News from CommerceNewsTODAY

For the sake of argument, let’s assume that the Great Recession is over and a recovery is starting. How will that affect our state and local governments, particularly school systems, many of whom are in dire financial straits? Absolutely no one predicts a speedy recovery. In fact, the phrase “jobless recovery” is often used to describe a ... [Full Story »] 

Commerce voters will elect a mayor pro tem, two city councilmen and two school board members Tuesday. Four of the five positions on the ballot are contested. All voting will take place at the J. Nolan Spear Jr. Public Safety Complex on South Elm Street between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. The city council candidates include Keith Burchett and Sammy ... [Full Story »] 

Thousands of young ghosts, goblins and other characters are expected to hit downtown Commerce Friday night, Oct. 30, as the Downtown Development Authority and Commerce Area Business Association present the Downtown Trick-or-Treat. The event takes place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will be a costume contest in Spencer Park with prizes awarded for ... [Full Story »] 

The Commerce Police Department can sniff out a good deal. The department is buying a new drug dog and training for it and its handler for $6,500. Its former drug dog, Cosmo, is retired. Instead of sniffing out cocaine, marijuana or drug-contaminated U.S. currency, Cosmo can now use his well-trained nose just like every other dog. During the ... [Full Story »] 

The “funniest man in America,” comedian James Gregory, plans to provide the treats in Commerce on Halloween. Gregory will entertain at the Commerce Civic Center at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. Tickets are $27 for adults, $24 for senior citizens and $22 for groups and are available at WJJC Radio, Harmony Grove Grille, from Brad Johnson at ... [Full Story »] 

You know your luck is bad when you’re shoplifting and you run into a cop who knows your name and address. That’s what happened to Melvin Appleby, 36, of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Commerce, according to the Commerce Police Department. The incident said that an off-duty officer was shopping at Ingles when Appleby allegedly tried to steal ... [Full Story »]