Tennessee Center for Policy Research: The tax watchdog group has issued their 2009 Pork Report, claiming to expose $500 million in “waste, fraud and abuse of tax dollars”.

County Commission: In other Commission news, they voted to lay off 100 employees in the Sheriff’s Department, among many measures. Sheriff Luttrell is not happy and will appeal. The County property tax rate was lowered to $4.00. More from WREG and the Commercial Appeal.

Mississippi: Governor Haley Barbour is indicating he may run for President later; more in the CA. The budget session in the Legislature is still stalled. The Commercial Appeal reports a different angle of the story. The state’s unemployment rate fell in April to 8.6%!

Traffic: TN Department of Transportation and SmartWay are now using Twitter for traffic updates on the highways!

Business: Verso Paper is issuing $325 million in senior debt. AutoZone’s Q3 revenues and incomes rose; more from Fox13, the Daily News. AutoZone’s success this quarter is built on driver thrift. Young Touchstone, in Jackson, is laying off 140 workers in two plants. But, Delta Faucet is bringing about 200 jobs to Jackson! City Auto is bucking trends and selling lots of cars right now.

Outlet malls and strip malls are feeling the economic pinch.

A business profile of Burch Porter & Johnson, law firm, in the Commercial Appeal.

People in Business, from the CA.

Memphis Italian Festival: It’s this weekend! Here’s the musical lineup and here’s the official website.

Local Newspapers: The Memphis Flyer has the early version of the alt-weekly’s upcoming blog on GLBTQ issues already up. Also, the Daily News will begin printing their weekly newspaper, the Memphis News, on Saturdays.

St Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Target was the winner of their Facebook competition — giving nearly $800,000.

Valero: Executives have told Shelby County legislators they’ve reached a compromise with fuel wholesalers that will keep their Memphis plant open.

Crime: Joel Hawkins of 1st Choice CPR will offer free CPR teacher training to the nearly 100 people scammed by Robert Jamison.

Care-All Home Health: A Federal prosecutor has charged Jim Carell, operator of the Martin, Covington and Lebanon agencies of defrauding Medicare of millions.

Shelby County District Attorney: Their office has requested permission from a judge to have Marina Cove apartments, now vacant, torn down. They are using nuisance laws. More from Eyewitness News and the CA.

Banking: The Mortgage Banker’s Association reports mortgage applications fell sharply last week. Banks insured by the FDIC generated $7.6 billion in Q1/2009 profits.

Tennessee: Governor Phil Bredesen officially unveiled his 2010 budget, which will cut about 700 jobs and leave almost as many State positions unfilled. More in the Daily News and the Commercial Appeal. They also have the list of positions being laid off, by department.

Hispanic Memphis: Reaction from Memphis Latinos over the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotmayor to the US Supreme Court. Or is she?

On the Block: We ask local leaders about important issues of the day. This week: Do politicians from West Tennessee start with a location advantage or a location disadvantage in state-wide races?

Memphis City Schools: Former US Senator Bill Frist was in town to work with Superintendent Kriner Cash on ideas to improve schools in the rest of the state. By the way, the city school year is almost over.

Memphis City Council: They also voted to cut the City Police Department budget, by 2%. The CA has more.

Politics: State Democrats will agree to Republican control of the State Election Commission in exchange for Republican votes for Governor Phil Bredesen’s budget; more on Fox13. Oscar Brock, seeking the chairmanship of the TN Republican Party, had to back-pedal from comments indicating he might allow House Speaker Kent Williams back into the party.

The State House saw the measure to extend the TN Ethics Commission, created in the wake of the Tennessee Waltzscandal just three years ago, withdrawn for the session.

Memphis Startup Weekend: Hosted by LaunchMemphis, the business startup seminar is aimed at brainstorming new businesses.

Memphis Bar Association: Their High School Summer Law Intern Program received an ABA award. About 450 applied for this year’s program. Gina Higgins is the co-chair of the MBA’s Diversity Committee.

Collier Lincoln Mercury: After the previous owner, Collier Limited, defaulted it was sold back to the bank.

One Commerce Square: The successor trustee’s sale yielded no buyers. The sale will resume on Monday. There is also a new leasing and management company.

Child Safety: Tips on protecting your children.

Delta Air Lines: The airline has altered its plan for heavy surcharges on second bags on international flights.

Second Amendment: The Memphis City Council is already preparing ordinances to prevent those with gun carry permits from carrying in public parks.

Orpheum: Ticket prices may have gone up, but the new season is still a bargain!

DeSoto County: Electronics retailer hhgregg is hoping to open a store this Fall in Southaven. Company website.

Oakland: A former employee in the City’s Building Department has filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination, relating to not campaigning for some political candidates. The Library Board brainstormed ideas for marketing the new library. (via the Oakland News)

Real Estate: The National Association of Realtors says sales of pre-owned homes was up more than expected, but still down overall.

Collierville: The Planning Commission has shortened the appeals period for Board of Zoning Appeals requests. A report on City efforts to balance the 2009 budget. (via the Collierville Independent)

Survey Says: Demand for international travel is still declining. Memphis is ranked, in the American College of Sports Medicine American Fitness Index, as 37th out of 45 in fitness.

dminmem: It’s not about your choice, but getting your money.

Ramblings of a River City Resident: Thoughts and a poem on working with your hands. And thoughts on California’s Proposition 8 going to the US Supreme Court.

On the Beach: Thoughts on legs and legal brass.

autumne reflections: The move is over!

artbutcher: He is quite prolific you know.

Squeaky Wheel Seeks Grease: Thoughts on the Fort Campbell suicide watch lockdown.

(Lang Wiseman) Random Thoughts: Musings on tolerance versus acceptance.

The English Major Bookstore: Uh oh… this doesn’t sound good.

Paul Ryburn’s Journal: The apparent modus operandi of the downtown flower thief.

Commercial Appeal: Fingerprinting traffic violators is an “erosion of the Fourth Amendment” and dangerous to citizens’ liberties. The County’s proposed anti-gay discrimination ordinance is a good opportunity for discussion.

moremittenz: A quick and easy pasta, herbs and veggies dinner.

Thaddeus Matthews: He forsees some interesting fallout from the anti-gay discrimination ordinance fight. (Picture probably NSFW)

Because I Said So: It’s about “hating gay people”. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Pet Scoop: Keeping your pets safe this summer. (via the Commercial Appeal)

Jen-sized: Some engaging thoughts on gay bars, separate but equal, and the “guerilla gay bar” concept.

Left Wing Cracker: Steve whips out a Bible and lectures the anti-gay Christians. And, thoughts on bigotry.

Complacencies of the Peignoir: Her guilty pleasure and the pendulum of personality makes a new swing.

Confessions of a West Tennessee Liberal: A campaign to right the wrongs at the Memphis Sexual Assault Resource Center.

Downtown Memphis Blog: Another post equating the civil rights and gay rights efforts.

16 Balls in the Air: Life (at the beach) is good!

Cecily’s Random Ramblings: Reviews of a couple of videogames.

Commontaries: Wait, what? Thaddeus Matthews versus KoKo B. Ware in Memphis Wrestling?

Brain Release Valve: Anti-gay discrimination is the new racism. Some hard SF writing. A graphical representation of phone calls from Washington DC on Inauguration Day 2009.

Buck’s Blog: He’s soliciting help for a new blog design. Also, he bought a new (to him) car from CarMax and raves about it.

a field guide to urban memphis: More thoughts on the anti-gay discrimination ordinance. Not a Susan Boyle fan. Where’s our SuperFund money?

Wendi C. Thomas: She comes down on the “gay is a civil right” side of the debate on the County Commission ordinance. (via the Commercial Appeal)