Sink Revenues - Wednesday, March 06, 2013

The first formal notices of 2013 Shelby County property values in the once-every-four-years reappraisal for taxation purposes were mailed Monday, March 4, to owners of commercial and industrial cost properties as well as homeowners in Hickory Hill, Whitehaven and parts of Southwest Memphis.

41. The Path Forward for Schools - Monday, March 04, 2013

“We’re making our community, by disagreement and discord, a very unattractive place to live, visit and locate businesses.”

When discussing the new unified Shelby County Schools this recent statement by Shelby County Schools Chairman Billy Orgel pretty much sums up the state of affairs.

42. Kroc Center Opens to Big Crowds - Wednesday, February 27, 2013

To cap off Healthy Heart Month, the new 100,000-square-foot Kroc Center held its open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony last weekend.

The state-of-the-art Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center has welcomed more than 10,000 visitors in its first few days.

43. Several Paths for School Funding Possible - Tuesday, February 26, 2013

The most important number at a weekend Shelby County Commission budget retreat was not the $145 million in new funding the countywide school board has asked for.

It was a percentage – the projection by Shelby County Assessor Cheyenne Johnson that the 2013 property reappraisal by her office will likely reflect a 4.63 percent loss of value on property for taxation purposes.

44. EDGE Board Approves Several Tax Freezes This Week - Saturday, February 23, 2013

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. shows up to meetings of the local economic development body that grants tax incentives to businesses pretty predictably.

That’s not to say on a regular basis, rather his appearances are predictable because they tend to coincide with votes on tax deals for businesses moving into or expanding in the core city.

45. EDGE Board Approves Several Tax Freezes This Week - Friday, February 22, 2013

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. shows up to meetings of the local economic development body that grants tax incentives to businesses pretty predictably.

That’s not to say on a regular basis, rather his appearances are predictable because they tend to coincide with votes on tax deals for businesses moving into or expanding in the core city.

46. Budget Deliberations - Friday, February 22, 2013

When Shelby County Commissioners get together Saturday, Feb. 23, at Memphis City Schools Central Nutrition Center for a county budget retreat, they will have a long menu of county financial matters to review.

47. Hopson Seeks $57 Million Owed Schools - Thursday, February 14, 2013

Interim Memphis City Schools superintendent Dorsey Hopson hopes to meet with Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. next week about $57 million.

That is the amount of money the school system won in two court decisions – trial and appellate level – from the city while Hopson was general counsel to the school system.

48. School Board Asks For $145 Million Extra - Wednesday, February 13, 2013

The countywide school board is asking the Shelby County Commission for $145 million in extra funding for the first fiscal year of the schools merger.

The “ask” is a preliminary number that goes to a county commission budget retreat scheduled for Feb. 23. It is extra funding beyond the $361 million county government currently provides both school systems.

49. School Board Meets as Budget Debate Grows - Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Countywide school board members meet Tuesday, Feb. 12, in special session to send a still-forming budget for the first fiscal year of the consolidated school system to the Shelby County Commission.

50. Lawrence’s Background a Fit for Work at EDGE - Monday, February 11, 2013

It might be said that John Lawrence has a background made to order for looking at the big picture – one of real estate, urban planning, marketing and organization management. Through the course of various career moves, he’s developed the tools necessary for the use in his position as manager of strategic economic development planning for Memphis and Shelby County’s Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE).

51. Luttrell ‘Alarmed’ Over Budget Numbers - Friday, February 08, 2013

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell meets Friday, Feb. 8, with Shelby County Schools superintendent John Aitken to look over the still tentative budget plan for the consolidated school system that debuts in August.

52. Events - Wednesday, February 06, 2013

Talk Shoppe will meet Wednesday, Feb. 6, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Better Business Bureau, 3693 Tyndale Ave. Don and Holly Swogger of Homevestors will present “Build Wealth Buying Real Estate.” Cost is free. Visit talkshoppe.biz.

53. Events - Tuesday, February 05, 2013

IHOP will hold National Pancake Day events to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Tuesday, Feb. 5, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at restaurants across the U.S. Guests will receive a complimentary stack of pancakes and are asked to make a voluntary donation to the charity. Visit ihoppancakeday.com.

54. Southwest Adds Memphis Flights - Monday, February 04, 2013

AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of Southwest Airlines, announced Monday, Feb. 4, that it is adding four new Memphis flights to three new AirTran routes. And Memphis International Airport officials said they were told by Southwest executives last week that all AirTran flights in Memphis probably will be converted to the Southwest brand by November.

55. Smith & Nephew Tax Break in Jeopardy - Monday, February 04, 2013

Smith & Nephew Inc. could be in danger of losing some or all of the 15-year tax incentive the company received in 2009 as part of its $42 million investment to convert a Memphis office complex into a centralized hub for research, marketing and medical education.

56. Smith & Nephew Reduces Workforce - Thursday, January 31, 2013

Smith & Nephew eliminated nearly 100 jobs in Memphis and Andover, Mass., on Thursday, Jan. 31, as the medical device company cuts expenses in an effort to offset tax hikes included in the Affordable Care Act.

57. Commission to Disband Schools Capital Needs Group - Monday, January 28, 2013

Shelby County Commissioners vote Monday, Jan. 28, on disbanding the nearly 10-year-old Needs Assessment Committee that advised the commission on funding school construction and renovation projects across both public school systems.

58. Due Process - Saturday, January 26, 2013

One at a time. That is the most noticeable change so far at Memphis-Shelby County Juvenile Court as a result of a landmark settlement in November with the U.S. Justice Department. The children before the court come before the court magistrates one at a time. No more groups of juvenile defendants waiting for their case to come up as other cases are being heard.

59. Pinnacle Moving Memphis Headquarters to Minnesota - Friday, January 25, 2013

Memphis-based Pinnacle Airlines Corp. is moving its headquarters to Minneapolis by May as part of its bankruptcy reorganization.

The regional air carrier announced the move out of One Commerce Square Downtown Thursday, Jan. 24, saying the new headquarters will be in vacant space leased by Delta Air Lines at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

60. Schools Merger Begins Move Into Parental Reality - Thursday, January 24, 2013

Countywide school board chairman Billy Orgel noticed lots of parents of school children from the county outside of Memphis at the annual camp-out for optional school enrollment over the long weekend.

61. State Health Commissioner Talks Prevention - Thursday, January 17, 2013

The School of Public Health at the University of Memphis on Tuesday, Jan. 15, welcomed Tennessee Commissioner of Health Dr. John Dreyzehner and his health policy team to the Fishbowl Room inside the FedEx Institute of Technology for a “town hall” discussion of public health and economic issues that affect our community.

62. Luttrell Preparing for County Tax Hike - Thursday, January 17, 2013

A county property tax hike is probably on the way, according to Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell.

63. Public Relations Society Honors Duncan Williams - Monday, January 14, 2013

After Duncan Williams got handed his “communicator of the year” award at this month’s Memphis chapter of the Public Relations Society of America luncheon, he did something in keeping with the nature of the honor.

64. Schools Security Plan Emphasizes Consistency - Monday, January 14, 2013

While many of the most controversial issues of the coming merger of Memphis City Schools and Shelby County Schools are still to be decided, the issue of how to handle school security appears to be settled.

65. Public Relations Society Honors Duncan Williams - Saturday, January 05, 2013

The Memphis chapter of the Public Relations Society of America has named Duncan F. Williams, president of Duncan-Williams Inc., as its 2013 Communicator of The Year.

66. Public Relations Society Names Duncan Williams 'Communicator of the Year' - Thursday, January 03, 2013

The Memphis chapter of the Public Relations Society of America has named Duncan F. Williams, president of Duncan-Williams Inc., as its 2013 Communicator of The Year.

67. Juvenile Court Agreement Emphasizes Details - Monday, December 24, 2012

Less than 24 hours before the U.S. Justice Department and Memphis-Shelby County Juvenile Court leaders announced a detailed set of reforms and safeguards to guarantee changes in the court, Shelby County Commissioners met behind closed doors with those involved in the local side of the deal.

68. Sandy Hook Lives to Be Remembered - Saturday, December 22, 2012

The 26 children and adults who died at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut will be remembered locally Friday, Dec. 21, with several ceremonies.

69. Sandy Hook Lives to Be Remembered - Friday, December 21, 2012

The 26 children and adults who died at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut last week will be remembered locally Friday, Dec. 21, with several ceremonies.

70. Juvenile Court Reform Plan Announced - Tuesday, December 18, 2012

The U.S. Justice Department announced Tuesday, Dec. 18, an agreement with Memphis-Shelby County Juvenile Court that will put the Shelby County Public Defenders office in the role of defending juveniles who cannot afford to hire an attorney for court proceedings.

71. Wage Theft Ordinance Causes Concern - Monday, December 17, 2012

Shelby County Commissioners take what is expected to be their next-to-last vote Monday, Dec. 17, on a “wage theft” ordinance that will probably be amended as it faces organized resistance from the local restaurant and hospitality industries.

72. High-Stakes Game - Saturday, December 15, 2012

At week’s end, International Paper Co. appeared ready to move forward with officially applying for a package of tax incentives as part of a plan to expand the company’s headquarters in the city.

73. High-Stakes Game - Saturday, December 15, 2012

At week’s end, International Paper Co. appeared ready to move forward with officially applying for a package of tax incentives as part of a plan to expand the company’s headquarters in the city.

74. Concerns Continue Over Heritage Trail Tax Increment Financing - Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Shelby County officials have reservations about plans to create a tax increment financing zone for the city’s proposed Heritage Trails development area.

The reservations prompted county finance experts to move a recommendation against the proposed tax increment financing district to a private committee meeting last month.

75. Wells Fargo Funds Start Homebuyer Program - Monday, December 10, 2012

A major effort to help people buy and keep homes in Memphis and Shelby County has launched, thanks to funding received by Memphis and Shelby County from Wells Fargo.

The Memphis-Shelby County Helping Homebuyers program is providing down payment assistance of up to $15,000 to qualifying borrowers who buy and live in a home in the city or county. The funds also can be used for renovation.

76. Calls Come to Change Schools Merger Process - Wednesday, December 05, 2012

As suburban mayors were scheduled to meet this week to talk over their options, the consolidation of all public schools in Shelby County that begins in August began to show signs of a shift.

The shift might be to take at least some of the decisions about the schools merger out of the hands of just the countywide school board or to junk the process the board is using. The mayors of the six towns and cities have all indicated they intend to push on for their own school districts, although several have said it is highly unlikely they could form them and open them for classes by August.

77. Road Project Will Enhance Local Logistics Assets - Friday, November 30, 2012

Construction is barreling forward on the Paul Lowry Road project, which will provide better access to the Frank C. Pidgeon Industrial Park south of Downtown.

The six-month project began in June, and a completion date is on target for the second week of December.

78. School Board Delays Vote On School Closings - Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Countywide school board members put off a vote Tuesday, Nov. 20, on a recommendation to close 21 schools in northwest and southwest Memphis.

The recommendation from the schools consolidation planning commission is considered one of the most controversial items from the citizens group that made 172 recommendations in all on the move to a merger of Shelby County's two public school systems earlier this year.

79. Development Accelerator - Friday, November 16, 2012

The city of Millington didn’t have a city engineer until 2008 when it had to have one in order to have local control over the Veterans Parkway road construction project.

“I thought it was kind of my cross to bear since I was hired in 2008,” Millington City Engineer Darek Baskin said this week of the road.

80. Optimism Finds Way Into Local Banks, Financial Institutions - Monday, November 12, 2012

Here’s a look at what’s going on in the world of finance, and the ways it’s all affecting Memphis.

First up, to quote the Bard, “But soft: what light through yonder window breaks?”

81. Election Follows Script in County - Thursday, November 08, 2012

In Shelby County and Tennessee the presidential race stuck to the script both national campaigns expected.

President Barack Obama carried Shelby County and Republican challenger Mitt Romney took the state and its 11 electoral votes.

82. Juvenile Court Reform Details Emerging - Friday, November 02, 2012

Memphis-Shelby County Juvenile Court Chief Administrative Officer Larry Scroggs describes the court as being “sort of at the end of the beginning” in a review process by the U.S. Justice Department.

83. Luttrell’s Executive Assistant Moving to Evolve Bank & Trust - Friday, October 26, 2012

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell’s executive assistant is leaving his position soon to become director of communications for Evolve Bank & Trust.

84. Nike Wins $57.8 Million Tax Break - Friday, October 19, 2012

Project Victory isn’t in the bag just yet. There is competition. Project Victory is what local economic development officials were calling the proposed $301 million expansion of the Nike Inc. plant in Frayser.

85. Diverse Career Brings Spickler Back to Public Defender’s Office - Thursday, October 18, 2012

Upon graduating from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2000, Josh Spickler took a fortuitous first step into his legal career with the Shelby County’s Office of Public Defender under A C Wharton Jr.

86. Momentum Builds as Money to Fight Northaven Blight Arrives - Monday, October 15, 2012

When Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell announced in Northaven a week ago a $600,000 effort to fight blight in three parts of unincorporated Shelby, he got a lot of questions about the exact terms for home improvements – half of the funding.

87. Blight Program Announced for Unincorporated Areas - Friday, October 05, 2012

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell announced a $600,000 effort in Northaven, Waverly Farms and Southeast Shelby County to fight blight and help homeowners fix up their properties. The funding for the two-part effort in the unincorporated areas of Shelby County is part of $7.5 million Shelby County government and the city of Memphis government are to receive from Wells Fargo Bank.

88. Trash Concerns - Friday, October 05, 2012

The idea of a county government garbage collection service for no more than $25 a month to residents in unincorporated Shelby County was dead as soon as the first of four public hearings on it was held.

89. Government Leaders Tout Sales Tax Hike - Wednesday, October 03, 2012

Just before Shelby County Commission chairman Mike Ritz and others announced a political coalition in favor of a countywide sales tax hike on the Nov. 6 ballot, Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell approached Ritz.

90. Sales Tax to Fund Pre-Kindergarten for County’s Students - Tuesday, October 02, 2012

Proponents of a countywide half-cent sales tax hike are promising pre-kindergarten access for all children in Shelby County if voters approve the proposed tax hike on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr., who had opposed the sales tax hike, announced Monday, Oct. 1, that he now favors the measure as long as the money goes to “universal pre-k” in Shelby County.

91. City Leaders To Come Out For Countywide Sales Tax Hike - Monday, October 01, 2012

The campaign for the half-cent countywide sales tax hike on the Nov. 6 ballot kicks off Monday, Oct. 1, with support from two city leaders who had opposed the ballot question.

At a press conference at the County Building, Memphis Mayor A C Wharton and City Council member Shea Flinn are expected to announce that they now back the plan that voters in Memphis and unincorporated Shelby County vote on in the Nov. 6 elections.

92. County Government Buildings Get Healthier Options - Thursday, September 27, 2012

The 172 vending machines in 17 Shelby County government buildings are getting new snacks under a “Healthy Shelby” awareness plan carried out by Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell.

93. Luttrell Dumps Garbage Collection Proposal - Monday, September 24, 2012

A proposal by the county administration to start a single system of garbage collection for all of unincorporated Shelby County for a $25 monthly fee is off the table, Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell told a town hall meeting Thursday, Sept. 20, at Bolton High School.

94. Luttrell Scraps Unincorporated County Garbage Collection Idea - Friday, September 21, 2012

A proposal by the county administration to start a single system of garbage collection for all of unincorporated Shelby County for a $25 monthly fee is off the table, Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell told a townhall meeting Thursday, Sept. 20, at Bolton High School.

95. City Could Back Countywide Sales Tax Hike - Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Shelby County Commission chairman Mike Ritz has been talking with some city of Memphis leaders about their opposition to the countywide sales tax hike he proposed for the Nov. 6 ballot.

The talks involve those city leaders supporting the countywide sales tax hike that pre-empted plans from City Hall for a citywide half-percent sales tax hike. The citywide sales tax hike would have been used to roll back the city’s property tax rate.

96. Luttrell: Merger Process Must Move Faster - Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell says the countywide school board isn’t moving fast enough on the transition to the August 2013 merger of Shelby County’s two public school system.

97. Luttrell to Reassess Local Air Quality - Friday, September 07, 2012

Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell is about to examine county government’s entire approach to air quality issues after the Memphis City Council voted last month to cut all city funding for vehicle inspections at the end of the current fiscal year on June 30.

98. Forensic Center Case Study of Slow Process - Wednesday, September 05, 2012

When Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell cut the ribbon on the new West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center last week he motioned for Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. to join him.

99. Tax Hike Latest Shift in Funding Puzzle - Wednesday, August 29, 2012

The suburban cities and towns that raised their local sales tax rates in August will adapt with little trouble if the rest of Shelby County approves a countywide sales tax hike on the Nov. 6 ballot.

100. Commission Overrides Sales Tax Referendum Veto - Tuesday, August 28, 2012

There is about to be a swap on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Instead of a citywide half-percent sales tax hike ballot question, the ballot question in November now becomes a countywide sales tax hike.

The Shelby County Commission voted Monday, Aug. 27, to override last week’s veto of the countywide tax hike ballot question by Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell.