West TN Tea Party: A ‘tea party’ protest has been organised for Jackson on April 24 at Pringles Park.

UPDATE: Main Street Journal: New from our latest issue, Joe Saino wonders, Competition or More of the Same? and Michael Roy Hollihan looks to Nashville, The State Legislature and our Future: Can Anyone Know What’s to Come?

Already posted: Richard Thompson on How Journalism in Memphis is Adapting: Changes at the Commercial Appeal and the Flyer. The Table of Contents is here.

Memphis City Schools: Continuing reporting on the proposed new schools budget. More on the likely layoffs. More on the $58 million budget shortfall. MCS employees react to the proposed budget.

POLITICS: The Dyersburg State Gazette interviews Shelby County DA Bill Gibbons, about growing up, his professional career and his campaign for governor. And the Memphis Flyer is reporting that Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell is going to run for re-election, rather than for the County Mayor’s office.

A Democratic US Senator has introduced a bill to allow newspapers to reorganise as non-profits, similar to National Public Radio. Attorney General says TN doesn’t need a ‘texting while driving’ law, as its covered by other laws; more in the CA. Senate bill on direct wine shipments (not grocery sales) moves to full vote; more from the Daily News. Related story on the grocery store sale of wine, from Eyewitness News. A report on the hearing itself, from the CA.

Another bill requiring proof of citizenship to vote also advances. The abortion restriction amendment has passed the Senate. Rep. Joe Towns’ bill to outlaw ’saggy pants’ in introduced.

TENNESSEE: State officials say Shelby County isn’t collecting all the child support money it could. New TennCare rules are causing problems for some families.

Stanford Financial Group: The company’s Chief Financial Officer, James Davis, is reportedly cooperating with investigators. More in the Commercial Appeal.

Collierville: Police Department wins coveted and important national accreditation; also procedures for doing renovation work on commercial businesses are streamlined.

Good Morning Memphis: What inflation is and how to deal with it. The Wild World of Wine and Beer conservation fundraiser at the Memphis Zoo, next Friday. Wisely using supplements for good health. archer>malmo and the YMCA are teaming up to help fight obesity in Memphis.

Reappraisals: The temperature of the upset is ’simmer’ and not ‘boiling’.

University of Memphis: There will be a debate on intelligent design today, sponsored by the campus Federalist Society. This week is also the 500 Cans for Hunger food drive for the Memphis Food Bank.

Previously Posted: More on the MPD’s license-reading camera system. Probate Court Clerk Chris Thomas is running for County Commission District 4 Position 1. More on St Francis Hospital’s hiring of ‘hospitalists’ — physcians’ group practice.

MISSISSIPPI: One State Senator has placed the ‘texting while driving’ bill in jeopardy; more on WMC. The State House has voted to override Governor Barbour’s veto of the eminent domain bill; more in the CA. Renewable energy industry is growing in state. State budget troubles lead to legislation extending the Legislature’s session into May and maybe beyond.

City Councilwoman Janis Fullilove: The TN Highway Patrol is reviewing her case to see if charges or other actions are called for. More on WREG. The Commercial Appeal picks up the story.

Smoking: The Federal cigarette tax goes up 62 cents on April Fool’s Day.

First Tennessee Bank: Today they are celebrating their 145th anniversary! A look at First Tennessee Bank’s new ad campaign: ‘Powering Your Dreams’ and the contest involved.

BUSINESS: Arysta LifeScience has signed a new lease here in Memphis. International Paper received $71 million from the IRS following reclassification as an alternative fuel mixer; more from Daily News. The airline industry will lose $4.78 billion in 2009. Flowserve and Alamo Sales between them are laying off 75 in Memphis. Maximum Hospitality, a hotel management company, received a national award. Former students have filed a class-action lawsuit against Swift Trucking training academy.

A personal profile of Dr Todd Tillmanns, who is pioneering robotic surgery in Memphis.

People in Business, from the Daily News, for Wednesday, and from the Commercial Appeal.

FedEx: In reaction to the possibility of Congress passing a bill making unionising easier, the company is threatening to cancel a large plane order. The Daily News has more, as does the Commercial Appeal. Their chief economist counsels patience during the economic troubles.

DeSoto County: Snowden Grove Park, in Southaven, expects to deliver lots of business during the baseball and softball tournament season. Billing errors by Entergy means refund windfalls for Hernando and Walls. Federal bank bailout funds help DeSoto County Bank to unfreeze some capital. Judge’s final ruling in Horn Lake annexation case was filed yesterday. If you plan to file a homestead exemption on your property taxes, you have one week left.

Memphis Police Department: A deeper look at the apartment complex police surveillance cameras directly tied into the Ridgeway Station in Hickory Hills. Autumn Ridge apartments, managed by LEDIC, are the first complex to be a part of the Safeways Initiative.

Downtown: A multi-use building renovation is going up at 59 S. Main.

The Med: The Regional Medical Center lays off 88 employees and eliminated some vacant positions; more in the Daily News. More on the cuts, from Fox13, WMC. The Commercial Appeal believes the job cuts simply foretell more and larger changes ahead.

Jobs and the Economy: Hundreds are having trouble getting back to work. Debt relief scams are still popping up. Officials note that as the economy worsens, more and more drivers are going without insurance.

University of Tennessee: The Health Science Center in Memphis will still lay off up to 200 employees, but at a slower pace thanks to stimulus funds. Officials assure taxpayers that money will be used to mitigate and ease in coming cuts to budget. More from WMC, Commercial Appeal.

The Digital Broadcast Switch: If you have an expired converter box coupon, it can still be used.

ARKANSAS: It’s official — they are making the pecan the official nut of the Pecan State. Legislators are expecting a sizable cut in revenue forecasts for the State; more from WMC. State helmet law agains fails in House committee. Senate bill on lobbying restrictions advances, but with modifications. Governor Mike Beebe signs bill cutting tax on charitable bingo game cards. The first appointments to the new State Lottery Commission may come within hours of the bill’s becoming law.

Survey Says: Nine months between jobs is not harmful, say executives to Robert Half Management Resources. TN had one-third fewer mass layoffs in February than January, but is still up over February 2009.

Shelby County Schools: The four candidates for Superintendent have their interviews today; article includes brief candidate descriptions. System is seeing an increase in student transfers as people move around or out of the area due to the economy. And, it’s that time! The Memphis - Shelby County Science Fair.

Mick Wright: He posts a story he did for this magazine and ‘free inquiry’.

Mediaverse: A critique of a WREG story on crime reporting in city schools.

Moments in Time: A couple of pregnancy pics.

Mrs. Katherine: Curfews seen from the other side.

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: Thoughts on NCAA basketball and the new job; a Tuesday update.

quite swimmingly: A wonderful Friday night and then … disaster. And hairy feet, too.

Reginald Milton: A call to activism.

Sassy Molassy: Worrying about what other people think about what you think about their thoughts.

My Midtown Memphis: Cafe Eclectic now has a bakery!

The Conservative Zone: The MidSouthCon is over and the Games Workshop Battle Bunker here in Memphis is closing.

The Daily Docket: A breakdown of how Nashville legislators are leaning in the debate over wine sales in grocery stores.

I’ll be the one in heels: Thoughts on external appearance and self-esteem.

Long Tall Animals: An interesting and varied update.

Lean Left: The horrifying realisation of the receding hairline. The secret of Twitter revealed: Christopher Walken.

Commercial Appeal: The city will benefit from the Summer Youth Employment Program. Red light cameras are a good thing and Mississippi is making a mistake banning them.

Jen-sized: A plea for common sense at Starbuck during the morning rush and thoughts on dressing appropriately for school.

Buck’s Blog: Great news! Restaurant.com coupon madness. Be an expert and help a reporter.

BEEB: She’s almost a published author; and, being a girl.

Bigger Than Your Head: Wine of the week.

artbutcher: The Brook Museum will host a discussion on art and controversy this Thursday.

Confession of a West Tennessee Liberal: A stinging rejoinder at the leadership of the Shelby County Democratic Party. And a very long, impassioned plea to change the Shelby County penal and juvenile systems.

Cwabs! Marking the anniversary that isn’t. A chart showing virginity rates by college major.