Main Street Journal: Our February 2009 issue is now out! You can peruse the Table of Contents here. Chuck Bates presents Part Two of Socialism Not Seen Since FDR.

Mid-South Fairgrounds: Mayor Willie Herenton admits the redevelopment project ‘has languished’ and explains how to the City Council. There are questions about development fees. Don’t forget the Liberty Bowl, which must now be ADA compliant by 2010; more from the CA. Herenton and developer Henry Turley meet; more on that from the CA.

City / Schools Funding Lawsuit: Chancellor Kenny Armstrong rules in favor of the Memphis City Schools. Mayor Herenton responds and suggests tax hikes or layoffs may be necessary now. Related story on that here. You can read the judge’s decision here. (PDF document) More from Fox13, Eyewitness News, WMC, WREG and the Commercial Appeal.

County Mayor AC Wharton: He spoke to member of the Small Business Chamber Tuesday, saying he was confident of the long run and expected County government to tighten its belt as business has had to tighten.

ARKANSAS: The $88 million tobacco tax hike was signed into law.

DeSoto County: The court case between Walls and Horn Lake over annexation continues. More from WMC and the CA. If State legislation passes, Southaven may not be able to install traffic light cameras. And more on that from WMC, WREG. Danny Klein’s farm in Horn Lake is becoming something of a tourist attraction. In Olive Branch, three more candidates for Board of Aldermen positions. Speaking of which, the current Board gave $27,000 in grants to three organisations that promote the city. Adjustments to a DeSoto County construction finance bond could save the County $850,000.

Commercial Property Forecast Summit: Meeting is today and the keynote speaker is Janice Stanton of Cushman & Wakefield.

Previously Posted: More on the airport shutdown because of a bicycle’s sticker.

Federal Stimulus Money: The Center for American Progress says Tennessee will get at least $10.2 billion from the stimulus package. The White House claims it will add 71,000 jobs. Officials at the University of Memphis are also expecting to get a share of the money. TN Department of Transportation officials are bickering with legislators over how quickly the money will be spent. WREG explains the stimulus for you.

Medtronic: 3Q revenues rise, almost 3% over same year, and net income also rose. A Wisconsin judge throws out a case against Medtronic.

Tennessee Real Estate Appraiser Commission: Appraiser Thomas W. Farris Sr surrendered his license after being found guilty of ‘fraudulent conduct’.

Norfolk Southern: They have officially ruled out Frank Pidgeon Park as a planned intermodal yard.

Community Congress on Crime: A report from the first forum, from the Tri-State Defender.

In a related story, burglaries are down recently after rising 12% in 2008. And Mayor AC Wharton is still lobbying for tougher gun laws for the County.

University of Memphis: Renewed concerns on pedestrian safety on campus. Nobel Peace Prize winner Jody Williams will speak on world peace and banning the use of landmines. The University of Memphis Law Review 2009 Spring Symposium will have John Dearie of the Financial Services Forum as its keynote speaker.

Hollywood Casino: A charity fundraiser netted $103,000 for St Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

ArtsMemphis: They are awarding $269,000 in grants to Ballet Memphis, Memphis College of Art and Opera Memphis, among others.

Mid-South Fair: DeSoto County officials say they are ready for the crowds.

BUSINESS: ADF Engineering has opened an office in Nebraska. Stevi B’s is reopening in Bartlett. Office Suites PLUS is opening its first Memphis location; more from the Daily News. GTx’s revenues nearly doubled in 2008, but expenses went up as well; they will hire 65 new salespeople. Highwood Properties is taking over leasing and management of Southwind Village office building. Wal-Mart has a better than expected 4Q. Butterball plant in AR is cutting 150 jobs.

A business profile of Independent Biker Wear, in Horn Lake.
People in Business from the Daily News and the Commercial Appeal.

Lakeland: Plans for the new Harding Academy campus have been delayed by the Municipal Planning Commission for 30 days.

TENNESSEE: President Obama has declared 7 West TN counties disaster areas, from January’s ice and snow storms.

Midtown: The old Bellsouth office building on Madison is being torn down in stages.
 
 
 
 

Oakland: While mayoral challenger and electoral loser Scott Ferguson has moved to Obion County, his lawsuit lingers on.

Memphis City Council: They approve approve spending $6.28 million from reserves on employee buyout plan.

MISSISSIPPI: The Federal stimulus should mean jobs for the state. The State House dropped a key component of Governor Haley Barbour’s Medicaid reform — face to face eligibility interviews.

POLITICS: The State’s Office of Open Records Counsel is receiving a lot of calls from citizens wanting information on state Open Meeting and Open Records laws.

Shelby County: The County’s Office of Planning and Development is laying off 31 workers. The County Conservation Board has given their OK to their end of the land swap that will turn control of USA Stadium over to Millington.

Millington: The City is hoping that Veteran’s Parkway will get either 100% funding via the Federal stimulus deal or majority funding via the State’s DOT. Either way, they’re ready to build.

AlphaPatriot: The Bush economy, by the numbers.

A View From the Middle: When an actor hits a dry spell.

Make It Happen: A report with photos from the Mercedes half-marathon in Birmingham.

Kip Gordon (dot) com: He’s deliberately and completely deleted his Facebook account!

Did anyone see that? A funny, if mildly work inappropriate, LOLcat.

Joe Larkins: Delaying the switch to digital broadcast is just confusing people and costing stations money, and some other observations.

vibinc: Building a farm team and growing are what the TN Democratic Party need right now. Potential Dem gubernatorial candidate Kim McMillan is speaking in Memphis tonight.

Ruth Hamblen: Growing up without a father is harmful to children. Many men need help in learning how to ‘be there’ for their children.

From the Southern Table: Good restaurant service and bizarre restaurant service.

Commercial Appeal: The final State House version of the Voter ID bill in Mississippi is a worthy compromise. Burglars are opportunists; watchful neighbors are a good deterrent.

Steve’s Nude Memphis Blog: A story of drunk drivers in Huntsville and rants about the government.

The English Major Bookstore: Some Rainer Maria Rilke for your day.

Smart City Memphis: The old Memphis v. Nashville debate, as it relates to the recession and how the State is responding.

The Daily Docket: Wintermute very helpfully rounds up the videos from the MPD’s Anti- Crime Neighbohood Presentation. Great, necessary viewing!

Squeaky Wheel Seeks Grease: Probably more than you’d want to know about leopard gecko lizards as pets.