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Memphis' cost of living ranks fifth lowest in nation

Wednesday, February 6th, 2013, 3:56pm

Memphis' cost of living ranks fifth lowest in nation

The Council for Community and Economic Research ranked Memphis as the fifth lowest in the nation in terms of cost of living.

“Memphis is the least expensive major metropolitan area to live in the continental United States,” said Greater Memphis Chamber director of research Adrienne Johnson. “A family of four can save on housing, groceries and receive the best health care in the country while building their savings accounts," said Johnson.

The data is based on prices from grocery stores, housing, utility, health care and other miscellaneous goods and services simultaneously gathered by volunteer organizations around the country.

The pricing period lasts three days during the first three quarters of each year.

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Garbage trucks back on the streets Wednesday

Submitted by Jenn Allmon, News Producer

Wednesday, January 30th, 2013, 12:19pm

Garbage trucks back on the streets Wednesday

As of Wednesday morning, Allied Waste workers are still on strike and trash is piling up around several Mid-South homes.

Republic Services expects a full number of trucks to be back on the streets Wednesday afternoon and hope to catch up soon.

One customer affected said it doesn't take much for the stink to spread.

"Everyday. Everyday we create a little bit more and so it doesn't take long for it to back up,"

Republic Services suggests customers put out the trash on the normal day and leave it on the curb until gone.

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Trash continues to pile up amid sanitation strike

Submitted by Nick Kenney, Reporter

Tuesday, January 29th, 2013, 8:06pm

GERMANTOWN, TN- (WMC-TV) - Allied Waste workers are still on strike causing trash to pile up around several Mid-South homes.

There were some crews picking up trash, but only for critical customers, such as schools and hospitals. So what about everybody else?

Pete Moss's trash appears to be no man's treasure. Not even the garbage trucks have taken it.

"We put out the garbage yesterday morning. Monday is our normal pick-up day and they didn't pick it up," said Moss, who lives in Germantown.

Moss is hardly alone.

Overflowing trash bins lined the streets.

Republic Services/Allied Waste is contracted to pick up trash from more than 200,000 customers in the area.

But on the picket line, striking workers refuse to work without concessions causing a delay in collection.

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Athletic club redefines 'family' to allow same-sex membership

Submitted by Nick Kenney, Reporter

Tuesday, January 29th, 2013, 7:57pm

GERMANTOWN, TN- (WMC-TV) - A Mid-South athletic club is redefining the word "family" after a same-sex couple was denied membership.

The city-owned and operated Germantown Athletic Club offers five different membership option.

"The family membership rate I believe is $80 a month," said Germantown City Administrator Patrick Lawton.

The price remains the same but change is in the air.

Last week, two men and their children tried to sign up for a family membership but were denied because they did not fit the definition of a "family" as outlined on the GAC's application. It described a family as a husband, wife, and their children under 18 years old.

"We changed it from family membership to household membership, which is much more inclusive and broad in scope as to who can qualify," said Lawton.

By Monday, the application had been changed and the two men and their children were invited to join.

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Self-service kiosks installed for faster driver license renewals

Submitted by Regina Thomas, Assistant News Director, WMC TV5

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013, 1:15pm

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security has added another option for citizens seeking to renew or replace non-commercial driver licenses.

Commissioner Bill Gibbons announced Tuesday the Driver Services Division has installed 30 self-service driver license kiosks at various locations across Tennessee.

Citizens may renew or replace an existing driver license or state identification card and pay for the transaction with a credit or debit card at the kiosks.

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Adult Greek Language Class begins tonight

Submitted by Andrew Douglas on Monday, January 21st, 10:24 am

The dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. comes alive in an adult Greek class that begins on his national holiday today.

Have you ever thought of learning the Greek language and some Greek culture as well? You have a chance to tonight at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Memphis. Retired Priest Father Nicholas Vieron is beginning his Adult Greek tonight in the church hall at Sam Cooper and Highland in Memphis.

Father Vieron has been teaching his adult greek class for 40 years and always begins on Martin Luther King Day. Vieron is one of a few white ministers left from the 1968 struggle who manifested efforts for social justice led by the late Rabbi James Wax.

It's a 14 week course that meets once a week at the church

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Community clean-up honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Submitted by Jason Miles, Reporter

Saturday, January 19th, 2013, 8:59pm

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - The neighborhood around LeMoyne-Owen College is a lot cleaner Saturday, thanks to work of students and community volunteers who turned out to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Bag after bag was filled with trash and other debris from the neighborhood surrounding Memphis' LeMoyne-Owen College.

"This is an affected area, and we're trying to do our part," said Freshman Lamarcus Johnson.

Johnson was one of several students who joined a number of community volunteers to sack the trash from empty lots and along neighborhood streets as a way to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior.

"The people out here may not be the ones actually living here, but the fact they're out here says a lot on its own," said Jamal Whitlow of the Memphis Urban League.

Kim Stewart-Thompson and her husband brought four daughters with them from Germantown.

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