EXCLUSIVE: Luttrell leads Shelby County mayoral race in new poll

Monday, July 19th, 2010, 6:10pm

By Lori Brown - bio | email

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - Republican Mark Luttrell has a slight lead over Democrat Joe Ford in the race for Shelby County Mayor, according to a Yacoubian Research poll released Monday.

According to the poll, which was co-sponsored by Action News 5:

46 percent of likely voters say they want Sheriff Mark Luttrell to be Shelby County Mayor.
41 percent of likely voters say they want Shelby County Interim Mayor Joe Ford for the job.
13 percent are still undecided.

Click here to download the poll. (PDF)

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Councilman says Beale Street profits should receive more scrutiny

Submitted by WMCTV Web Staff

Monday, July 19th, 2010, 6:01pm

By Kontji Anthony - bio | email

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - Currently, the Memphis City mayor can spend certain program funds without any accountability, but one council member wants that to change.

After Mayor A C Wharton signed a settlement to end a lawsuit with the company that manages Beale Street, council members started asking questions.

Memphis City Councilman Kemp Conrad said he did not like one of the answers that came back. He wants answers about a July 6 letter from the city attorney.

Specifically, he is concerned about a line that says future Beale Street profits will be "directed to the 'redevelopment of downtown' in the judgment of the Mayor."

"Instead of the mayor just arbitrarily doing whatever he wants to do with downtown redevelopment, he should simply - just like any other budget item - come to council and explain what's going to be done with it, and why," Conrad said.

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KIPP charter public high school to open in Memphis

Submitted by Tracey Rogers, News Director

Monday, July 19th, 2010, 4:51pm

Action News 5 received this press release from KIPP:

KIPP has announced that Richard Bailey will open a KIPP public charter high school in Memphis in 2011. This will be the second school for KIPP Memphis, which plans to expand to eight schools by 2015. When all of its schools reach full enrollment in 2015, KIPP Memphis will serve over 2,500 students from the highest-need communities in Memphis. Richard Bailey, an experienced teacher from KIPP DIAMOND Academy, is currently participating in KIPP’s prestigious year-long leadership training program called the Fisher Fellowship.

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Disney on Ice coming to Memphis

Submitted by Tracey Rogers, News Director

Monday, July 19th, 2010, 4:47pm

Action News 5 was provided this press release by the Grizzlies:

Memphis, Tennessee – Disney On Ice presents Let’s Celebrate is bringing a colossal party on ice to Memphis for five fun-filled performances at FedExForum Sept. 24-26.
Tickets for this event that will include Disney’s most popular characters go on sale Friday, Aug. 6 at 10 a.m. and are available starting at $15. All tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations, www.disneyonice.com, the FedExForum Box Office or by phone at (800)745-3000.
The first performance will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24, followed by shows at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25. Two additional shows will take place at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept.

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Search for mysterious green light leads to 2 arrests

Submitted by WMCTV Web Staff

Sunday, July 18th, 2010, 7:59am

By Lori Brown - bio | email

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - Two people are in custody and another suspect is on the run after police traced the source of a mysterious green light in the Memphis sky Friday night.

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Herenton calls out Cohen on the campaign trail

Submitted by WMCTV Web Staff

Sunday, July 18th, 2010, 7:59am

By Jason Miles - bio | email

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - Former Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton called out Congressman Steve Cohen on the campaign trail Saturday as the two showed up to vote early.

Hundreds showed up for a rally in the heart of Herenton country. The former mayor boarded a bus after speaking, en route to cast an early vote at the election commission Downtown.

There, Herenton almost came face-to-face with incumbent Cohen who had just delivered a bus load of his own supporters.

"Tell Cohen he's a Congressman," Herenton said. "He don't need to peep out of a car."

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Target Arts & Wonder Event

Submitted by Jerica Phillips, JCFN Social Marketing Coordinator

Friday, July 16th, 2010, 6:10pm

Target Arts and Wonder free family event will include a self-guided museum tours, arts and crafts activities, and films located at the National Civil Rights Museum's courtyard on Sunday, July 18th from 1-6pm.

Target is offering families the opportunity to explore and learn about art and culture in an engaging and playful atmosphere FOR FREE. Target has partnered with more than 80 cultural and art institutions in 30 cities across the country.

For more info contact Barbara Andrews at 901-521-9699 x223 or Meredith Davis at 901-521-9699 x239.