Mayor Willie Herenton: The Commercial Appeal continues to report on the FBI’s probe of the mayor over the downtown land deal and some fundraisers. More from Fox13, Eyewitness News.

Commercial Appeal: Big news, as the daily eliminates classified ads in their Monday and Tuesday editions, due to declining demand.

School Menus: Memphis City schools here and Shelby County schools here.

Shelby Farms: Designers are turning to kids for ideas on playgrounds at the park.

POLITICS: A video excerpt, via the Flyer, of Rev Jeremiah Wright’s comments last week.

National Civil Rights Museum: Three honored as ‘founders’ during 41st commemoration of King’s death. In a related story, local reaction to the trove of photos from LIFE magazine recently rediscovered, from the day of Dr King’s shooting.

Collierville: Everybody hollerin’ goat! Woman, ‘urban homesteader’, has two goats at her home and that runs afoul of local ordinance.

The Federal Economic Stimulus: What it means to Shelby County, in terms of dollars; and more here and here, from the Commercial Appeal. A tax credit will mean roughly $1.2 billion for Tennessee families. The Daily News takes a skeptical look at the benefits of TARP money.

Memphis Veterans Medical Center: The current director, Patricia Pittman, is leaving to take a new post in South Carolina. Was it due to protests over the firing of a clinical pyschologist?

Dyer County: Dyersburg’s ‘Little Levee’ is being threatened by the Mississippi River.

TENNESSEE: Forty things every Tennessean should try. Colleges and universities are waiting to see what portion of state’s Federal stimulus monies will go to them. TDOT will pay nearly $6 million into a fund to build wetlands. The union at GM’s Spring Hill auto plant is worried that company may be forced to cut back or close that location; sadly, there are political considerations; more in the CA. Following the arrest of an autistic boy, State is worried about handling discipline for disabled students.

Shelby County Re-Appraisal Anger: Surrounded by blight, transient housing, foreclosed properties, one woman saw her property rise 30% in valuation in her appraisal!

Do you have problems with this year’s reappraisals, good or bad experiences, opinions or viewpoints on the process or its purpose? Email it to the Main Street Journal and we’ll collect the best into a discussion page on this site. We want to hear from you!

ARKANSAS: Governor Mike Beebe signs bill creating film-making incentives for producers. The State House voted down a measure regarding possession of out-of-state cigarettes. And the Senate approved greater fines for selling ‘alcopop’ to minors.

Downtown: A report from the Brookings Institution says what most already know: fewer jobs near downtown and more jobs in the suburbs.

West Memphis 3: More on Jessie Miskelley’s effort to secure a new trial, based on attorney incompetence.

Survey Says: Small businesses are still interested in hiring, though on a reduced basis, according to TriNet Group. The service sector shrank for the sixth straight month, according to the Institute for Supply Management.

TVA: They are facing ‘upward pressures’ that may push them to raise their rates, which will be passed on to MLG&W customers, too.

FedEx: One thousand nationally and five hundred local jobs were cut last week. More from the Business Journal, Daily News, the Flyer, Fox13, WMC, WREG, Eyewitness News. Also, Congressman Steve Cohen speaks. Eyewitness News looks at the possible local economic impact of the layoffs.

Shelby County Government: Thanks to higher than anticipated reappraisal values, County may not have to cut 100 jobs as they had planned.

MISSISSIPPI: State Senator from Hernando area, Doug Davis, is one of six legislators to discuss how to find more State Medicaid money. Amount of counterfeit money in the Oxford area in on the increase. Bill to raise parole standards for convicted murderers and sex offenders is on the governor’s desk; more from Eyewitness News. The Federal government has given the Mississippi Hill country and the Mississippi Delta official heritage status.

Cooper-Young Night Out: Thursday’s innaugural event, capping a year-long campaign by the Cooper-Young Business Association, was hindered by rain but still a success. Thursday Nights Out will continue in May.

Christ Community Health Centers: They are opening a new clinic in the Hickory Hill area, with Spanish-speaking staff, catering to area Hispanics.

Pinnacle Awards: The Memphis Area Association of Realtors’ Commercial Coucil presented the eighth annual awards to area commercial realtors and developers.

BUSINESS: Arysta LifeScience North America is moving to Cordova offices. International Paper is temporarily shutting down a New York mill; more from the Daily News. A former GTx employee is suing over stock option. The Quality Inn on Macon Cove Road is facing foreclosure.

After being downgraded by analysts, share of First Horizon slipped. Pulaski Bank and Trust and Pulaski Morgage have now taken the name of their new owner, Iberiabank.

A business profile of Ken Rash’s, from the Daily News. And a business profile of Jamison Pest and Lawn, from the CA.

Comcast’s top executive, Brian Roberts, received $24.7 million in total compensation in 2008.

People in Business, from the CA, for Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

DeSoto County: First Regional Library System has a 24% increase in patronage, thanks in part to the economic downturn. A look at the various political races in Horn Lake. Southaven Police Department nears its total manpower goal. Local charity fundraiser will also benefit Southaven Alderman Paul Ollar’s run for re-election? Hernando’s City Court building now has portable defibrillator units. Also, the city is planning a send-off parade for the local National Guard unit!

American Institute of Architects: Three local firms, including archimania won top architectural honors.

University of Tennessee Health Science Center: Responding to tighter and tighter budgets, five more jobs were cut this week.

Life in Shelby County: Five years into an initiative to decrease obesity and diabetes, both rates are still rising. Residents of the Beltline neighborhood (between Southern and Central) are fighting back against crime.

American Institute of Graphic Arts Memphis: They are seeking nominations for their AIGA Award.

West Memphis: The police department has proposed to the City Council that visible tattoos on officers be banned.

Shelby County Clerk’s Office: The investigation continues. Kathy L. Kirk Johnson, daughter of former County Commissioner Cleo Kirk, was demoted, reassigned, placed on probation and had her pay reduced for violating office policy and the law.

Germantown: The Saddle Creek IV project is nearing final approval, though no funding has yet been obtained.

University of Memphis: The ‘Wall of Hate’ is no more.

a field guide to urban memphis: Some random thoughts and a weird typo to notice.

16 Balls in the air: Gutter kids.

Bigger Than Your Head: Statecraft and brandy; a simple meal with a big wine.

Fore Left! Looking at Rev Jeremiah Wright’s speech.

Smart City Memphis: In praise of ‘creatives’ and every decision must be seen through the demands of talent.

Secret Agent Mom: A heartfelt thanks to her Mom.

Thaddeus Matthews: He reports on a case of possible fraud at Mitchell High School.

The English Major Bookstore: A request and a great painting; a notice; and guess who made the latest issue of Downtowner?

Joseph Russell: Some satirical suggestions for R. C. Johnson’s list of Coach John Calipari’s replacement.

Weeden Arts Watch: I’m still not sure what Creative Time is, but John’s got lots of pictures of their visit to Memphis.

Eskapadez: A new goal and a pictorial essay on Martyr’s Park.

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: An update on Downtown doin’s and a report from the opening of Paula & Raiford’s, with pictures.

Haaaaave You Read My Blog? Big praise (and spoilers, so beware!) of last week’s episode of ‘Lost’.

Commercial Appeal: A grateful farewell to James Hyter. Convencience and restraint called for in the new TN-385 / I-269 loop. Too much diversity breaks up needed unity. Lauding the pastor who convinced the one-armed bandit to turn himself in. Praise for the Toyota Family Literacy program’s effort to teach Hispanic immigrant students and families better English.

Wendi Thomas: A report from the White Privilege Conference.

Chris Peck: Memphis is what made Coach Cal?

Jerome Wright: One year after some major changes, the National Civil Rights Museum is still roiling with conflict and discord.

Todd M. Richardson: Arguing that ‘media create reality’, he then argues local news media should create the reality “We” want to see.

The Chockley Blogs: Krazy kid’s stuff and wow, does that look delicious!

Mediaverse: Thoughts on the Commercial Appeal’s story on Mayor Herenton’s Christmas parties. Did the daily look hard for old King photos of their own? Thoughts on Rev Wright’s speech last week.

vibinc: Praise for the new TN Democratic Party website.

Urf! Creative repurposing of toys. It’s the blog’s third anniversary. And a warning/reminder to dog owners.