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

Memphis City Schools: Superintendent Kriner Cash has started pulling back on some proposals, like a school system police force, after the Board of Education expressed some concerns. Board member Rev. Kenneth Whalum speaks out. A brief report from Fox13. From WREG, reaction from all over. The system is paying Memphis Ten Point Coalition $127,000 to bring in former gang members to motivate students to stay out of gangs.

Re-Appraisals: From Eyewitness News, how to go about appealing your re-appraisal.

Leadership Academy: They have opened the MemphisConnect website to promote the positive things about life in Memphis.

MLG&W: Good news, as natural gas prices have fallen 75% of late, meaning lower gas heating prices next year.

TENNESSEE: The State will receive $42.4 million to subsidise child care services for low-income families; more from Eyewitness News. A state-based advocacy group wants to use TN as a model for a self-paying universal health insurance system.

Salvation Army: The Kresge Foundation has donated $4 million to the Salvation Army’s new Kroc Center at the former Mid-South Fairgrounds.

BUSINESS: Inland Rivers Ports & Terminals Inc. received $2.5 million from the Federal government for port security infrastructure. Brett White, CEO of CB Richard Ellis, saw his compensation fall 45% last year.

Monday’s Small Business Advocate, from the CA, on treating cash like capital.

A business profile of Graphic Systems Incorporated, from the CA.

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

Downtown: A Center City Commission report on the study being done to decide on allowing cars back on Main Street. Southwest Tennessee Community College Foundation is purchasing and razing a downtown building to build a parking garage. The Riverfront Development Corporation’s plans to do work on the river’s cobblestones is drawing worry from some.

Shelby County: New report shows county isn’t ready for an earthquake and needs expensive improvements in regulations and building to get there. The County Trustee, Paul Mattila, has a plan for his office to take over tax collections for the City at an annual savings of $3-5 million.

Stanford Financial Group: The former CFO, James Davis, is cooperating with Federal authorities in the investigation, according to his attorney.

Memphis M.O.B.: A New Mexico newspaper is criticised for publishing the pictures of some of the cocaine-dealing gang members busted last week. The complaint is that it paints a bad picture of Albuquerque’s tiny black community.

University of Memphis: New on-campus police substation is reassuring to students. The Mid-South Food Bank is working with a class at the school to scientifically identify and map areas of need in the community!

Previously Posted: One Regions Morgan Keegan investor, Jerome Woods, was awarded $950,000 in arbitration.

Tax Season: Where to go for free and low-cost tax filing help. More advice from WMC on tax filing as the deadline approaches.

Survey Says: Shelby County home sales continue to plummet in 1Q 2009. The Commercial Appeal says things are bad, but not as bad as they used to be, according to business leaders.

Shelby County Commission: Among topics at today’s meeting will be design and work on a potential Fite Road bridge. The Commission is also looking at a deal involving County Health Dept. funding and selling off its share of some public buildings like the Pyramid.

DeSoto County: Hundreds turn out for the sendoff community parade for the National Guard unit being called up; more from Eyewitness News. The MS Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal in the Southaven annexation case, clearing the way for the City to act; more on WMC and Eyewitness News. Also, in Southaven’s alderman’s race, Samuel Mettler has withdrawn. The DeSoto Animal Rescue Society is holding a fundraising dinner this Friday. Horn Lake is ready to start work on Fire Station Number Three. Hernando is using a $213,000 grant to improve child safety going to and from schools.

The Commercial Appeal looks at the Olive Branch races for mayor and aldermen, and at the first woman to run for mayor there.

POLITICS: Senator Bob Corker’s outspoken defense of the GM Spring Hill plant is drawing criticism from Michigan. Also, Senator Corker is speaking in Memphis tomorrow at a breakfast with the Shelby County Chambers of Commerce Alliance. County Mayor A C Wharton may not be a shoo-in for City Mayor any more, says Jackson Baker, who also comes to praise Rep. Steve Cohen, along with other political tidbits. More on the County Commission’s complaints about reception of their legislative package in Nashville. Rep. Steve Cohen says Federal stimulus monies are on their way. All parties involved say that Governor Phil Bredesen’s budget will be a contentious issue in the Legislature.

An extraordinary and rare screening of the Bill Buckley - Gore Vidal debates this Thursday at the Brooks Museum of Art.

Memphis Banking: Bankers are growing increasingly wary of accepting TARP monies.

2nd Amendment: From Eyewitness News, a story offering expert advice on buying your first gun.

Memphis Police Department: A Flyer story on crack houses, Blue Crush and what happens after the home is seized. A related story on the new Mid-South Community Association, which aims to leverage the work of non-profits into responses and action from political and bureaucratic people.

Memphis Academy of Health Sciences: A California activist group is protesting the Academy’s use of corporal punishment. A protest was called off because the media ignored their press release.

Good Morning Memphis: Tax Day is fast approaching! Protecting your home from termites. Rep. Stacey Campfield talks with the show about his proposed bill to limit lottery winnings to people who receive State and Federal assistance.

Tamara Mitchell-Ford: As she completes her jail term, Fox13 offers a retrospective of her woes and travails.

The Transformation Center: New clinic helps women with eating disorders with psychological and nutrional counseling, physical therapy and more.

Education: Help for adults who want to pursue a higher education and don’t have the money.

Commontaries: Thoughts on corporal punishment and the Memphis Academy of Health Sciences.

Downtown Memphis Blog: A showdown between Westy’s and Flying Fish’s fried catfish. And a shoutout for Westy’s toasted ravioli. And, skeptical thoughts on re-opening Main Street, from a Downtowner.

Friends for Our Riverfront: Blacks living Green.

joelarkins: Thoughts on the passing of WSMV’s Dan Miller.

LeftWing Cracker: Rarely posting co-blogger Jon Carroll with a difficult question he’d like answers to.

Life as I know it from Memphis: Weekend plans and a photo-filled report from the Grizzlies - Phoenix Suns game.

vibinc: Where are the Shelby County Democrats?

Pretty in Pink Megan: Pre-wedding anxiety. Also, she was tagged.

Fertile Ground: Stacey hosts a cocktail party.

Mediaverse: An interesting perspective on the hiring of Coach Pastner.

Chris Peck: Play ’spot the Obama reference’! He talks about promoting a movie to promote his paper and talks about the restructuring his paper is undergoing. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Wendi Thomas: Cheerleading for the public school system. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Notes From Memphis: A ‘light and refreshing’ cocktail for your enjoyment.

Reginald Milton: He talks with some of the voices of the Shelby County Democratic Party.

Bigger Than Your Head: Some thoughtful discussion on wine marketing, authenticity and bad faith.

Buck’s Blog: He went to the season opening Peabody rooftop party and brings back some advice for newbies.

artbutcher: A fascinating collection of paintings, though where from isn’t clear.

Smart City Memphis: More of 10 reasons I love Memphis; a complex post on the State Legislature, local mandates, the City Council, guns and alcohol.

The Conservative Zone: Why running a community suicide prevention hotline is actually cheaper than not having one and why some State budget cuts are penny and pound foolish.

Commercial Appeal: A local connection to changing relations between Cuba and America. More information called for in plans by City of Memphis and Memphis City Schools to get by without the $57 million in question. Reform and streamlining of administration called for in state’s higher education system. Oddly even-handed advice on the Memphis Union Mission move. Trying to find the compromise in the County Health Dept. funding struggle.

Michael Kelley: More information and background on the State-level administration sytem that runs TN’s colleges and universities. (via the Commercial Appeal)

The Author of Y’all’s Destruction: Why soccer is called ‘the beautiful game’.

a semi-charmed kind of life: Weird smells and disgusting actions at the airport.

Steve’s Nude Memphis Blog: Happy Easter and Google sucks.

The English Major Bookstore: Bonus points if you get the joke on the t-shirt. And, an Easter poem of sorts.

The Shelf Life: The gang will be having an online book chat over Richard Price’s Lush Life tonight at 7 PM

theology & geometry: She travelled to Nashville to see Flight of the Conchords and brought back a story.

at home she feels like a tourist: Thoughts on decriminalising marijuana, Keith Olbermann, Wii addiction, restaurants and more.

BEEB: Some questions that need answering.

Dr Scott Morris: Spiritual disease and money anxieties can lead to health problems. Seek first the kingdom of the Lord, he advises. (via the Commercial Appeal)