Press Release: MacAdvantage: They won a national recognition award for four consecutive quarters of excellent service, the only Apple service provider in a multi-state area to do so.

Shelby County: Mayors A C Wharton and Willie Herenton have formed a committee to monitor the spending and dispersal of Federal stimulus funds. Thanks for those funds, there will be 2000 summer jobs available this year. A breakdown of the spending targets for those funds.

Beale Street: CBS sports announcer Gus Johnson was involved in fisticuffs with the manager of Blues City Cafe very early Saturday morning. No arrests or charges; why is this being reported now? More in the Commercial Appeal.

Justin Timberlake: He will be selling ‘901′ brand tequila. More from the Commercial Appeal, of course.

POLITICS: The Shelby County Republican Party is holding their precinct caucuses this Saturday, just before the Convention. Lobbying and publicity efforts by grocers is swinging Legislature to their side of wine sales debate. House passes bill to allow loaded rifles and shotguns in vehicles; the CA also reports.

Commerical Appeal: From the Daily News, the latest on layoffs and cutbacks at the daily. More information and background from Mediaverse.

Shelby Farms: One million trees now await planting. The community is inviting to join in the planting, too. Much more in the Commercial Appeal.

TENNESSEE: State’s unemployment rate hits 9.1% for February, although ‘metro’ Memphis had one of the lower unemployment rates nationally, at 8.8% for January. More on TN unemployment rate, via Fox13, Eyewitness News, WMC and the Commercial Appeal.

The Bodine School: Their largest annual fundraiser, the Acorn Auction, is next Saturday evening.

St Jude Classic: In the wake of the Stanford Financial Group meltdown, the PGA golf tournament has changed its name. More from WREG, WMC, Daily News and the Commercial Appeal.

The Pyramid: An update on the aging ‘Tomb of Doom’.

Previously Posted: More on Forrest Park becoming listed on the National Registry of Historic Places; more on WMC. More on Superintendent Cash’s call for a law from the Legislature to allow a school police force. The AR Senate approves the State lottery bill. More on the Rock and Soul Museum receiving a grant for audio guide materials.

MLG&W: Utility decides to write down $15.3 million in bad debt. This is still less than 1% of total billing last year.

Small Business Administration: A report on their Emerging 200 workshop this week about training, networking and guidance, that drew 50 local businesses.

Shelby County Juvenile Court: They have hired controversial Veteran’s Medical Center clinical psychologist Dr Sidney Ornduff.

Tax Season: The IRS and local Smartbucks Alliance are hosting free tax prep at 10 locations around Memphis this Saturday. There are conditions, however.

Collierville: City formally laid off 12 employees, mostly in development, which is deathly slow in the community right now.

ARKANSAS: Six measures are advanced by a Senate committee for consideration as ballot measures for voters later this year. Another bill, setting up a reporting hotline for racial profiling also moved to the full Senate.

Calvary Episcopal Church: They hosted, along with Integrity-Memphis, controversial bishop Gene Robinson. He will preach today at the local church’s Lenten Preaching Series.

Appraisals: The next round of notices goes out today. And the early word is double-digit increases in the eastern suburbs as well; small decreases in Frayser and southeast Memphis.

Alpha Omega House: Veteran’s assistance center and halfway house receives quilts from Millington quilter’s guild to make the place more homelike.

Shelby County Schools: The superintendent search committee will meet the four candidates next week. More from the Commercial Appeal.

BUSINESS: International Paper is cutting jobs and shifts at their Ohio plant. Kroger’s has bought the land next to its Bartlett store. Commercial real estate has been clobbered in the past year. The CEO of Medco Health Solutions, Charles B. Snow, is calling for ral health care reform. Leading economic indicators dropped less than expected in February.

A business profile of Ramblin’ Rose Photography, via the Bartlett Express. And a business profile of local advertising and marketing giant archer>malmo, via the CA.

People in Business, from the CA, for Friday.

FedEx: Company’s 3Q profit was down 75% over last year. More from Fox13. They plan to slash another $1 billion in expenses still. There may be more layoffs and pay cuts this year; more on this from Eyewitness News, WREG, WMC. Analysts aren’t gloomy, though, about the news.

Good Morning Memphis: Before he left for the NCAA Tournament, Coach John Calipari was interviewed. Eating well on a tight budget. What happens to your worker’s compensation when your company goes out of business. Advice on cutting your taxes.

Downtown: Businesses Downtown are being hit harder than most other parts of the area. Another story notes that nearly 1000 small business permits have been issued so far in 2009!

MISSISSIPPI: Cell phone companies are pushing for laws against texting while driving; more in the CA. Governor signs bill, state will have a clothing sales tax holiday the third weekend of July; more on WMC. Talks will resume next week on harmonising House and Senate versions of a cigarette tax bill; the CA has more. Bill to not accept some Federal stimulus funds on unemployment is killed in Senate committee. The troubled Riverbend Crossing development has been given an extension lasting until 2015 to start work.

Memphis Demographics: The CDC has released the latest data about births, deaths, etc. Births to unmarried women and to teens increased.

Memphis Kwanzaa International: They are getting new offices on Elvis Presley and hope to expand their mission and services through 2009.

Midtown Security Community: Group is celebrating it’s one year anniversary, helping Midtown residents protect themselves against crime. Blog is here.

COGIC: Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake issues a strong denunciation of charges he supports gay marriage.

City Councilwoman Janis Fullilove: Now Eyewitness News has picked up the story, going to Fullilove’s house for comment. Related story, also WREG, here.

The Economy: A new term for you: the ‘mortgage homeless’.

Dr Trent Pierce: Man injured in West Memphis carbombing being transferred from The Med to a rehab facility.

quite swimmingly: Memphis roller derby! and

a semi-charmed kind of life: Tiger spirit.

16 Balls in the Air: A long trip, kids, a time crunch and the interstate. You know what happens next.

Secret Agent Mom: Walking therapy.

The Chockley Blogs: The trip to St Louis continues. Today, cathedrals.

Thaddeus Matthews: City Councilwoman Janis Fullilove is appearing on his radio show today.

theology & geometry: Life goes on, bad news and all.

Commercial Appeal: Allow beer sales at UM games. Arguing again for media access to State databases.

Myron Mays: Is hip-hop growing up?

Pearl Eva Walker & Lou Ransom: A pair of differing views on the Rihanna / Chris Brown imbroglio.

ericmathews.com: Short profiles of the speakers at URBANEXUS Memphis.

Reginald Milton: A sad tale overheard and he was right there!

Mrs. Katherine: Tales from a tiny house with a giant mortgage.

vibinc: Thoughts on the Shelby County Election Commission’s transparency and accessibility.

Urf! The busy, surprising and — did we say busy? — life of a writer.