Turrell, AR: The mayor locked up City Hall this past Friday and ‘closed’ the city. No garbage pickup or police or fire protection since.

Stanford Financial Group Investigation: LeBonheur Chidlren’s Hospital, St Jude’s Children’s Hospital, brooks Museum of Art, and more feeling the pinch as donations fro SFG disappear or never appear.

POLITICS: The Shelby County legislative delegation now has its own website! Contact information, pictures, calendar and, soon come, more. From the Flyer, local political reaction to President Obama’s speech; WMC has the common man’s opinion.

Governor Phil Bredesen is still considering not taking Federal stimulus funds for unemployment payments. The House is considering a bill to limit legislators’ reimbursed travel out of state to once per year; more from the Daily News. Another House subcommittee rejects extending the length of legislators’ terms; more from the Daily News. More on proposed gun laws.

DeSoto County: A date has been set for a hearing Olive Branch’s annexation plan. A decision on the new Methodist Hospital in Olive Branch has been delayed. Mayor of Southaven, Greg Davis, says the city is still going strong, economy or no.

TERRA House: Memphis’ ‘greenest house’ can now be toured online, courtesy of the Flyer.

TENNESSEE: Milk may become the State beverage.

University of Memphis: Premium seating for Tigers basketball games at the Forum is now $3000. Former volunteer is now relaunching Camp Celebration, for special needs kids. Remembering the Mall of Memphis. (BTW, there is still a Mall of Memphis website.)

Center for the Study of Southern Culture: A new director, Ted Ownby, has been chosen. He is a University of Mississippi history professor.

Stimulus Funds for Memphis: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development says the Memphis area will see more than $20 million soon.

South Memphis Renaissance Collaborative: A diverse collaboration of churches, non-profits, architects and the University of Memphis is working to promote the revitalisation of South Memphis.

New Convention Center: The Commercial Appeal looks at some plans to revive financial interest in a new facility.

ARKANSAS: Bill allowing gun carry in churches dies in the Senate; more from WMC. Bill goes to Senate creating a statewide trauma system funded by higher cigarette taxes.

Charter Schools: The Memphis Academy of Health Sciences faces questions over the way it handles disciplining children and expelling them.

Survey Says: According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, mortgage rates are up but applications are sharply down. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says almost one-half million workers lost their jobs in January. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index hit its lowest level ever. Sales of existing homes fell by more than 5%, to their lowest levels in 12 years.

MATA: They report sales of transit bus passes rose 5.7% in 2008.

UPDATED! Main Street Journal: Two new articles from the February issue are now online! Read Rescued: The Fight to Save Our Historic Buildings by Lance Allen and The Battle: The Shelby County Schools System is Still in the Fight for Special School Districts by Michael Roy Hollihan.

You can peruse the Table of Contents here. Chuck Bates presents Part Two of Socialism Not Seen Since FDR.

Shelby County Jail: Sheriff Mark Luttrell, not able to get a new jail, proposes about $2 million plan to reduce overcrowding.

Tim McCarver: He is receiving $100,000 in arbitration claim over Morgan Keegan mutual fund.

BUSINESS: Are unruly kids hurting Memphis businesses? The Hilton Hotels Corporation is preparing for layoffs. A company in Arizona, EMT Medical, is trying to operate a medical records scam. Also, Methodist Healthcare Federal Credit Union appears to be another ‘text message’ scam. Retailers report a ‘dismal’ 4Q in 2008. Boyd Gaming Corp., owner of Sam’s Town casinos in MS, has made a bid for Station Casinos..

A tale of competing knee replacements from Wright Medical Group and Smith & Nephew, via the Daily News.

An interview with Ryan Byrne, of Byrne & Associates PLLC, about business foreclosures. A business profile of medical device manufacturer QFx, a start-up assisted by Innova, from the CA.

People in Business for Thursday, from the CA.

Tennessee Supreme Court: Beginning in May, court-appointed guardians ad litem will be fewer and will have better defined roles in upper-court proceedings.

MISSISSIPPI: Mass layoffs in the state were up from a year ago. State casino revenue rose from December to January by $17 million.

Education Realty Trust: This owner/manager of university-related apartments has delayed it 4Q and 2008 reports due to sales tax accounting problems.

Home Analyzers: They are opening their Property Fax service to all home-owners in TN and MS. This shows all insurance information regarding fire, flood, etc. for the past five years.

Healthy Memphis Common Table: They received a $2 million grant from Merck for Diabetes for Life program.

University of Tennessee: Labor activists will be protesting proposed job cuts here in Memphis.

Previously Posted: One TB case confirmed in Memphis City Schools. People who lost money to Forest Hills Funeral Home will be repaid; more from the CA. The Board of Regents for the state’s colleges and universities, has suspended its search for a new chancellor. The Crime Commission says violent crime dropped from 2006 to 2008.

Shelby County Clerk’s Office: Two more employees were suspended in the ongoing investigation that has already claimed three other employees.

vibinc: There’s some incredible sub-rosa warfare going on in the TN Democratic Party. Liveblogging President Obama’s speech.

Secret Agent Mom: She shares indepth her story of (hopefully) weaning Mr. Baby.

Rustmeister’s Alehouse: Second Amendment thoughts on another Memphis shooting. Guess what book is suddenly popular again?

Steve’s Nude Memphis Blog: He’s unaccountably finding himself not posting and not much caring about what’s going on.

Commercial Appeal: Heed the caution of Governor Bredesen when he says he might pass on stimulus funds. Mississippi’s Governor Barbour has fallen short on diversity in State leadership.

Radio Sweethearts: A jam-packed post on Comcast, digital television, newspapers and paying for ads online. And then, explaining snark to the humor-impaired.

Pretty in Pink Megan: Help her choose her engagement photo, and learn its secret!

Jerry Collins, Jr: MLG&W takes bad customer service rating seriously and is working to address concerns.

Notes From Memphis: Looking forward to Flight.

From the Southern Table: Memory and comfort food. Grieving as healing. And, food and family celebration.

Gilmour Girl Goes Memphis: Taping as part of an exercise regimen.

Jen-sized: Birthdays come to mean less as you get older … like 25.

Life as I know it from Memphis: Does anyone know if Mode Ju Jour is closing?

Dining With Monkeys: Ubee’s, burgers and grease, over by the University of Memphis.

Common Ground: Disappointed with City Councilmembers Janis Fullilove and Harold Collins.

You Talkin’ To Me? Attorney General Eric Holder’s ‘racial cowards’ comment was a good idea badly misexpressed.

Wendi Thomas: Black History Month will be needed for a while longer.

Because I Said So: Trying to find the balance between being busy and being exhausted.