May 2, 2013 -Memphis, TN On Wednesday night, an 18-wheeler flipped on I-55 off Riverside Drive. According to the Commercial Appeal, the accident closed I-55 North at Crump and 1-240 Westbound at the I-55 junction. It caused a traffic headache on Wednesday, and the site continues to be closed leading into Thursday. No doubt they’ll …
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Today marks the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination. Memphis has the horrible legacy of being the place where MLK was killed; but we also have the beautiful legacy of being the place where he delivered his final address – the glorious “I Have Been to the Mountaintop” speech, which he gave at …
It’s a new year, with new laws. And one of those laws is a Tennessee statute that could really hurt area teachers. The law is listed as 519 SB0551 but it amends TCA Title 3; Title 49 and Title 63. It requires licenses for K-12 public school teachers be denied, suspended, or revoked if student …
Continue reading ‘The Sad State of Teachers and Student Loan Default in Tennessee’ »
If you live in Memphis, you know the poverty rate is out of hand here. Perhaps you’re even struggling yourself. What you may not know is that the financial problems in Memphis fuel a $5.3 billion “poverty industry,” according to The Commercial Appeal. The industry, which supports around 1000 local businesses, ranges from health clinics …
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Tennessee has suspended another nursing home: this time the 147-bed Civic Health and Rehabilitation Center located in on Old Getwell Road near the airport in Southeast Memphis. The state Department of Health has suspended admission into the facility and imposed a $5000 fine after a month-long investigation. Among other alarming problems, the department cites deficiencies …
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Last week I wrote about the problem of what happens when banks don’t officially foreclose on a home. The results are what’s known as “shadow inventory” – houses left uninhabited and uncared-for. It’s a serious, even disastrous, problem in Memphis. Just this past week The Commercial Appeal reported on a massive cleanup of one abandoned …
Continue reading ‘Shadow Inventory in Memphis: Abandoned Homes After an Eviction’ »
We all know foreclosures have riddled the city of Memphis, especially after the recession hit in 2008. However, banks not foreclosing can hurt the city, too. When a house is foreclosed, it goes to the bank either to auction off or sell. It becomes the bank’s responsibility to take care of the empty house, keep …
Continue reading ‘Evictions Don’t Benefit Memphis Residents’ »
In case you missed it last night, Darrell Castle was featured on Action News 5 for his work to help end texting while driving in Tennessee. Here’s a snippet from their coverage: A former marine, Memphis attorney Darrell Castle, was stirred by the story of a fellow marine who survived two tours of duty in …
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When responding to calls, police are allowed to break certain rules. The law permits them to speed, run red lights, and relate to other drivers on the road differently, as long as they do not endanger anyone else on the road. Usually when drivers hear the sirens or see the flashing lights, they will get …
Continue reading ‘Did Police Officers Cause Your Auto Accident?’ »
(**Update** As of October 5, 2012, Shelby County dropped this proposal due to local demand.) If you’ve been trying to cut costs by taking care of your own trash, you may need to reconfigure your budget. Shelby County trash collection service may become mandatory soon, at a cost of $25/month. The proposal would make every …