Memphis City Schools: Fox13 interviews Vista Suarez, the new head of the once-troubled Central Nutritition Center.

Medtronic: They unveil the new Reveal XT implantable heart monitor.

Glankler Brown: Amy Dudek has been promoted from associate to member of the law firm. The story includes a short interview.

CB Richard Ellis: Shares jumped by almost one third after they announced they had beat 4Q earnings expectations.

BUSINESS: Although previously announced, Starbucks has begun to carry out layoffs. LEDIC has been chosen by Cunat to manage four apartment complexes there. Caterpillar is offering buyouts to 2000 employees nationwide, including Memphis; more at the Daily News. Hino Motors, in Marion, AR, is cutting 150 jobs. Arkansas Best has laid off nearly 1500 employees in the past four months.

The Mortgage Bankers Association says the home loan index has fallen to its lowest level this decade.

People in Business from the CA for Thursday.

Delta Air Lines: Their new subsidiary, Regional Handling Services, which will handle customer service duties, will be based in Minneapolis.

FedEx: They are sponsoring, in association with the University of Memphis a national ‘rock, paper, scissors’ competition that will award a $20,000 scholarship to the winner! And FedEx Express is expanding a cargo terminal and warehouse space in Mexico; more from the Daily News and the Commercial Appeal.

Coalition for Livable Communities: They are launching a new campaign: ‘Live Where You Live’, hoping to change local attitudes to the city.

Isaac Hayes: The Cordova home of the late Isaac Hayes is being sold in a foreclosure auction? The Commercial Appeal’s story doesn’t explain how this happened, either.

DeSoto County: School system employees are learning CPR. The Soil and Water Conservation District managed to give away 25,000 trees!

Previously Posted: Wal-Mart is laying off 800 workers at the HQ.

MISSISSIPPI: North MS state senators disagree on using rainy day funds to support education budget. House passes the Voter ID bill, after some concessions to Democrats.

Midtown: The old Bellsouth building on Madison, near Avalon and across from Minglewood Plaza, is coming down Friday morning. It was condemned.

ARKANSAS: The Senate committee approves new tobacco tax increase. Governor Mike Beebe has signed a bill creating an Alzheimer’s task force.

National 211 Day: Library hosted event to raise community awareness about numerous community and social services available through calling 211.

Shelby County: More reporting on County Mayor AC Wharton’s State of the State speech, stressing cuts and sacrifice. More from the Daily News. Reappraisal notices start going out to property owners on March 2nd.

University of Memphis: Permits have been filed to begin the modernisation of the engineering and science building. Also, a number of proposals relating to the university and its neighborhood go before the Land Use Control Board today. The search for a new dean for the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law is in the concluding phase.

Tough Times: So, who is hiring? A national group that helps new mothers with free and low cost baby items is opening a Memphis chapter. Scammers are tricking prospective home and apartment renters into thinking they are renting properties. A career fair this week drew 800 job seekers; more on that from the CA.

POLITICS: Well, is he or isn’t he? Jackson Baker says Governor Phil Bredesen is interested in the Department of Health and Human Services position in the Obama administration. Bredesen himself says, “No.”

New Secretary of State Tre Hargett has appointed former Rep. Steve Goins as the state elections coordinator. Shelby County legislative delegation elects Democrat Sen. Jim Kyle as its leader.

With both House Speaker Kent Williams and Speaker Pro-Tem Lois DeBerry out on sick leave, TN has its second Republican Speaker of the House with the temporary ascension of Rep. The Daily News has more. In more illness news, House Democratic Caucus leader Mike Turner was hospitalised.

Dr Trent Pierce: A special reward fund has been set up for information on the carbombing of the West Memphis doctor. More from WMC, WREG.

Weather: Tuesday’s strong winds left a lot of downed trees around the city.

TENNESSEE: Some West TN sheriffs are worrying about where to lock up juveniles when Shelby County’s juvenile facilities fill up. The Delta Queen docked in Chattanooga Wednesday, to begin a new life as a floating hotel. Bad news for TennCare, study shows ‘ambitious’ attempt to cut Medicare costs had little result.

Commercial Appeal: The daily has decided to offer website readers a searchable database of concealed carry permit holders in TN. It is listed in the “Public Safety” section of their “Data Center” page. The search results initially returned street addresses for permit holders; that was changed later. The Nashville Tennessean did this two years ago, with riotous results, before they pulled it. Is the Commercial Appeal aware of this? A Knoxville blogger, using public records, turns the tables on the CA’s editors and management. A Knoxville News-Sentinel reporter reacts. And a commenter at Say Uncle notes that the database appears to be 30,000 permit holder names short, including at least one State legislator.

The Big Switch: President Obama has officially delayed the change to digital broadcast television until June.

Survey Says: According to Zillow, most homeowners think their homes lost value in 2008. And, according to Adecco USA, most folks love their jobs. According to University of Tennessee researchers, half of all Tennesseans don’t believe evolution is a well-established scientific theory; almost as many see intelligent design as its equivalent.

Joseph Russell: In the shadow of NASCAR, what are some other, less well known, ’sports’?

Randy Haspel: Michael Phelps really missed an opportunity to change America’s attitudes toward marijuana.

LeftWing Cracker: Supporting medical marijuana in TN and rallying the troops for the coming Shelby County Democratic Party internal elections.

Gilmore Girl Goes Memphis: Is this, in fact, the laziest blog post ever?

Commercial Appeal: Lukewarm on the prospect of Governor Bredesen joining the Obama administration. The failure of a broad-based agreement on the Federal stimulus package is disappointing.

vibinc: Republicans are aggressive obstructionists?

Squeaky Wheel Seeks Grease: In which Lloyd the gecko is discovered to be a Lloydette.

Because I Said So: Stacey shares how raising kids changes your movie habits and tastes.

Wendi Thomas: White people have a role in the NAACP; witness Mary Mhoon Walker.

a field guide to urban memphis: A deep and enthusiastic ode to Battlestar Galactica.

55-40 Memphis: An Oscar-attuned review of Milk and thoughts on nationalising banks?

16 Balls in the Air: Sometimes, even a loving parent can slip.

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: He provides a recap of the South Main Association meeting.

Shane of Memphis: He pops back in for a short update.

Rustmeister’s Alehouse: A quick visual pun for you!

Smart City Memphis: Better late than never. Two more wishes and observations on Memphis, from Steve Bares, Executive Director of the Memphis Bioworks Foundation, and Lori Spicer, with the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce.