Shelby County Commission: After reaching broad accord on single-source funding for Memphis and Shelby County schools, a late change to the bill in the Legislature, regarding PILOT tax abatements and education taxes, has derailed things.

Mud Island: The Riverfront Development Corp. is holding a series of public meetings beginning March 23 on land uses for the island.

Tennessee Valley Authority: They have terminated their lease for the proposed but deeply troubled marina project on Pickwick Lake. An internal audit uncovers nearly $7 million shopping spree.

BUSINESS: The US Federal Reserve has released the latest Beige Book and, unsurprisingly, the news is bad. More from the Daily News, the Commercial Appeal.

CEO Dowd Ritter of Regions Financial has turned down a cash bonus. The Flyer’s John Branson looks deeper into the numbers. Bartlett’s First South Credit Union managed to turn nearly $10 million in profit in 2008.

Midtown Bike is moving to the South Main district; more from the Daily News. MGM Mirage, owners of Gold Strike Casinos, warned they may go into default on its debt payments. CostCo’s 2Q profits dropped. Another retail center is planned for I-240 and Poplar.

A Bartlett business owner, Bartlett Decal and Tint, says antiquated laws and indifferent public officials drove him to close his business and move elsewhere.

A personal profile of Paul H. Morris, director and shareholder of Martin Tate Morrow & Marston, intellectual property counsel. A business profile of TotalCare Technologies, an IT firm.

People in Business for Thursday, from the CA.

FedEx: They are offering people one day of free resume printing. The Commercial Appeal has more, as does WMC.

Memphis Foreclosure: A video tour of some area foreclosed properties, via the Flyer. Via WREG, renters who live in foreclosed properties are often stuck in deep trouble.

Commercial Appeal: A red letter day, as the daily publishes a story on what one blogger (Smart City Memphis) said about a public official.

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

TECworks: New advisory firm works with the Memphis Bioworks Foundation to help small technology and bioscience startups.

Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce: At their Metro Business Council breakfast, the panel of legal and financial pros gave survival tips for small business in this tough economy.

Memphis International Airport: The Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines lounges are being renamed.

Leadership Academy: Turning community needs into actions by proposing plans and working with community non-profits and other agencies.

Memphis Networx: The City has filed a lawsuit alleging breach of contract and default on the franchise agreement by Zayo Bandwidth.

MISSISSIPPI: State jobless rate climbs to 9%! Possible ban on red light cameras continues to move forward in House.

DeSoto County: Girl Scouts are sending cookies to soldiers overseas. Hernando’s Commerce Street is in line for Federal stimulus funds. In a related story, members of the MS House voted to accept state’s share of Federal stimulus funds.

Memphis Symphony Orchestra: There are now a trio of finalists for the director’s chair.

BusinessTN: They have released their ranking of Tennessee’s Power 100. Memphians are numbers one and two on the list: J. R. “Pitt” Hyde and Fred Smith. Memphis Mayor Willie Herenton and Shelby County Mayor A. C. Wharton rank high (19 and 25, respectively) as does University of Memphis President Shirley Raines. (37) Many others from here on the list!

Better Business Bureau: They have issued alerts on four area businesses — including JiffyLube.

Tennessee Bar Association: They are launching their largest-ever pro bono effort, 4All on April 4.

POLITICS: A bill in the House’s K-12 Education subcommittee would allow limited external color advertising on school busses. Another bill outlawing passengers carrying open containers in vehicles was defeated; more on WMC. An AP story, via the Daily News, on FONCEs in TN, who owns them and where they live, and their values. House committee approves public park gun carry bill; more from WMC. Former governor Winfield Dunn chides the Legislature for “neglecting” the UT Health Science Center.

Previously Posted: The Chuck Hutton Toyota dealership was bought by Diamond International Trucks International and Isuzu trucks. The MS Legislature put the kibosh on the Olive Branch Methodist LeBonheur hospital.

MLG&W: The utility’s President’s Agenda and regular board meetings are today. The new City ordinance on minimum standards of energy efficiency for apartment owners is one of the topics.

Survey Says: Charles Schwab says the Downtown will turn around within two years. Automatic Data Processing says job losses may be slowing down. A Duke University survey of CFOs sees no economic recovery before 2010. According to The Conference Board, nearly half of companies had already cut charity giving and another third were seriously considering it. The Institute for Supply Management says the services sector of the economy shrank for the fifth straight month.

West Memphis Carbombing: The total reward fund has been raised to $50,000. More on the FBI investigation from WMC, and on the increased reward from WREG, Eyewitness News and Fox13. The FBI is now interviewing Dr Pierce.

Oakland: Via the oakland News, snow pictures! The Planning Commission OKs the last plat of the Crye-Leike Plaza subdivision. The Mayor, Rhea “Skip” Taylor, has announced freezes on certain expenditures. And the Board of Mayor and Aldermen are considering buying land for a new public library.

Memphis Botanic Garden: A Tom Clifton exhibition opening today will also be a charity fundraiser for the MBG and Friends For Life.

Speed Dating: With five minutes and $20, you can find romance, or at least network.

University of Tennessee Health Science Center: They were awarded two grants totalling more than $1 million from the US Dept. of Health and Human Services for cancer and lung disease research.

TENNESSEE: As part of TARP, the state is receiving $3.8 million for new health centers.

Mediaverse: Memphis: Life in The Matrix.

Joe Larkins: Ooohh … that Corie Ventura! Plus, some advice on Plan B.

Jen-sized: This had to be a morning conversation.

Complacencies of the Peignoir: Some things she likes and, it wasn’t luck, it was talent.

Confessions of a West TN Liberal: More on the race for the Shelby County Democratic Party chairman and an action alert on the living wage movement.

Brain Release Valve: He’ll be one of the speakers at SocialCamp Memphis this Saturday. Scary observations about the state of the world.

bitter/books: Thoughts on the last work of an author who chose suicide. He also offers an informed opinion based on experience of a dubious television news story. And a general update, too.

A View From the Middle: Markus got the lead role in a new, student film!

AlphaPatriot: Did you know that more than 300 economists disagree with the Obama administration’s approach to the economy?

Author of Y’all’s Destruction: If you’re any kind of gamer, you’ll get the joke.

Commercial Appeal: The recession is a forced, but good, lesson in slowing down your life. Mississippi Republicans shoot themselves in the foot.

Weeden Arts Watch: Wow, has he been busy!

Sassy Molassy: Girl Scout cookies!

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: More on SocialCamp Memphis and a whole lot of Downtown things!

Because I Said So: Love of public libraries is something that is taught.