Amnesty International: Their conference this weekend will include a Martin Luther King, Jr, ceremony at Tom Lee Park.

University of Memphis: Some professors claim a state income tax would have lessened tax revenue drop this year and, by extension, lessened drop in monies to the school. Also, student debt growth is outpacing graduate pay potential.

Since the Spring, there’s been a sharp — and welcome — drop in serious crime on campus.

UofM professor is helping a nonprofit group to track global human rights abuses.

Freedom Awards: A lengthy report from the National Civil Rights Museum event, from the Daily News‘ Bill Dries.

Newspaper Presidential Endorsements:
Memphis Commercial Appeal: Obama.
Memphis Tri-State Defender: Obama.
Nashville Tennessean: Obama.
Knoxville News-Sentinel: McCain.
Jackson Sun: McCain.
Chattanooga Times: Obama.

The Commons at Dexter Lake: New Orleans-style shopping center coming to Cordova.

Whispering Woods Hotel and Conference Center: Amidst uproar over a white supremacists meeting planned for next month, the hotel’s general manager resigns, complaining of threats to self and family. More from WREG, My Eyewitness News, WMC.

Gas Prices: Not attracting as much press notice as the slower and less steep rise in prices last spring and summer.

BUSINESS: FedEx SmartPost hub in Southaven — a rebranding of Parcel Direct — is growing nationally as a business option.

Buckeye Technologies sees 12% sales increase over last year, but suffers a steep drop in profits. Earnings increase for Valero Energy Corp.

Venture capital will be tough to find for health care startups. Tough economy is also affecting Habitat for Humanity.

MS casinos to work with local catfish farmers to serve locally grown fish.

A WREG story on the effects of a major business fire on the local economy.

POLITICS: Howard Baker forms US - Japanese consulting firm.

Laura Bush comes to MS to campaign for Roger Wicker in his Senate race. Small business is a new focus for both candidates in that Senate race. Fox13 claims the Wicker - Davis race is turning ‘nasty’. And the MS NAACP claims remarks by Governor Haley Barbour will suppress turnout. More from WMC.

Smith & Nephew: In the wake of their own troubles, firm says all medical manufacturers face increased scrutiny.

Memphis Woman: Magazine learns new way to survive — going online!

Shelby County Schools: Mother of beating victim from 2007 files a Federal lawsuit against system and Sheriff’s office.

Halloween: Varied responses to dealing with all the trick-or-treaters this Friday evening.

Memphis City Schools: A WMC report on the stolen, expensive student laptops.

Shelby County: According to the County Trustee’s office, bankruptcies are up 25% and tax revenues are down. On a related note, there will be a foreclosure summit today. A look at foreclosures, from WMC. And County Commissioners look at ways to pay for the new 911 call center.

Marion, AR: Mother outraged by ‘racist’ letter sent from school system. A video report.

Elvis Presley: Still the world’s number one dead star, for the second year in a row!

Commercial Appeal: Official word is out on job cuts at the daily. More from the Flyer.

TENNESSEE: State Supreme Court will hear cases in Memphis next week. Data security for the State and counties is not up to snuff.

Comcast: Company sees profits rise by more than a third. In a related story, the FCC is investigating the rise in pay-TV rate hikes.

Skatelife Memphis: New skate park, with night lighting, is a go!

My Midtown Memphis: Many thoughts and much information on the new skatepark.

garage sale of ignorance: A very, very, very long and angry rant at American Apparel and their advertising.

Long Tall Animals: On voting, racism and pride.

Howard Rich: Arguing that local term limits bring fairness to government.

Complacencies of the Peignoir: A two-fer! Going off the Pill and marvelling at the changes, then teacherface.

Commercial Appeal: A two-fer! On the last day of early voting, the reprint their ballot recommendations, and they say highly touted but ineffective and costly ‘computers for students’ program should be shut down.

Wendi C. Thomas: She wants the mayor to stop the appearance of impropriety.

The English Major Bookstore: She was on the radio yesterday and you can listen to the MP3.

Mick Wright: The Gore Effect comes to Memphis.

Smart City Memphis: Voting yes on Instant Runoff Voting.

The Daily Docket: Wintermute makes an endorsement.

theology & geometry: She has the funk, and not the good kind.