COGIC: Local hoteliers weigh the economic impact of the convocations’ move to St Louis next year; similar story from the Commercial Appeal. Mayor Willie Herenton’s thoughts. More reaction, and speculation on the impact, from around the city, from Fox13, WREG, Eyewitness News, WMC, Commercial Appeal.

Child Impact Statement Reporting System: Will be unveiled this morning by Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton, County Commissioner Mike Carpenter and UM President Shirley Raines. It will create a database of information to improve policy decision making as regards families and children.

Memphis and Shelby County Industrial Development Board: Following the lead of the City Council and the County Commission, the Board approves chagnes to the PILOT program.

Cadence Bank: For three days this month, they will offer free document shredding.

The Federal Reserve: The St Louis Reserve’s Beige Book for the Eighth District shows the region continues to weaken.

Delta Air Lines / Northwest Airlines: The merged airlines are now in a battle of the credit cards with Northwest’s former card partner, U.S. Bancorp.

BUSINESS: Despite billions from the Federal government, business and consumer loans actually fell in February. Foreclosures were down in 1Q 2009, compared to last year. Golf and Games Family Park is expanding its offerings and facility. The parent company of Hollywood Tunica Casino is beginning the constitutional amendment process in Ohio to allow casino gaming. CSX railroad company expects more furloughs as cargo carrying continues to drop.

Professional profile of Ellen Donati, of The Donati Law Firm, from the Daily News. And a business profile of the local Dunkin’ Donuts franchise, from the Commercial Appeal. Also, another CA business profile of downtown shop, Muse and how Center City Commission loans helped keep them going.

Mid-South Fairgrounds: The Flyer’s John Branston calls the redevelopment project a leaderless, conflicted, complicated mammoth. The Daily News’ Bill Dries reports on the City Council discussion.

ARKANSAS: Dr Randeep Mann will be arraigned next week on the grenade charge; more from WREG; more from WMC.

The Bodine School: The will host two Library Talk seminars later this month, on a wide range of issues regarding students, families, transitioning from home to school and more.

BRIDGES: Memphis’ first ‘green’ commercial building is opening itself to public tours to help promote more green technologies. A related story in the Commercial Appeal, pointing out creative and meaningful ways to recycle used electronics.

Survey Says: The Mortgage Bankers Association reports new mortgage applications are down, in part because of the holiday. For the first time since the Fifties, consumer prices went down, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics! More on that from the Daily News. Expedia says one-third of workers won’t use all their vacation days this year. The National Association of Home Builders says its index posted the largest one month jump ever.

DeSoto County: Kawneer Aluminum is leaving Hernando; more from WMC. MDOT gave Horn Lake a $35,000 grant to create 8 summer jobs. US Rep. Travis Childers’ campaign account added over $200,000 so far this year.

Oakland: The Library Board has formed a three member Marketing Committee to help promote the local library. (via the Oakland News)

UPDATE: Main Street Journal: From our April 2009 issue, another article now online: Mick Wright gazes upon Obama’s Brave New World.

Previously posted: Shelby County historian Ed Williams III writes on The Way Things Were: The Shelby County Courthouse and Keeping Lean: What can we learn from Collierville? by Senior Writer Michael Roy Hollihan. Also, publisher Jonathan Lindberg on Deja Vu: What the Governor’s race of 2010 and the Senate race of 2006 have in common. You can read the Table of Contents here.

MISSISSIPPI: The State Department of Transportation has begun using Twitter to send out evacuation information during hurricane season. A short report on the Jackson tea party tax protest. State House / Senate negotiations on raising the cigarette tax will resume next week. Lambuth University has missed its most recent payroll.

Memphis City Schools: More on Superintendent Kriner Cash’s implied threat to make further cuts to the budget and reaction from City Councilman Myron Lowery. If the County has to assume the full cost of the MCS system, it would mean a 26% rise in property taxes?

Bartlett: The city’s Chief Administrative Officer, Jay Rainey, is retiring at the end of the fiscal year in June.

POLITICS: US Rep. John Tanner has $1.35 million in his re-election campaign account. The Commercial Appeal has more on West TN Congressional campaign disclosure reports.

A State House committee has withdrawn the bill allowing wine sales in groceries stores, killing the issue this session. Bill to ban texting while driving passes out of committee. Another House bill, requiring positive citizenship ID to register to vote, also died in committee; more from the CA. Rep. Brian Kelsey proposed a resolution against socialism in the US.

Tipton County: They have been harder hit than most of West TN by recession.

TENNESSEE: Here is a Google map of all the Federal stimulus money-funded projects around the state. Governor Phil Bredesen says the State’s credit rating is stable, despite the budget and economic problems. The State is intercepting Federal income tax refunds to pay child support for those with delinquent accounts. Matt Kisber, of the Department of Economic and Community Development, is in Germany to promote the state to automotive parts suppliers looking to build new plants. The ACLU has asked the State to remove school software blocks from GLBT sites to allow student access. State military and veterans’ facilities are due to receive millions are part of the Federal stimulus monies.

Downtown: Condo sales were down more than 60% year-to-year in 1Q 2009. A more detailed report on the Grand Island apartments, from the Daily News.

MLG&W: One topic of discussion at today’s Board of Directors meeting, funding a number of Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce projects.

University of Memphis: An interview with the victim of Tuesday’s taser attack on-campus, Othman Djuliarso. The assailant has since been arrested. More on the attack and the arrest from WREG, Eyewitness News and again, WMC.

Part of student fees is a free fitness assessment! Tonight is the eighth annual ‘Great Conversations’ dinner at the Holiday Inn; informed and entertaining conversations at every table.

Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority: They are meeting this morning and have some resolutions and a number of division reports to discuss.

Midtown Security Committee: More information on the Tuesday shooting in Central Gardens.

My Life With Three Women: Boiling over.

My Midtown Memphis: Thoughts on the Central Gardens shooting. The COGIC saints are ‘rude, cheap and ungracious’.

Thaddeus Matthews: Another voice in the chorus of goodbyes to COGIC.

The Conservative Zone: Short, pithy thought for the day.

The Gates of Memphis: Proposes a new way of looking at Memphis.

Richard Alley: Moveis from books are not as magical as the books themselves. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Dr Deb Moberly: Stimulus monies coming to the area need to be directed toward our children. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Wendi Thomas: COGIC’s gain is our expensive misfortune. (via the Commercial Appeal)

The Shelf Life: A review of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which is exactly what it sounds like. (via the Commercial Appeal)

theology & geometry: A random conversation on nicknames and waitresses. Also, her luck cup should soon runneth over.

Eskapadez: Tea party protests: right time, wrong action?

Notes From Memphis: A benefit for Taz and the Humane Society this Saturday. Also, lots of parties Downtown this weekend!

16 Balls in the Air: The (other) queen gets her portrait! Diaper thoughts.

Mrs. Katherine: Over-thinking the planning for the potty training?

Compacencies of the Peignoir: Melancholy feelings and memories thanks to a Dinosaur Jr. show at the Minglewood.

Confessions of a West Tennessee Liberal: Brad interviews Lang Wiseman, chairman of the Shelby County Republican Party, about the JUSTPEACE program and feels hopeful. (Part One)

Left Wing Cracker: A not-so-fond farewell to the COGIC saints. And what he thinks the tea party protesters are all about.

Mediaverse: A quick thought on Bill Gibbons’ run for governor and yesterday’s tea party protest.

MAKE IT HAPPEN: A fast update.

Commercial Appeal: ‘Magic’ Johnson’s visit to Memphis can serve to motivate kids to dream big. The COGIC convocation will be missed.

artbutcher: Celebrate both Women’s and Poetry Months at Otherlands tonight! A photo-only report from the Arkansas Derby in Hot Springs.

BEEB: A shooting in the neighborhood prompts a little -discussed question in Memphis media. She decides to let her daughter make her own choice … no matter what.

Bigger Than Your Head: It’s that time: the wine of the week.

Brain Release Valve: Angry thoughts about the tea party protests. (Language Alert)

Commontaries: Was the Calipari / Pastner deal a set-up?

Steve’s Nude Memphis Blog: What would you do?

Squeaky Wheel Seeks Grease: She’s a terrible person; she needs help with her research project.

Radio Sweethearts: Reaction to an interview with NPR’s Brooke and Bob.