Main Street Journal: The January 2009 issue is out. Browse the Table of Contents and subscribe! You can also read Joe Saino’s My Memphis Budget Wish List here.

Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County: New executive director is being sought.

Bill Gibbons Runs for Governor: Bill Gibbons held a press conference Monday morning; reports from Fox13, WMC, the Daily News. Dr. Larry Moore on WMC talking about the campaign. Some thoughts from Nashville on how the Republican primary might shape up. And the Commercial Appeal studies both parties’ potential candidates.

The Main Street Journal interviewed Gibbons and covered his potential run last year.

Previous Stories: Word broke over the weekend that former Senator Bill Frist had dropped plans to run for governor of TN. An announcement was officially made Sunday. More from Eyewitness News, WMC.

POLITICS: Nashville’s PostPolitics is claiming that the Flyer’s Jackson Baker reports that Senator Jim Kyle is considering a run for Governor in 2010. Kyle responds in that post. The Daily News has other comments from Kyle. A report from Knoxville as Bill Haslam makes his official entry into that race. Haslam also appeared in Memphis Wednesday; reports from Fox13 and the Commercial Appeal. A veteran Harold Ford Jr supporter, Chris Jackson, has some thoughts on a Ford run.

The Inaugural: The Better Business Bureau is warning people of ticket scams. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff marching band must raise $200,000 if they are to march in the inaugural parade; how you can help. Father saves up to send wife and son to inaugural.

American City Business Journals: Chairman Ray Shaw to receive 2009 Distinguished Achievement Award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers.

Tennessee Valley Authority: Rate-payers may get stuck with cleanup costs for East Tennessee ash dump.

Mid-South Community Organizers: An outgrowth of the Obama campaign, this volunteer group holds its first meeting tonight at 6PM.

Memphis Police Department: City Councilwoman Janis Fullilove, drawing on her own personal experiences, wants to see wants to see expanded mental health services for the police.

St. Jude Children’s Hospital: They are investing $7 million in neurosurgical facilities at Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center, where all their children’s neurosurgery is done. Also, some researchers at St. Jude are helping to prevent leukemia relapse.

Shelby County Election Commission: Yet more problems with the voter rolls!

Graceland: Memories of the time before The King. Also, Graceland will house some rescued horses!

TENNESSEE: State TennCare officials seek relief from Daniels class-action lawsuit in order to reduce program costs and cut budget. More from WMC, the Daily News. In a related story, 262 people were arrested for TennCare fraud in 2008.

The Attorney General announced the State had won its lawsuit against Blue Hippo, a computer seller; more from Eyewitness News, WMC. The state’s nursing homes are ranked third worst in the nation.

FedEx: They are trimming their marketing budget by 25% this year.

BUSINESS: Delta Air Lines’ traffic rose .8% in 2008. Tough economic times are driving some to enlist. Free cars if you buy a home? Aldi’s purchases Collierville property for new store. Millington-based Sparco.com has been chosen to be the national launch partner for Plethora Technology’s ‘Enterprise-in-a-Flash’. Hope Community Credit Union absorbed American Savings Credit Union Wednesday. If you get behind on your City taxes, watch out for Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson.

People in Business for Thursday, from the CA. Also, a short profile of Gwyn Fisher, executive director of MPACT Memphis.

Legal: Memphis lawyer Gary K. Morrell, receives national recognition from The Best Lawyers in America magazine.

The Med: Officials are holding closed door meetings with consultants as they discuss cost-cutting.

MISSISSIPPI: State is now ranked #1 in teen-aged pregnancies; more from the CA. State lawmakers trying to relieve tax pressures for some Mississippians; they also form a Senate committee to investigate drug abus relief.

Land Use Control Board: Among other business, the Chick-Fil-A property on Union will come up for variance approval. It was a controversial site until an agreement was made with historic preservationists.

Mayor Willie Herenton: The Commercial Appeal’s series on Memphis’ Mayor continues with Chapter 8: A Cold Wind Blows. The Commercial Appeal’s previous chapters: his early life; the sex scandal; his first mayoral triumph and the long years of mixed mayoral success; the Yalanda McFadgon flap; the public perception of the mayor, via the media, changes; the difficult years of contention as mayor.

Series homepage is here, with links to all chapters, including those not yet published.

Oakland: The strange and frustrating challenge to the mayor’s election drags on.

Fertile Ground: Adventures with Craig’s List and out-of-towners venturing into Midtown.

I Am Not My Hair: The pain that is watching your teenager grow up.

16 Balls in the Air: Parenting is made of moments like this.

a field guide to urban memphis: An opportunity for recycling and ‘green’ volunteerism in Memphis, if someone runs with it.

Jen-sized: A pointer to some free music!

LeftWing Cracker: Thoughts on the 2010 governor’s race.

Notes From Memphis: Susji or Italian? Either way, a great deal.

Wendi C. Thomas: She’s giddy because a family member lives on the same street the Obamas used to and she got to visit.

quite swimmingly: Why blog names are important.

Commercial Appeal: Kudos to Ridgeway High for its International Baccalaureate honors. And, it’s time to do something about the state’s food sales tax.

My Midtown Memphis: A very quick joke.

Smart City Memphis: Rethinking the Federal infrastructure bailout plan and making better decisions.

Squeaky Wheel Seeks Grease: First day on the new job and … wedding planning!

Thaddeus Matthews: Two officers, similar crime, different treatment. Was it because of who he knew?

Running With Dice: Looking back at 2008 and looking ahead to 2009.